http://www.sportscardforum.com/blogs/14196-SuperSteelerBlog Sports Cards Forum for sports card collectors to buy, sell and trade sports cards. en Sun, 19 May 2013 14:44:20 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.sportscardforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.sportscardforum.com/blogs/14196-SuperSteelerBlog http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/1737-Be-A-Smart-Trader!!! Mon, 13 May 2013 13:55:08 GMT Sometimes the obvious needs stated because it isn't quite so obvious to some. Read on...

1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is - This should be the way every trader approaches trading these days. SCF is easily the best trading site on the web simply because we have the largest membership of top-notch traders. However, it is naive to think that every single trader on any site is 100% trustworthy. If a new trader is offering you his $1000 sell value Adrian Peterson 1/1 auto for your $600 sell value Peyton Manning team logo auto /25 then you should be asking yourself why this guy is willing to take a $400 loss and not get caught up in the excitement of getting so much value for your card. If it seems too good to be true...

2. State what you are getting in the Trade Manager - This may seem like a no-brainer, but many, many people post trades in the Trade Manager with minimal information. If you post in the Trade Manager that you are to receive a "Jerry Rice GU" with no clarification of the year, brand or numbering, then when you are expecting to receive a Jerry Rice 3 color patch /10 and receive a single color jersey /250 it will be difficult to prove that you didn't get what was agreed upon. By simply taking the time to type in the year, brand and numbering you take a big step in protecting yourself.

3. Clear up the small details before agreeing to a trade - Don't assume that a trader will send within a certain time frame or packaged a certain way. SCF rules state that a 3 business day shipping time turnaround is required. If you agree to a trade on Friday and expect your trade partner to get their end shipped to you before Monday, clarify with them when they will be able to ship. If you expect a card to be shipped in a padded envelope, clarify that with your trade partner. No need to be rude or demanding, just simply say "I will be shipping in a padded envelope on Saturday, can you do the same?" and that will clear up a lot of questions and concerns that may arise.

Good luck and happy trading. Duane ]]> duane1969 http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/1737-Be-A-Smart-Trader!!! http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/532-How-To-Be-A-Smart-Trader-(aka-How-To-Win-Disputes) Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:11:36 GMT Lately there has been a rash of really bad decisions and really upset people because of their bad decisions. To that end I thought it might be a good idea to create a little "guide" on how to be a smart trader (and win disputes). These are the most common reasons that result in losing a dispute.

Keep Your Receipt!!
This is probably the single greatest "mistake" that i see. Something as simple as holding on to a postal receipt can mean the difference between winning and losing a dispute. By simply slipping it into you wallet or purse or putting it some place safe you can protect yourself from being expected to send something more if someone claims that they never received anything.

Personally, I have a little box that my bank checks came in sitting behind the computer monitor on my desk. When I get home from the post office I drop the receipt in the box. If later someone claims that they never received what I sent all I have to do is pull the receipt out of the box and scan it and Viola!! I have proof that I shipped.

For those of you that are wondering why I say keep your receipt and am not mentioning a Delivery Confirmation slip, the Dispute Team will accept a scan of a receipt as proof of shipping. So keep your receipt!!!

Safe Packaging Is A Must
This seems like a no-brainer but you wouldn't believe the number of disputes that I see where someone didn't put an extra 10 seconds of effort into safe shipping and they end up having to replace a damaged card.

A few tips for safer packaging:
* Don't use PWE. If you and your trade partner agree to use PWE then that is fine but you should be aware that you will be expected to replace cards that are damaged due to shipping in PWE.
* Tape the toploader shut. Packages get tossed around during shipping and cards slide out of toploaders and get bent and dinged in the package. By simply putting a piece of tape across the top of the toploader you can prevent this.
* Use extra padding. You can buy a roll of bubble wrap at WalMart for about $3 or you can reuse old padded envelopes to add a little extra padding to those hi-end cards and guarantee that they are safe from rough handling by the USPS workers.

