Retiring Declined Items Feedback and Discussion

[COMC James]

Hey Blowout,

This afternoon we sent out an email to consignors and published on our blog a Service Update that outlines the current declined items system being retired.

You can read the full announcement here:

https://blog.comc.com/2019/06/06/consignment-update-retired-declined-trading-cards/

The cliff-notes version of the changes are as follows:


Modern trading cards in less than NM-MT condition consigned through Basic and Current-Year Basic services will no longer be declined, nor will they receive condition notes. These items will now be evaluated and described with condition ranges using standardized hobby verbiage (described below).
Modern trading cards in less than NM-MT condition consigned through Select, Current-Year Select, and Premium services will still receive condition notes, as well as be described with condition ranges using standardized hobby verbiage.
Items previously consigned through all service levels will still retain any applicable condition notes, but will now also be described with corresponding condition ranges using standardized hobby verbiage.


I appreciate the feedback and discussions that we've had in the past, so I wanted to create a thread pertaining to any questions, feedback or comments you might have about this change. I'll be checking in regularly and responding over the next couple of weeks.

Thanks!

[shrevecity]

What about cards that are damaged in your possession and don't say it does not happen and they were declined as damaged. I know for a fact it has happened. When you submit a bunch of cards in no particular order and the cards that are declined are all from one set and all have the same type damage. That is clearly something that happens in the sorting and counting process.

[Saraste]

What about cards that are damaged in your possession and don't say it does not happen and they were declined as damaged. I know for a fact it has happened. When you submit a bunch of cards in no particular order and the cards that are declined are all from one set and all have the same type damage. That is clearly something that happens in the sorting and counting process.

I am thinking the same thing. Although this does give COMC some incentive not to damage cards. If they do not damage them, there is a greater chance they sell and at a greater price, thereby putting more money in their pockets. I'm sure we all miss some cards as we are going through them pre-submission. If we are more vigilant about checking our cards, and they are more careful with our cards upon receipt, then we should have fewer cards on the site that are not NMMT+ or better.

On a positive note, at least I will not have to see lesser condition cards if I do not want to.

[trmpetyjo]

What about cards that are damaged in your possession and don't say it does not happen and they were declined as damaged. I know for a fact it has happened. When you submit a bunch of cards in no particular order and the cards that are declined are all from one set and all have the same type damage. That is clearly something that happens in the sorting and counting process.

Totally agree with this that there needs to be more accountablility with the employees that are not just unpacking but removing penny sleeves and scanning the cards.

I currently have a batch of 120 declined green paper parallels /99 from 2018 Bowman Draft out of a submission of 450 cards. That is unacceptable, I sleeved and checked every one of them before I subbed them. The photos from when the box was received shows no damage during shipping, yet somehow a third of the cards are damaged.

I paid a lot of money to have that spot in over 50 cases in group breaks here on the forum. I called and talked to Joe about it over two weeks ago and although he said he would look into it he never got back with me. During the call he was emphatic that the damage would not have happened by an employee of comc.

Not sure what I can do about it, probably $1k worth of value gone just like that

[shrevecity]

Totally agree with this that there needs to be more accountablility with the employees that are not just unpacking but removing penny sleeves and scanning the cards.

I currently have a batch of 120 declined green paper parallels /99 from 2018 Bowman Draft out of a submission of 450 cards. That is unacceptable, I sleeved and checked every one of them before I subbed them. The photos from when the box was received shows no damage during shipping, yet somehow a third of the cards are damaged.

I paid a lot of money to have that spot in over 50 cases in group breaks here on the forum. I called and talked to Joe about it over two weeks ago and although he said he would look into it he never got back with me. During the call he was emphatic that the damage would not have happened by an employee of comc.

Not sure what I can do about it, probably $1k worth of value gone just like that

No they would never damage an item and not admit to it.. If you believe that I got a bridge to sell you..

I guess now they will also have no excuse for a late processing. There have been a few times where processing will run late then I will get another declined items message. Funny how many cards I have gotten back that are not damaged at all.

[pfb11]

So when a card is listed as a specific gradingesque condition, unless the scan is lucky enough to pick up the damage, us buyers will have no idea what the actual damage is?

