Review: Check Out My Cards Purchase

On November 23, the online trading card store Check Out My Cards (www.COMC.com) had a “Black Friday” sale. For you Canadians, that is what the day after American Thanksgiving is called, since it is the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. Retailers would “black out” the schedule for that day–meaning, NO ONE was getting a day off on the day after Thanksgiving; everyone had to show up and work because it would be so busy.

The Black Friday Promotion: Many of the cards on COMC were marked down from their original asking price and shipping was free if you ordered 10 or more cards. Plus, you were given 10 cents store credit for every card you bought. I believe this sale was to help push traffic to beta test their new website, as the old site (www.CheckOutMyCards.com) is being phased out for the new one (www.comc.com).

A Bit of Background: For those unfamiliar with COMC, their business works a bit differently than other online card sellers like Sportlots or the Beckett Marketplace. Those who wish to sell their trading cards through COMC actually send their cards to COMC, who in turn scans and lists the cards, and then ships them when ordered. This is good for buyers, because you might purchase cards from 20 different sellers, but only pay shipping from the COMC warehouse.

I was going to order from COMC in the past, but until recently their shipping policy was different, charging you an initial fee plus a per-card fee. For example, fellow blogger Shane ordered 169 cards and spent almost $50 to ship an $86 purchase!

So, you can see why I was reluctant to order from COMC. But as I mentioned before, they were offering free shipping on orders placed on Black Friday, negating this extra (and excessive) shipping charge.

Without further ado, here is my review of my COMC purchase.

Website Ease of Use – 5 out of 5: As many of you may know, I am a professional web designer, so I tend to scrutinize sites more than your average card collector. But this is a review of my overall experience of ordering from COMC, and not just their website.

COMC Website — Check Out My Card’s new website.

COMC’s new website was intuitive and easy to use. At the top is a big search box so you can type in what you are looking for; a MUST on any retail website.

Search results show up quickly, and you can easily click on any keywords you initially searched for to see more cards of a given player, set or year. You can also filter for rookie, memorabilia, autographed or serial-numbered cards.

The list view pages–where you see all cards of a player, set or year–are well-designed and offer multiple viewing options to suit your web browsing habits. COMC defaults to a left-to-right gallery view, but you can easily toggle to a top-down list view, a thumbnails-only view and a text-only view.

Pages default to 12 results per page–too low, in my opinion–but you can easily change this to up to 100 items per page. Items can be sorted by price, book value, release year, print run or card number.

Speaking of which, COMC lists the cards in proper numeric order. For example, the Beckett Marketplace will list card 1, then cards 10-19, then cards 100-199, then card 2, then cards 20-29, then cards 200-299, and so forth. This always annoyed me greatly, so I am thankful that COMC orders the cards the way they should be.

2010-11 Artifacts #201 - Cam Fowler — I paid less than half of “book” value for this Cam Fowler redemption rookie card.

Prices – 3 out of 5: Look for any card on COMC, and chances are you will find multiple sellers offering the same card at very different prices. For example, a 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier Jaromir Jagr rookie card–ungraded–ranges from $4.73 to $8.00. Some dealers opted to discount their cards by 20% or more on Black Friday, while others did not.

During the sale, each card’s “book value” was listed alongside its price for each card. I thought this was very helpful in making decisions of what to buy. An “asking price” of $15 for a card “worth” $15 makes me want to look elsewhere first. But if I saw the card had a book value of $15 and an asking price for far less, I did not hesitate. I hope COMC restores this feature.

Common cards were listed “Less Than $1” for their book value. But common cards were COMCs biggest weakness when it came to prices. Cards that should realistically sell for between a nickel and a quarter tended to be priced between 50 to 75 cents. For one card, paying a bit much is no big deal. But if you needed 30 cards to finish off your 1992-93 Upper Deck Hockey set, would you really want to spend $21?

On the other hand, “middle of the road” cards were priced to move. Cards withink the $5 to $20 range were priced competitively, and usually far lower than so-called “book” value. I bought many 2010-11 Artifacts cards, with Beckett values of around $5 for between $1 and $1.50. I also nabbed a Cam Fowler redemption RC (BV of $12) for $5.69 and a Nino Niederreiter redemption RC (BV of $15) for $6.25. Suddenly, overpaying for a few commons did not seem so bad.

