Unscrupulous Ebay Seller

I read thru this and I was ready to defend the seller on the grounds of "innocent until proven guilty" and that stranger this have happened. In other words, his story could have been true, and some coincidence caused your package to not be delivered on the 31st which gave them the opportunity to intercept after the alleged Mercury dime buyer received the coin intended for you.
However, the positive feedback from the Mercury dime buyer is a tough one to explain. If the feedback had been more general like "good honest seller" I could accept that the buyer received the wrong coin and then was made whole by the seller and felt that a positive feedback was due. But "awesome coin fast shipping" is not a likely feedback from a customer who received the wrong item.
Therefore, I am inclined to believe that the seller did indeed try to get back their coin after realizing it's value.
Personally, I don't get worked up about things like this. I've had many times where I won an auction for a steal and the seller never ships it. I know why they didn't ship, but I don't get upset. They're wrong for doing it, but it is very understandable. Nobody enjoys losing money.
So, while you thought you got a steal and then lost that steal, you haven't lost any actual money. It may be frustrating or upsetting, but no real loss. I am not putting down how must feel, but putting my perspective on how I have dealt with similar situations.
One more point, which was discussed earlier and I think the intent was missed.
Someone wrote that since the coin was shipped it is theft for the seller to take it back.
I am no lawyer, but I don't think that is true. As someone else pointed out, if the package had been lost by USPS, would you not attempt to be refunded by the seller. Would you take an answer of "well, I shipped it and that means it was yours and they lost your package. So it's your problem"? I don't think anyone would accept that. So, while the seller acted poorly IMO, I don't think any laws were broken.
I will end off by echoing the advice of many posters above - move on. Don't dwell on it. Maybe, just maybe you will be pleasantly surprised and your coin will arrive after the whole thing sorts out and then you may have to eat some humble pie.

I'm always ready to eat a slice of humble pie or two. If I ever get the Coin I will eat three slices and the Coin on live TV. lol

I feel a package getting lost in the mail and a seller using usps intercept to get a package back is two totally different things.
Even if his story is true that he sent me the wrong item, I should still deserve to have a chance to get my item at some point, as I told him that "I still wanted my Coin".

You have to admit, through all his messages, that he is clear that I'm never going to receive my Coin, at any time, and if he does get it back he is going to relist it again on ebay?

That should speaks volumes as to his intent and if he has any chance of doing something unscrupulous.

I am "moving on" with thinking I will ever get my Coin. But, I'm not quite done dealing with this seller yet.

I was on the phone with ebay this morning for about 30 minutes. They assured me that a seller taking a package back under false pretense using usps intercept is a big problem. They assured me they would read the message exchange between him and I, and investigate the $300 NGC Mercury dime transaction, and if any others were sold around that time, that fit his description. They also assured me, they would look for messages with claims to have received a wrong Coin by this seller, around the dates in question. They assured me they had "investigators" that handled claims like these and it would be looked in to. I'm not holding my breath, but she did sound convincing.

As far as USPS - as the receiver of the package I am entitled to.

1. Weight of package. 2. Date and time the intercept was first started. 3. Reason given for usps intercept.


I think I have provided all I could on my end for the justification on this. I don't plan on adding anymore to this unless I'm asked a question.

Of course, I would like to add any results that I may get from usps or ebay, no matter if the results make me out to be right, or in need of a slice of humble pie, or two.

I have had both bad and good interactions on ebay. If you got your money refunded then all that was wasted is your time and effort in communications, bids, etc...

Sounds very shady and unscrupulous, but it could have been much much worse.

Looks like you were right about the seller's intentions when he intercepted your package. Unfortunately, not much you can do about it at this point, since it's pretty unlikely he will honor the original sale price of $50....

I feel for you OP. All I can say is, this is a details coin and not worth anywhere near the listed price. Onto the next cherrypick.

Are you still able to leave feedback on this item?

I was this || close to messaging him.