There are some kinds of damaged cards that don't bother me at all (but would bother other people) but there are some kinds of damage that I won't go near even if it's a card I really need.

This would seem to add a layer of guesswork and more potential for returns.

[cjay101]

Items previously consigned through all service levels will still retain any applicable condition notes, but will now also be described with corresponding condition ranges using standardized hobby verbiage.

What is the timeline on a project like that? You're going to pull and review every card that doesn't have a condition range already entered? It will be great for the non-conditioned vintage card "buckets" but I can't imagine an overly excited person combing through 311 '89 Topps Traded Aikman cards to place them in their appropriate condition range "buckets"

[sthoemke]

I hope all cards will have condition "buckets".

It isn't fair to sellers pricing cards, to have damaged cards mixed in with with top-condition cards.

[Bowman1951]

What is the timeline on a project like that? You're going to pull and review every card that doesn't have a condition range already entered? It will be great for the non-conditioned vintage card "buckets" but I can't imagine an overly excited person combing through 311 '89 Topps Traded Aikman cards to place them in their appropriate condition range "buckets"I feel like you read that backwards. They are going to put anything with condition notes into the "lower tier" buckets for modern cards post 1980.

This is amazing and like the email said, it'll stop sellers from having to go in and look over all of the cards to make sure there isn't one with condition notes already priced much lower than others. Everything in the "mint" bucket will be just that.

[morningrushnc]

"You're gonna need a bigger boat."

[scotthenrichs]

Wait, when I send a card in with a brand new penny sleeve, they remove the card to scan it in? Every card looks like it is scanned in a sleeve, I thought I was saving them a step and possible damage by sending in that way.

I believe they take them out of the penny sleeves and put them into a 9 pocket page and binder (labeled by item number) and scan from there if IRC from the main COMC thread.

[shrevecity]

Wait, when I send a card in with a brand new penny sleeve, they remove the card to scan it in? Every card looks like it is scanned in a sleeve, I thought I was saving them a step and possible damage by sending in that way.

I get less damaged when i dont penny sleeve them

[crimedawg47]

So when a card is listed as a specific gradingesque condition, unless the scan is lucky enough to pick up the damage, us buyers will have no idea what the actual damage is?

There are some kinds of damaged cards that don't bother me at all (but would bother other people) but there are some kinds of damage that I won't go near even if it's a card I really need.

This would seem to add a layer of guesswork and more potential for returns.

This was my exact thoughts when I read the email initially. I dont mind picking up a PC card that has "minor surface wear" but now if not described that way I dont want to risk the issue being something like a crease that isnt visible from the scan.

[crimedawg47]

I get less damaged when i dont penny sleeve them

Same here...even tho its 10X easier to slide a properly penny sleeved card into a 9 pocket binder page without damaging it :coffee::coffee:

[altaeria]

Why is it so difficult for them to simply not damage cards? That’s a very important part of the process. You’re dealing with collectibles. The least you can do is not ruin them. It’s like when the donut shop runs out of donut batter. That’s the job. Is this too much to ask? Sheesh.

[mjohnatgt]

I can't imagine an overly excited person combing through 311 '89 Topps Traded Aikman cards to place them in their appropriate condition range "buckets"
If I had to bet, they're not going to modify any current cards in the modern buckets unless someone submits a correction to them. So for heavily traded cards like 1993 Topps Derek Jeter RC, all the ones with condition notes could be marked as "Report Error/Wrong Condition" and then their staff would relocated them to EX to NM bucket.

I personally like the change, for the fact that if I pay for a card to get mailed there, I don't really want them to return it to me.

[jmarshstl5]

So now they have even less incentive to handle our cards with care, as COMC is guaranteed the processing fee. Sounds about right.

[Mrpokey]

The damage COMC causes on incoming shipments of cards is why I dont send them cards. I only buy cards to flip. Im scared to even request shipment of the cards I do want from the site. Something needs to be done about the people who accept and open the packages there. Way way way to many stories and pictures of then damaging cards.

[shrevecity]

If I had to bet, they're not going to modify any current cards in the modern buckets unless someone submits a correction to them. So for heavily traded cards like 1993 Topps Derek Jeter RC, all the ones with condition notes could be marked as "Report Error/Wrong Condition" and then their staff would relocated them to EX to NM bucket.

