Ebay "buyer's Remorse" Problem

Well, I found out that the post office claimed that they had tried a delivery & left a notice last week. But there was no notice left. I found out this info after emailing the seller. I finally got back in the city on Sunday & picked up the coins yesterday, Monday.

They not only look nice, but an added bonus: besides each coin having the smooth edge error, each coin also has an additional error, as well. From the 15 coins, 11 are off-center, 1 has the filled Cud on the first S of STATES error, & 3 have the "Starburst" Struck Through Grease error.

Now comes the big decision. I read everyone's feedback & advice. To those who advised me to take my time, sell one at a time & maybe they will sell for higher bids: at this point, a profit would be nice but I'm really just trying to get out of this situation with minimal loss or break even. I'm weighing out 2 varieties of 2 options. The 2 "varieties" are to sell in one lot of 15 or 3 lots of 5, & get it over & done with. The 2 options would be to sell uncertified or certified.

Option of Certified: I saw rons advice to get them certified by ICG. The whole lot of 15, with 7 days turnaround, including return shipping, is $270 by ICG. This comes to $18 per coin extra. Break-even price is $75 per coin.

Advantages: As rons said, since I'm a new seller, "Certified coins give you a credibility you otherwise lack." Also, no possibility of dishonest buyer replacing my real errors with fakes. Also, maybe some will grade higher like MS-65 or 66, making sales easier & bids higher.

Disadvantages: Extra lay-out of $270, with extra risk of not making my money back. And extra wait to receive coins back, maybe 2 weeks total from me mailing them. Plus, extra cost to buyer may discourage sales. Maybe the market will go down as demand lessens. Or maybe demand goes up as less are offered. Plus, next dollar coin will be released on May 17, which could increase or decrease demand. Also, a longer wait for this situation to end.

Option of uncertified: Break-even price is $57 each.

Advantages: No extra lay-out of $270, with extra risk of not making my money back. No extra wait to receive coins back. More affordable for buyers. Quicker end to situation.

Disadvantages: Since I'm a new seller, less credibility, harder to sell. Possibility of dishonest buyer replacing my real errors with fakes. No advantage of possible benefit from higher grades.

I told my wife & she "hit the roof." I didn't tell her the amount, I just said is was large. If she found out about the possibility of an additional outlay of $270, she would object, disregarding the fact of easier sales & all the other advantages mentioned above. She will only calm down when I break even & the thing is over. I want to make a decision in the next 1-2 days. The million dollar question: Which scenario will more likely get me success in recouping my money?

Thanks to all those who have been following the drama.

All 15 are smooth edge. Each coin has 1 additional error. From the 15 coins, 11 are off-center. 1 has the filled Cud on the first S of STATES error. 3 have the "Starburst" error (1 has Starburst on reverse only, 2 have Starburst on obverse & reverse). All these errors are in additional to them all being smooth edges.

I'm seeing uncertified going for $55-$75; graded going for $65-$130 & up to $350 for MS-66 & MS-67.

Not sure of total cost & turnaround with NGC, but I know it's more money & longer turnaround than ICG. Not sure if it matters to most ebay buyers, as long as it's one of the top four, which ICG is.

Just found out total cost & turnaround with NGC, including NGC 1 yr. membership, 5 free submissions, insurance, etc.: $246.05 with a 12 business day turnaround.

Advantage: 1) Better & more respected grading service (NGC is #2; ICG is #4). 2) $24 cheaper.

Disadvantage: 1) Twice as long turnaround resulting in extra wait to receive coins back, maybe 3 weeks total from me mailing them (as opposed to 2 weeks with ICG) & maybe more depreciation for longer wait (which may be monetarily offset by higher level of NGC acceptability). 2) NGC doesn't recognize "Starburst" error, so there won't be any indication on slab of extra error. Whereas ICG does recognize "Starburst" error. (NGC also doesn't recognize "off-center" error either, unless is 5% or more; probably the same for ICG.)

At this point, I think you've received all of the advice that you are going to. It's time to make a decision and just do it. There are many people who won't bid on an auction with a reserve. I told you what I felt was the way to make the most money. It is time to let this topic die. Everything has been said.

I agree with Bobby et. al. who say go with the deal you made. I think you are grasping at straws with the "gold" issue, as stated, everyone knows that the are not gold. True you may have a case based on the "certified" issue, but that appears to be a loophole you are looking for. In my opinion it is far better to go through with the contract even if it is not to your advantage. There is much ancient wisdom literture to support that position. If you believe in "Karma" or "what goes around comes around" or any of the philosphies that state you attract to yourself what you emit to others. I certainly do.

For instance, I just sold an item for over $2000 and when I made the listing it included my blanket "accept paypal" and "ship world wide"..the buyer is in Europe. Pay pal cost me an extra 1% across the border fee for change of currencies, etc, and I specified shipping at $20. Shipping actually cost me $48 plus the 1% hit on paypal but I completed the transaction as and learn from it.

Do the honorable thing, take the hit and who knows, the price may bounce back or you can get some slabbed and recoup, or the natural law of events will help you on the next deal.

That being said, I have no problem with a buyer stating they have "buyer's remorse" and want to change the deal but compensate me for the trouble in fees, etc, PLUS relisting since I may have lost a buyer in the previous auction who is no longer available due to buying elsewhere because my auction "ended." The easiest and cheapest is to honor the deal as made.

Just MHO.

You ask for advice, then when you get it you question it. There is 3 whole pages of posts dealing with this problem. My advice would be to fess up with the misses and let her show you what do do with them.

Irishaider took the bull by the horns on that last post. Just make the decision and fast. Make it today, if for grading, ship them out today, priority mail! Run Forest Run!

Methinks this topic has become unproductive.