Caveat Emptor---Is This Common Business Practice?

Fortunately I didn't pay THAT much! I still did pay over $100. PCGS recommends a price of $60, but their prices don't take toning into account. Based on what I've seen at auction, with a good photo, this would probably bring in a small premium for the toning, so I would be OK with paying a bit more than that.

I'll see what they say in response to my email. I still think it's worth it to put a chink in that A+ rating. Other buyers will be attracted by that, and they clearly don't deserve it.

Seriously, the dealers on this site, from everything I've seen, are FAR AND AWAY more trustworthy and deserving of business! They may not be able to compete with this company's bulk prices, but as I've learned the hard way, better to pay full value and get what you intend to buy.

Send the coin back and get your money refunded if you are not happy.

I've dealt with them before and did not have a problem getting a refund.

I kinda think APMEX has gotten too big, too fast and has lost some since of direction in the process. Used to be a small friendly shop in Edmond. Now it's just another impersonal, mostly bullion dealer in OKC that you can only deal with online or on the phone.

It may be more efficient to operate that way but it sure doesn't appeal to me. I wanna see my stuff BEFORE I hand over the money.

Can't tell from the screen shot, did the serial number on the slab you received match the one in the screen shot image? If the serial number on the slb in the screen shot was blurred out then you were buying a generic coin and not necessarily the one in the image. If the serial number does match then it is most likely a matter of imaging and you did get the coin in the picture. It just doesn't look as nice as you thought it would.

Then they probably did do a "bait and switch" on you. Unless somewhere on the add they mentioned that it was a stock image or that you would not be receiving the exact coin pictured.

Unless you send it back they win. If you send it back then they will just pull this same stunt on some other unsuspecting customer. I used to work for someone that would pull the bait and switch on a grand scale against state governments. This is part of the reason why I refer to that job in the past tense. I found out through that experience that the BBB A+ rating is for sale, don't ever trust this rating on any company other than a small mom and pop.

The actual coin they sent is pictured in the original post.

Also, apparently, if I had clicked the little camera icon below and to the right of the image, it would have said the coin pictured is not the coin I was going to get. I asked why they couldn't just put that ON THE PAGE ITSELF. The answer they didn't give is "that would have kept you from buying the coin."

If I send the coin back and they don't issue a refund, they REALLY win. This is a dishonest company. I am NOT going to trust them to get around to issuing a refund. For all my bellyaching, the fact is, Id have been fairly happy with this coin had I paid about $30 less. I'd much rather eat that $30 than the full price I paid, plus postage, plus the coin itself, and I'm not willing to take on an even bigger battle that would be necessary if I returned the coin and no refund was issued.

I posted a very detailed negative review with the BBB, and I'm going to be content with that. If they lose even one person's business because of it, they will have paid a price of significantly higher value than what they gained through this dishonesty.

with edweather. And everyone else above who is trying to convince the OP that even if a company is "un-trustworthy" in their postings, it is a huge stretch to assume that they will not return the money upon receipt of a returned coin.
Keep it or return it, that is, obviously, your own call.

OK! When people start getting mad, that's when the conversation needs to end.

Thanks for the input/advice/support, those of you who gave it!

Have a great Christmas!!