I’s always worth a try to get some sort of refund if it works for you. If something like that can be worked out maybe some of the damage on the books can be pressed out as well.
I’m flexible with whatever my decision ultimately is. I’m just waiting on a response from the seller.
good luck with it all.
Or you can do what I do and double bag them such that there’s always a layer of acid free bag between the comic and the board.
The comic naturally produces acids which actively contributes to the decay. Having it separate from either type of backing board is working against you. The calcium carbonate that’s buffered through the entire board on the E Gerber & Bill Cole brands as well the calcium carbonate that’s applied to one side of the cheaper boards (BCW) absorbs and offsets the acids produced by the comic.
Microchamber paper is the way to go if you’re really serious. I’m in the process of switching everything over to E Gerber Mylites2 Silver/Gold Age and Fullbacks. Microchamber is in my list to add to the older books first and all eventually. Overall the temperature and humidity are much more important than anything else.
Also opened up returns on all the hulk books as not as described. The pages are so brittle on the important ones so really not worth keeping them.
I’ll take my Chances separating it from the board when the alternative is having the ink transfer to that board when it’s not separated.
I do not double bag when I use the e-Gerber boards. They don’t seem to have the same issue with sucking the ink off the comic. My most valued comics go with those.
Only time I’ve seen any kind of ink transfer is when books are stored facing the uncoated sides of the cheap backing boards and it takes years or when there facing the right side but left in for decades. Why I’m switching to the archival stuff and not have to worry about it. I can get 1000 each of the mylites2 and fullbacks for under $400 shipped. Big chunk a change but its well worth it.
Ironically I’ve seen the opposite, where against the coated side the ink rubs off…but when against the “dull” side not so much. Also,the e-Gerber boards don’t have a glossy finish, which makes me think it has something to do with the book sliding around or the chemicals in the glossy coat reacting with the ink.
Been tempted take two books that have dark ink back covers and put them exposed to a different side of the board to test the theory…
I think I have two copies of worthless books I can try this on…
I’d be interested in the results. I’ll have to check some of my boards that I saved over the years and see what side it’s on.
In my opinion, 3 business days. That’s enough time I think to give a seller time to respond, etc.
An update on the Hulk books. The seller finally responded with only 2 days until the deadline I might add. No offer of partial credit but is having me return for a full refund. I’m a bit conflicted because those were my first two 35 cent price variants on a title I’m trying to get a complete run of. However the overall quality isn’t up to my standards. They’re so rare though on the other hand am I ever going to find better copies?
Don’t second guess your gut. If they aren’t up to your standards then you will never be happy w/ those books. The grades you want are out there.
Those 35 cent issues are rare but not impossible to find. You will probably be paying more when you re-purchase them down the line but they will probably be in better condition as well…if you go that way.
Not a headache but how do others feel about sellers downgrading First Class Shipping to Media Mail because the listing sold for next to nothing? It went for $5 with a .99 cent start. It’s more an annoyance. I didn’t set up the listings and there was no mention of a possible downgrade.
If the comic arrived safely and as described, I wouldn’t give negative feedback, but would write them to let them know they will not get positive feedback and I’ll be adding them to my block list.
Question: how well was it packaged?
PSA: If you’re going to ship media mail at least throw several layers of cardboard for safe travels. Whether it ways in at 1 oz or 1 lbs the price is the same…don’t cheap out on supplies!
It was packaged very well and was easy to open. So well that it went from being a neutral feedback to positive. I did message him earlier about the shipping downgrade being unacceptable. I left positive feedback but did note he downgraded shipping.
Ok, first a little about me.
I’ve been an eBay member since 2000. I have over 900 positive reviews to 0 neutral or negative. If you’ve seen my tutorial on packaging, I go above and beyond the standard/norm for protecting comics in shipment. I’ve probably had 4 refunds in 20 years. One was because If damage in transit, two were lost in transit with no means of recovery/not insured…probably another I can’t recall.
My comic listings typically include 12 photos. Back/front cover, Back/front spine, all four corners back and front.
So I sell a comic that has some spine dings or finger dents…white upc might have a little ink transfer from adjacent comics…definitely not NM. Maybe NM-. Still, I call it very fine plus (VF+) to be conservative and despite only asking $12 I add all 12 photos showing the major flaws.
Sells for $12. I ship it out. Seller now wants to return it as an “item not as described”.
Smh. I accept returns, but my policy is unless usps lost it or damaged it (or gross and obvious error on my end) I don’t refund shipping.
Obviously it’s $12 and silly to get worked up on, but my theory is the person wasn’t paying attention and didn’t read the description or examine the photos closely, thinking it was NM and now wants me to pay for his errors.
I politely said I accept returns, but I would need evidence as to what was “not as described” in order to process a full refund.
So far I’ve got nothing other than the return request…no reason other than the automatic eBay response. We’ll see how this goes. I’ll work with anyone to resolve the issue…my gut says this person knows they’re wrong and won’t own up to be accountable.
I’ve been an eBay “member” since a week after they started, 1995-96 I think … back then, I don’t believe there was even photo capability … so, you had to describe fully … when I was more than 20 years younger back then, and really hustled, I had a peak year of $130K in eBay sales alone in 2000 …
Since 2007, after the financial crash, I cut back as buyers got a bit scarce … eBay continued to tighten up, making about any reason possible for a buyer to return … you used to be able to put a negative on a Buyer as well …
Now a days, I won’t bother with anything that I can’t at least make $50 clams on … and, I try and stick with more obscure material, since folks that collect Crumb, or other older Independent books tend to be mature Collectors and much more stable in their expectations … they are not chasing the Book of the Week, IOW …
My eBay “followers” (1800 or so) date back a long ways, and they trust me … I’ll go nose to nose with any Grading Service on the Planet, because I’m as good or better after all these decades than the best they have … my customers know that I will personally curate any book I list …
I respect, very much so, those of you that do the eBay grind … I just have no interest in the hassle of selling material that won’t bring some coin … that’s just me …
I am glad eBay is there, however … it helped get my Business through some tough times, it helped unload material that if I was lucky, once in a Blue Moon a walk-in might ask about … and it still does …
I hate eBay because, IMO, it sort of killed the Collector Market … you know, the guy that would just happen to be in town for one reason or another and would come in with a paper list in hand … and we’d go through it and he’d walk out the door with a stack, happy to have filled in some gaps …
Now, just type in what you want and voila, take your pick … I like being the guy that when someone searches for “Angelfood McSpade”, I may just have some …