I personally like the change, for the fact that if I pay for a card to get mailed there, I don't really want them to return it to me.

Cannot tell you how many cards I have had returned though that I resubmitted and were listed fine with no issues the second time. Really did not cost anything more recently put over 400 rejects in with a 40.00 card I wanted sent to me and had it all shipped for like 6.00 Then I just added some of them to another shipment going there to fill up the box so no extra cost there really either.

What gets me is when they reject an item and then when you pay the extra to list it anyway they list it with no condition notes.

[Saraste]

What gets me is when they reject an item and then when you pay the extra to list it anyway they list it with no condition notes.

I'm sure that has happened to most of us that listed cards after rejection. I know it has happened to me before. When that happens, they should credit you the difference.

[base set]

What will happen to lots of Declined Items currently sitting at COMC?

[allstarcollect]

I have 8K+ submissions from beginning of May, set to land July 10th. Will these be done under the new or old system. I would prefer the old system actually, as I didn't go through them thinking this system would be in place.

[Saraste]

What will happen to lots of Declined Items currently sitting at COMC?

They said that you will have an as of yet undetermined amount of time to either get them processed or shipped home.

[Saraste]

I have 8K+ submissions from beginning of May, set to land July 10th. Will these be done under the new or old system. I would prefer the old system actually, as I didn't go through them thinking this system would be in place.

If you do not receive your declined items by the 14th, it appears everything will be processed. For your sake I hope you get them.

[Swipe79]

I always love these feedback and discussion posts that COMC makes...always so productive!

[shrevecity]

I always love these feedback and discussion posts that COMC makes...always so productive!

LOL.. I have been thinking the same thing.. They post something they know they are going to get some tough questions then tuck their tails and run. They should have known this thread would bring about the question of the cards they damage in their possession.

[Saraste]

It's like they are messing with us because, short of not sending in more cards, there is nothing we can do about it.

[COMC James]

So when a card is listed as a specific gradingesque condition, unless the scan is lucky enough to pick up the damage, us buyers will have no idea what the actual damage is?

There are some kinds of damaged cards that don't bother me at all (but would bother other people) but there are some kinds of damage that I won't go near even if it's a card I really need.

This would seem to add a layer of guesswork and more potential for returns.

Cards submitted under the basic services will not have those same notes you see today (i.e surface wear, corner ding, etc), but will be placed in a bucket (i.e. EX to NM) indicating that there is a conditional flaw with the item.

What is the timeline on a project like that? You're going to pull and review every card that doesn't have a condition range already entered? It will be great for the non-conditioned vintage card "buckets" but I can't imagine an overly excited person combing through 311 '89 Topps Traded Aikman cards to place them in their appropriate condition range "buckets"

On June 14th, items with condition notes will be separated from raw cards without condition notes, and placed within conditional ranges.

What will happen to lots of Declined Items currently sitting at COMC?

We will be giving consignors with those items a grace period to make a decision to have those items reprocessed with condition notes/ranges, ship them home, or donate them to charity.

I have 8K+ submissions from beginning of May, set to land July 10th. Will these be done under the new or old system. I would prefer the old system actually, as I didn't go through them thinking this system would be in place.

These will be processed under the old declined items system. Consignments with paperwork printed on June 14th or later, or received after July 1st regardless of when paperwork was printed will be processed under the new system.

[shrevecity]

And of course nothing about the damaged by COMC issue.. Its obvious they do not want to take responsibility for that.

[scotthenrichs]

And of course nothing about the damaged by COMC issue.. Its obvious they do not want to take responsibility for that.

Exactly what I was thinking, you beat me to it. Always ignoring the tough questions.

[13goyankees13]

Cards submitted under the basic services will not have those same notes you see today (i.e surface wear, corner ding, etc), but will be placed in a bucket (i.e. EX to NM) indicating that there is a conditional flaw with the item.



On June 14th, items with condition notes will be separated from raw cards without condition notes, and placed within conditional ranges.



We will be giving consignors with those items a grace period to make a decision to have those items reprocessed with condition notes/ranges, ship them home, or donate them to charity.



These will be processed under the old declined items system. Consignments with paperwork printed on June 14th or later, or received after July 1st regardless of when paperwork was printed will be processed under the new system.