Shipping Time – 4 out of 5: I ordered cards on Friday, November 23 and received them on Friday, November 30. I think one week is a fair turnaround time for a card order, especially since mail gets slower around the holidays. There are ways to get your cards faster from COMC, but that depends on your shipping option. Which brings us to our next point…

Shipping Cost – 5 out of 5: Yes, I did get free shipping, but COMC is now charging a flat rate of $3.00 per order, which I think is extremely fair. You can upgrade to “Rapid” shipping for $1.99 more, or Priority Mail for an extra $4.99. There even are faster and more expensive options, too. Orders using basic shipping are packed within a week, while all other shipping options pack and send your order within one business day. Some of these cards I’ve needed for 20 years, so a few extra days won’t affect me.

Packing – 5 out of 5: COMC offers buyers the option to add 20 cents per card to have a card placed in a toploader before shipping. Most of the cards I bought were cheap, so I was not going to pay extra. COMC’s business is selling cards, so of course I’d expect them to be well packed.

But, COMC exceeded my expectations for how my order was packaged. I ordered 58 cards. They came packaged in a 300-count box:

Inside of that 300-count box was a smaller box that held my cards, along with some Styrofoam packing peanuts and a copy of my order.

Additionally, each card was in a penny sleeve.

Considering that this is COMC’s lowest-priced shipping option, I was extremely satisfied. Obviously, I would not expect a larger order (say around 300 cards) to be double-boxed, but putting every card in a penny sleeve by default goes a long way in keeping cards “ding” and edge-wear free during transit.

Overall: Ordering from COMC allowed me to get many cards that I needed from different sellers, but they were all shipped from one location. In the future, this will give me the best of both worlds: a wide variety and inexpensive shipping. COMC is great for mid-to-higher dollar value cards, but not the most cost-efficient way to purchase numerous commons.

For $3 shipping, I suggest you check out Check Out My Cards and see if they can help you fill a few holes in your set. You can visit their website at http://www.COMC.com.

Card of the Week: Lester B. Pearson RC

1952 Topps Look ‘N’ See #99 – Lester B. Pearson

Being an American, I was not really knowledgeable about Lester B. Pearson, other than he had a National Hockey League trophy named after him. I was vaguely aware of his political career. Then again, I couldn’t name all of the U.S. Presidents if asked to do so (I failed that test in fourth grade, FYI). Yet, the name Lester B. Pearson was one of those names synonymous with excellence in hockey, like Art Ross or Conn Smythe. So, does he have a rookie card? Yes, he does–but it isn’t in a hockey set.

Pearson never played professional hockey, but he did excel at the collegiate level. He played for Oxford University’s Ice Hockey Club, which won the first-ever Spengler Cup invitational in 1923. Later, he would coach the University of Toronto’s varsity hockey team.

But it is politics is what Pearson is famous for. He would serve Canada as their Ambassador to the United States, as a member of Canadian Parliament, the President of the United Nations General Assembly and the Prime Minister of Canada. Plus, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his efforts in ending the Suez Crisis, and he pushed for the redesign of the Canadian flag to the one we all now know and love.

Overall, Pearson was a pretty awesome guy, so I understand why a hockey trophy had to be named after him. From 1971 to 2010, the Lester B. Pearson Award was given to the best NHL player as voted by the Players’ Association.

The Pearson Award has made several cardboard appearances over the years, including 1990-91 Pro Set (left) and 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee (right).

As for Pearson himself, he has appeared in a scant few card sets because he was not a professional athlete. He had a card in the 2008-09 Upper Deck Masterpieces set, but his very first card appears in 1952 Topps Look ‘N’ See, a set that features historical figures such as politicians, generals, explorers and inventors.

Click pictures to enlarge

Each Look ‘N’ See card has a trivia question on the back. To read the answer, you lay a piece of clear red plastic over it to reveal hidden text. The answer to the question on Pearson’s card is “He’s the head of the Canadian delegation.”

Here, Pearson is depicted as just a humble U.N. Delegate. As far as trading cards of politicians go, this works well as a “rookie card,” as it shows him before he went on to become a Nobel Peace Prize winner and Prime Minister of Canada.

