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 Replies: 28 / Views: 5,318 |
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
I just ordered a coin from Clarksmith at the website www.coinvault.com, he is a world numismatic person I sent him way to many emails, but he said I'm welcome to order from him anytime. When I got the coin, it had black grease or something on the coins reverse, it was a gold 20 franc angel, it was 1895 and had this black stuff on the 5 and on the edge. The image clearly did not have this stuff on the coin. I will post the image soon as I find it. Now how Can I remove this stuff safely? Here is his response when I confronted him: "I dont remember any black on the reverse. Try nailpolish remover. Dab it with a q-tip. Dont rub hard. Best Regards, Clark" nailpolish remover? Now I don't think thats a safe way?   After I sent clark smith this email yesterday, "Why is the coin that you sent me the coin that wasnt in the photo?" no response. This is unusual because he always responds to my emails almost immediately or within the same day or the next. So I guess hes ignoring me now. Please, I don't care what anyone says, don't do business with this dealer. I had to learn the hard way. People told me he was reputable, and people actually flamed me for wanting the picture of the coin, because they said they would buy it sight unseen, a very bad not wise thing to do. So I don't recommend this dealer. By the way, he has rejected my refund. Edited by OldGoldKing
10/08/2005 04:12 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
GCL
Dont use finger nail polish !!
Im no fan of cleaning coins in any fashion, but to remove potentially harmful grime from gold coins soak the coin in pure acetone,,it may take a few minutes or as much as a day or longer to remove the crud. do not rub the coin in any fashion,allow the acetone to evaporate it does this very rapidly!! acetone will not harm noble metals,of which Gold is one ,,
as to why the dealer responded the way he did , who knows? if your not happy with him as a dealer, do no more business with him.
take the opportunity as a lesson learned and move on.
Rick
Edited by Metalman
10/06/2005 3:22 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
954 Posts |
If I was unhappy like you I would have sent the coin back and waited for a better one to show up.
catman
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2724 Posts |
Why dealers do what they do is always amazing me. 100% of GOOD dealers will have a 100% return guarantee on coins (other than bullion).
It ranges from 5 through 14 days, but should ALWAYS put the customer first. Your coin is not exactly a one of kind coin, so it should have been replaced or accepted back without prejudice.
Of course this is only my humble opinion.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2684 Posts |
I'll go along with Metalman, but with a little stronger statement: don't clean the coin. Period. Normally, one would send it back through the dealer's return policy. However, looking at Clark Smith's site http://www.coinvault.com/order.htm , his return policy is restricted to a guarantee of authenticity only: "You can return items only if an organization (such as PCGS, ANACS, NGC, or an expert we recognize) labels the coin(s) not genuine." Unless I missed it somewhere else, he doesn't have a real return policy. This statement would immediately get him crossed off my dealer list: it is virtually impossible to judge a coin by a photo; thus, if an online seller does not have a return policy, his/her ethics become immediately suspect. Nevertheless, I'd send him another email requesting to return the coin. But, I'm not optimistic about the outcome. If no return, you might consider having it professionally conserved by NCS. I also should add that I am not familiar with Clark Smith and his Coin Vault, but looking over his web site with its "no return" policy (authenticity excepted) and your experience with him, I would not at this time consider him a "reputable dealer". Still, the judge remains out until your situation with him is resolved. Edited by Morgan Fred
10/06/2005 7:32 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
106 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Morgan Fred
I'll go along with Metalman, but with a little stronger statement: don't clean the coin. Period. Normally, one would send it back through the dealer's return policy.
However, looking at Clark Smith's site http://www.coinvault.com/order.htm , his return policy is restricted to a guarantee of authenticity only: "You can return items only if an organization (such as PCGS, ANACS, NGC, or an expert we recognize) labels the coin(s) not genuine." Unless I missed it somewhere else, he doesn't have a real return policy. This statement would immediately get him crossed off my dealer list: it is virtually impossible to judge a coin by a photo; thus, if an online seller does not have a return policy, his/her ethics become immediately suspect.
Nevertheless, I'd send him another email requesting to return the coin. But, I'm not optimistic about the outcome. If no return, you might consider having it professionally conserved by NCS.
I also should add that I am not familiar with Clark Smith and his Coin Vault, but looking over his web site with its "no return" policy (authenticity excepted) and your experience with him, I would not at this time consider him a "reputable dealer". Still, the judge remains out until your situation with him is resolved.
I agree! Sorry for bringing this up again, but the folks on another forum told me he was reputable and I could buy it sight unseen. I'll give you a link soon. So I trusted them, and this comes up here's his latest response after I showed him a photo of it (PS, does it look cleaned to you?): Hello Kevin, Now I remember. I think that was from when the coin was made and wont come off. Best Regards, Clark And here's the link of the photo of the coin he said he was going to send to me: http://www.coinvault.com/i/c3413r.jpgAnd GET THIS, this coin wasnt listed for sale in his site! He wouldnt tell me where he got it from, or why it wasnt listed Edited by Mike
10/07/2005 5:26 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23519 Posts |
I have just spent the last little while checking out all of his listed Australian Coins.
I looked at grade and date I checked prices against two Australian coin price references and did conversion rates for each coin.
His coins are reasonable if they are delivered as pictured when delivered, but in every case when I checked the coins and looked elsewhere on the web, his prices were higher.
