Should I try ordering a coin or just let it go?
airplanenut
Posts: 22,222 ✭✭✭✭✭
A coin I've been looking for popped up on a dealer's website back in April (not a dealer I've dealt with before). It looked like a nice example--meeting my needs--and at a good price, not an amazing deal but not as high as it could have been. I ordered it and a few days later got an email saying they looked around and couldn't find the coin, so I was refunded and that was that.
A few weeks ago, I was looking at their site again and saw the same date/grade, and looking through my old emails, matched the serial number to the coin I had ordered months ago. I emailed to ask if they had found the coin or if it had been listed in error (perhaps when they refunded me, the system accidentally reset the quantity available to 1 and put the coin back on the site). I think the title is different, so it's plausible they found the coin and made a new listing for it. I quickly got an email back saying they were out of the office for Thanksgiving (perfectly acceptable) and would get back to me when they returned. A few days after Thanksgiving weekend I sent a quick follow-up, and then another a few days after that. I haven't gotten a reply to either. The coin is still listed on their site.
I could just order the coin again, but I've tried to ask before doing so to avoid the hassle of the transaction being canceled again if they don't have the coin. If they do have it, I'm definitely a buyer. I can pay with a credit card and be covered. Should I just place an order and hope for the best? Walk away because they haven't replied? This isn't a huge coin, but there's enough upside from the photos and price that if I'm going to get one, it's a good option. I can't say I've ever been in a situation like this one before.
Comments
Always trust your gut if it says yes then do it if not then don't.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
You should call them.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
That’s weird don’t know how big ticket it is but their response makes no sense to me as I would think they want to move it. I would suggest you get a person on the phone and go from there. I would not put up money until they answered my call. If no would just move on.
I'm in "give the guy a second chance" category, though it seems like this would actually be a 5th chance
Coin Rarities Online
I'm in the "cut him loose" column. Before you do that give me his number, I'll call him for you!
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Do you have a friend who would order it for you as a favor?
How badly do you want this coin?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Just make the purchase, you're covered with a CC no skin off you it it doesn't go through
Do a Nike
Just Do It
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Dealers only get to play games with me for a while, especially on line. Given the games, the only way I would deal with this firm is if they are at a show, the coin is in their case, you ask for a price and they give you one you can accept.
I will deal with the devil, but it’s only if it’s at show, and I am dealing with Beazelb face to face.
Like @MFeld suggested earlier. CALL THEM!
Really not worth an entire thread in my opinion.
Trust is hard to earn.
They sound lazy.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Come on Freddie-let's not tell people what is worth a thread and what is not-of all people, you should be well aware of this.
I would order it using your credit card and see what happens. Worst case scenario, you get your money back. Best case scenario, you get a nice coin you want.
So people can continually post on one of my threads that it's not worthy? At least my threads were about a product not asking others to make up my mind for me.
Get real. Either buy it or don't.
He didn't even take the time to call the company but we are supposed to tell him what he should do. 🙄
That's what this forum is about "Getting Opinions"
It beats threads on every year Official Threads.............................gezzz
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
I'd call or just order it and see what happens. Worst case your order gets canceled again and you have learned another data point about the dealer in question and can avoid dealing with them in the future.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Did they bump up the price since the last time you bought it?
Or if there's a way to check reviews for this dealer look to see if they've done something similar before. If both of those seem OK and you really want that particular piece maybe give them a call. But I'd still keep my eye out for something else. Yeah maybe even for a bit more money
The lack of a response to your email(s) is disrespectful. So is the fact that they relisted it after telling you it was lost.
Please.
I've misplaced one piece I sold on eBay since 1999. I felt so bad about it that, after I refunded the buyer, I messaged them multiple times telling them I'd find it and get back in touch. When I did find it a month later, I knocked 50 bucks off the price and offered it to them first. They accepted.
Unless the piece is so rare you have little options (and you've already stated that is not the case) I'd be gone like Donkey Kong.
But first I'd unleash the wrath of @OAKSTAR on them via telephone 😆
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
While that's an obvious answer (and a good one, too) apart from my general disdain for making phone calls, I do have a reason I haven't done that yet: apart from needing to remember to do it (I usually do coin stuff at my computer at night or on the weekend), my day job office is wide open and it's a royal PITA to step away to make a personal call without being in earshot of a lot of people. I try to handle calls when I'm driving to/from work, but this place opens after I get to work and closes before I leave.
It's the same price, and the reviews I see are for their shop (not internet presence) but they're very good. This is something I've looked for for a while; it's one of the types of coins that is always available, but usually there's something negative so I wouldn't buy it.
If it's always available somewhere, and if you can't call (which is to see their attitude more than anything) I'd walk away. There's some piece somewhere that'll meet your needs I'm sure.
