My magic card listings were becoming too bulky when I tried to cover everything in each listing, so I have moved the fuller description of my store and auction policies for magic card auctions to this About Me section, as follows:
Combined Shipping: New! Additional singles-type purchases now have FREE combined shipping for US buyers -- and remain only 10 cents per card internationally!
Please note that my combined shipping policy stated here is for SINGLES-TYPE LISTINGS ONLY. If you are also buying one or more larger lots of cards, please refer to any shipping price explanation in the description for those lots or contact me to get a shipping/handling quote.
For purchasers in the US, combined shipping will be calculated by taking the highest-priced shipping cost, then adding the combined shipping prices for any other LOTS purchased, and then any singles-type purchases are FREE shipping! If the purchase consists solely of singles-type purchases, then the first $2.50 will cover all of the shipping and handling! Within the US, I usually ship USPS First Class using Paypal (which I can do whether or not you pay via Paypal). If I am able to ship using a Paypal label, Paypal will automatically include delivery confirmation and you will receive an email notifying the shipment date when the shipping label is created. If I ship via the automated machines at the Post office, I will still send you a separate email letting you know when the shipping took place, and I will have a receipt from the Post office should you like to have a copy emailed to you. For international purchasers, combined shipping will be calculated by taking the highest-priced shipping cost, then adding the combined shipping prices for any other LOTS purchased, and then for any singles-type purchases the shipping/handling fee will be 10 cents per item, with one item usually being one card for store purchases (for auctions, frequently one item may be more than one card, such as a playset -- however the auction is titled). The shipping and handling fee for a single/for the first singles-type purchase internationally is $3.50 ($2.50 for Canada). Internationally, the cards will typically go out by USPS Air Mail (now renamed First Class Mail International), although I reserve the right to ship by other methods of similar or better speed if they prove more cost-effective. I may also choose to send expensive packages by Registered Mail at my own discretion (and cost).
Combined Shipping requires a SINGLE PAYMENT
To take advantage of this offer all auctions with combined shipping must be paid for in a single payment. If eBay's invoicing seems correct, you can use eBay's combined invoice, but eBay's combined shipping does not handle everything correctly (especially insurance). If eBay's shipping seems incorrect, just send me an email and I will return an invoice with the combined shipping as quickly as possible. Paypal levies additional flat fees with each separate payment, so if you make separate payment for one or more purchases and contact me afterwards for combined shipping, I will still combine shipping if your cards have not already been mailed out, but I will pass Paypal's additional flat fees on to you. Normally I expect that all items to be combined in one shipment will be purchased within a seven-day period; however, if you are intending to bid on auctions separated by over more than a 7 day period and would like to hold on shipping the cards so that you may combine more shipping, contact me and I will do my best to accommodate you within reason.
Insurance only offered in US, sorry
I do not offer insurance for international purchases as a matter of course due to the large variation on expense and because it usually creates a huge increase in the price of the shipping. If you wish to purchase insurance for an international sale, please contact me in advance so that we can work something out. Please note that if you send me payment which includes the insurance fee offered for the US I will refund the fee and ship without insurance unless we work something out individually as described above.
However, please be aware that I cannot be responsible for any shipments which are damaged in transit (unless of course it were the case that I did something different in my packaging than usual which led to the damage) or lost in the mail, including for international purchases for which I do not normally offer insurance. In my experience, this is not a great concern, as I have mailed a very large number of international M:tG purchases to date, the vast majority of them without either registration or insurance, and while I have had a number of instances where the packages have been quite slow to arrive (for example, taking slightly over a month to arrive) I have had very few packages that have not arrived, and I have had only one report ever of cards damaged (I package very carefully).
Packaging Practices
I do my best to ensure safe, secure packaging for all of my items. Cards will typically ship either in bubble envelopes, USPS custom packaging for priority mail or the like, or in card boxes designed for collectible cards, depending on the number of cards involved in the purchase. Rares will generally be sleeved and more valuable rares will usually be in top loaders. I have a wide range of sizes of ziplock bags and the like and I try to make sure that all cards, even commons etc. are encased in at least one layer of plastic in case the shipper manages to expose the packages to any moisture.
Payment Options
I currently accept PayPal (including ATM & credit card through PayPal) for all orders -- if you are making a purchase from outside the US and Canada, I ask that you please pay via Paypal unless getting individual clearance from me IN ADVANCE to use another form of payment. For US/Canadian purchasers, I will also accept cashier's checks, and money orders as long as they are in US currency. I will also accept personal checks, but ONLY (1) from US banks, (2) using US currency and (3) from purchasers having at least a 10 feedback rating (with no negatives if under 25 rating). Please do not send cash -- I can't be responsible for cash lost or stolen in the mail.
I expect payment within 14 days of the end of the auction. I usually am able to ship United States orders within three *business* days of receiving payment; if I am delayed in sending your purchase much longer than that I will typically email you to alert you to whatever problem has taken place and in my discretion may choose to up the speed of shipping for free or otherwise include freebies with your purchase. I also try to send international purchases in a similar time frame, but as I have to travel to the post office to send international packages, it will sometimes take me longer than for U.S. purchases. If I do not send an international purchase within 10 business days of payment, I again will typically email you to alert you to whatever problem has taken place and in my discretion may choose to up the speed of shipping for free or otherwise include freebies with your purchase.