Now if he is a good dealer and someone has positive experiences with him, buy from him, and develop a relationship
But as in the case of all coins ,
know what you are looking for (research),
what is available (more research) and
what you are WILLING to pay. (EMOTION)
rggoodie
aka Richard
"catch em doing something right"
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by rggoodie
I have just spent the last little while checking out all of his listed Australian Coins.
I looked at grade and date I checked prices against two Australian coin price references and did conversion rates for each coin.
His coins are reasonable if they are delivered as pictured when delivered, but in every case when I checked the coins and looked elsewhere on the web, his prices were higher.
Now if he is a good dealer and someone has positive experiences with him, buy from him, and develop a relationship
But as in the case of all coins ,
know what you are looking for (research),
what is available (more research) and
what you are WILLING to pay. (EMOTION)
I did research, he has reasonable prices. To the other posters, I looked at the coin under a 10x loupe, I dont have any more loupes more powerful than that, and no coin stores are near me. I lookedi t under a 30x micronta which is a cheap pocket microsope, but I couldnt tell. Did you see what his reason was? It was minted that way?! That is classic. However the coin pictured was not the coin I got. Did you compare the photos? I gave you the link to the photo of the one he said iw as going to get. |
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
Just now, looked it under with my cheap pocket microscope. Its hard to tell if its a scratch
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
My issue with him, if I were you, is that he didn't send you the same coin as pictured. Did it state anywhere that he was using stock photos? If not, I would call this false advertising. Aside from the mark, I would say that the coin he sent you is in a lower grade than the coin pictured also.
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Susanlynn9
My issue with him, if I were you, is that he didn't send you the same coin as pictured. Did it state anywhere that he was using stock photos? If not, I would call this false advertising. Aside from the mark, I would say that the coin he sent you is in a lower grade than the coin pictured also.
You think its a lower grade? I dont know how to grade coins but it looks BU to me. Yes I have the same issue. He didnt seem to give me the same coin as pictured. What do you mean by stock photos? Get this though, the coin wasn't listed in his stock of coins on his website, its like he had an extra. He wouldnt explain why he didnt list it on his website |
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
Stock photos are pictures that are used to represent the coin being sold, but are not of the actual coin you will receive. Personally, I think using stock photos is a very poor practice to sell coins. Especially, since so much is dependent upon the condition and eye appeal.
With the mark on the reverse that you can't identify, I would not grade this coin as BU. If it was cleaned, it's not BU. The details look less sharp to me in the coin you received than the coin that the dealer posted pics of. There are many different grades for uncirculated coins. The coin pictured by the dealer would, in my opinion, rate a higher uncirculated grade than the one you received.
The most important thing is that you're happy with your purchase. In reading your posts, I'd say that you weren't satisfied. If that is the case, I'd return it and wait for a better one to come along.
I would only do business with this dealer again if he agreed to accept the return. I agree with Morgan Fred in regard to his return policy. It's questionable, at best. If he sticks to the terms stated that he'll only accept a return based on authenticity, I would not do any further business with him. There is never a reason for a dealer not to stand behind what he sells.
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
[quote] Originally posted by agekaFirst picture I would not touch the coin with a ten foot pole Look at the color difference in blue filter  |
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by GoldCoinLover
quote:
Originally posted by Morgan Fred
I'll go along with Metalman, but with a little stronger statement: don't clean the coin. Period. Normally, one would send it back through the dealer's return policy.
However, looking at Clark Smith's site http://www.coinvault.com/order.htm , his return policy is restricted to a guarantee of authenticity only: "You can return items only if an organization (such as PCGS, ANACS, NGC, or an expert we recognize) labels the coin(s) not genuine." Unless I missed it somewhere else, he doesn't have a real return policy. This statement would immediately get him crossed off my dealer list: it is virtually impossible to judge a coin by a photo; thus, if an online seller does not have a return policy, his/her ethics become immediately suspect.
Nevertheless, I'd send him another email requesting to return the coin. But, I'm not optimistic about the outcome. If no return, you might consider having it professionally conserved by NCS.
I also should add that I am not familiar with Clark Smith and his Coin Vault, but looking over his web site with its "no return" policy (authenticity excepted) and your experience with him, I would not at this time consider him a "reputable dealer". Still, the judge remains out until your situation with him is resolved.
I agree! Sorry for bringing this up again, but the folks on amother coin forum told me he was reputable and I could buy it sight unseen. I'll give you a link soon. So I trusted them, and this comes up
here's his latest response after I showed him a photo of it (PS, does it look cleaned to you?):
Hello Kevin,
Now I remember. I think that was from when the coin
was made and wont come off.
Best Regards,
Clark
And here's the link of the photo of the coin he said he was going to send to me:
http://www.coinvault.com/i/c3413r.jpg
And GET THIS, this coin wasnt listed for sale in his site! He wouldnt tell me where he got it from, or why it wasnt listed
I know a big spanish dealer who said he was selling the coin pictured and sold three coins with the same picture  Edited by Mike
10/07/2005 3:18 pm
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
Ageka, I don't understand. What is the difference in the color in the blue filter? What do you see?
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Replies: 28 / Views: 5,318 |
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Posted 10/06/2005 3:47 pm
