Sportlots Help Screen. Select from the contents below for help.
About Sportlots
Sportlots Navagation Bar
Registering with Sportlots
Updating your Profile
Ordering from our Inventory
  • Sportlots Premier Sellers
  • Reducing Postage Costs
  • Reducing costs with Volume Discounts
    Finalizing your Sportlots Order
  • Viewing your shopping cart
  • Verify you shipping address
  • Checking your shopping cart out
    Shipping your order
    How to contact Sportlots Sellers
    Managing your Orders
  • Viewing your Orders
  • Combining or Deleting entire Orders
  • Displaying and deleting cards from an Order
    Becoming a Sportlots Seller

    About Sportlots

    Sportlots provides two methods to buy and sell trading cards.
  • Sportlots fixed priced stores
    An on-line interactive trading card inventory system that allows collectors to search our inventory database by Set, Player name and Team and purchase these cards from Sellers at a fixed predetermined price from one of many Sportlots registered Sellers.
  • Sportlots 1,2,3,SOLD Auctions
    Sportlots 1,2,3,SOLD auctions are unique in that all items always start at $0.00 and the format prevents "Snipe" bidding. Everyone gets a fair shot at the items they want to bid on.

    Sportlots allows sellers to add trading cards to the site for collectors to purchase. Collectors then make payment to Sportlots instead of having to send payment to each individual seller.

    Sportlots Navigation Bar

    The Sportlots Navigation Bar on the left side of your web browser allows you to easily navigate through Sportlots web screens. The navigation bar will have a different look depending on the the status of orders you have on the site, whether or not you are a registered user and whether or not you are currently signed-in to the site. Below are the different types of links you can find on the navigation bar:

    Global Links (These are links that you will always see on the navigation bar):

  • Home: Brings you to Sportlots home page
  • View Postage rates: This link brings up another browser window that shows you at a glance the current postage rates depending on the number of cards you order by seller.
  • Screen Help: This brings up another browser window that gives you a little more detailed information about the screen you are currently viewing.
  • Site Help: This brings up another browser window that gives you the entire help screen.

     Unknown Customer Links (These are links you will see when Sportlots doesn't know who you are):

  • Register: Allows you to Register on Sportlots.com. This is not required unless you plan on ordering cards.
  • Sign in: If you have already registered on Sportlots, this link lets you tell Sportlots who you are.
  • Forgot your password?: Just enter your email address in the sign in form and leave the password blank. You will receive an email with your password. Then you can sign in.
  • View Cart: Allows you to view the trading cards you have selected to order so far. Note that Sportlots remembers trading cards you have selected from prior visits to Sportlots if you haven't finalized your order. This allows you to select some cards and come back later to complete your order.

    Known Customer Links (These are links you will see when Sportlots knows who you are):

  • Pending Orders: Allows you to view orders you placed but payment hasn't been received yet. If you see multiple orders pending, you may want to go here to combine your orders to reduce postage costs.
  • Paid Orders: Allows you to view past orders. Go here if you are having a problem with one of your orders. You will be able to work directly with our sellers here to resolve any outstanding issues.
  • Auctions Won! If you have pending auction items that you won, this link will appear on your navigation bar.
  • Logoff: This link allows you to make Sportlots forget who you are. The only time you really should use this link is if two or more registered users use this computer to order cards.
  • My Profile: Allows you to update your registration information like email address, address, etc.
  • View Cart: Allows you to view the trading cards you have selected to order so far. Note that Sportlots remembers trading cards you have selected from prior visits to Sportlots if you haven't finalized your order. This allows you to select some cards and come back later to complete your order.

    Registering with Sportlots

    To buy, sell trading cards or become a Sportlots affiliate, you must first register with Sportlots.

    Registering is necessary for a few reasons:
    1) Gives Sportlots demographic information for shipping sportscards or sending payment.
    2) Your email address is used to send you order updates.
    3) Provides security so others can't place orders under your ID.

