1994-95 Topps Spectralight - Coincidence or Scam?

Twoinar · 07-03-2021, 01:53 PM

I've recently started building a 94-95 Topps Spectralight set. I've bought quite a few and had no problem transactions, except for two. Those two transactions were for the two most expensive RCs in the set, J Kidd and G. Hill. Both cards were listed plainly as Spectralight on eBay, but when they arrived they were the base cards. The Kidd I was able to return without much trouble and I'm just starting the return process for the Hill. Does this happen often with the Spectralight auctions/BINs? The base/parallel are very similar, the difference being the foil background, but I don't believe there is any way the sellers didn't know they were sending the base. Especially since the photos in the Hill description and what I got were provably different cards. Notice the E and G behind the Topps Company on the back of the card. Both cards were gotten below well below $30, so I don't really see an upside to doing this unless you were doing it a lot, but that's why I'm asking. It just seems petty, and a waste of everyone's time. Has anyone else purchased these cards over the years and seen this?

[IMG]

Front by Twoinar, on Flickr[/IMG]

Not a Spectralight by Twoinar, on Flickr

Ericc5Bears · 07-03-2021, 01:58 PM

I'd guess that there wasn't any malicious intent by the sellers. I see sellers all the time list bowman cards as bowman chrome, topps as topps chrome, regular topps paper kobe rookies as topps nba 50th, etc. For people that aren't super knowledgeable about cards, I can see how it would be somewhat confusing.

Twoinar · 07-03-2021, 02:09 PM

Except that someone who wasn't knowledgeable about the set wouldn't even know about the Spectralights. It just seems a bit much that I've gotten about a hundred of the commons without this problem, but the two that this error occurred on were the Kidd and Hill.
[IMG]

Screen Shot 2021-07-03 at 2.00.55 PM by Twoinar, on Flickr[/IMG]

Twoinar · 07-03-2021, 02:14 PM

The feedback on both sellers was good, so I can't know anything for sure, that's why I was looking for some thoughts on it..

Ericc5Bears · 07-03-2021, 02:17 PM

Like you said, if the cards were well below $30 I highly highly highly doubt a seller with a bunch of good feedback would risk that for such a trivial amount of money. It probably was just an honest mistake in both occassions.

JimCa · 07-03-2021, 03:13 PM

At least he's owning up to it, but it seems odd that he posts pictures of the Spectralight, but then ships you a completely different card he didn't even realize he had. Seems to me, the reasonable thing would be for him to send you the Spectralight and let you keep the base. But maybe that's just me......

Twoinar · 07-03-2021, 03:45 PM

What I'm wondering is if I let him ship the correct Spectralight without doing a return, if that then puts me out of the window for returns if there is a problem on the second shipping. Am I protected since I initiated the return and got a response, or do I need to follow through, get him his card back and just get a refund? I'm also wondering if there is a way I'm about to get screwed that I haven't realized yet?

duron · 07-03-2021, 04:03 PM

Guy is prob full of shyt, lol.

mc1 · 07-03-2021, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ericc5Bears

I'd guess that there wasn't any malicious intent by the sellers. I see sellers all the time list bowman cards as bowman chrome, topps as topps chrome, regular topps paper kobe rookies as topps nba 50th, etc. For people that aren't super knowledgeable about cards, I can see how it would be somewhat confusing.

All of these seem like a scam. I dont buy the ignorance argument.

These sellers are trying to take advantage of buyers. Selling their base as parallels. Keyword spamming at best.

Twoinar · 07-03-2021, 04:22 PM

in this case there's no way it was keyword spamming. He has photos of a Spectralight in his listing and fully states that's what he meant to send.

Twoinar · 07-03-2021, 04:39 PM

As I look closer at the feedback and number of items listed, I don't think it was done on purpose in this instance. There's a lot of feedback, all good, and a ton of items listed for sale. Like Ericc5Bears said, it just wouldn't be worth the hassle or risk to do on purpose.

mjohnatgt · 07-03-2021, 05:21 PM

There's an old adage, "Never assign to malice that which could easily be chalked up to stupidity." I think that's the case here. Since its ebay, start an INAD claim and say you would accept the proper parallel if they have it. If they want their card back, they pay for your return shipping.

duron · 07-03-2021, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

There's an old adage, "Never assign to malice that which could easily be chalked up to stupidity." I think that's the case here. Since its ebay, start an INAD claim and say you would accept the proper parallel if they have it. If they want their card back, they pay for your return shipping.

