E-Bay buyer problem, what to do???
MadMarty
Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
I ran an auction on E-Bay for a lot of Mercs I bought.
E-Bay auction
I stated in the auction that the dimes were in circulated condition. Most of the dimes were in paper rolls, but some of the dimes were in plastic tubes. I did not open the tubes, and looked at the condition through the plastic. Everyone posts bad buying experences, well I have one from the other side of the fence.
I get a letter from the buyer Saying--
I have bandaids on both hands from fresh cuts.
I just spent 2 1/2 hours slowly demolishing a half dozen tubes you sent me in order to salvage dimes one by one. I used a metal file, wire cutters, a razor blade, pliers, and a metal post to bang the rolls against in order to coax a dime or two at a time to fall out. The cuts on my fingers are from the sharp edges of the tubes where I gradually cut them apart in order to reach dime one by one.
The way I am seeing it, there are two possibilities:
1) You knew that these dimes were fused inside the tubes and figured you would unload the problem onto someone else by selling them on ebay, and get the someone else to pay you for the privilege, or,
2) You sold these dimes without ever attempting to examine them and determine their condition. (If so, this didn't deter you from characterizing them as "average circulated" on your auction page. If you never saw them, how would you know?)
I am livid. I just spent $730 in order to have this
hassle dumped on my lap. This is without a doubt my worst eBay experience yet. And ironically, it is far and away my most expensive one as well.
I am going to sign off now before I say anything I might regret later. I also want to give you a chance to tell me your side of the story, if you have a side.
I offered to take the dimes back (not that the seller has had a chance to look through them). I'm just wondering, what would be considered circulated condition (they were from VG-EF). Should I have offered to give the buyer a refund, being the coins were in tubes?
Thanks
Marty
E-Bay auction
I stated in the auction that the dimes were in circulated condition. Most of the dimes were in paper rolls, but some of the dimes were in plastic tubes. I did not open the tubes, and looked at the condition through the plastic. Everyone posts bad buying experences, well I have one from the other side of the fence.
I get a letter from the buyer Saying--
I have bandaids on both hands from fresh cuts.
I just spent 2 1/2 hours slowly demolishing a half dozen tubes you sent me in order to salvage dimes one by one. I used a metal file, wire cutters, a razor blade, pliers, and a metal post to bang the rolls against in order to coax a dime or two at a time to fall out. The cuts on my fingers are from the sharp edges of the tubes where I gradually cut them apart in order to reach dime one by one.
The way I am seeing it, there are two possibilities:
1) You knew that these dimes were fused inside the tubes and figured you would unload the problem onto someone else by selling them on ebay, and get the someone else to pay you for the privilege, or,
2) You sold these dimes without ever attempting to examine them and determine their condition. (If so, this didn't deter you from characterizing them as "average circulated" on your auction page. If you never saw them, how would you know?)
I am livid. I just spent $730 in order to have this
hassle dumped on my lap. This is without a doubt my worst eBay experience yet. And ironically, it is far and away my most expensive one as well.
I am going to sign off now before I say anything I might regret later. I also want to give you a chance to tell me your side of the story, if you have a side.
I offered to take the dimes back (not that the seller has had a chance to look through them). I'm just wondering, what would be considered circulated condition (they were from VG-EF). Should I have offered to give the buyer a refund, being the coins were in tubes?
Thanks
Marty
It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!
0
Comments
I'd write him and give him your regrets and state honestly you had no idea (nor could yuou fathom or speculate) the dimes were "stuck" because you had never attempted to remove them yourself.
I think that is all he's looking for. He even hints at that in his email to you. He just wants re-assurance he wasn't duped, and that is something you can provide for him (peace of mind that he wasn't a patsy).
peacockcoins
I'm sorry, but I think you should have checked the tubes, and this buyer has a legitimate gripe.
Russ, NCNE
He used a metal post to bang the rolls together??
If he spent so much money I don't think he would do that... unless he is just crazy.
If I were you I would tell him that you bought them yourself with the understanding that they were in the condition stated, and that indeed you never did open them (or that they were stored so long that you didn't open them before auction).
I would apologize for his trouble and put the ball back in his court by asking "What can I do to help?"
It may be that nothing can help, that he just wanted to vent. Don't fall into the trap of being defensive and biting back. Be calm and curteous (like you always are!).