Buyers with Poor Feedback
I sometimes have buyers who have poor prior feedback ratings (for example, under 10 feedback with one or more negative strikes, or any rating with multiple recent negative strikes). While I am happy to work with such buyers, I do reserve the right to require safeguards for myself, such as that the buyer provide me with a confirmed address for shipment (domestic) or shipment by registered mail to a confirmed address (international). If my buyer does not wish to go forward with the purchase given those requirements I will be happy to work with them to cancel the transaction without negative feedback results.
Problems from Your End (typically payment)
If I do not receive payment for your purchase(s) or reasonable communication from you for how to handle payment within 14 days I will typically send you an email asking you to contact me so that we can work out payment, and if I do not very shortly thereafter receive satisfactory contact from you I will start the non-paying bidder process. If we are not able to work something out during the non-paying bidder process then I will mark you with an unpaid item strike to get my eBay fees returned. My practice is not to leave negative feedback until all reasonable attempts to work with you are exhausted -- e.g., after the non-paying bidder process is completed. If I feel the need at that point to leave negative feedback, it will be done in a professional manner and will make my best attempt to describe the circumstances in the limited space available. I am generally interested in making any purchases work out as pleasantly as possible, so as long as I feel you are 1) communicating with me and 2) acting in good faith we should be able to work things out.
Problems from My End
In the same light, I hope to receive the same kind of treatment from my buyers as I try to provide for them: if you have any sort of problem with your transaction with me, please try to communicate your problem to me first and I will be happy to work with you to resolve the issue as long as it seems to me you are contacting me in good faith. As I've seen other sellers mention, once you leave negative feedback for me you take away much of my incentive to try to work with you to solve the problem.
Insurance (US only)/ Returns/ PayPal Buyer Protection
Insurance is optional for all US auctions/listings totalling $50.00 and under (single or combined) and will be $1.65 (the new post office rate). I'm sorry, but if you don't purchase insurance I cannot be responsible for shipments which are damaged in transit or lost in the mail. I usually use USPS insurance through Paypal, but please be aware that I also do sometimes use Auctiva's insurance services; in either case, should an insurance claim become necessary I will make every effort to assist in getting the insurance claim resolved. As a new offer, for purchases WITHIN THE US totalling $50 or over insurance will be provided FREE unless specifically provided otherwise in the listing. Insurance rates and offers described here do not apply for international purchases as also described above.
I accept returns as follows: If I have made an error with your sale, please contact me; I will typically be able to offer you several options to rectify the problem including a full refund with me covering all shipping. I will also accept returns *for any reason* within 7 days for a money back refund of the price of the cards, but if the refund is not due to any error of mine then the buyer will be expected to 1) return the cards in the condition originally stated when sold, 2) cover the return shipping costs, and 3) the original shipping and handling fees will NOT be refunded (since I've already done the shipping and handling). If I am refunding money based on cards being returned I will send the refund payment *after* the cards have arrived back to me.
Please note that if you choose to pay with PayPal my auctions qualify for PayPal Buyer protection (thanks everyone for the positive feedback!), but this differs somewhat from insurance; you can read a nice concise synopsis of PayPal Buyer protection by following the links from "See Eligibility" in the "Buy Safely" section underneath the "Meet the Seller" section.<
Blocked Bids
Sorry, but I have blocked bids from users with a negative feedback rating. I have also blocked bids from countries for which I have not listed that I will ship there (however most, but not all, of my singles listings are for worldwide delivery-- unfortunately, however, I cannot ship to Italy because Italy customs prohibits the importation of playing cards). If you fall into one of these categories but would like to bid, feel free to send me an email/question through eBay and I may OK you for bidding. However, I am not always able to get back to these questions before the listings end, so if I do not, I apologize in advance.
*PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS*
Card Grading Scale:
Mint (M): essentially a perfect card, and thus, practically no card can actually be graded mint, because even out of the package most cards show at least a bit of character ;)
Near Mint (NM): card shows little to no wear, perhaps having a few minor scratches and/or slight marks on the card's edges.
Excellent (E): typically this card has seen some play, but not heavy use. It has some minor scratches and/or worn edges, but should not show significant white wear, or mild white wear along more than one or two edges of the card. Occasionally this will include a card otherwise in great shape which has exceedingly mild wear along all four edges.
Very Good (VG): this card will show signs of prior play but should not have any marks which make the card easily identifiable. It will typically have some scratches and less than perfect edges, and might even have a very minor crease which is only visible on close examination of the card.
Good (G): card will immediately show signs of play and typically will show wear on all or almost all edges of the card, frequently on both card faces. It may have significant white depth along the edges and will probably be readily distinguished from cards in excellent or better condition but will lack marks which would distinguish the card from other cards in "good" condition.
Poor (P): any card in less than "good" condition. May have one or more distinguishing marks, creases, even tears, etc. I do not anticipate offering any cards in this condition, but if so, the condition of the cards will be pictured and discussed in the card description more thoroughly than here.
A + designation: on the grading scale above I grade cards conservatively, so if there is any doubt in my mind between which of two categories a card belongs I will pick the lower category. However, if the card is very close to the next upper category I will typically list it with a + designation. For example, a card which is very close to being near mint (NM) but perhaps shows a bit more white nicks in the edge than I would normally see in a near mint card may be described as excellent +.
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