75% of the posts in this thread are related to 1 main question. Why did you address every question people asked other than the main one?

This seems like a positive direction but COMC still lost my trust and this isn't helping gain it back. If COMC isn't even willing to admit there's a problem with damaging items I know they're not going to try to do anything to fix it and I'm not going to send anything to COMC. I've heard that ebay buyers sometimes damage cards and then claim it came like that to get a refund but that seems to happen 10x more often on COMC than on eBay.

[OLDPAPER]

And of course nothing about the damaged by COMC issue.. Its obvious they do not want to take responsibility for that.

They never have and never will....but there is a neat video they will send you.

[shrevecity]

They never have and never will....but there is a neat video they will send you.

The video of them opening your cards? I have gotten one of them and if anyone believes it proves they did nothing is as stupid as it gets. One I got was from several feet over the cards with the person opening them blocking the views. It was almost as bad as watching a Boomo break.

[thebrett]

Will all of the cards they are moving go to the needing attention section? Lately they have been adding notes to already processed cards and we get no notification

I try to price my cards with damage very aggressively, but I can't do that if I don't know if they are damaged.

Also, will this be a sortable function?

Also, does anyone think a change this big on such a firm date MIGHT come with additional upgrades? I know I have been fooled before, but this seems like a big change

[checkoutmydeals]

@COMC James -

Overall, I think this will be an improvement. However, at some point down the line, I would really like the ability to filter by condition. For example, maybe I only want to look at the default condition items, or the G-VG buckets along with the default items, etc.

Alternately, I would like the ability to combine several buckets into one line item, so if there are 42 copies of a card in stock in 5 different buckets, I can see this as one line item in a search.

One issue with vintage cards is that you might have 5,000 different buckets for an 800 card set. Often times you'll see "you have a COMC Monopoly" on an item where there are actually 50 copies in stock. Sometimes the poor condition copy has a higher asking price or even a higher book value than the default condition bucket.

I would very much love the ability to filter COMC items by a variety of factors, including price, date, number of items in stock and such. If this change helps COMC to develop those sorts of features, then it is an additional positive effect of making this change. But if it just makes it so that a search that used to yield 1,000 hits now yields 5,000 hits, it might just add a lot of noise.

[pfb11]

Cards submitted under the basic services will not have those same notes you see today (i.e surface wear, corner ding, etc), but will be placed in a bucket (i.e. EX to NM) indicating that there is a conditional flaw with the item.


That's going to be a problem. And yall might want to reconsider it before it becomes one.

[Bowman1951]

One issue with vintage cards is that you might have 5,000 different buckets for an 800 card set. Often times you'll see "you have a COMC Monopoly" on an item where there are actually 50 copies in stock. Sometimes the poor condition copy has a higher asking price or even a higher book value than the default condition bucket.

Yes!!! This is still a huge pet peeve of mine. I hope this doesn't carry over to the modern section, also.

A monopoly should never, ever exist by condition....only by total stock.

[thebrett]

Yes!!! This is still a huge pet peeve of mine. I hope this doesn't carry over to the modern section, also.

A monopoly should never, ever exist by condition....only by total stock.

I would take it one step further and say that I would like to see the lowest price of that bucket or any bucket above it in condition

I can't tell you how often I see a Poor card at 75 cents and someone adds a 74 cent copy while the Very Good is sitting there at 19 cents

[cardsrus1]

@COMC James -

Overall, I think this will be an improvement. However, at some point down the line, I would really like the ability to filter by condition. For example, maybe I only want to look at the default condition items, or the G-VG buckets along with the default items, etc.

Alternately, I would like the ability to combine several buckets into one line item, so if there are 42 copies of a card in stock in 5 different buckets, I can see this as one line item in a search.

One issue with vintage cards is that you might have 5,000 different buckets for an 800 card set. Often times you'll see "you have a COMC Monopoly" on an item where there are actually 50 copies in stock. Sometimes the poor condition copy has a higher asking price or even a higher book value than the default condition bucket.

I would very much love the ability to filter COMC items by a variety of factors, including price, date, number of items in stock and such. If this change helps COMC to develop those sorts of features, then it is an additional positive effect of making this change. But if it just makes it so that a search that used to yield 1,000 hits now yields 5,000 hits, it might just add a lot of noise.