(And don't say what I was thinking...."Why didn't he wear gloves after the first 5 minutes??")
Good luck.
Like I said before, I did not open any of the tubes. Hence that's why I stated circulated condition. I did run into a roll of quarters that the coins were very tight in the tubes. I cut the edge of the tube with a knife and peeled the tube, it took awhile but the coins came out. Looking at the coins at the end of the tubes and rolls, I would have to say they are circulated. I don't understand your comment about the condition. If they would have been advertised as uncirculated or about uncirculated then that would be wrong! Yes, I bought a estate of rolls of Mercs, Washingtons and Roosies. Along with a bunch of 2X2s. I really had no idea that the coins would be that hard to remove from the tubes. I don't collect Dimes (yes I'm a collector, not a dealer. Actually I'm an out of work collector) I have been buying coins from estates and selling them to supplement unemployment. If you are really not happy with the purchase, I will take the coins back. I just wanted to let you know, I was not pawning off a load of crap I had laying around. I just don't collect dimes and wanted to sell them off to someone who does. I do know there was a nice selection of dates marked on the tubes and rolls and the coins were circulated. I do not think I listed anything deceiving in the auction.
That's a weird & unfortunate mess you have gotten into with this psycho buyer.
If anyone ever gets those old plastic rolls where the coins won't come out I've found if you stick the rolls in the freezer it hardens the plastic and then they are easy to break apart with a hammer. I had someone tell me once to boil them but I've never tried that.
<< <i>marty... request his home phone# thru ebay, call and ask for a refund, if he refuses,tell him you are going to report him the your, states, attorney generals office, and you will file charges of fraud, report him to ebay {dont hold your breath} for any action on their part...trust me i know.... hope this helps >>
Hey Ron, I was the seller!!
Sounds like he's just pissed at himself for not having the brains to figure out a way to get the dimes out of the tubes without cutting his hands up.
I say, "Screw him. He got what he bid on."
Just my 50 cent proof JFKs worth.
Clark
Edited:
After seeing all of the replies that were made while I was composing mine, it seems that mine came off as a bit harsh. Oh well, I stand by it. Maybe I'm just not used to everything being "perfect", but I don't think I would have even mentioned something like this to the seller.
Only way I found to liberate coins from them is to freeze then smash with a hammer.
Consider yourself lucky the buyer didn't put a contract out on you.
Got quoins?
<< <i>Consider yourself lucky the buyer didn't put a contract out on you. >>
I just invited the buyer to join us and your giving him ideas like that!!!
Great now I'm going to get a pleasant visit from Vito...
Right on! My sentiments exactly!
see? My Auctions "Got any 1800's gold?"
As the seller, you are considered to have superior knowledge about the product. Since you have had experience opening plastic tubes and know about the problems you can encounter, you should have added a disclaimer in the ad, otherwise you see the impression the other guy got.
Maybe you can work out a refund of just the tubes and save on shipping all those dimes back.
By the way, if you are un-employed why are you spending $275 for a 2002 quarter with a scratch on it?
I was seriously considering taking it away from you last night (I saw you had to come back to off the mr t guy). I was going to go $350 because I firgured in a few years it maybe something, or I'd have a $350 quarter with a scratch in it.
And I've already got one of those!
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Frank
i guess the score is like one to one---maybe you should have explained about the coins not being physically examined/stuck in the tube but it would appear the buyer has voided his return privelege if he indeed did all he says to free them from their prison!!!
it's probably best to do as others have suggested and offer some type of compensation that stops short of a return and then just hang your head and get ready for the negative feedback.
al h.
It's a toss up.
B.
A Tax is a fine for doing good.
I would not have offered a refund. The guy appears to be a complete dumazz if he "spent 2 1/2 hours slowly demolishing a half dozen tubes you sent me in order to salvage dimes one by one. I used a metal file, wire cutters, a razor blade, pliers, and a metal post to bang the rolls against in order to coax a dime or two at a time to fall out. The cuts on my fingers are from the sharp edges of the tubes where I gradually cut them apart in order to reach dime one by one." Common sense, which he seems to lack, would have dictated he didn't have to use all those items to open rolls. IMO he should be pleased to find an honest seller who didn't cherrypick the rolls before listing them.
.
