Know Who You Are Buying Your Collectibles From

There are only a few sports card stores in the country that have been in business for 25 years or longer. If any of these stores are near where you live or work then you know that they are great places to go to help you build your collection. Most businesses that have been around for that period of time know a lot about what customers expect and treat their customers right.  These business owners are pioneers in  their field. They take pride in their establishments and value the return patronage of their customers placing great emphasis on customer service, fair pricing and good accurate advice when asked. They are still in business because you, the customer, sincerely like doing business with them and they are for the most part responsive to your needs and are willing to educate collectors along their way collecting. I commend them and I commend you for shopping in these stores.

For many collectors  there isn’t a really cool card store in your area. The big sports card and memorabilia shows are only 2 or 3 times a year and you have to take trains, planes and automobiles to attend them. Then there are the hotels, food, cabs and admission costs. Thank goodness for the internet, right? The internet has brought these collectibles to your finger tips and then to your front door. You've seen cards and collectibles you never thought you'd see. You can see hundreds of items in minutes. The down side is that you have also encountered crooks and scammers that you never thought would prey on you. They won’t go away any time soon. It’s the law of averages for them and they’re good at what they do. It’s your hard earned money that they‘re after and you have to face the realization that you might get stuck some day.

 I’m not a negative person by nature and I don’t like playing the devil’`s advocate . The facts are however that fake autographs, trimmed and doctored cards, paying for an item and not receiving it are but a few of the pitfalls of internet collectible buying. Have any of these things happened to you or someone you know? Many collectors....thousands of them have been burned.  The internet is a huge playground for crooks to play in. They prey on the uneducated buyer and the greedy buyer.. When a deal looks like it’s too good to be true then it probably is. Stay away, BEWARE!!!!!  They will take your money and run and you may not have any recourse.

Protect yourself with your number 1 defense- common sense! Only buy from a secure web site. You also might possibly phone in your first couple of orders. Purchase from an Ebay, Naxcom or Beckett.com  business with lots of  positive  feedbacks.  Gather as much information as you can about them and their companies reputation. Ask your collector friends about their positive experiences. Referrals are great and can offer valuable info.  Do as much homework about the seller you are buying from as you do about the items you are buying.

The sports collectibles business is a billion dollar industry. This means that in 2008 collectors will spend millions of dollars on fake  autographs, doctored cards, damaged goods and undelivered merchandise.

  I prefer to hold an item in my hand when I’m buying, but when I can’t, I expect a reputable online business  to hold my hand when I’m making my purchases!

(SBayCards offers quality sports and non-sports cards, collectibles and more. Order Online at low competitive prices. Wide selection.)