Technically that information is already there on the left hand side of the page. Not much more COMC can do if sellers refuse to use that information. The real problem is most users do not bother to check past the inventory manager when pricing items.

[cardsrus1]

And of course nothing about the damaged by COMC issue.. Its obvious they do not want to take responsibility for that.

Until and actual employee is willing to admit they damaged something they will assume the employees are telling the truth, especially with the video proof from the top of the Space Needle. As long as the sheeple continue sending more and more cards they will continue as is...

[base set]

So it looks to me that I can “re-process” an entire Declined lot for 60¢ a card, + random $1 fee per lot, or I can simply have those same cards sent back to me and I can winnow out the ones that now have too much inventory on site anyway, and re-submit a card for 30¢ each. Easy decision.

[base set]

—-/——-

[base set]

browser triple posted, arg

[checkoutmydeals]

Technically that information is already there on the left hand side of the page. Not much more COMC can do if sellers refuse to use that information.

That's not what I'm referring to. As an example, there are 787 cards in a 1972 Topps baseball set.

At the present time, there are 7,187 active buckets for 1972 Topps.

If we include "Sold Out", there are 9,157 buckets.

If I sort by "least in stock", this does not yield much useful information. There are thousands of items which are graded, where there is only one copy in that particular grade. There are thousands of Dean's Cards, which are the only copy that Dean's Card has in the Dean's Card bucket.

I can filter "Graded" and "Ungraded". If we use John's trick of including -dcr in the search, we can also filter out Dean's stuff.

This still Yields 2,743 items.

I see one bucket for card #699, Bobby Mercer. Clicking on that, there actually are only 3 total copies on the site which aren't Dean's and aren't graded. These vary from $17.75 to $18.00. So, if I had one at home, it would be worth sending in for 30 cents processing, because it's likely that I could get many times that amount, regardless of the bucket the card is in.

OTOH, there is one copy of #443, Ken Henderson in Poor to Fair condition, for $49.75. But when I click on the listing, I find there are actually 42 total copies in stock (including those from Dean's), and that they can be had for as little as 32 cents.

I would find it useful to be able to filter a search of a 787 card set to yield 787 different line items. For example, if, in addition to sorting by "graded" or "ungraded", I could also sort just by the default bucket, and the price shown would be the cheapest copy in the default bucket.

At other times, it would be useful if I could see some sort of line item which includes a total of all cards in stock, and a price for the cheapest copy, regardless of condition.

This line item might also be useful when searching for an individual seller's items. It isn't useful to me that an individual seller has 1 copy of an item in stock when there are 500 total copies of that item in stock.

In general, COMC users desperately need the ability to filter all searches, by a wide variety of parameters. At times, I might want to search only for cards that are under $1. Other times, I might want to search only for cards which are over $1.

[thebrett]

Did this happen? I am pricing cards now, and my condition note stuff is still just sitting there with non condition note stuff

[shrevecity]

Did this happen? I am pricing cards now, and my condition note stuff is still just sitting there with non condition note stuff

From James..

These will be processed under the old declined items system. Consignments with paperwork printed on June 14th or later, or received after July 1st regardless of when paperwork was printed will be processed under the new system.

I would assume that means that most subs until the first of July will likely be under the old system.

[thebrett]

I remain confused by this whole deal

I am aware it is probably my fault

[Budler]

Technically that information is already there on the left hand side of the page. Not much more COMC can do if sellers refuse to use that information.

That's not what I'm referring to. As an example, there are 787 cards in a 1972 Topps baseball set.

At the present time, there are 7,187 active buckets for 1972 Topps.

If we include "Sold Out", there are 9,157 buckets.

If I sort by "least in stock", this does not yield much useful information. There are thousands of items which are graded, where there is only one copy in that particular grade. There are thousands of Dean's Cards, which are the only copy that Dean's Card has in the Dean's Card bucket.

I can filter "Graded" and "Ungraded". If we use John's trick of including -dcr in the search, we can also filter out Dean's stuff.

This still Yields 2,743 items.

I see one bucket for card #699, Bobby Mercer. Clicking on that, there actually are only 3 total copies on the site which aren't Dean's and aren't graded. These vary from $17.75 to $18.00. So, if I had one at home, it would be worth sending in for 30 cents processing, because it's likely that I could get many times that amount, regardless of the bucket the card is in.

