Where Is Ebay And The Ana?

ND et al, I was gonna post this auction here, but you beat me to it. It strikes me as logical that if enough people send letters to the ANA such as the one above bringing this matter to their attention, that it would take some sort of action. However, logic doesn't necessarily dictate the actions of a large corporation. Nevertheless, the effort must be attempted and I shall get a message off to the ANA. With estatedoctor, I am also certain additional examples of fraudulent coins may be found.

Fred

Handled. Should be gone soon.

It's a Morgan Mint gold plated piece of crap.

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Originally posted by national dealer


Good grief, can anyone explain to me why anyone in their right mind should support these people another minute?

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http://www.money.org/Content/Naviga.../default.htm

http://www.money.org/Content/Naviga...smatists.htm

http://www.money.org/Content/Naviga..._Seminar.htm

http://www.money.org/Content/Naviga.../default.htm

http://www.money.org/AM/Template.cf...ntentID=3689

Do I love the ANA? Am I going to marry the ANA? No to both but they do some worthwhile things and that is why, in my right mind or not, I am a member.

As an aside, I bet I could pick up any issue of either of the weekly coin mags, place an order with a select advertiser or two or three, and lose gobs more money that I would if I won the auction in question at the current price.

I am not saying what goes on in ebay is good. Just that it is nothing new under the sun in this hobby and a lot of other things have been going on forever. Greed and ignorance are a dangerous combination and there are plenty in this hobby ready to take advantage of it. And they aren't all found on ebay. It is fertile ground with or without ebay and always has been.

My response from Susan McMillan:

Dear Mr. Stevens:

Your suggestion of adding a hyperlink alert to numismatic listings is a great idea. I am forwarding your suggestions as well as your concerns to my supervisor and ANA's ebay contact.

The ANA does not monitor auctions on ebay. Rather we must rely on ebay's Coins Community Watch group (CCW) and members like you to report problems through the third party reporting process. It is my understanding that ebay forwards appropriate third party reports to the CCW for their review. When ANA receives a report from the CCW we take immediate action even if it involves a power seller.

Please remember this is an ebay program. ANA participates on a volunteer basis because we do care about making ebay a safer environment for collectors. ANA can and does make suggestions to ebay so please continue to send me your ideas on ways we can improve the program.

It is important for you and others to continue reporting problem listings and/or sellers to ebay using the third party reporting process.

We need to receive your input in order to improve the services we provide. Thank you for helping to make ebay a safer environment for collectors.

Sincerely,
Susan Mc Millan
Administrative Coordinator
American Numismatic Association
818 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Direct: 719.482.9850
Main: 719.632.2646
Fax: 719.634.4085
<mailto:mcmillan@money.org>mcmillan@money.org
<http://www.money.org>www.money.org

Try getting something that even pretends to be a human response from ebay unless you are a Power Seller (with your own ebay Representative). Closing your membership with ebay might be worth a thought too. ;)

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Originally posted by national dealer


You are 100% right, however, the ANA does not endorse the weekly magazines.

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Well, some of those dealers used to have ANA 'endorsements' (use of the ANA logo) in their ads. IIRC, the ANA expelled one dealer but I don't know the details enough to comment beyond that.

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Originally posted by national dealer


My problem in a nutshell is, How good can your word be if you sell it to the highest bidder? Ever hear the saying, "If you lay down with the hogs, you will wake up smelling like one?"

Did the ANA ask its members if they wanted to be associated with ebay? I know darn well that they did not ask if my firm wanted to be. I do not buy nor sell on ebay, because I do not wish to be associated with it. By default, the ANA linked me to ebay, and that is unacceptable.

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I have the same problem with the ANA 'endorsing' a grading service or 'conservation' service (and have argued against that before in other venues). I didn't get an input in that. I certainly would not have chosen PCGS or NGC or NCS. I would have chosen ANACS personally if there was a true endorsement being made and not a selling to the highest bidder. If, for nothing else, the fact of what ANACS does at shows - I am sure you have seen it - compared to the other grading services.

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Originally posted by national dealer


You will also notice, that my firm does NOT advertise in the "other" magazines that allow bad dealers/sellers either.
I hold myself to a higher standard. Apparently more so than the powers that be at the ANA.

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I certainly respect someone who stands their ground for their beliefs.

Personally, I would prefer that the ANA was not involved in ebay or ANY of the grading services, etc. The ANA has a mission of education (in all areas of numismatics) and I think that is the course they should always take as opposed to active consumer protection such as trying to shut down ebay auctions.