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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,312 |
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Valued Member
United States
112 Posts |
I read the user policy, so I am trying not to attack anyone but I figure this might help out some of the younger/newer coin collectors out there. I did my homework on pricing and I thought I found a reputable coin dealer out of Spokane WA. I checked their website and Ebay/Yahoo auctions and found many favorable opinions and generally good posts concerning this coin dealer. So, I decided to order a Set of 20th anniversary silver eagle coins from them. Please be aware of any unfamiliar dealers-policies regarding returns. They told me I would be very satisfied with my coins and they would not cherry pick the best coins. I would receive only pristine coins. Well, I paid by check and a month later I received the coins. I loked over the coins carefully: The proof Eagle had a mark on the obverse. The reverse proof-the coin of real value in the set-had a total of 5 glaring marks between both sides. One included a dye/coloration mark. Two were deep scratches near the rim of the coin. I thought maybe I was just being too picky. I let my wife look at the coin and she found 3 of the 5 scratches right away. I am not a coin expert, however the more scratches the less valuable the coin. I called the owner-lets call him Kevin- of the business I purchased the coins and his attitude was that I am "high maintenance" and hard to please. If I am going to spend 225.00 on a set of coins, I expect a certain level of quality. He did not believe me that the coins had scratches. We agreed that I should send the coins back-after he got very irritated and defensive. I sent the coins back (priority mail/with insurance and return receipt). I got a check back with $25.00 off the total with a receipt that said less 25.00 for "restocking fee." On the receipt it also said that none of the coins had scratches -he was basically calling me a liar. I looked at their website and it said if you are not satisfied, send back your coins for a complete refund-credit cards will be charged a 5% fee. Well, I paid by check and they charged be almost 10% fee. I talked to the owner again-and I was very nice on the phone to him and I told him I just wanted clarification why they charged me this restocking fee. He very quickly became defensive again  and angry at me-saying this was a nuisance to him and the coins were perfect and this transaction was finished-he then hung up on me. So, I am very angry how this guy thinks he can treat his customers The place is CoinsPlus-I would suggest that you look at the coins first or at least see pictures of them before you buy. So be very aware of buying coins without seeing them. Make sure you know the return policy of the dealer. I think any reputable business would take back poor merchandise. I ended up losing almost $40.00-that they took from me-and I have nothing to show for it except hard feelings toward a coin dealer. Im sorry if I should not post this here, but I just wanted others to just be careful when ordering from unfamiliar dealers. thanks ***Edited by Forum Dad to move to main coin forum*** |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Seems like the moral of the story is if you are not a "frequent flyer" with the dealer, you should ask for photos and a statement that these are the exact coins you will receive. I have to believe that most reputable dealers would do something like this to avoid a forum topic such as this that may potentially damage/limit sales from what is now a pretty big group of people here alone.....JMHO
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
I think your information is valuable, and I appreciate your posting it here. "Bad" dealers are to be avoided, and this one sounds like another candidate for the "avoid" list. Welcome to Coin Community !!!  |
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Member
United States
703 Posts |
gonefishing, the one thing almost for sure is that you will not get an PR70 coin by buying any open set, and certainly not from any coin dealer. Your best bet would be the small timer non coin dealer on ebay who bought the sets only to flip them. There you might have a chance at a 70 error |
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
quote Auld Farte: "..and this one sounds like another candidate for the "avoid" list.."
Hey, maybe we should consider having an official avoid list on the forum. Sure sounds like it would be helpful.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
quote:
Hey, maybe we should consider having an official avoid list on the forum.
