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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,320 |
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Valued Member
United States
439 Posts |
Okay, I've gotta gripe a bit so bear with me. This is the second time this has happened to me and I'm a bit annoyed. I bought a coin on layaway from a big name seller that advertises in Coin World. It seemed like it took forever but when I finally got it paid off and the package arrived I opened it and was tickled pink. It was beautiful. It was a bit more expensive than I normally like to pay but all he expense and waiting was instantly forgotten. Until I looked at the reverse. There was a nasty carbon spot nearly as big as an eraser on a pencil. Talk about a mood killer. Anyhoo, within five minutes after I opened the package I'm on the phone to tell the company that the coin is gonna boomerang on them and I want my money back. They agree to refund my money as soon as they get the coin back so there isn't any problem there but the lady I talked to got a bit snarky about my questioning their grading standards and insisted that a carbon spot doesn't affect a coins grade. Now, admittedly I'm not the most savvy person here so I figured I'd throw out my question and see what everyone else thinks. Should a carbon spot knock down a coins grade or is this a completely separate issue? Would this be more of a damaged coin kinda deal? I'm pretty sure when people order from those ads, especially with the prices they charge, you figure you're getting a problem free coin. Am I right or are those mail order companies pretty much a crap shoot? Sorry again for the rant but I'm seriously bummed.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
I know I'd be bummed out if the coin I just spent big bucks on had a big carbon spot. I'm assuming you bought sight unseen. I tried that a few times before I gave up.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
899 Posts |
 I would be bummed also.... I have to see pictures, good clear pictures. Ones that are blurred, have camera flash, parts of the coin hidden are always suspect. I have gotten into the habit of asking for better pictures and if the seller refuses walk away and save my money.... Another coin will always show up later. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
Eye appeal is a factor in grading, I believe there is even a formula used by Heritage. One category for wear (surface preservation), one for strike, one for luster and one for eye appeal. A big ugly carbon spot would lower a grade for sure. They need to describe it with such and such grade detail with a carbon spot on reverse if they want to be honest. Here's a link to the grading formula I found. http://www.coingrading.com/grade1.html |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
What kind of coin and what grade? Any carbon spot as big as a pencil eraser should certainly depress the grade in the MS range.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Quote:
Any carbon spot as big as a pencil eraser should certainly depress the grade in the MS range.
I agree completely. If the coin was EF or lower, the spot would have little effect on the grade. Surely you saw a reverse pic before buying this coin?  |
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Valued Member
United States
113 Posts |
I'd be very disappointed as well. I'm glad you are getting your $ back.
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
Good to know you'l get your $$$ back TSOTL, am very curious about the coin, could you post a pic on that carbon spot? thank you!
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Valued Member
United States
382 Posts |
Any coin that I would have to put on layaway I would not buy unless there were pictures of it. Everyone has their own grading standards it seems. Don't buy it till you see a picture of it !
T
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Of course you may have misunderstood about the grade. The spot may be a MS grade and the coin something else.  Why you may well have a valuable spot there.  Just kidding of course. I suppose right about now your not in a great mood for humor though. As long as they take the coin back, your a little in the OK situation. However, did you get your money back on the postage? Did you have to pay postage on the way back too? Hopefully you didn't have a dealer with a restocking fee also? And what about insurances? Was there any and who paid if so? This is why I hate ebay and don't use it. |
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Valued Member
United States
124 Posts |
bherring1964 is right that it won't affect the grade at EF or below. But isn't that because the grade is based on degree of wear? Even so, it certainly affects the eye appeal, and that affects value.
When I first strated collecting, I was warned about buying on-line. Pictures can be deceptive, even when they seem very clear.
Can I add another question here? Have any of you used an approval service? When I was a kid I used to get stamps on approval and thought it was a pretty good deal. Is there an approval service for coins? Has anyone tried it or have an opinion on it?
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Valued Member
 United States
439 Posts |
Thanks for the input. I'm calmed down a bit now, well about the coin I'm calmed anyway. My stress generator has swung back to my 11 year old now so business as usual there. To answer a few questions it was an AU 09s Lincoln (no VDB). I saw it listed in an ad in Coin World with no pics attached. I've seen this dealers ads a lot and figured I'd take a shot. I'm getting the entire amount refunded, no restocking fee, or so they told me on the phone. It was a bit on the expensive side but then I thought I would get a reasonably accurately graded problem free coin. Instead I got another one of those stinkin life lessons. Man, I hate those. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2541 Posts |
I certainly wouldn't be interested in a coin that looked like that. I'm sure that's why many of those coins end up being sold sight unseen so that someone will hopefully just not return it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Not meaning to drag out the misery but out of curiosity, just how much did that coin cost and including postage since I know you got stuck with that too.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,320 |
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Posted 11/10/2009 5:15 pm