OTOH, there is one copy of #443, Ken Henderson in Poor to Fair condition, for $49.75. But when I click on the listing, I find there are actually 42 total copies in stock (including those from Dean's), and that they can be had for as little as 32 cents.

I would find it useful to be able to filter a search of a 787 card set to yield 787 different line items. For example, if, in addition to sorting by "graded" or "ungraded", I could also sort just by the default bucket, and the price shown would be the cheapest copy in the default bucket.

At other times, it would be useful if I could see some sort of line item which includes a total of all cards in stock, and a price for the cheapest copy, regardless of condition.

This line item might also be useful when searching for an individual seller's items. It isn't useful to me that an individual seller has 1 copy of an item in stock when there are 500 total copies of that item in stock.

In general, COMC users desperately need the ability to filter all searches, by a wide variety of parameters. At times, I might want to search only for cards that are under $1. Other times, I might want to search only for cards which are over $1.

It is so time consuming to find cards nowadays on COMC for me. Spend way more time just looking for cards I'm willing to buy.

I collect Nebraska Cornhusker football players: As on a few weeks ago
798 diff players
over 27,000 diff cards
I have 1,285 diff cards on my watch list and there are a lot more I have not added.
I have 9131 diff cards.
I have no ideal how many cards that COMC has as they do not list the college on all the cards.

I can filter by Nebraska but it only brings up 1,149 cards of which Dean's cards has a lot. There is really no way to sort your watch list but by high or low price. Then when you look at one card you have to start over again. So I have to click on each of the players.

If I start with the player with the most cards Ahman Green He has 2,914 cards COMC shows 1,269 of them. I have 975 only shows 33 under Nebraska. Yes I can search for each card I need but I'm looking for the best deals. So I pull up his name and start looking at the lowest price 1st. I have to keep going until I find one that I do not have. If I feel it is not a good deal then on to the next one. It is a lot of looking up cards on my list to verify that I do not have that card.

I would love to have a feature to hide/ignore cards that I have. I have been asking for that feature for years. Also asked about being able to sort watch list by names. I have sent James several messages with my feelings.

[cardsrus1]

I remain confused by this whole deal

I am aware it is probably my fault

The way I read it, cards they damage will be treated the same as the vintage "grading" they do once in a while. The first few months they allocated most added cards using their unique grading system, gradually to the point where they rarely do it at all anymore. In theory, by now there should be no "raw" grades for any vintage...

[Bowman1951]

We are 10 days passed the June 14th go live date mentioned. Has anyone seen any modern cards fall into these new buckets yet?

[sthoemke]

So it looks to me that I can “re-process” an entire Declined lot for 60¢ a card, + random $1 fee per lot, or I can simply have those same cards sent back to me and I can winnow out the ones that now have too much inventory on site anyway, and re-submit a card for 30¢ each. Easy decision.

That make sense to send back the cards for review, but are we being charged the 60-cent "condition note" fee when modern cards are put in condition buckets?!?

[pfb11]

We are 10 days passed the June 14th go live date mentioned. Has anyone seen any modern cards fall into these new buckets yet?

I think I saw one. And it wasn't a card that looked damaged. Hopefully they reconsidered the details of this.

[Bowman1951]

One issue with vintage cards is that you might have 5,000 different buckets for an 800 card set. Often times you'll see "you have a COMC Monopoly" on an item where there are actually 50 copies in stock. Sometimes the poor condition copy has a higher asking price or even a higher book value than the default condition bucket.
I saw in another thread that this is still happening with the modern designations. :doh:

[pryantexas]

I am relatively new to COMC having just gotten started around the beginning of the year

My experience had been overwhelmingly positive (I have a thread on this forum about it) ... until know

In addition to the COMC staff mishandling my two most recent batches (one was select, the other was regular and they criss crossed the two) these condition designations are ridiculous

Why should my 2016 chrome cards now be penalized for being sent in now when others that were sent in earlier are actually in worse shape

This new practice is going to greatly slow down the volume of my submissions as I had started buying bulk lots on eBay and at shows to submit ... but now I can’t do that with the headaches involved now with these overly scrutinized condition categories


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