Need your opinion and advice on this ebay question!---edited to add my reply to him!

mnmcoin

I just had someone write me with the question to the seller and wrote this...



<< <i>Hello, I don't want to ask a question, but I sure like seeing the slab and the number and the whole slab ...I quess I won't be buying ... I like to see all of what I buy... >>



First, what if anything could you reply (I replied to him already, regretingly forgeting to seek everyones opinion first) but would really appreciate your opinion on what if anything I should have written.

Second, what do you think about his desire to see the whole slab?

I feel that doing just the coin allows me to provide a larger, more close up picture of the coin, you know the thing you are really buying, which allows a more detailed description of the coin itself. Also it keeps the file size down, which helps keep the computer quicker, etc. Also I have heard of people stealing and building registry sets based on cert. # from auctions, and this helps me control who gets the #. While I have provided a pic of the whole slab to a few people upon request, perhaps I should state that option in the auction.

thanks for your replies in advance.

morris <><

THought you may like to read what I replied to him...



<< <i>While I certainly respect your preference in viewing the slab, as well as appreciate positive and constructive criticism, a simple "could you provide a picture of the whole slab for me on auction #123456789" would perhaps be more congenial. Considerable research has been put into the decision to put a pic of just the coin on the auction and provide different pictures upon request. Upon other reasons the few that have the most weight are first that it allows a larger image of the coin as well as being able to zoom in on it providing greater detail of the coin, second it keeps the size of the pic file low, so I don't congest my computer with larger files, slowing it down, which it did considerably in the past. Third I have heard of people stealing the slab numbers and just building registery sets based on slab # from auctions, so this allows me to control who has the slab #.

Look, I don't think we have ever done business in the past and would certainly love and appreciate your business. However, and maybe I am reading into more of your statement as it really is, I certainly prefer dealing with respectful, professional people that view me as more than just an order taker.

Thank you for you time, and good day!

morris <>< >>

LucyBop

I see no problems what-so-ever with your auctions........... Let them be, if someone wants a cert number they could always ask for verification purposes....

MadMonk

add the whole slab, but cover the cert no.

mnmcoin

All good ideas, however the security of # is still not the whole story.

mo <><

Russ

I'd guess that he wishes to see the entire slab to judge whether or not the image has been manipulated. I agree with your premise that you can put more coin in the auction without the slab, so the solution might be adding just the label. This is what some sellers do.

Russ, NCNE

dwood

My reply to him would be:

"More coins for LucyBop."

I agree with you Morris, I'd rather see more of the coin and less of the slab. Someone else will buy it, I wouldn't change my practice just to suit one particularly anal buyer.

stman

Morris, before I had a scanner I always asked a dealer or seller on the net for a image of the slab. I did this so I could keep it on my P.C.

And still I might ask for this as I like to know which generation slab it's in. Doesn't really mean anything, I just like to know. I can understand not wanting to post it in an auction, but if a person does ask for an image of the slab I see nothing wrong with giving it to him. You sellers should be more willing to give what the customer asks for. You'll stay in business longer. JMO

LucyBop

good response dwood!

mnmcoin

<< <i>Morris, before I had a scanner I always asked a dealer or seller on the net for a image of the slab. I did this so I could keep it on my P.C.

And still I might ask for this as I like to know which generation slab it's in. Doesn't really mean anything, I just like to know. I can understand not wanting to post it in an auction, but if a person does ask for an image of the slab I see nothing wrong with giving it to him. You sellers should be more willing to give what the customer asks for. You'll stay in business longer. JMO >>



I couldn't agree more, I just missed the request to see an image of the slab from his statement.

morris <><

stman

Agreed, he wasn't very nice asking his question. One time I asked to see an image of the slab from a major dealer, I asked nicely and they came back to me wondering if I thought they were going to switch slabs on me. That wasn't my thinking, but not a bad idea to wonder about.

Things get taken out of content with a keyboard sometimes. In business I always try and do the right thing until I'm given reason not to.

roadrunner

Without a cert number you can't be sure of getting the same coin unless you can identify the right flaws from the photo. Any buyer could stick a coin in an NGC white plastic insert and photograph it.
From the photo you would think the coin is NGC and rifle off your payment. I also like to see if it's an old holder too.

roadrunner

mnmcoin

Perhaps I could state in the description graded PR## by PCGS/NGC, cert. # provided upon request, or something like that?!?

mo <><

dwood

Morris,
EXCELLENT reply! Thoughtful, ploite, well-reasoned, and firm.

