Another slimy ebay seller with a new angle...
RGT
Posts: 508 ✭✭
I came across this auction a few weeks ago.
1829 Half Dime
The seller describes the coin as AU58 and the pictures clearly show the coin is in an ANACS slab, but no where in the description does he mention the slab. I checked his other auctions and he had several other pictures of slabbed coins with no mention of the slab. All of them appeared to be ANACS slabs, but there were only a few where you could see the logo in the reverse picture.
I checked his feedback and his auction terms and there were a lot of warning signs. But the coin looked decent from the small pictures and it looked like it probably had some nice color on it. I've never seen ANACS net grade a coin to AU58 so I figured it was worth taking a chance, as long as I bid low.
Well, I won the coin at a very nice price for an AU58. I had to wait three weeks since he doesn't take Paypal and holds checks for ten days. His auction also stated that he ships registered mail and he charged the high fees for it, yet it came in regular insured mail (and underinsured). The coin finally arrived and here is what I received.
The coin does have the nice color I thought it would, but it was also raw and has rim damage. I emailed the seller to ask him what happened to the slab and what the grade was on the slab. He claimed that he just put the coins in holders because it was easier to get pictures that way. That's the first time I ever heard any one claim that imaging was easier in a white slab. He also ignored all of my questions about the slab and the damage on the coin.
After the third exchange with him he simply claimed (IN ALL CAPS) that the coin was not slabbed. Well, we know that it was, or else he keeps a stash of empty ANACS slabs around just for taking pictures. Either way, the auction was intentionally very deceptive. I believe he is taking net graded ANACS coins and selling them as higher grade no-problem coins, then cracking them out. If the coin had been photographed raw I would have seen the damage. If it had been in a generic holder I would not have bid.
I'm taking my licks on this one since he doesn't accept returns. I doubt ebay would respond to a complaint. I do want to warn others of this guys methods though. I'll probably be leaving my first neg, and getting a retalatory one back.
1829 Half Dime
The seller describes the coin as AU58 and the pictures clearly show the coin is in an ANACS slab, but no where in the description does he mention the slab. I checked his other auctions and he had several other pictures of slabbed coins with no mention of the slab. All of them appeared to be ANACS slabs, but there were only a few where you could see the logo in the reverse picture.
I checked his feedback and his auction terms and there were a lot of warning signs. But the coin looked decent from the small pictures and it looked like it probably had some nice color on it. I've never seen ANACS net grade a coin to AU58 so I figured it was worth taking a chance, as long as I bid low.
Well, I won the coin at a very nice price for an AU58. I had to wait three weeks since he doesn't take Paypal and holds checks for ten days. His auction also stated that he ships registered mail and he charged the high fees for it, yet it came in regular insured mail (and underinsured). The coin finally arrived and here is what I received.
The coin does have the nice color I thought it would, but it was also raw and has rim damage. I emailed the seller to ask him what happened to the slab and what the grade was on the slab. He claimed that he just put the coins in holders because it was easier to get pictures that way. That's the first time I ever heard any one claim that imaging was easier in a white slab. He also ignored all of my questions about the slab and the damage on the coin.
After the third exchange with him he simply claimed (IN ALL CAPS) that the coin was not slabbed. Well, we know that it was, or else he keeps a stash of empty ANACS slabs around just for taking pictures. Either way, the auction was intentionally very deceptive. I believe he is taking net graded ANACS coins and selling them as higher grade no-problem coins, then cracking them out. If the coin had been photographed raw I would have seen the damage. If it had been in a generic holder I would not have bid.
I'm taking my licks on this one since he doesn't accept returns. I doubt ebay would respond to a complaint. I do want to warn others of this guys methods though. I'll probably be leaving my first neg, and getting a retalatory one back.
0
Comments
He's got the auc link up there.
He's got 95 negs so he must be doing something right
My posts viewed
since 8/1/6
<< <i>I believe he is taking net graded ANACS coins and selling them as higher grade no-problem coins >>
This is a popular practice among sleazebags.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>This is a popular practice among sleazebags.
Russ, NCNE >>
Ummm ... check this one ... got negged for cast counterfiet.
1900 AU UNC LAFAYETTE SILVER DOLLAR TYPE COIN RARE COMM
Make that multiple counterfiets ...
39 OLD SILVER 1 OZ TYPE COINS ESTATE SALE
Steve
Happy Rock Wrens
You're having delusions of grandeur again. - Susan Ivanova
Well, if you're gonna have delusions, may as well go for the really satisfying ones. - Marcus Cole
<< <i>Ummm ... check this one ... got negged for cast counterfiet. >>
One glance at the surfaces, and even I can tell that one's bogus.