Forget about him and nuke his @$$ should he give you a negative on Ebay.
Thanksgiving National Battlefield Coin Show is November 29-30, 2024 at the Eisenhower Allstar Sportsplex, Gettysburg, PA. Tables are available. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
Say I can't open the battery compartment in a remote control I buy... I can ask the seller if there is a trick, or I can take a stick of dynamite and open the ENTIRE remote... now what is the SMART idea?
[Forget about him and nuke his @$$ should he give you a negative on Ebay. >>
You sure think like a teen
Even though you didn't know that the coins were stuck, you still should have looked at your merchandise before attempting to sell it on eBay.: It is up to the Seller to represent their merchandise in a professional manner if you plan to sell on eBay and maintain a good reputation. If nobody ever looked at what they were selling, eBay would be a lot worse than it is. Still, honest mistakes ARE made by honest people.
I realize I am new to this forum, but I am not new to eBay. Good luck!
cool;
TRUTH
I own a machine shop and just take the plastic tubes to the shop and cut the plastic to weaken it and break it away from the coins. For me it's no problem at all.
Ray
Truthteller writes:
"When I was doing wholesale, if a dealer wanted to sell a roll deal, whether it be unc or circ, the rolls had to be free flowing. The acetate rolls were always pulled out of a deal or were severely discounted. If the seller didn't want to do the work, the buyer would do the work for a percentage lower, usually 30%. I had this problem on a regular basis and this was a standard discount in the industry."
I am the buyer in this particular situation, and I wanted to thank you for posting this, Truthteller. MadMarty and I have reached an agreement based on your statement that 30% is a standard industry discount in cases like this, in which old coins are fused inside of acetate tubes. Marty will be sending a few more circulated silver coins equal to 30% of the half dozen problem tubes. It looks as if this disagreement will now end amicably.
Regarding the technical issue of how to deal with coins fused into old acetate tubes, the liquid nitrogen and dry ice ideas sound quite clever. I left all six tubes in the freezer overnight before attempting to liberate the coins within, figuring that the coins would shrink more than the tubes would.
Contrary to what some posters have assumed, the dimes in the tubes were recovered unharmed. I did not spend two and a half hours getting the dimes out in ways which would harm them. That could have been accomplished quite a bit faster (such as by using a hammer, as was suggested by at least one person).
Next time, liquid nitrogen first. :-/
cddugan
What a deliema! I was just reading up on this topic and here you are. Welcome to the boards!
I've heard of coins getting stuck in the plastic tubes but never got the chance to enjoy the experience. I was going to ask, if the seller didn't know and you didn't seem to know why they were stuck from the drastic actions taken to remove the coins. Why expect a refund if this problem
is known and is a common one with these type of tubes? But from what you have just stated. It sounds practical to have the 30% discount. Should the discount have been in favor of the seller when he bought them? Just wondering. I'm glad everything has worked out.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
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"What a deliema! I was just reading up on this topic and here you are. Welcome to the boards!
I've heard of coins getting stuck in the plastic tubes but never got the chance to enjoy the experience. I was going to ask, if the seller didn't know and you didn't seem to know why they were stuck from the drastic actions taken to remove the coins. Why expect a refund if this problem
is known and is a common one with these type of tubes?"
It is all water under the bridge at this point. However, my position was that since Marty stated on his auction page that all dimes were in average circulated condition, that implied that he had examined them. As it turns out, he only looked at the rims through the acetate of the tubes of the ones in which the dimes were stuck. For all Marty knew, they could have had holes drilled through the middle (although fortunately it turns out they didn't). Marty was aware that some of the acetate rolls had dimes fused inside them, and I felt that this should have been mentioned in the Description section. The fact that there is apparently a standard 30% discount for rolls in this condition supports my assertion, I believe. At any rate, Marty has agreed to send the standard 30% discount on the problem rolls, so I am satisfied.
You are the seller. You owed it to your buyers to check the rolls prior to placing the auction. You didn't. That is your fault! You owed the man a refund. Glad to see the 2 of you were able to work out a good compromise. Marty, I can appreciate your financial dilemma and I am sure it factored into your reasoning on a refund. It shouldn't have. When bidding on your auction, your buyer had no way of knowing the condition of the rolls. You did. You had possession and should have checked them prior to placing them at auction. Send the man his money and put this behind you!