In 2010, the Lester B. Pearson Award was renamed the Ted Lindsay Award, which is a more fitting moniker. While few politicians have equaled the good he did nationally and internationally, Lindsay’s efforts and sacrifice led to the formation of the NHLPA.

The award for best player as voted by his peers should be named after Lindsay, given that what he did directly benefited NHL players. But after learning about Pearson, I wish his name was still somehow associated with hockey. Perhaps the name Lester B. Pearson will once again grace the placard of a trophy.

Review: 1997-98 Pinnacle

In the quest to put out product quickly and cheaply, sports cards manufacturers, like drug dealers, have consistently undervalued the power of quality.

Of course, it’s because they know the junkies will keep buying.

This doesn’t mean that the addicts have lost all discernment, however. Personally, I fiend for powerful sports photography in my cards.

Granted, investing in sports photography is not a moneymaking venture for card companies.

But occasionally, those of us who appreciate a beautifully-photographed set are given a treat. From the first years of Upper Deck to Topps’s Stadium Club, and even now, with Upper Deck’s annual flagship release, we see cards that capture the grace of Sergei Fedorov gliding and the crunch of Rob Blake hitting and the explosion of 16,000 fans screaming.

Pinnacle, which debuted so ignominiously by having different sports share the same funereal design in 1991…and 1992…and 1993, finally chucked the black for sun dresses in their 1994-95 flagship release, continuing this theme until their last release in 1997-98 (before the brand’s recent revival by Panini).

1997-98 Pinnacle was one of my first boxes ever because of its affordability and stunning photography. I also pulled one of my first big pulls from it. But before we get to that, let’s spotlight a few of those wonderful pictures: Continue reading “Review: 1997-98 Pinnacle”

What Game Would I Watch Today?

I recently acquired the latest edition of the National Hockey League Official Rules (Triumph Books, $9.95)

Every blogger who writes about hockey should have a copy of this handy for the next time they need clarification on Rule 46.1.

But the 2012-13 edition of the rulebook is special for a very particular reason. In the last few pages, it lists the complete 2012-13 NHL schedule of games. That is, all the games that were cancelled due to this lockout–as well as all the future games that will probably get cancelled too.

As of today–November 25–we have lost 294 games to the lockout. But the NHL has announced the cancellation of every game through December 14, bringing the total number of cancelled matches to 422.

Obviously, I was not going to watch each and every NHL game that was broadcast–who would have the time or attention span for that? But I am always good for a game or two per day. And now, I am really starting to miss NHL hockey.

So, every day on Twitter, I will tweet what game or games I would watch that day. It will give me a reason to use my often-dormant Twitter account for purposes other than tweeting about new cards I bought. You can see my Twitter page here. If you use Twitter, follow me and I will probably follow you back.

(Oh, and Rule 46.1 is about fighting, if you did not know.)

1963-64 Parkhurst #45 – Andre Pronovost

At this point, it seems like I have pretty much acquired almost every “cheap” card from the 1963-64 Parkhurst Hockey set. Now, all that remains are the pricier cards that “book” for between $50 and $75. So, when I found this card of Andre Pronovost for $6–and it was a card that I still needed–I did not hesitate in buying it. (along with a fairly-priced Cesar Maniagio RC). And just like that, I am now over 2/3 of the way towards competing this set.

Parkhurst Percent Counter: 67%

1953-54 Parkies – 4 Hawks and a Hab

Last weekend, I attended a card show and was able to chip away at my 1953-54 Parkhurst Hockey set. For some reason, I always seem to buy these cards in multiples of 5–5 in March, another 5 in July and 15 last December. Here are my latest additions: 4 Chicago Black Hawks and 1 Montreal Canadiens.

76 – Bill Gadsby – This was the best card in the group, in regards to the player and the condition. Gadsby is in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and this card has minimal corner wear.

69 – Jim Peters – On the other hand, this card is in not the best condition. The corners are worn, and it appears that the printing registration was off. This is particularly noticeable if you look at the Black Hawks insignia on his sweater.

84 – Gerald “Doc” Couture – The 1953-54 season would be Couture’s last in the NHL. He won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1950.

