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 Replies: 43 / Views: 2,982 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Seeing how I consider CCF a great alternative venue for buying and selling coins, I thought I'd start a discussion on what other collectors consider important in these transactions. CCF has already raised the bar significantly higher than a typical eBay transaction, but is there anything more to expect? I'll start with a few things I consider important: 1. Provide clear enough photos for the buyer to determine their own grade. I consider my own grading immaterial because of the natural tendency to grade in my own favor. With good enough photos, this issue is mostly avoided. 2. Provide a positive incentive for another collector in terms of value. I find that if I make good purchases first, I can pass on value to another collector. There are only a few coins/series I consider accurate to peg to catalog values. Otherwise, I'm just adding to already rampant coin inflation (imo). If you use "grey sheet", consider that a tool to impart a sense of value too. 3. Disclose anything that is not shown in photos. Even if you suspect a coin was cleaned, polished, or has any issue--say so up front. If you don't know how to tell, take the time to find out. You'll learn something, and will instill trust from other collectors. 4. Shipping: consider how you'd like to receive a valuable coin, and then package your coins accordingly for other collectors. Careful shipping need not involve much time or expense. Buyers also appreciate knowing when a coin ships, and getting a tracking # if applicable. 5. Returns: if you stand by your coins, returns in the same condition and in a reasonable amount of time should be OK--and without a punitive "restocking fee" as the collector is already hassled with a return. After all, the better a seller is upfront with their coins, the less confusion down the road, where an open return policy is their motivation for being factual. And I don't consider slabbed coins somehow exempt from returns--the same reasons apply. Just a few thoughts--any others?  Edited by Forum Mom to move from Important CC Family Topics to Main Coin ForumEdited by KurtS
09/09/2008 4:28 pm
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Moderator
 United States
188130 Posts |
Well stated.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
Liberal return policy would be a big plus.
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
KurtS, for President. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5318 Posts |
Thanks for all your thoughts! In a way, it's good if returns are never considered. However, if you stand by your coins, then returns in a reasonable amount of time should be OK--and without some crazy "restocking fee"; the collector is already paying for the hassle and return shipping. After all, the better a seller is upfront with their coins, the less confusion down the road, where an open return policy is their motivation for being factual. And I don't consider slabbed coins somehow exempt from returns--what's up with that? LOL. Edited by KurtS
09/09/2008 4:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
When someone returns a coin they have to pay the return shipping as well as the shipping in the first place? That doesn't sound right to me. If I were to sell something that someone doesn't like, I would assume that the return fees should fall on me not them. Is the return shipping thing done by everyone? Sorry if this is a silly wquestion but to be honest I have only ever sold, or bought online in this forum. Never ebay or anywhere else. thanks Malissa Edited by malissadawn
09/09/2008 4:20 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Malissa, good point--I haven't thought through returns I guess because nobody so far has wanted to return something to me. I have returned coins before, and paid my own postage. I'll have to give that some more thought.  Edited by KurtS
09/09/2008 4:23 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
I haven't had anything returned either, but I have only just started selling. I think sometimes I may slightly over grade but most times I feel hesitant to put a higher grade than would seem fit. Still, there are so many different guidelines for the grading, that I finally settled on charltons standards for canadian, and I follow that as closely as I can. As for american coins.....I just use the coin facts link on this site and try to get as close as I can.