We have the "Discouraged Sellers" sticky thread on the ebay Discussions forum. Maybe that would be a good place to add 'em? |
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
Gonefishin, this is a very informative post and I agree that it's very important to be cautious when purchasing coins. If I were you, I would consider contacting your post office and reporting this as postal fraud. If he had only charged you the 5% restocking fee (which I agree is just a rip-off since I think anyone who has to charge a restocking fee is expecting a lot of returns), you wouldn't be able to do anything, but I think you may have a case since he charged you more than was stated on his website. Just a thought. I hope you don't mind, but I broke your posts into paragraphs so that it would be easier to read.  |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
******************************************************************* " quote: Hey, maybe we should consider having an official avoid list on the forum." ********************************************************************* It is important to have a section on the forum to discuss our experiences with sellers such as we have with ebay, However we need to be careful, because when doing so as a forum, we open ourselves up to some legal issues. Although one or two of us may have bad experiences with a seller Another may have an exceptionally good experience. The seller you have an unpleasant experience with may be my "brother" (father, mother, uncle, cousin, etc.) Let us continue to document experiences with dealers (sellers) and let others make their decisions but I hope other than sites like ebay where sellers are known to be "bad" that we never have to list BAD SELLERS but please continue to warn each of us if you have a BAD experience. No one should have to accept coins that are not as advertised nor pay fees that are "unreasonable" rggoodie
aka Richard
"catch em doing something right"
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Valued Member
 United States
112 Posts |
You have good ideas about an "avoid list." I think that would be helpful for many people. I can tell you what I have done so far. I filed a report with the Spokane BBB. I explained my side and submitted the complaint. They said they would be in touch within 30 days. I also think I will go to Yahoo auctions and ebay and post my comments where this dealer sells their coins. I will also look into postal fraud-thank you susanlynn9 for the advice. I don't know what will happen with this, but if nothing else others should know what type of recourse they have if similar things happen to them when ordering coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4869 Posts |
If I were you, I would report this dealer to the BBB and your local attorny general's office. Take NO prisoners my friend...
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Valued Member
United States
138 Posts |
Posting about bad AND good experiences with coin dealers should be welcome on any coin forum. An AVOID list is a good idea, as is a PREFERRED list.
Nick
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1267 Posts |
I just went and took a look at their website, and by their own terms you should have received a 100% return and a very pleasant experience........yeah, right. I love the part about how they only want $330 for an ngc ms66 Morgan.........and they get to choose the actual coin and date. Sounds a lot like the TV hucksters, but at least they never complain about returns. Gonefishin, we all make mistakes as we learn our way around this hobby..........at least you made the right decision to send them back and take a small hit. Edited to add welcome aboard, Gonefishing! Edited by hadleydog
02/19/2007 05:40 am
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Valued Member
United States
112 Posts |
Its good to see I am not alone in having an experience like this. Seems like many people have had similar ones with collecting.
hadleydog: I looked at your toned coin website. Can I send you a picture of an 1880 CC morgan-I got this from my grandpa. I wanted someone to look at it and see if it has toning on the back or some kind of burn marks. It is still in the gov plastic box. If so, let me now where I can email the picture.
thanks
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Valued Member
United States
133 Posts |
Hadleydog:
Can you post a link to the web site.....CoinsPlus-I , as I can not find it.
Thanks,
Ron (ronaldb112)
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Valued Member
United States
397 Posts |
From the Coinsplus website: If you are not satisfied with your coin purchase, you may return the coin within 5 business days of your receipt of the package for a full refund of the purchase price. This policy applies to any non-bullion transaction. Returned coins or currency must be in their original, unopened packaging. We ask you to notify us, within the 5-day period, that you intend to return the coin. We will then instruct you as to the best way to return the coin so that the coin will be insured. There are very specific procedures for mailing numismatics so please call first. All credit card orders are subject to a 5% restocking fee. All bullion sales are final. This policy applies to any non-bullion transaction. Returned coins or currency must be in their original, unopened packaging. Hate to say it, but you probably are lucky he even gave any kind of refund. Does not make it right, but that is business nowadays. ALWAYS, read the fine print. MM  |
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Valued Member
United States
133 Posts |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,312 |
Posted 02/17/2007 10:47 pm