74 – Larry Wilson – Wilson also won the Cup with the Red Wings in 1950. He is the brother of Johnny Wilson and the father of longtime NHL coach Ron Wilson

33 – Ken Mosdell – He won 4 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and the last active member of the Brooklyn Americans–an NHL team that folded after 1942, reducing the team to its “Original Six” teams.

These 5 cards put me at 47 out of 100, so I have this one almost halfway completed. I also need the variation of Fleming Mackell (#91) that has the bio on the back. I have the one without the bio. In the unlikely event that anyone has 1953-54 Parkies for trade, I have added what I need to my Want List.

Card ‘Toons

NOTE: I am happy to introduce a new author on Puck Junk. Steve Galvao is, in his own words, “a good old Canadian kid” who grew up loving hockey and collecting hockey cards. He recently merged his love of hockey, card collecting and cartooning, and will be contributing his ‘toons to Puck Junk every week or so. – Sal

To see more of Steve’s work, visit his website, the Shoebox Collection.

1963-64 Parkhurst #99 – Cesar Maniago

Card #99 in the 1963-64 Parkhurst Hockey set is special for a few reasons. It is the only horizontal card in an otherwise vertical set. It is action-oriented and the only one in the set to feature a goal net.

It is also the last card in the set. Usually, the first and last cards in vintage sets carry a premium because they were susceptible to rubber band marks or wear from being the “end cards” when stored. It is a rookie card and a card of a goalie–two other reasons that make it desirable. After Gordie Howe, this Cesar Maniago card is the second-most expensive card in the set.

I had only seen this card once before, about 3 years back, and it was priced at “full book value” of $175. I passed on buying it, partially because I could not afford it (always a good reason), and partially because I have this foolish notion that if I wait long enough and keep my eyes open, I can find any card I want at a price I want to pay. Within reason, of course. But I always wondered if I made a mistake by not buying it; by not trying to work out something with the card dealer.

I did not make a mistake.

This past weekend, I found this beautiful card at a show near Chicago. A dealer who specializes in vintage hockey cards had it in a box of “lesser grade” cards. It was tagged at half of “high book” value because of some corner wear, but it looked pretty darn good to me. I bought another old Parkie, too, and he knocked off an additional 10%. All said and done, I got this card for $80–which sounds steep until you consider that $80 is far less than $175.

No creases. No stains. Just a little corner wear that I can live with. My patience has paid off, and this puts me one large step closer to finishing the set I started 4 years ago. I am 2/3 of the way there.

Parkhurst Percent Counter: 66%

2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Case Break

I bought a sealed case–12 hobby boxes–of 2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Hockey. Below is the breakdown of what I got in each box. NOTE: This blog post has a lot of images.

Continue reading “2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Case Break”

I bought a case of OPC

That is, I bought 12 boxes–or 384 hobby packs–of 2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Hockey.

Crazy, right?

I’ve never bought a case of cards before. But yesterday, the 22-pound behemoth you see above was delivered to my front door.

I had to rationalize this expense–as most collectors would. I did put in some OT at my job last month, so these cards are paid for. I waited and waited and found the best available online price from a retailer who offered an additional $25 off. Plus, no tax and no shipping costs.

But I also had to come up with numerous good reasons why I should buy a whole freakin’ case, and not just a few hobby boxes.

I will get a complete base set (and then some)
I will get 192 Short Prints–hopefully one of each of the 100 possible
I will get 384 Retro Variants
I will get roughly 128 Stickers–hopefully at least one copy of 1-100
I will get 24 Pop Ups, which I’ll probably want to keep too
I will get 4 patch cards, and can probably sell those and make back a good portion of my money
I will get the 2 OPC Signatures cards. I do enjoy autographs.
I will get the case hit Team Canada autograph. I would like to have that card too.
I will get all of the box bottom cards, and have more left over to trade
I will have 384 wrappers leftover that I could potentially trade to a Canadian collector for Upper Deck’s “Canada Only” OPC promotion
I will have 96 Rainbow Parallels that I could potentially trade for the Retro Variants or Pop-Ups I still need.

Of course, I may not get a complete set out of the deal, might get shorted on an autograph and get the worst possible “hits” imaginable.

Then again, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Wish me luck.