    Sportlots also uses this information to send you two possible updates:
    1) Every search you peform as a registered user of Sportlots is recorded. Then once/month Sportlots will send you a summary report of new trading cards added that month which match your search criteria. From this email you can link directly to the search results to see the new cards. You can also remove search criteria from the watch list, or stop this email entirely from coming to you if you don't see any value in it for you.
    2) Sportlots sends periodic newsletter updates. This update will give major news updates relating to the site like specials going on and new features and enhancements made to the site. This newsletter is required for all registered users of Sportlots. Removal from this newsletter will also remove you as a registered user of Sportlots.

    So     Register Now! It's free, easy and private.

    Update your Profile

    Update your registration information here. When you update your email address all of your past order id information will also be updated to reflect this change. Please note that changing your Name and address information will only change future shipping address information. Any past orders will continue to have your old Address information on them.

    Ordering from our Inventory

    Once you have     registered , you can start to query Sportlots huge inventory of sportscards online. You can search by Set, Player Name or Team. The result of your query will show you the Set, Card number, Player Name, Condition, Quantity in stock and the Purchase price. All you need to do is select the number of cards you want from each entry and press the "Order Cards" button. You will then get a verify screen to verify that you want to order the cards you've selected. If there is an error, you can use your "Back" button on your browser and make the necessary changes. Once your order is correct, you can press the "Verify Cards" button. You will then go back to the Query Screen where you can search for more cards. You can continue to search and order more cards from here. Once you've completed your order you can press the "Complete your Order" button. You will then receive an invoice screen (and also receive a similar email message). Once you receive this invoice, you can send payment along with the invoice. Orders are kept for 2 weeks, if payment is not received within 2 weeks, the order is removed from our database. Once payment is received, you can expect to receive your cards anywhere between 4 and 9 business days.

    Sportlots Premier Sellers

    Sportlots has an elite Premier sellers program for the top few sellers who are some of our largest and/or best performing sellers on the site. There are 4 different levels:
  • Double Blue Star Sellers - Highest performance level, Buy with confidence! Buyers receive up to $150 Sportlots buyer protection from Double Blue Star sellers.
  • Blue Star Sellers - very High performance level, Buy with confidence! Buyers receive up to $100 Sportlots buyer protection from Blue Star sellers.
  • Red Star Sellers - High performance level sellers. Buyers receive up to $50 Sportlots buyer protection from Red Star sellers.
  • Yellow Star Sellers - Consistantly high performing sellers. Buyers receive up to $25 Sportlots buyer protection from Yellow Star sellers.

    In the case that the buyer and seller run into order issues that can not be reconciled between the parties, Sportlots will help mediate the problem. If in the end a compromise or solution can not be reached, Sportlots will refund the buyer up to the buyer protection guaranteed. This is a one time guarantee for each buyer.

    REDUCING POSTAGE COSTS

    Postage costs on Sportlots fixed priced stores system is based on the number of cards per seller you purchase cards from. The more cards you buy from fewer sellers, the lower your overall postage costs will be. So, if postage costs are a concern for you, limit your purchases to as few sellers as possible.

    Each seller sets their own postage rate. To determine a seller's postage rates, click on the seller code on the far right side of the search inventory screens for card you wish to purchase. This allows you to see that sellers postage rates and any volume discounts this seller may offer.

    In order to give buyers more options on shipping rates for fixed priced store orders, Sportlots sellers can offer both Premium and Budget shipping options. A buyer may choose different options by seller and may be based on:
  • The confidence level they have with the seller
  • The types of cards they are buying from that particular seller
  • The difference in shipping costs between budget and premium shipping services.

    If a Premium shipping service is requested, the seller must at a minimum ship your order in a bubble mailer or sturdy cardboard packaging when the order size is larger. Cards within bubble mailers must also be further protected. Acceptable methods include:
  • Within Individual Top Loaders or Semi-Rigid holders.
  • Within a plastic case.
  • In a team bag with top loaders or cardboard securely fastened between both ends.