I can't imagine how you could have said it any better?!?

BigD5

I hardly ever put a whole image up of the coin and the holder. I get email requests on occasion for them, but not often enough to worry about it. I'll refer buyers to my feedback, to be reassured that they are in fact getting the coin in the holder that I describe in the auction page.
I don't do many modern pieces where slab numbers are that important though.

MadMonk

They could verify with the service that way. And nobody can steal from you.
I have always answered mail with..."I certainly appreciate your concern", and then in a very friendly way address my concerns. if I were to offer to send the reg. no. I would end in. "I hope that this alleviates your concerns"
Always keep it friendly, and refuse to get confrontational.

Russ

<< <i>Third I have heard of people stealing the slab numbers and just building registery sets based on slab # from auctions. >>



Actually, Morris, if they really wanted to do that all they would have to do is right click your image and check the properties since you use the cert number as your file name.

Russ, NCNE

mnmcoin

Actually, Morris, if they really wanted to do that all they would have to do is right click your image and check the properties since you use the cert number as your file name.

Russ, NCNE >>



Actually, er uh, that # is my inhouse ref. #, yah thats it.

SHHHHH!!!

mo <><

MadMarty

The only coins I didn't show the cert numbers were PR70DCAMs I was selling. I offered the cert numbers on Request and I showed the whol slab with the cert numbers blurred out. I had an explanation why the cert numbers were ommited. If it is a everyday coin, I show the cert number.

tgilliams

Excellent reply. Right on Target.

DCAMFranklin

From the buyer's standpoint, a seller specializing in Cameo/DCAM coins could, over time, copy pics/scans, that do NOT bear the Cert#'s, of exceptional, PQ coins. The seller could then post the pic/scan of an exceptional coin, rather than his "marginal" DCAM coin. The buyer would be bidding on a marginal coin, though he would think he was going to receive an exceptional, PQ coin. The seller delivers a coin with the exact grade described and in the proper 3rd party grading service's holder. The buyer then might not have a return privilege with some DCAM dealers, since it is an "auction". Or, he may have to pay postage and a re-stocking fee.

Personally, I like seeing a scan of the coin in the holder showing the Cert#. I can see the coin and the Cert#. If the seller delivers a coin other than that exact coin, I'm not too pleased. With a copy of the auction page, showing the coin and Cert#, I have proof positive of mail fraud.

supercoin

Given the tone of the e-mail, I probably wouldn't have replied at all. I definitely wouldn't have tried to correct his attitude, that's a losing battle.

As to the issue of the slab photo, I've had people request that of me too. Including people wondering if it's really PCGS graded (despite me explicitly stating that in the auction, along with the certification number). It's bizarre to me, as if they are that distrustful you'd think they'd be worried about getting a coin in the mail at all. In some cases I just explained why I do it the way I do, and in cases of more expensive coins I've taken out the camera and supplied one.

One reason that does seem legitimate is for toned coins where someone wants to use the slab label color as an indication of how accurately the coin colors were captured.

Anyway, for more expensive and/or toned coins, I have now capitulated and started putting a separate small photo of the slab in the auctions along with a big photo of the coin itself. For cheap coins, I just live with one less bidder.

mnmcoin

<< <i>Given the tone of the e-mail, I probably wouldn't have replied at all. I definitely wouldn't have tried to correct his attitude, that's a losing battle.

As to the issue of the slab photo, I've had people request that of me too. Including people wondering if it's really PCGS graded (despite me explicitly stating that in the auction, along with the certification number). It's bizarre to me, as if they are that distrustful you'd think they'd be worried about getting a coin in the mail at all. In some cases I just explained why I do it the way I do, and in cases of more expensive coins I've taken out the camera and supplied one.

One reason that does seem legitimate is for toned coins where someone wants to use the slab label color as an indication of how accurately the coin colors were captured.

Anyway, for more expensive and/or toned coins, I have now capitulated and started putting a separate small photo of the slab in the auctions along with a big photo of the coin itself. For cheap coins, I just live with one less bidder. >>



Points well taken. Although for the toned coins, it would be very easy for one to take a picture of the label, manipulate the coin to the colors that most flatter the coin then paste the correct color label back on the slab. The ultimate security is my return policy, and since I have, ehem! taken off my restocking fee, there really is no downside.

