I Asked The Seller A Question About This 1/2 Cent, And....

well it kinda looks like the obv and rev are different, because they are taken on backgrounds of different colors. But that may just be the light.

Yeah, it's just poor pics. One was color adjusted, one wasn't, so neither matches his "SOLID DARK BROWN IN COLOR".
I'm really crushed he doesn't want my money!

Some sellers take the attitude that their time is infinitely more valuable than anyone else's. Anyone who asks questions is ipso facto therefore and by definition a time-waster and a trouble-maker.

There's no appeal against being blocked other than raising the issue with the seller, and attempting to raise the issue with a seller with this attitude will just confirm in their mind that you're a time-wastin' troublemaker. Just move on and buy coins from people that (a) aren't so paranoid and (b) can photograph coins properly or otherwise post listings that don't need to be questioned.

As someone who works for a company that sells coins on ebay, I can answer your question. In the current ebay atmosphere, buyers have huge power over sellers in their ability to leave DSRs and feedback. Yet sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers as they used to be able to do.

It is extremely difficult to maintain a "top seller" status, which means 20% discount on fees. For many sellers, that 20% is a significant percentage of their profit. It's hard to please 100% of the people all of the time. Even if you are honest and try your best, there is always someone who is going to find something wrong or have a misunderstanding, or accuse you of something.

All you need is more than 2 low DSRs (1 or 2 rating) in a category within a 3 month period, and you lose your top seller status.

People who ask questions tend to do so because they are a bit more picky about their purchases. It's not always the case, but often times it is. So many sellers will automatically block anyone who asks anything that indicates they may be picky. If they are picky about their coins, they may also be picky about how fast it gets to them, or how accurately they feel you described the coin, or how well they feel it was packaged (all things that are opinion-based). If the post office messes up and takes 6 days to deliver the package, they could give you a bad DSR even though you shipped 5 hours after receiving payment (this has happened to our company before quite a few times).

It may not be fair, but you are being stereotyped based on the question you asked, and the seller simply feels he would rather not deal with potential problems of someone who is picky.

with EricN on this one. I have quite a few "blocked" bidders mainly from non-payment, spoken/unspoken threats related to feedback, etc.; however logical questions are welcomed. It's tough being a seller given current guidelines/restrictions and it's going to get much worse 1 July. Maintaining a "Top Notch Seller" post June (and have a 20% fee reduction) will sorta be like standing on your head and gargling peanut butter.

I found a coin on ebay that I really liked and when I tried to place a bid, it said the same thing...blocked from bidding. I tried to email the seller as I don't ever remember dealing with this particular seller, and ebay would not let me do anything as far as a contact for this seller.
I blocked HIM, and moved on. There are plenty of fish in the sea (sellers ;)

In this particular thread, it was the seller who, in effect, blacklisted a potential buyer for asking a question. Is that McCarthyism? People boycott businesses for all sorts of reasons. But, businesses boycotting people? Shades of civil rights is my take on this scenario. My simple point is that buyers deserve the same rights as sellers ...

IMHO, the best way to combat problem sellers is to network with other buyers as we are free to do here on the CCF. ebay has effectively shut down the previously enjoyed networking of buyers. Some sellers fail to post buyers' "telling questions" that have potential to minimize the value of their offering; this, whether it be purposeful, careless or laziness. In this particular case, not only was the question ignored, but an opposing action, McCarthy-like, was taken against the poser of the question.

My position is NOT that of buyer vs. seller. I've long gone out of my way to help and applaud the the efforts of honorable, caring sellers. Fortunately, the good sellers are in the majority. It's only by weeding out the bad sellers and bad buyers (not those buyers who ask questions), that ebay will work for the greater good. Amen ...

I understand EricN's point about a business not wanting to deal with picky customers. That makes sense, as they often are not worth the trouble. However, that was not a picky question; rather, it was a perfectly legitimate one given the pictures. A seller who blocks someone after asking a legitimate question isn't somebody I would do business with. Based on the pictures and his response to the question, I wouldn't trust the guy. Thanks for letting us know about this.