Yea, and that old adage has saved the ass of many a scammer.

(I'm not saying that's 100% what this is, but yes I still have my doubts.)

07-03-2021, 01:53 PM	#1
Twoinar Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 392	1994-95 Topps Spectralight - Coincidence or Scam? I've recently started building a 94-95 Topps Spectralight set. I've bought quite a few and had no problem transactions, except for two. Those two transactions were for the two most expensive RCs in the set, J Kidd and G. Hill. Both cards were listed plainly as Spectralight on eBay, but when they arrived they were the base cards. The Kidd I was able to return without much trouble and I'm just starting the return process for the Hill. Does this happen often with the Spectralight auctions/BINs? The base/parallel are very similar, the difference being the foil background, but I don't believe there is any way the sellers didn't know they were sending the base. Especially since the photos in the Hill description and what I got were provably different cards. Notice the E and G behind the Topps Company on the back of the card. Both cards were gotten below well below $30, so I don't really see an upside to doing this unless you were doing it a lot, but that's why I'm asking. It just seems petty, and a waste of everyone's time. Has anyone else purchased these cards over the years and seen this? [IMG]Front by Twoinar, on Flickr[/IMG]Not a Spectralight by Twoinar, on Flickr

07-03-2021, 02:09 PM	#3
Twoinar Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 392	Except that someone who wasn't knowledgeable about the set wouldn't even know about the Spectralights. It just seems a bit much that I've gotten about a hundred of the commons without this problem, but the two that this error occurred on were the Kidd and Hill. [IMG]Screen Shot 2021-07-03 at 2.00.55 PM by Twoinar, on Flickr[/IMG]

07-03-2021, 04:03 PM	#8
duron Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: NYC Posts: 12,028 drewtang duron	Guy is prob full of shyt, lol. __________________ IG: Darz90sCardz PC: MJ/Penny

07-03-2021, 01:58 PM	#2
Ericc5Bears Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 1,249	I'd guess that there wasn't any malicious intent by the sellers. I see sellers all the time list bowman cards as bowman chrome, topps as topps chrome, regular topps paper kobe rookies as topps nba 50th, etc. For people that aren't super knowledgeable about cards, I can see how it would be somewhat confusing.

07-03-2021, 02:14 PM	#4
Twoinar Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 392	The feedback on both sellers was good, so I can't know anything for sure, that's why I was looking for some thoughts on it..

07-03-2021, 02:17 PM	#5
Ericc5Bears Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 1,249	Like you said, if the cards were well below $30 I highly highly highly doubt a seller with a bunch of good feedback would risk that for such a trivial amount of money. It probably was just an honest mistake in both occassions.

07-03-2021, 03:13 PM	#6
JimCa Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Granite Bay, Ca Posts: 679	At least he's owning up to it, but it seems odd that he posts pictures of the Spectralight, but then ships you a completely different card he didn't even realize he had. Seems to me, the reasonable thing would be for him to send you the Spectralight and let you keep the base. But maybe that's just me......

07-03-2021, 03:45 PM	#7
Twoinar Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 392	What I'm wondering is if I let him ship the correct Spectralight without doing a return, if that then puts me out of the window for returns if there is a problem on the second shipping. Am I protected since I initiated the return and got a response, or do I need to follow through, get him his card back and just get a refund? I'm also wondering if there is a way I'm about to get screwed that I haven't realized yet?

07-03-2021, 04:22 PM	#10
Twoinar Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 392	in this case there's no way it was keyword spamming. He has photos of a Spectralight in his listing and fully states that's what he meant to send.

07-03-2021, 04:39 PM	#11
Twoinar Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 392	As I look closer at the feedback and number of items listed, I don't think it was done on purpose in this instance. There's a lot of feedback, all good, and a ton of items listed for sale. Like Ericc5Bears said, it just wouldn't be worth the hassle or risk to do on purpose.

07-03-2021, 05:21 PM	#12
mjohnatgt Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Niceville, FL Posts: 14,578 mjohnatgt mjohnatgt	There's an old adage, "Never assign to malice that which could easily be chalked up to stupidity." I think that's the case here. Since its ebay, start an INAD claim and say you would accept the proper parallel if they have it. If they want their card back, they pay for your return shipping.