Make MSF Traders Send First!!
Lately there has been an unbelievable amount of disputes in which veteran traders sent first/at the same time to Under 20 MSF traders and they get nothing in return. Let me say this as clearly as I can. If you ignore the MSF tag and send first anyway, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.

This may seem harsh but it is SCF policy. We put the MSF tag there to protect you. If you ignore it and send first anyway then you did it to yourself and you are on your own. We will not spend our time working to fix a problem that would not even exist if you had taken our advice and complied with the MSF tag to begin with.

I feel safe in saying that at least 90% of the scamming that happens on this site is done by Under 20 MSF traders. Protect yourself, make them send first!!!

Good luck in your trades and feel free to PM me anytime you have a question or concern.

- Duane ]]> duane1969 http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/532-How-To-Be-A-Smart-Trader-(aka-How-To-Win-Disputes) http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/513-Post-Redskins-Steelers-Game-Thoughts Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:57:57 GMT Just finished watching the Redskins-Steelers preseason game a bit ago (I Tivoed it, don't get confused wondering how I watched it almost 2 weeks after it aired LOL). I have some thoughts after watching the game that I thought I would share.....


1) Joe Theismann is an IDIOT!!! I have always respected him simply because he is a HOFer but this guy just doesn't know when to shut up.

2) The other commentator (don't know his name) has no idea what is going on. He called a run for 6 yards on 1st and 10 a first down run (apparently math isn't his strong point), when Steelers LB Donovan Woods made a special teams tackle he called him Lawrence Timmons (different number and different name on the back of the jersey, it should be easy to figure out the difference), when CB Keiwan Ratliff made an interception he said "Bailey with an interception!!"....who the freak is Bailey? We don't even have a Bailey on the team!!! The guy had NO IDEA what was going on and may not have even known what teams were playing.

3) Dennis Dixon should be the #2 QB. I like Batch but he is done. His passes were either short or behind the WR or high. His accuracy was poor and he seemed lost and confused. Dixon made plays with his arm and his legs. In a pinch Batch is fine but if BigBen went down for several games I don't think he is the guy to turn to.

4) Sweed is still dropping passes. He makes a few nice catches but still drops the ones he should be catching. IMO the #3 WR spot is still a toss-up. ]]> duane1969 http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/513-Post-Redskins-Steelers-Game-Thoughts http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/298-A-Little-Steelers-Love-For-The-Downtime Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:23:26 GMT *Well, things have slowed in the NFL world. The draft is still 2 weeks away, the hype of free agency has died down, the Steelers haters have finally stopped crying the blues over the Steelers winning... Well, things have slowed in the NFL world. The draft is still 2 weeks away, the hype of free agency has died down, the Steelers haters have finally stopped crying the blues over the Steelers winning another Lombardi Trophy. So I think it is time to put up some of my all-time favorite Steelers quotes and facts.

"It's like what they said about the raptor in Jurassic Park - one of us gets your attention, the other one gets you."
Greg Lloyd

"We're coming from everywhere. We play with 15 guys in the huddle. We have guys parachuting from airplanes, fans coming from out of the stands to help us go after people."
Kevin Greene

"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you (edit) well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler."
Jack Lambert, 1990 HoF Induction

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play."
Jack Lambert

FUNNIEST QUOTE I EVER READ
"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."
Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

"They say that when you're the champs, everybody will try to beat you. Well, I'm glad we're champs, so bring 'em on, bring 'em all on. If we die, we ain't gonna die running. It's gonna be a fight."
Joe Greene

