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 Replies: 31 / Views: 3,675 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
Do you think it's proper to send a coin in an envelope and only affixed a 37 cent stamp when I paid $2.00 for shipping? Man, my luck is getting worse by the day! I'm no coin grader, but I don't agree with the MS-68 grade. This is a 1955 nickel btw. There is like some sort of rough area below the date and on the reverse the rough area is by UNUM and the E. Maybe I am too picky, I dunno. Maybe I should try and learn to grade by photo's. Plus there are dark coloured spots on the edge where reeds would be.
David Edited by TheForce
05/20/2005 4:09 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
ebay costs are very high Some vendors make some money on shipping costs Over here in Belgium I am happy to get anything at 6 Euro
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
$2.00 for a coin shipped in a regular envelope with a 37-cent stamp is unreasonable. A coin can be shipped in a brand new 2x2, wrapped for protection, and shipped in a new bubble mailer for $1.23 max (this also includes delivery confirmation). If the coin was sold as an MS68, I would have expected more care to be taken with the shipping as it doesn't take much to mar the surface of a coin. If this coin is slabbed at that grade, I absolutely disagree with shipping a slab in anything other than a bubble mailer. The sheer weight of the slab is a ripping accident waiting to happen.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4870 Posts |
My initial concern was that the coin could have been damaged in a mail sorter or something. It was in a 2x2 but no padding at all. I feel for $2.00 shipping that it would have been packed better than a plain envelope and stamp.
David
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
Also I forgot to mention that there was no return address on the envelope. What if there was a mailing problem?
David
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2724 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by nds76
Maybe I am too picky, I dunno. Maybe I should try and learn to grade by photo's.
There is NO such thing as too picky. These are YOUR coins, and you must be satisfied. Now, grading by photos is extremely difficult as there are just too many editing options available to the person taking the photograph. Each coin must be seen to be properly graded. This is why it is so important to have a good 10 to 14 day return period. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2724 Posts |
Just a quick peak at the pop reports show NO 1955 Jefferson nickels in the MS-68 grade. |
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
Aside from the fact that grading MS coins from a photo is difficult at best, grading above MS65 is difficult even if you have the coin in hand. I would suggest extreme caution bidding on a coin stated to be above MS65 unless slabbed by one of the top TPG's when buying on-line and, as ND said, a good return policy is a must. |
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Pillar Of The Community
3147 Posts |
When buying on ebay the FIRST thing I look at before bidding is the shipping costs. If they are out of line I simply don't bid requardless of how bad I want the coin. My motto here is, "If they will screw you on shipping charges, they will screw you on the description and screw you on the item shipped"! In my early ebay years I learned very quickly and being a seller on ocassion gave me the opportunity to compare what was really going on. Also is is VERY IMPORTANT that everyone remember the average collector CAN NOT determine a MS60 from a MS63 so avoid those MS67 to MS70 claims unless the coins are slabbed. High grade coins, while desirable, are very hard to grade and most of the sellers on ebay just don't have the knowledge to accurately grade a coin. You are far better off, after checking feedback, to buy from someone who just states the coin is a very nice uncirculated coin and guarantees it to be so than to get suckered into those "HIGH" grade claims. The really sad part about ebay is when we do get burnt we can really blame no one except our selves! If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
The last time I got a coin in an envelope I had paid $2.00 and they used a 37 cent stamp and I had a postage due! That is jsut wrong. I paid ample postage.
David
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2724 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by crystalk64
The really sad part about ebay is when we do get burnt we can really blame no one except our selves! If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!
This is very true, and also applies to the "big" ads in the coin magazines. Very often there is a dealer who advertises in CoinWorld offer "BU" coins for AU prices. Many collectors have fallen for these ads in hopes that they will be the lucky ones to actully receive a Brilliant Uncirculated coin. While I am all for cherry picking, it cannot be done easily based on photographs. Too many options to the person providing the pics. Take a look at Mike's Large Cent and you will see that the coin pictured doesn't even look like copper. Now if you have someone who really knows what they are doing and has the proper photo editing programs, you can easily cover up small flaws. There is nothing wrong with looking for a deal, but you have to be honest with yourself before you can find them. Don't let "hope" blind you to the facts. Most of the people that I have dealt with that found the great "find" have often found that their find turns out to be an expensive learning experience. |
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by crystalk64
When buying on ebay the FIRST thing I look at before bidding is the shipping costs. If they are out of line I simply don't bid requardless of how bad I want the coin. My motto here is, "If they will screw you on shipping charges, they will screw you on the description and screw you on the item shipped"!
I definitely agree with this sentiment. However, $2 shipping does not appear on the surface to be unreasonable. That amount is perfectly fine if the coin is shipped correctly. It is sad that you don't find out it was unreasonable until after you get the coin. I think these sellers are looking at what other people charge and not considering how that money is being spent. If a seller ships in a bubble mailer, there is additional postage because it is not machineable. The only way to use delivery confirmation is for the mailer to be 3/4" thick. In this case, and if new holders and mailers are used, there is about .50 overcharge that can go toward the time used to package it properly. If it's not shipped properly, the seller is then making about $1.50 profit on shipping which is out of line. Many sellers try to build their fees into the s/h amount. While I can understand why this seems like a good idea on the surface, I find it to be an unacceptable practice. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2884 Posts |
A lot of sellers on ebay charge more than the actual shipping costs. The ones I have questioned have said if your unhappy, send the coin back, or just said they calculate their time into the shipping charge. I agree it is wrong, but some sellers seem to survive on escalated postage fees! I've seen much worse abuse than the example cited. Mike |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
Mike, what is worse is when you pay a specific amount for postage and the seller only uses a very small fraction of that and pockets the rest. Like I said before, that happened to me before and ended up with a postage due because the seller didn't use enough postage when I sent him more than enough.
David
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Valued Member
Netherlands
309 Posts |
After years of trading and swapping, I think it's an calculated risk you may take that from time to time a shipment dissapears, or is not in the least that you expect, so long as it is not hurting your wallet too much, it's acsepable, but, in the times I already "lost" some nice coins, or got none in return back as well, also, depending where you send them, there is a good chance that the country's customs open the envelope's or packages, becouse they suspect forbidden goods, and that way packages get opened.
Some way, I think best way to send is in small ammounts, well packed, and not to be recogniced as a coin shipment at all.
There are always people who want to make profit over the back of a honnest person, and that way we never can tell for shure if it all goes well, it's the risk of the hobby.
Carl
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Valued Member
United States
440 Posts |
I too have been stung by the shipping issue. I currently have a paypal dispute going over 1 as we speak. BUT..I have been the shipper. I have been shorted postage.The Buyer said they want it priority mail..but send me $2.00 to ship..When I tell them priority mail is $3.95. or they want it insured and the shipping is $1.50 over what they sent me. I have emailed to kindly send the difference at their convienience and the item was shipped. I didn't want to be the bad guy and take the risk of a neg. for taking too long to ship. I am not defending the ones who rip people off. Just trying to present another view.  |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 3,675 |
Posted 05/20/2005 5:29 pm
