Opinions On Buying Fom Great Southern Coins

from a one time personal experience the coins are not what they seem, I won't ever buy from them again, there are other articles on this site about them...

I think I've bought from them one time before and I had to send the coin back for not being eye-appealing. If they sell the coin raw (not in a graded slab) and it's not a cheap coin, you have to ask yourself "why". If it's in a slab and going for cheap, ask that same question.

Southerngent,
You have to keep in mind that GSC has the best coin photography department of any seller on e-Bay, almost all of their BU coins are shown to be fully brilliant lustrous "gems," which when received in hand prove not always so. I bought three raw proof Liberty nickels that I returned immediately since they were quite dull in real life. The pictures only tell me if the grade is reasonably near, bag marks and strike. Eye appeal is a non starter with GSC coins.  I imagine that the coins would be 20% less spectacular when received, and this was true of the WLH I've been buying from them, which is fine as I'm not expecting perfection with these. The one kudos I'd give them is a no questions asked, no hassle return policy as they promptly returned my $1300 on the three nickels. But I certainly would bid with caution on GSC's auctions, many of their choicest coins go way over book, and does not prove to be a good value in the long run. 

The converse is also true, some best bargains I've come across on e-Bay have been with sellers with mediocre or non existent digital photo skills, but fabulously undergraded coins. I buy as long as there is a clearly stated return policy. Hope this helps, just stay focused and stay away from impulse bidding and you should do just fine. Good luck!

P.S. Here is a 21st century spin on a classic adage: "Buy the coin, not the picture!"

Buy from them if you can accurately evaluate the true coin grade from the photos. I made one purchase from them and figured the coin to be AU53~55. In hand it was AU53. No issues with hidden cleaning or other manipulation. You have to look closely to see wear and scuffs with their "special" lighting.

I bid with caution every time, every dealer, GSC is no exception. I agree their photos are enhanced, many enhanced to the point of being deceptive maybe, but I have purchased 2 coins from them and would do it again. I won't buy raw valuable BU coins from anyone, anywhere online, eBay or anyone else.

This is just marketing. If enough people try something only once, that is all it usually takes to make a lot of money. Seeing how ebay is available to possibly billions of people, it only takes a fraction of those to make a company great. Even it they try it only once.
Another problem with poor, bad, horrible service is people talk about that but many people don't remember the bad but they remember the name. Sort of like the really bad commercials on TV. If rotten enough, you get mad and remember the name of the product.
A comedian once said I don't care what you say about me as long as you say something.

I suspect that coins are sonically cleaned, an AU coin will look BU but not chemically treated. but with many coins the photo's look so good you don't see the fine points that make or break an MS coin....I cringe when I see there listings..