Can water damage REALLY do this to an auto?

EDIT: I don't think I'm getting scammed any more but I've looked this card over up and down and I can't tell what the hell is going on. The auto looks this exact same. This is the card I sold on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270913737316#ht_500wt_969

It is a refractor autographed in BLUE INK (of course) and it was #'d 003/199 in gold serial #'ing (of course) on the back. I don't have the scan of the back of the card, but I hope my reputation as a member and ebay seller would lead you to believe me.

I send the card out the day after the buyer pays, as usual, and a day or two later (I cannot remember but it was a rather quick response b/c he's in Baltimore, MD and I'm in Laurel, MD, I get a message stating (paraphrasing):

The card appears to have been sitting out in the sun and has watermarks all over it. This is not the same card that was pictured in your auction.

At this point, anything this low of a sale, I don't question. I just request he sends the card back and I refund them in full b/c I believe it to be buyer's remorse and I don't want negative feedback. I SHIPPED THE CARD WELL PROTECTED IN A BUBBLE ENVELOPE.

Well I get the card today. Here is what I got:



Immediately I'm pissed b/c I think its a bait and switch and this guy scammed me. No way that this is my card. Look at the auto in GREEN. Look at all the water marks on the front of the card.

Then I flip it over and see this on the back:



I'm not sure if you can see it, but if the upper right hand corner where the serial #'ing is SUPPOSED to be, there is a VERY faded "003/199". It is NOT in gold. It is basically and indentation.

Is this legit and a card "sitting in water and the sun" could turn an ink auto from blue to green and completely remove the gold lettering of the serial number?

I think water could easily do that, but unless it came to him in one of the "we're sorry" usps envelopes, then he did that.

Ok the link to my store is not working

It's (the back of the card) got a brownish color, almost like it was dropped in dirty water.

So...he's had it for 2 months?

markakis8 said:

Ok the link to my store is not working

Click to expand...

I have yet to see an eBay link work on this site.

sportscardtheory said:

I have yet to see an eBay link work on this site.

Click to expand...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-PRIME-CUTS-ANDRE-DAWSON-EMBLEMS-OF-THE-HALL-AUTO-JERSEY-3-11?item=160785582634&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7884450185977843951

Can someone technically sound post a picture of my ebay picture?

ChasHawk said:

So...he's had it for 2 months?

Click to expand...

I edited my post. I listed it on Feb 11, lol. He paid on April 11th, so it could not have been more than a couple of days b/c I remember people I file non-paying claims against and he wasn't one. So it was a couple weeks ago when he bought it. He paid on the 11th, I shipped on the 12th, I can guarantee it.

If someone can find a way to get a picture of the original, here was the auction title:



[h=1]Hunter Mercado-Hood 2011 Chrome Draft USA refractor rookie RC auto #'d 003/199[/h]

markakis8 said:

I edited my post. I listed it on Feb 11, lol. He paid on April 11th, so it could not have been more than a couple of days b/c I remember people I file non-paying claims against and he wasn't one. So it was a couple weeks ago when he bought it. He paid on the 11th, I shipped on the 12th, I can guarantee it.

Click to expand...

Ok, I misunderstood.

Edit - can't get it to show.

Here is the Google search - first link. https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Hunter+Mercado-Hood+2011+Chrome+Draft+USA+refractor+rookie+RC+auto+%23'd+003%2F199

You need to put your ebay store back in your profile info Carl...

Still says listing removed even though my link is correct.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270913737316

That works^^

After tinkering around in photoshop there is no doubt its the same card.

I agree - this is the same card.

If you click this small picture you will see the 2 cards on top of each other. You can see there is no difference between autographs.

markakis8 said:

Well I get the card today. Here is what I got:

Click to expand...

These look like the same exact card. Unless he signed 2 stickers in the exact same spot and Topps placed them both on 003/199 cards so that the autographs matched up perfectly in the same place.

Ok, I'm not against believing it's the same card. I mean I viewed it myself and it wouldn't surprise me if it was. How the hell does the serial #'ing completely rub off? Did he stick the card in vinegar?

Was there really a question that they weren't the same card?

The buyer droped it in something and screwed you over. Post his id, block, move on.

Sucks, but what can you do? ebay won't do anything for you.

Carl - the serial # is just foil that is machine stamped into the surface of the card. Water would easily take that off.

Take a cheap serial #'d card and put it in water. The guy's kid probably did it or something.

ChasHawk said:

Was there really a question that they weren't the same card?

The buyer droped it in something and screwed you over. Post his id, block, move on.

Sucks, but what can you do? ebay won't do anything for you.

Carl - the serial # is just foil that is machine stamped into the surface of the card. Water would easily take that off.

Take a cheap serial #'d card and put it in water. The guy's kid probably did it or something.

Click to expand...

Yes.
ID please.
So I can block.