Russ, NCNE
PLEASE ONLY BID, IF YOU INTEND TO PAY - FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT, I FILE ALL NO PAYS TROUGH EBAY DISPUTE RESOLUTION - THERE ARE NO EXCUSES NOT TO PAY! IF YOUR ACCOUNT IS SUSPENDED FROM EBAY FOR NO PAYS - I DO OFFER HELP TO GET YOU REINSTATED, BUT THERE IS A FEE INVOLVED.
Shouldn't he be NARU'd for this???
Steve
Happy Rock Wrens
You're having delusions of grandeur again. - Susan Ivanova
Well, if you're gonna have delusions, may as well go for the really satisfying ones. - Marcus Cole
Genuinely curious, what do you think ANACS would net grade that coin. With your great pics you might recoup the bulk of your purchase price.
<< <i>I'm not bustin on you,but I never bid when they have less than 99.5% positive feedback. He's got the auc link up there. >>
I know, there were plenty of warning signs, but I was in a gambling mood. I don't take chances like that often but some times they work out. Well, at least they used to, but not so much lately.
<< <i>No doubt the guy's a total lowlife, sleezeball, etc. Genuinely curious, what do you think ANACS would net grade that coin. With your great pics you might recoup the bulk of your purchase price. >>
I don't think PCGS, or NGC would slab it due to the rim damage. I think ANACS net graded it because of the same. At first I suspected the obvers had been claned and retoned, but I don't think so any more. It does have a good bit of remaining luster near the rims. I'd probablycall it AU50 except for the rim damage.
Any one think it might *not* get body bagged?
I quess I paid around EF45 money, so it's not a total loss, but the auction method was a fraud.
K S
Cartwheel's Showcase Coins
anyway, the guy is obviously a sleezebag and deserves the neg, even if you get one in return
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
<< <i>he could have saved the inserts from other coins that he has cracked out and is now using the inserts to hold the coins for pictures (I have several different sizes of inserts from my own crackouts). it would be very easy to put the coin into one of the inserts, take a picture and then post it for sale on ebay.... it looks like the coin is in a holder when in fact it is not... anyway, the guy is obviously a sleezebag and deserves the neg, even if you get one in return >>
Yes, he could have been doing that, but who in their right mind would do that? It's so much easier to photograph a raw coin. The only conclusion I can make is that he either isn't in his right mind, or he's trying to scam. You can guess which one I am leaning toward.
For those who like to rag on the buyer instead of the con artist (and I was actually expecting more of you to show up here), I did mention that I saw the warning signs and decided to take my chances. It's not like I was walking down a dark alley with $100 bills hanging out of my pockets. The coin is likely worth about what I paid for it. It's not about how much money I lost, it's about the sellers sleasy sales tactics and deception. I'm just trying to warn others what he is doing. If you want to spank me for that I'll bend over and try to enjoy it.
<< <i>but who in their right mind would do that? It's so much easier to photograph a raw coin. >>
Using the insert alone without the plastic shell would be no more difficult than imaging raw. It's the shell that makes imaging harder. Looking at his auction image, it appears that's what he's done.
Russ, NCNE
ANACS slab?
Notice that he has put a sticker over the place where the ANACS logo could be.
As far as the photography, the shell does cause reflection problems, but most people agree that the white insert causes exposure issues too. I know that I had problems with them before I got a new SLR camera that has much better controls than my old camera.
I forgot to add, if he just used an insert then he did so to hide the rim damage.
No, I don't want to blame the victim and yes the seller was deceitful BUT had you simply wrote that you saw the auction, bid on it based only on the pics and then received the damaged coin, I would have more sympathy for you and suggested that you be more careful next time.
But you did a full analysis, noticed all the red flags, and then still bid.
You were trying to score and got burnt. This is usually how it happens IMO.
Joe.
But I do agree with your last assertion - it was done to hide the rim damage...
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
you gotta neg this butt-munch!
K S
Second off---search his buying history---rkktx---very interesting
Blocked!!!
Photos of the 2006 Boston Massacre
With that feedback, though, I wouldn't be a buyer.
<< <i>First off, I want to thank you so much--I had a coin by this guy that I was watching. Second off---search his buying history---rkktx---very interesting >>
Then my mission was accomplished, at least on some scale.
I didn't really look at what he was buying, just what he was selling and what his buyers were saying. I noticed one guy left positive feedback for this coin that said "Coin not discribed, as listed Hiding facts. May be not even Gold. No communicat". I guess he hit the wrong button. It also is imaged in an ANACS slab and is obviously harshly cleaned.
As for his current auction, I'll let someone else try that experiment to see if it shipps raw or slabbed. My money is on raw (damaged, overgraded, etc.).