    Sellers have the ability to force a Premium shipping service by setting a Premium threshold amount. This is to protect the seller from having to risk shipping high value cards with a budget shipping option. For example, a seller may set a Premium threshold at $25.00. If the buyers order amount is over $25.00, the buyer will be forced to select a premium shipping option with that seller.

    When a Budget shipping service is selected, you are providing the seller the flexibility to find alternative ways to ship your package while still maintaining a reasonable amount of security for your cards in order to reduce shipping costs for you. There is slightly more risk of damaged items, but the lower shipping rates may be worth this risk. If a buyer selects this option, they are waiving their right to request a refund in the event that an item(s) are damaged in the mail. As a buyer you have elected to take this risk in order to reduce your shipping costs.

    Regardless of which shipping option is used, the seller is always responsible for the accurate and timely delivery of your package.

    VOLUME DISCOUNTS

    One of the largest costs to sellers is the time it takes to pull cards from boxes and ship the cards. The larger the order in terms of volume of cards, the lower this cost in terms of time is for the seller for each card. Therefore, each seller has the option of offering volume discounts. This, along with reduced postage for larger orders, makes it much more affordable for the buyer to order larger amounts of commons to fill wantlists.

    Each seller sets their own volume discount rates. To determine a seller's discount rates, click on the seller code on the far right side of the card you wish to purchase. This allows you to see seller's report card, postage rates and any volume discounts this seller may offer.

    Volume discounts only apply to Sportlots Fixed Price Stores.

    Finalizing your Sportlots order

    Below are the steps required to finalize your Sportlots order:
  • View your Shopping Cart.
  • Check Out.
  • Verify/Change your shipping address.
  • Payment Methods

    Sportlots Shopping Cart

    To see information about the Sportlots Navigation bar to the left of this screen, click     here.

    Your shopping cart is a temporary holding spot while you do your shopping on Sportlots Fixed Price Stores. These cards are not reserved until you have checked out and finalized your order. Cards can be held in your shopping cart indefinately, so if you want to shop and need to leave for a few hours or even a couple days, you can come back and continue shopping later and pick off from where you left off.

    Your shopping cart will show you the card and quantity you ordered along with the current selling price and the seller who owns this card. On the far right side, you will notice a Comment column. You will very seldom see anything in this column, but because a card can stay in your shopping cart for a long time before you check-out there is the possibility that the price of the card has changed or the card has been sold to someone else. This card is not reserved to you until you finalize your order.

    You can also delete cards from your shopping cart by pressing the "Del" button next to the card. The quanitity is defaulted to the number of cards you ordered. But if you ordered two cards and decide you only want one, you can change the quantity you wish to delete before pressing the "Del" button.

    If you're still looking for more cards to order, don't check out yet! Postage rates are determined by the number of cards you order per seller for a single order. So instead, just click the "New Search" link on the Navigation bar to the left and continue to add more cards to your shopping cart.

    Once you're finished ordering, click on the "Check Out Now!" button at the bottom to finalize your order.

    Sportlots Verify Shipping Address

    To see information about the Sportlots Navigation bar to the left of this screen, click     here.

    After checking your order out, Sportlots allows you to change the shipping address. The shipping address will default to your registered address, but allows you to change this in the event that you want to send these cards to a different address than you registered with.

    Sportlots Check Out

    To see information about the Sportlots Navigation bar to the left of this screen, click     here.

    Sportlots offers you two options to pay for your Sportlots orders:

    Payment using Check/Money Order:
    After finalizing your order, just send the Grand Total you see on this screen to the name and address provided. You can also get the payment address by clicking on the "Pending Orders" link on the navigation bar.

    Payment using Paypal:
    A Paypal button is provided when you finalized your order. You can also get a Paypal icon on the "Pending Orders" link on the navigation bar.

