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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,588 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
What would you do? Well, here I am faced with another dilemma. I won an ebay auction for what appeared to be an AU-58 seated half. The coin arrived yesterday and I was "blinded by the light" when I opened the envelope. The coin was harshly cleaned and dipped. I revisited the auction page and looked at the coin and compared it to the one in-hand. It was the same coin, but the seller had darkened the photo so much that it appeared to have original toning. I checked out a few more of his auctions and all the listings had the same patina on the coins ... and knowing what I know now, they have all been rigorously cleaned. I then went to feedback and he has a 99.7 rating with over 6000 feedbacks. I clicked on a few completed auctions and the coins looked the same ... all cleaned, yet the buyers left glowing comments. He has a 10-day return policy (less shipping both ways) and I intend to take him up on that. My dilemma is ... do I take one for the team and let others know about this or let buyers make up their own minds and use the return policy that is offered? The seller makes no claim as to the condition of the coin, just states the return policy, but he is definitely misrepresenting the coins with his photography. WWYD?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Tough situation. How much and what exactly is shipping both ways, was Paypal involved? Does the seller subtract what you pay to send the coin back and then send you a refund via snail mail minus postage they put on the envelope. I would definitely out the seller and withhold feedback at a minimum, but that's just me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
Here's a red flag for me: a positive feedback that says, "ok"
Just "ok" and nothing else, no punctuation, or anything.
To me that's a negative, and I hope someday to lead or at least be part of an underground movement that declares the "ok" positive feedback to be the universal negative.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2797 Posts |
Bonedigger, It was a Paypal transaction ... postage was $2.80. Refund would be via Paypal, so my loss would only be about $5 for the round-trip postage. Of course there is the principle. This seller is taking advantage of the inexperienced collector. My guess is he gets about a 1% return of his coins based on the feedback percentage. The rest of the stuff is way over-priced for the condition, but because the buyer is unaware or indifferent, they keep the coins. I am mulling the thought of emailing the seller and asking him about his photography. Here's a picture of the obverse from the listing. In hand it is completely white ...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Definitely, you should question the seller about their photography. I had a case not unlike yours when I received a Bust Half Dollar that the seller had photoshopped the auction pictures virtually removing some graffiti and (in this case) lightening the coin. I ended up holding on to the Half, but I withheld FB even when they asked and later threatened to 'Neg' me for questioning their photography skills.
Good Luck Buddy
Ben
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
quote:
I hope someday to lead or at least be part of an underground movement that declares the "ok" positive feedback to be the universal negative.
I've been known to use "item arrived". |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
you could leave something like this !
Thanks for the harshly cleaned coin ,,fast shipping ! creative photography !
Unless of course you decide to return it ,,in which case I would leave no feedback and save the opportunity to respond to the seller should He decide to leave a negative or neutral.
Metalman
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
I just emailed the seller and explained my disappointment. I also advised that I would be returning the coin under the seller's return policy. This seller does not leave feedback first. He waits for the buyer to post first.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
632 Posts |
Wow!, thanks SeatedNut. I recognize the background on that picture. I was considering bidding on one of his coins. It would have been a large purchase for me. His coins LOOK real good. The condition I was looking for was there and the price was right...I'm actually watching the coin now. Thanks for helping me make up my mind on this one. Sorry about your coin.
J.
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Valued Member
United States
144 Posts |
With the new feedback system, can't you leave a positive by just saying "ok", but give zero or one stars on all categories?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
Yes you can, but I'm not sure anyone is looking at the stars.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2703 Posts |
I think I have used this false positive: "fast delivery, coin much lighter in color than expected based on photos provided." - which is just the facts, but astute prospective buyers will probably conclude it was harshly cleaned and the seller is a photo doctor. I agree with HABIB, just "ok" in ebay feedback means "not ok". |
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Valued Member
United States
144 Posts |
I like that:
"Wow!! What a brilliant shine on a VF coin!!"
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,588 |
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Posted 10/02/2007 11:12 am