Thank you to all who participated in this thread, it was real pleasent, not to read any flames, and for all to take this serious and straightforward. I welcome the change in attitudes.

morris <><

After a day or so, I will compile all the ideas and post a sort of opinion or poll thread to see what people vote, then, since some people have said I don't really respond to idea, I will try and implement some, one or all the ideas into my auctions, depending on which work well, and are easy to implement time wise, etc.

satootoko

If you don't mind one more comment - as several people mentioned, you are not going to change the attitude of that kind of buyer(?), and a confrontational response just invites more problems. From a public relations standpoint, you really didn't need the "Third" comment or the next paragraph.

Dog97

I like to see what I'm buying too.

The type of slab means something to us serious collectors. It tells us what year the coin was holdered, what grading was used at that time, whether or not the picture has been altered and lets us verify that it is indeed the coin you are trying to sell.

If I asked for a picture of the slab and a seller gave me that long winded lecture I wouldn't bother bidding on anything of his either.

You're not the Registry Police so it shouldn't matter who sees the serial # or what they do with it.

The simple solution is to spend an extra 30¢ and upload a 3rd pict that shows the whole slab.

banknote1

I like to see the whole slab! I have been around ebay long enough to know that you might end up with a different coin than the one in the auction photo. I always check slab numbers in the auction to the numbers on the slab when it arrives. I also like to see if the holder is an old one, green one, no bar code on front, or bar code on front. I guess if I don't see the holder, I wonder what the seller is hiding...

mnmcoin

<< <i>I like to see what I'm buying too.

The type of slab means something to us serious collectors. It tells us what year the coin was holdered, what grading was used at that time, whether or not the picture has been altered and lets us verify that it is indeed the coin you are trying to sell.

If I asked for a picture of the slab and a seller gave me that long winded lecture I wouldn't bother bidding on anything of his either.

You're not the Registry Police so it shouldn't matter who sees the serial # or what they do with it.

The simple solution is to spend an extra 30¢ and upload a 3rd pict that shows the whole slab. >>



I certainly appreciate your statements, and your last statement is certainly an option and more than likely where I will go with this. I just think the point I was trying to make was that he never asked...Unless he is speaking some other language. I for one have no problem providing extra photos or descriptions on coins I am selling, you can ask the 20-30 people that I provide this service to each month. It just irks me to think that a person could be such an jacka** (please forgive the language). I mean is his email really neccessary? He obviously has given up on me, so why even write this?

morris <><

braddick

eBay offers six photos per auction. I'd do exactly what it is you're doing, but add one photo showing the full slab/holder.
I notice the seller of those monster rainbow coins wer've been talking about here lately (for example, Liberty's toned Mercury dime-) does this and apparently it works out pretty well.

I've also enjoyed your auctions Morris, but also secretly wished you had a shot (even just a single shot) of the full holder).
Great Thread.

Dog97

mnmcoin-
Yeah I see what you're saying, he never asked for a picture.
He probably really wasn't even interested in buying it in the first place. Some people just go around complaining about everything. A lot of eBayers are jacka** or psycho anyway.
That's just part of dealing with the public.
About the picture part, we would rather have a picture in the listing than have to ask the seller for a picture then have to wait for him to maybe send it, and that is if he doesn't chose to ignore us.
You didn't say what kind of coin it was and that does make a difference too. I have bought cheap proof 69s without a single picture because I pretty much know what a PCGS 69 looks like. But on a more expensive coin I want a picture of the whole slab.
The return policy is not a 100% safety net either because some buyers would rather just neg you because it's easier than doing a return.
A guy sold me a coin one time I didn't like (cleaned & covered with hairlines) and he did refund my money after I returned it but I still wanted to neg him for selling me the junk & wasting my time in the first place. But I didn't.

relayer

Depending on the level of idiocy of the sender of the email, I just ban them and maybe give them a “Nice to hear from you” reply

I’ve found I’ve had to deal with more than one idiot from eBay, so when somebody gives you notice they’re a problem, it’s best to send them on their way so they can go be a moron somewhere else.

Unfortunately, if you’re in the business of selling coins you have to be nice to the morons. So I think you gave a good reply.

au58

Some people just aren't very nice. Some lack tact. Some exhibit both traits.
Let it go. You don't need this guy or his business.
Pictures of the slab should be provided.