And a few cool Steelers Facts:
- The Steelers are the only professional football team to have their logo on just one side of their helmet.
- #70 Ernie Stautner is the only jersey number ever retired by the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jersey #8 was not worn from 1940 until Tommy Maddox wore it in 2001. Nobody knows why.
- In the Steelers 1974 Super Bowl season, Terry Bradshaw was not the teams leading passer.
- In 1959 NFL Commisioner Bert Bell died while attending a Steelers game.
- Tony Dungy - While playing for the Steelers in 1977 he intercepted a pass and threw an interception in the same game.
- In 1979 the NFL took away the Steelers 3rd round pick because they practiced in padded during training camp. ]]> duane1969 http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/298-A-Little-Steelers-Love-For-The-Downtime http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/171-Steelers-Win-Number-6!!!!!!! Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:20:53 GMT They did it!!! I have to admit, I was literally on the edge of my seat for the final 8 minutes. I had a knot in my stomach the size of a softball and was wired tight. That was the most exciting end... They did it!!! I have to admit, I was literally on the edge of my seat for the final 8 minutes. I had a knot in my stomach the size of a softball and was wired tight. That was the most exciting end to a Super Bowl that I have ever seen.

To the BooBirds. Go ahead and cry. I know you will. It is what you do. No matter what happens, you will always try to belittle the best team in football. I am used to it. It is pathetic but it is what you do best, so enjoy it.

The simple fact of the matter is this:

• As great as Kurt Warner played this season, he was mediocre until the 4th quarter aginst the Steelers.
• In spite of the fact that Larry Fitzgerald has been amazing this post-season, he was nearly invisible in the entire first half. In fact, his first catch of the game didn't come until just 59 seconds remained in the first half and he didn't catch another pass until the 4th quarter.
• The "great" Cardinals offense only managed 7 points in the first 3 quarters.

What does all of this mean? Exactly what I said from early on...DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. I don't care how great the Cards offense is, if they can't move the ball, they can't score points.

The Cards only ran the ball 12 times the entire game and Fitz was essentially shut-out until the 4th quarter. When you can't/don't run the ball and you don't get the ball to your #1 WR you better be prepared to lose.

Good win Steelers!!!!!!

------------------------------------------

Also, I want to issue a congrats to Mike Tomlin for winning NFL Coach of the Year. He took a good team that faced the toughest schedule in the NFL and led them to another division championship and another Super Bowl victory.

Way to go Mike!!!!!!!!
]]> duane1969 http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/171-Steelers-Win-Number-6!!!!!!! http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/123-They-Did-It!!!!-the-Steelers-Are-In-The-Superbowl-AGAIN!!!! Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:48:27 GMT I am so excited right now. Going to a 2nd Superbowl in 4 years should muffle the whining down a bit over the last one (I still don't see how the Steelers cheated when the refs are the ones who made the questionable calls).

So here we go. The Steelers get to unleash their pass rush against one of the leagues top passing offenses. It should be fun. This is a perfect situation for the Steelers because they get to pin their ears back and go after Kurt Warner the entire game. I bet Warner is already losing sleep thinking about James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley coming from both sides the whole game.

The RB-by-committe thing has been OK for the Cardinals so far but they haven't faced the Steelers yet. Considering the teams leading rusher was Edge with 514 yards, the running game is hardly a threat. Not impressive at all. Edge is a bigger threat as a receiver than as a RB.

Expect the Steelers to blitz on everything but obvious run plays. With Warner under constant pressure and the Steelers secondary expecting the pass the entire game, the 1-2 punch of Fitz and Boldin will have a hard time making the big plays that they have been known for this season.

On the flip side, the Cards defense is mediocre at best. With the 22nd ranked pass defense and 16th ranked run defense, they will have their hands full with the blossoming Steelers offense. In addition, the Cards gave up more passing TD's this season than any other team in the NFL.

Needless to say, I am sure that BigBen, Santonio, Hines and Heath Miller are licking their chops thinking about this one.

My early prediction: Steelers 34 - Cardinals 23 ]]> duane1969 http://www.sportscardforum.com/entries/123-They-Did-It!!!!-the-Steelers-Are-In-The-Superbowl-AGAIN!!!!