I recently sold a graded Van Gogh Pikachu on eBay. I packaged up the slab and sent it off to eBay Authentication. Yesterday I got a phone call from eBay informing me that the package I sent out appeared to be opened and retaped. Instead of finding the slab, they found a Mega Evolutions booster pack (along with a few bonus items I included).
I can’t believe someone would go through the trouble of figuring out my package had a valuable item, taking out the item, and replacing it with a booster pack? Wouldn’t it just be easier to steal the whole package? Has this happened to you before?
I did pay more for additional insurance on eBay (looks like it’s through a third party: InterState Fire and Casualty Company). eBay has since taken the funds back from me and I made an insurance claim. Has anyone gone though this process before? eBay said that they would hold the package for 10 days in case the insurance company needs them however the insurance company says they would get back to me in up to 2 weeks…
Anywho, it’s been a bummer of a time but I wanted to share my experience and hopefully learn some tips from others. Thanks!
That’s a major bummer. Was there any sort of indication on the outside of the package that it contained Pokemon? I’ve seen dingus sellers put stickers on the outside of packages that make it super obvious there are Pokemon cards inside.
But also yes because it’s clearly labeled to be shipped to a specific eBay authentication address and not a home address. Over a certain amount I have to ship it to eBay to be authenticated before it gets sent to the buyer.
Maybe sorry for asking, but I couldn’t see from your message whether you’re the seller or the buyer of this slab? I think the first.. But:
Assuming you’re the seller:
Very weird for someone to replace the stolen slab with a random booster pack.. That’s such a random thing to do.. Why put something back at all if you stole it anyway, except maybe for weight, but why a random booster pack?
Although it’s not too surprising eBay took your money (to refund the buyer), even if it clearly wasn’t your fault and it’s stolen. That’s for you and the shipping company, or insurance company for the shipment in this case, to figure out I guess. Still sucks, though!
Assuming you’re the buyer:
If not for the tempering with the package, I might have thought the seller made a big mistake and swapped the address/contents of two buyers. Pretty weird the thief put a random booster pack inside it, though.
A more logical explanation of that booster pack is that it’s just a random gift from the seller, in addition to the (now stolen) slab you’ve actually bought? Although I don’t collect too many graded cards myself, I am an EU middleman for a friend who does collect graded cards, and some packages with heavy hitters have contained random booster packs as extra gift more than once. Kinda like gifting some random commons with a rare single, but here it’s a random modern booster pack with a slab.
The tear in the package and missing slab still indicates someone stole it during transit though.
Not sure I understand the part where you stated “eBay has since taken the funds back from me” if you’re the buyer, though.
It’s just bad luck. We see the same stories with UPS and Fedex, so changing the courier probably wouldn’t make a difference.
It sucks that the address is so obvious to know what’s inside. It mine as well say “valuable graded card” on it.
Things that can help: your return address should be generic, like just your po box, instead of “Pokémon Collectibles”
Your packaging should be brown or manilla in color to blend in. Using colorful bubble mailers makes it stand out. Not saying this was the issue, but things to consider.
I’ve shipped packages from $0.01 to $10,000+ through USPS. For anything over $300, I use Signature Tracking. Packages with a signature requirement have a significantly lower rate of shenanigans. Regarding materials, I solely use white boxes.
If you’re looking for an insurer for your collection / collectible shipments.
a box is way less likely to get destroyed (and maybe even lost), bubble mailers can get crushed pretty easily and the slabs will crack. the $100 thing is just the default insurance usps has without buying any additional
Assuming you use a nondescript return address (either real name, non obvious company name or no name at all), it kinda sounds to me someone at your local office or even regional distribution center knows your name/address and what you sell. It might be worth getting a PO box at another office if you want to stick to USPS, but otherwise the only other option would be going with another service.
That’s such a random thing to do.. Why put something back at all if you stole it anyway, except maybe for weight, but why a random booster pack?
Pretty weird the thief put a random booster pack inside it, though.