Order it and follow up with a phone call to confirm. Downside is minimal and upside is you get a coin you’ve had trouble finding at a fair price.
You should listen to this. Keep it simple and try to get what you want. Sometimes it will take a little bit of effort when dealing with flakes
Life is too short for cat and mouse games. Think of it this way. The precious time that is wasted, is time you will never get back.
It's hard to believe that you can't find a couple of minutes during your workday to just call the coin dealer and discuss this coin. If you're concerned that your coworkers may listen to your conversation, take a short walk outside and call the dealer.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Occam's Razor says that the dealer misplaced the coin, found it again, and relisted it. There has been no indication that the dealer had any personal animosity or that he raised the price, so I would not assume anything beyond that.
A phone call would probably clear this up, but if you don't want to do that then I'd just re-order it. If they tell you a second time that it's unavailable then I'd walk away.
I would just order it. In the time spent debating this someone else might buy it.
Collector, occasional seller
I would let it go. If the staff couldn't find it in the first place, only to find it later, and then ignore your emails, it means they are terrible with organization and severely lacking in their customer service. Both of those qualities should come first regardless of what you are trying to sell.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
Perhaps just walk away look for deal somewhere else. Certainly would not put up money not knowing what situation is.
I am of the same attitude and end up walking away in ridiculous or abnormal situations.
On the other hand, dealing with this seller could be saving time because he could be spending years looking for another acceptable example!
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
BHNC #AN-10
JRCS #1606
In the past year I walked away from 4 coins, didn't pull the trigger, and it will haunt me for a long time!
Just buy the coin already......................
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Happened to me
Ordered
Paid
They couldn’t find it
Refunded me
Updated me they found it
Bought it again
Received it
Order rank of regret:
Coins sold > Coins purchased > Coins not sold > Coins not purchased
I would have your secretary get them on the horn and buy it!
Coins not purchased.>>>>>>>>>>
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
This is the exact statement he should have said to the company the first time they “lost” the coin. Essentially ask them for a credit on your account for time spent/lost, and used that credit now to buy the coin again.
What coin? I’ll buy it, put a 20% markup on it and sell it to you.
At this point I'd have to evaluate how rare the coin is versus the probability of finding a similar coin from a different vendor. If it's really THAT rare... try to work with the dealer, but it would be "one and done" for me after the sale and I wouldn't look back. Something tells me that you're not looking at an average widget that can be had just anywhere...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
Please do remember that email is not guaranteed to be delivered. It could be silently discarded or routed to a spam folder that is infrequently (if ever) reviewed, etc.
My employer aggressively uses several spam block lists, one of which periodically blacklists every US Cable internet provider's customer's address blocks. Yep. If you are using your home internet to send an email to your work, it shows as originating from the address ComCr*p assigned to you - and that gets the email blocked. Several complaints later the block gets removed. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Net Net I would not roast somebody for failing to respond to an email.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Asking them for such a credit sounds like a good recipe for wasting even more time.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I'll do it for 10
You don't value spite? Lol
I have a friend who hates telemarketers. I don't pick up if I have the slightest hint it might be. He jumps right on it and then tries to keep them on the phone as long as possible. Gives them fake names and email addresses. Occasionally, he can get them angry and he is thrilled if they curse at him.
Everyone needs a hobby....
The suggestion that was made doesn’t sound like the same thing as what your friend does,
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Unfortunately there are many jobs out there where your every minute is monitored, and yes even rules on your "breaks" are quite strict. Things like "not allowed just to stand outside" is not unusual, and by the time you walk/drive away from company property you just don't get much time to make a phone call that may take a bit. Plus if you work downtown in any major city finding a place you can make a phone call where you'd rather not have an audience is especially difficult.
The OP is a professional and I would be willing to bet he is given a lunch break and he isn't chained to his desk all day long.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
When heritage lost one of my auction coins, they offered me a big pile of credit to use towards future shipping fees. Not sure where you buy your coins, but this method normally works well for both parties involved.
Don't know the OPs situation, but I've been in positions that some may call "professional" where phone calls that require some privacy that may take any more than a very short amount of are pretty much impossible, so just wanted to give the OP the benefit of the doubt.
In the situation you described above, that would normally work well for both parties involved.
The OP’s circumstances are very different, however.
In this case, it sounds as if the seller lost or misplaced their own coin and the OP was already refunded. Following that, despite what their email reply said they’d do, they didn’t get back to him after Thanksgiving.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Sooooo, what was the decision on buying this coin?
I was bored one day, and answered a scam artist. This one was "selling" extended car warranties.
I exclaimed that I was thrilled he called, since my car could use an extended warranty. He was pleased that I was pleased, and sent me on to a level-2 scammer.
L2 asked me what my car is; I told him it was a 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
He didn't think it was funny. I thought it was hilarious.