I think covering the return shipping would only be fair as I would feel bad if I sent something to someone that made them feel disappointed instead of happy.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
Returns ... I've returned a couple of coins purchased on ebay that didn't match up to the hype or had problems that should have been highlighted in the description. My personal feelings are: If the coin is not as advertised, I shouldn't have to pay shipping either way. The seller did not live up to their part of the bargain and should take responsibility. On the other hand, if I missed something that was clearly stated or visible on the coin photo, my bad and I should pay shipping both ways if the seller agrees to a return. There's a lot of trust built into this business model and there will be some who choose to exploit this. This will hurt all the other honest folk. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
Kurt, I'll be following this thread with interest. I recently "ordered" a coin from a CCF forum member; I have yet to receive it. Briefly, I noticed a coin posted here for sale and contacted the member to express interest. He replied that he'd already listed the coin on ebay and that I could bid on it there if I wished. Although his total feedback was a bit low, he had 100% positive feedback, so I bid on it, sent him a USPS money order, and waited. His last e-mail to me stated that he'd received the MO and sent the coin, but that was before September 1 ... and even allowing for mail travel time from his location, I'd have to say that the coin was either never sent or lost in the mail ... and he's not answering my e-mails. I'm going to give him a few more days to respond so that we can try to work out something, but after I post a negative feedback I will notify someone here that there's a problem with a member. Who might that be? BTW the original thread in which the coin was posted here seems to have been removed, or at least I haven't been able to find it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
pls,
Would the seller be "Philney"?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote:
There's a lot of trust built into this business model and there will be some who choose to exploit this. I agree it either works or fails by the level of trust that site maintains. I think many eBayers are OK in selling coins; I just think it could be done much better, hence this thread. Quote:
I recently "ordered" a coin from a CCF forum member; I have yet to receive it...I'd have to say that the coin was either never sent or lost in the mail ... and he's not answering my e-mails. What a frustrating situation. Sometimes mail is lost, but I'm a little skeptical about a seller using CCF to first market their coin, who then switches over to ebay. ebay is not policed well. The fact he's not responding to emails suggests something to me too.  If this is regarding "Philney", let's not get into that discussion here, ok? If people's trust is abused here on CCF, I think Bobby or Susan would step in. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
SeatedNut, the seller was not the mythical Philney. As of a few minutes ago, I gave him 24 hours to contact me and warned him that I would take "appropriate action" ... which will include a negative rating, a request that ebay take action against him, and a report to an appropriate mod here. I will not post his name, but I will provide all details to a mod so if he/she wishes to warn forum participants, s/he may do so. Right now, I'm astounded that a participant in these forums, who had a 100% positive ebay rating, would defraud someone for a measly $16 ... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
860 Posts |
There must be agreement who is responsible for an item sent with a Delivery Confirmation notice where the mailman just records he put it into your box. If the seller has the confirmation, and the buyer says he didn't get it, who loses?
There is a signature required delivery confirmation notice they just started putting out in my rural PO, costs more, but will a buyer pay extra to be sure they will have to be the signer? Some have asked me on inexpensive items just to mail "raw" , but even though they have said they assume responsibility, I worry about bad reports from them.
Jim
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
pls, it's also entirely possible something happened to the seller that prevents him/her from answering emails. Has this person made any posts to CCF in the last week, or since you started emailing him/her? It does seem odd a seller would trash their own rep over 16 bucks, so maybe there is another explanation. Yes, I've been accused of being overly optimistic.  But I tend to give the benefit of the doubt until I absolutely can't anymore. Just a thought. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Kurt, as for your list, the points are right on! For returns, shipping costs should be paid by whoever initiates the return. Translation: if the seller didn't disclose something pertinent that makes the buyer deem the item less desirable and therefore unwanted, the seller has initiated the return and should pay shipping both ways. If, on the other hand, the buyer missed the paragraph that stated the coin was clean and damaged, and returns the coin because of that, then the buyer should pay the shipping. Of course, getting this to work in the real world would require honesty on both sides of the transaction. A lot of people (both buyers and sellers) on ebay tend to blame-shift, though; it's a natural human tendency to project one's own shortcomings onto the other party ("I didn't do anything wrong - that other person is a jerk!"). So for now the only thing we can do is be loyal to the ones who treat us honestly.. and be honest with ourselves as well, taking responsibility for when we are in the wrong. Edited by xshift
09/10/2008 7:09 pm
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Replies: 43 / Views: 2,982 |
Posted 09/09/2008 3:57 pm
