Monterey Bay Collectors Lounge — Local services in Monterey

My son started collecting cards during Christmas and we came to our local card shop to get a couple of cards graded. The cards were two different Bo Nix cards as seen in the picture. When talking to Enrique I asked how much it would be to grade the cards. He informed us that it was $35 per card. I pulled out my wallet to pay and he told me no, that I wouldn't pay until they returned and I picked them up. He continued that the whole process should take 2-3 months. This was January second (as confirmed in the picture). After a few months had passed I called a couple times (April & May) to see if they had come in yet. They had not. In early July, after more than 6 months of waiting I physically came to the store and the employee there said that they still hadn't arrived. I left my name and number and asked if Enrique could please call when he had a chance as I was concerned. I never received a phone call. However, today (July 28th) I received a text saying that the cards were ready (almost seven months later with no communication) and that the price to pick them up would be $105 (rather than the $70 i was expecting for two cards at $35 each). I returned a text stating that when I dropped them off he said the cost was $35 to grade. He didn't deny but rather said the extra charge was for shipping and insurance (insurance is always included in the shipping price when less than $100). Then it made sense why I payed after I picked them up. I don't care about the money I paid it without argument or confrontation but the deception and lack of customer care was ridiculous. If there were extra charges for shipping & "insurance" why not just say that in the first place. Do not grade your cards here and if you do make sure to ask how much it really costs to get a card graded as his initial price won't be correct. There will be hidden costs that you won't know about until you pick up the card. It was 50% more than he originally said. Get your cards graded directly with PSA or even GameStop where the price you're initially given is what you will pay (less than $35 with shipping and insurance included). Enrique and staff are nice but their tactics are deceptive. Do not trust what they say.

Response: Again, it's not the price that concerns me. If you would have said in the beginning that it's $52.50 to grade each card then I would have been able to make the decision of whether I wanted to proceed at that price point. It is the fact that you said the price was $35 when I dropped them off and it was somehow 50% more when I picked them up. I'm not saying you should be the cheapest in town, my point is that you should be upfront and transparent about your prices. If I weren't willing to pay the additional charges that weren't presented then what happens? My son wouldn't have got his cards back? It is a deceitful tactic at best. At worst, it's inaccurate pricing, a misdemeanor in California. Furthermore, after waiting more than six months and leaving my phone number as a concerned customer, you should have called rather than ignoring the situation. As for the cowardly bit and the soft threat, it show's your true colors. Everything that has been said on this review is true, doesn't make me a coward. I would have been able to talk to you about it yesterday if you wouldn't have decided to remain in the back office while I picked the cards...

First went there a few years back with Pops and was a good time except the part where we had to walk a whole block or more to get cash since the credit card machine wasn’t working. Overall that first experience was good and the owner was nice. Come yesterday, back in town, we are waiting in front of the place as it is supposed to open at 1:00 pm (Saturday) and it’s about 1:02 or 1:03 and I decide the call the number of the place. Not the owner from last time but a Woman picks up and I ask if the store will be open today and she says “We are out golfing and possibly could be back by 3”. At that point I hung up and decided let’s get back on the road, this is a waste of time. When the store (online) is supposed to be open at 1:00, you open at 1:00, not 3:00. Online it says the store opens at 1:00, not 3:00! It seems nothing more then being very irresponsible on owning a business that you may have gave much of your savings or life up for to be open at 1:00 pm everyday (even Saturday’s, CRAZY!) and not get back at 3:00 because you are golfing and not taking care of what’s most important, your business. This place...

I will be a middle man here. It costs a decent ammount to get cards graded whether you send them in yourself or not. These guys charge what is costs to send the card in. But they also charge a bit more because they clean your cards. They fix what they can to try and get you the best grade they can. He doesn't spend like 30 seconds cleaning. He takes his time and cleans them. So your card can be worth more. That extra however much He charges can be the difference between a card being worth 120$ or 800$. Their prices are higher than you want because it is a card shop and this is monterey. Its expensive here. And they won't buy from you what something is worth because they will resell it. And people domt like to pay much more than what the card is worth. And in this area pokemon is especially sought after. So the fact that any stock exists is a miracle. These guys are nice and patient. And the reason it takes cards a while to come back is becaise PSA sucks and is run by 3 guys. You should grade...