    Sportlots Shipping

    You will be notified via email when payment arrives and has been processed. Sellers are notified each night if they have orders to fill. Sellers are expected to fill and ship it out within 5 business days. When the seller fills your order, you will also be notified via email from that seller to let you know that the their portion of your order has been filled. Sellers are expected to actually ship your cards that day or the next business day. Under normal circumstances, you should receive your cards within a week of getting notification that your order has been filled. Please note that Sportlots is available to both US and Canadian customers and sellers. If the seller and buyer are from different countries, there can be a longer delay in mail delivery.

    Be aware that Sportlots is unique in that the majority of cards sold are under $2.00 each. The average price of a card sold on Sportlots is 50 cents. In order to make prices affordable to buyers, sellers need to keep postage rates down. Sportlots has suggested unique ways to sellers for shipping cards cheaply but yet safely. Customers that purchase much more expensive cards should expect that their cards are protected better during shipment.

    How to contact Sportlots Sellers

    If you have any problems with your purchase, just go to Sportlots.com, click the "Paid Orders" link and select the correct seller for the order you are not satisfied with. This will enable you to let sellers know that you have an issue with an order you purchased from them.

    Please note that when sellers are entering common cards, it isn't cost effective to carefully grade each and every card. Sportlots doesn't allow for grades higher than NM to allow for small flaws in common cards that the sellers don't detect while they are entering thousands of cards at a time. Sellers are asked to generalize the condition of their common cards to help speed up the process of entering cards, while you may periodically receive a lower graded card, the overall result of the order should meet or exceed your expectations. When a seller enters more expensive cards, they are expected to very carefully grade these cards individually.

    Customer Account Summary (Click on My Orders from Sportlots.com)

    From this screen you can view orders, delete orders, combine orders and remove selected cards from orders.

    Cards Ordered/Pending Payment: Are Orders that have been placed but payment has not been made yet. You can view, combine, delete and remove cards from these types of orders. If you have already sent payment for these orders but the order has yet to be moved from this category, you should NOT Combine, Delete or Remove cards from orders. Remove selected cards from an order by first clicking on the order.

    Recent Orders: Are Orders that you have paid for but are in transition. Because orders could be from multiple sellers, these are orders that could be in transition.

    Order History: These are orders were all or part of the order has been finalized. If you see an order in this status, you should have received or will receive all of your cards shortly.

    *Note: Orders can be in one or more of these categories, this is because the order is in transition between one status or another.

    Viewing your Orders

    You are viewing your online invoice. This shows you the card(s) you ordered, the price, the status of the cards in this order and the seller who has this card for you. Click on the seller and you will be able to email the seller directly if you have any questions/problems with this particular card in this order. You will also receive a hard copy version of this invoice by seller with that particular sellers email address listed at the bottom of that invoice if you have any problems/questions. You will also always have Sportlots email address on all invoices at the very bottom. Use this email address if you have any problems in dealing with the seller directly.

    Combining or Deleting entire Orders

    From this screen you can delete entire orders. Just select the order you want to delete and click on the Delete Order(s) button and the order will be removed for you. If you have more than 2 orders "Pending Payment" status, the Combine Orders button will appear on this screen. Click on this button and all of your orders in "Pending Payment" status will be combined into one order. The big advantage to doing this is reducing your postage costs. Postage is calculated by a combination of the number of cards per seller in one order.

    Displaying and Deleting cards from an Order

    You can display your order on this screen. If your order is pending payment you can delete cards from your order on this screen.

    If you've made an error on your order, you can remove cards from that order by selecting the cards you want removed on this screen and clicking on the Delete Card(s) button.

    Becoming a Sportlots Seller

    Becoming a Sportlots Seller allows you to sell sportscards in Sportlots online inventory.
    Sportlots Inventory allows sellers to add their sportscard inventory to Sportlots database. Collectors can then search the database by Set, Player and Team to find the cards they want. Collectors then order the cards online. Once payment is received, sellers receive order requests via email, pull the cards and send them to the buyer.

    To learn more about becoming a seller, Click on the "Sell on Sportlots" link from Sportlots.com.
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    Use of Sportlots Web site constitutes acceptance our     Agreement Terms.