Won an auction - now I need your opinions

[aallanson]

If you were to use a glove over summer, that would add second-hand usage to the item. I wouldn't put washing a jersey in same category as its common practice for a team to do so if they decide to use it in multiple games, the same reason I assume team repairs are done. And let's not forget that prior to bidding on the jersey he was fine with my description. It wasn't until he looked at the auction photos and noticed the difference and to add to that, the auction description made no mention of it being "un-washed". I let the seller know that myself, after he asked, after he already purchased the jersey.

What you let me know in your response to my inquiry was that I was "a moron," a "joke boy," and also that it "was a shame that I didn't get to bury my nose in (the player's) musk." Let's not pretend any different now that other people are reading your words. You didn't mention in your description that you washed the jersey. I asked you what happened to the marks on the jersey since you acquired it at auction. You responded that you "washed the jersey because it was absolutely putrid." Those were your responses.

[Stanley]

Would you have paid more with more dirt? You bid with the amount of dirt you saw on it. And you were happy.

[aallanson]

Would you have paid more with more dirt? You bid with the amount of dirt you saw on it. And you were happy.

You are not asking the right question here. I will ask the right question and answer it for you as well. Would I have bid on it had I known it has been washed (and for sake of accuracy, I will say that this was a Buy it now/best offer listing, not an auction)? The answer to that question is no.

[Stanley]

I understand. And feel that the seller should have a detailed description. And I feel that there was some deception. I hope it works out for you in future bidding.

[aallanson]

I understand. And feel that the seller should have a detailed description. And I feel that there was some deception. I hope it works out for you in future bidding.

Thank you, Stanley. I appreciate that. i don't think the seller intended to deceive me, but I do wish he had included all the pertinent information in his listing. I hope he adds in the fact that he washed the jersey when he relists it for sale.

[aallanson]

Would you have paid more with more dirt? You bid with the amount of dirt you saw on it. And you were happy.

Here's another question and answer: Would I have made an offer on the jersey had I known that it would be impossible to photomatch it because the second owner of the jersey washed the jersey after receiving it and didn't disclose that information on his auction when he listed it for sale? The answer is, again, no.

[SBRBACK]

Here's another question and answer: Would I have made an offer on the jersey had I known that it would be impossible to photomatch it because the second owner of the jersey washed the jersey after receiving it and didn't disclose that information on his auction when he listed it for sale? The answer is, again, no.

If you had done your research and asked questions, I would have let you know before-hand. Also, every listing including one of my own where if a jersey is unwashed, it would be listed as "unwashed". Never in my experience of collecting jerseys have a just assumed a jersey comes unwashed. It might be common now, but it is usually included in the listing if it is unwashed, not implied.

[aallanson]

If you had done your research and asked questions, I would have let you know before-hand. Also, every listing including one of my own where if a jersey is unwashed, it would be listed as "unwashed". Never in my experience of collecting jerseys have a just assumed a jersey comes unwashed. It might be common now, but it is usually included in the listing if it is unwashed, not implied.

I have to guess what you did to your item? Or maybe you were hoping to sell it without disclosing that you washed it. NFL auctions received it unwashed and subsequently sold it that way. The auction house sold it unwashed. You received it unwashed. You washed it. Then you listed it for sale and didn't mention that fact.

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Without outing the auction (or the seller) I have a question for the group. So I won an auction for a game worn NFL jersey this morning. Before paying for it, I decided to do a little more due diligence. After surfing around the Web I found the original auction house auction where the seller won the jersey. When I saw the auction house photos I noticed that the jersey in the auction house listing was more soiled than the jersey in the ebay auction. Noticeably so. So I messaged the seller and asked why the stains were missing from the jersey and he told me that he washed it because it stunk. That information was not in the ebay listing. Now I can't photomatch it and I can't even point back to the original auction house listing for provenance. Now what am I supposed to do? Should I have to pay for it? I consider it vital information that was concealed and I also consider the jersey to be altered. Am I wrong? Please let me know your opinions. Thanks.

I would actually ask the seller for a statement of provenance and the original receipt. If you can photo match the original "stained" picture, a notarized statement to the effect of "I purchased the jersey from X auction. I have held the jersey in my possession since that purchase. It was washed to remove odors, but this is the original jersey." would likely suffice. i'd have the seller take photos and include them with the statement.

That said, I think you're still obligated to purchase, since washing the jersey isn't an alteration. It's not like they added or removed letters or numbers. With a bat, I could see how washing or cleaning the bat would be altering the surface, but with jerseys... they're meant to be washed. The teams wash them.