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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,307 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts |
Please permit me to grumble a bit here. Last week I bought the 1838 large cent from a coin dealer on ebay. There were two photos and a brief description of the coin, but no where did it state the coin had been cleaned. You couldn't see in the photos it had been cleaned, at least I couldn't. The coin in hand is shiny. I've attached both photos of the coin from the ebay ad.   The description of the cent was: Quote:
Nicer early date 1838 nicer condition Large Cent here as shown coronet head head type as shown Ship $3.35 AND check out all of my other GREAT coins and currency up for .99c start NO RESERVE & LOW SHIPPING COST auctions & ***SAVE*** on shipping!
The seller charged $3.35 to mail a single coin which is expensive and it arrived loose in an envelope with just a 44 cent stamp attached. I'm surprised it arrived without ripping the envelope when it went through the sorting machine and it wasn't marked "non-machinable". That would have cost a few more cents to send tho. I sent the seller a pm saying if I returned the coin I would be out over $4 so it wasn't worth returning and to describe the coins he's selling as cleaned if they are. Yes, I bought it relatively cheap ($4.74) and was aware of the shipping cost, but I'm unhappy with the seller. He should have described it as cleaned and for the high cost of shipping, he should have packed it better. All I know is I will never buy from this seller again. Thanks for allowing me to let off some steam. Just had to complain a bit today. I'm getting more leery of ebay sellers. Ken |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1081 Posts |
Maybe to play devil's advocate, but a cleaning is the least of this coin's problems. The reverse is obviously damages severely, which I'm sure you're aware of. A cleaning, IMO will not detract from the value of this coin one way or another. If you were looking for a problem free coin, you should have looked else where. However, I do agree about the shipping charges and packaging. If he charges that much, he should spend that much. IMO, this would warrant a neutral feedback stating the coin was cleaned and the high shipping costs.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
The images are scans and you can indeed see that it has been cleaned but it is not as obvious as it would be with digital photos. Scanners will not show the shininess/brightness of a cleaned coin but you can get a pretty good idea based on the patina. The coin looks rather orange and the fuzzy dark spots are a probable sign of an old dipping. Honestly, the massive reverse damage would have kept me away. One thing I have learned about ebay is that when a coin has one obvious problem, it usually has one or two other problems that are not so obvious so it is generally best to avoid altogether unless the seller provides color-accurate digital photos of at least an 800x800 size. I agree that $3.35 is quite excessive to ship that coin, especially in light of ebay's policy change of charging fees on the entire transaction. I could ship it for 64 cents in a 1oz First Class Mail rigid mailer. For most items, my ebay shipping is free of charge but it does get tougher to do that with items under $10. I would only charge $1 to mail a coin like that and it would be securely and properly shipped. |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Leave him nuetral feedback like this:
Coin not as described, packaging a joke!
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3276 Posts |
 What Dave said. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
I'm surprised that the buyer is not happy about the cleaning issue yet would bid on this coin with the obvious damage on the reverse- meaning the damage, in my mind, is a far great problem with the coin than it being cleaned. The buyer knew he was buying a problem coin as the pictures are clear on that and the buyer (I hope) factored the shipping charge into his total bid, as most buyers do.
I don't think the seller is compelled to ship in a bubble envelope nor is he/she compelled to add delivery confirmation or nice packaging, etc, though if the coin does not arrive, or got damaged in transit due to poor packaging, that's a problem. Over time the seller will eventually understand that good packaging prevents tampering and lost coins he/she has to replace in the mail.
I receive coins all the time in 44 cent envelopes, but when I do, the seller usually has the coin inside a piece of cardboard that is sealed shut and can go through the machine sorter. I never have a problem with receiving a coin in a 44 cent stamped envelope even if he charged me $4.00 for shipping, because I factor the shipping into my bid.
Edited by mycrob
06/21/2011 6:04 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2362 Posts |
The seller took a risk by dropping the coin in an envelope with a 44 cent stamp but it arrived 'safely'. I understand that you are angry as we all expect that the shipping cost will reflect the packaging of the coin. He made an additional $3 on the sale and that's a high percentage based on the selling price. Sorry that I can't agree with your cleaning complaint. It doesn't affect the value of the coin. Anything but positive feedback can be damaging on ebay but he certainly deserves it. Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1007 Posts |
Thanks for your comments.
As I already mentioned, I wish he would have stated in the description it was cleaned. The coin being cleaned isn't that big of a problem, I just wish he would have mentioned it. I knew I was getting it cheaply so I wasn't expecting an excellent coin. The photo of the reverse shows that.
My main issues with the seller was charging the high shipping fee then dropping the coin in an envelope. He could at least have wrapped it in newspaper or something. My suspicion is he was trying to make additional cash by charging the high shipping. The other issue was the lack of accurate description.
I bought this coin to fill a hole so I guess I got what I wanted.
I'll give the seller a few days to respond to my e-mail comments about the transaction, but I won't leave feedback. If I'm not happy with the transaction I don't leave feedback.
Just needed to comment here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2362 Posts |
I agree MatchBob - sometimes I've had to leave a strong message to a seller who has 'crossed the line' and very often they are apologetic and maybe something good happens. Then there are the few sellers who have crawled out of a sewer somewhere and they don't care what you say and they make a profit.
Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
I actually bought a "NON-MACHINABLE" red ink stamp, and send most of my coins for 64C.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
He also did not mention that scimitar gash on the reverse, and as said, THAT is a lot worse than any cleaning that happened. Honestly, given the coin you bought, there isn't a lot you can complain about. Even the shipping. I have received coins in envelopes as well, although usually in cardboard.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
I don't mind paying $3 or $4 shipping but I do expect that money to be spent on shipping...coin mailer,insurance,etc. To me, the shipping alone was enough for a neutral. I would ask to return it for a refund, minus the 44 cents he spent on shipping. Only fair.
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Pillar of the Community
2224 Posts |
Sound off and feel better. You have the right.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
838 Posts |
Who knows... that reverse damage might have been caused by the last guy to drop it in an envelope and send it across the country unprotected!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts |
Now today the 1835 large cent arrived that I bought from a different ebay seller, and I'm very happy. It was in a small padded envelope with delivery conformation, the shipping cost was $1.99 and he spent the money on sending it to me, not keeping it for his pocket. The seller accurately described it and I responded with positive feedback and good comments. You have to take the bad with the good. What a difference a day makes.   P S. The 1846 large cent should be arriving soon, maybe tomorrow. Yes, I'm working on my large cent collection. I have 21 so far. Bought my first 3 months ago and have been getting them one by one so I have a ways to go. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I don't understand why people think a couple bucks on shipping is a BIG problem. I could understand if they were charging 10.00 or higher and placing it in an envelope but a couple bucks just makes no sense. When I bid on something I check the shipping before I bid and always figure in the shipping into the price.As long as I knew what I was paying for shipping I could care less if he paid the paper boy a nickel to drop it off at my house when he delivered my paper. He said up front what he charged for shipping and I knew what that price was when I bid. I usually sell higher graded coins on ebay in slabs and I always send priority with signature confirmation, I had one guy leave a comment about high shipping when I charged $6.50 and the actual shipping charges for $7.05 to ship it the way I did. So I actually lost money on the shipping and have a few times when USPS changes their rates but I have never had anyone praise me for the cheap shipping they got but all I keep hearing is high shipping, high shipping when they knew what they charged before they bid on the items |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,307 |
Posted 06/21/2011 5:24 pm
