Hype and mistatements ...

RGL

This from an eBay seller (all coins, as far as I can tell) with 32,000+ feedbacks. Our seller seems to have trouble distinguishing proofs from SMS strikes, among others ... And what PR-67 Buffs -- and six month old Greysheet prices -- have to do with this coin is beyond me. Oh, the pix, by the way, shows a "slab" with a MS-70 grade:

1965 SPECIAL MINT SET 69 SGS GRADED SLABBED JEFFERSON - WOW! What a terrific deal! This SMS 69 Slabbed 1965 Nickel is a wonderfully rare numismatic piece! The PROOF Nickel was originally only offered in the 1965 complete proof set. Proof coins like this 1965 SMS 69 Nickel are distinguishable by their sharpness of detail, high wire edge, and extremely brilliant, mirror-like surface. This 1965 Nickel is graded SMS69 by SGS, America's Grading Service, and comes inside a sealed, hard plastic SGS grading case with the unique serial number and Golden Seal! With your Proof, Graded SGS Slabbed Coin, you will also receive an Official Certificate of Authenticity! Star Grading Service (SGS) certifies the authenticity of this COIN and guarantees such for the full purchase price for the life of this COIN. We will take no responsibility for damage or alterations to the holder. Any such alteration makes any guarantee void. A PCGS (1937) PR67 nickel and an NGC (1937) PR67 nickel are valued at $2,000 and $1,900, respectively, in Certified Coin Dealer Vol. XVII, No. 50, December 13, 2002, so this SGS (1965) SMS69 Nickel is sure to be a valuable investment! This SMS69 Slabbed (1965) Nickel is the ACTUAL nickel you are bidding on and GUARANTEED to receive! Upon receipt of your coin, you may take 7 days to inspect the coin and see that it meets and exceeds your expectations. If for some reason it does not, return the SEALED coin (at buyer's expense) for a full refund. IF THE SLAB IS BROKEN, THE GUARANTEE IS VOID! Good Luck and Have Fun! Lot 65smsn <!-- End Description -->

Coppernicus

The holder in the auction is MS70....

Mike

foodude

Wow, that's a lot of info. Good thing it as all bolded so you know what's important. Just think how it would read if the seller wasn't trying to be so clear.

jeffnpcb

Can you post a link?

Coppernicus

Coppernicus

OOOPS!!

Linky

Russ

Here's some hype and misstatements:

1964 UNOPENED PROOF SET PR69-DCAM HALF $3000

I sent this seller an eMail one time asking if I could return the set if I didn't find any $3000 half dollars in it. He told me to "do my bidding elsewhere".

Russ, NCNE

ANACONDA

Hype. It's called marketing. Marketers don't market to just the smartest 2% of the audience. They also want to reach the other folks who
were born into some sort of fog and who need stimulation to catch their attention.

Some hype is really distastefull. Other hype is cute and more tolerable.

Personal injury lawyer ads on TV bug me the most. But, they're effective. (Incidentally, i don't advertise on TV)

A desire to be effective sometimes gives birth to hype.

Here's an example of an ad without hype:


"1804 Dollar. PCGS Proof 68, holder no. XXXX.68/777777. Well struck with nice surfaces. Fairly rare."

Yes, you can list the coin without hype and in a more informative low key and effective way, but i look at eBay hype as entertainment
because it is usually pretty humorous and often fairly lame. It doesn't usually bother me. (Every thing can have a purpose....some
things' purpose can be to be a bad example.)

Having said that, intentionally misleading people is bad in every way. But just garden variety puffing seesm pretty innocent...to me.

"1969 Washington Quarter, ACG Proof 70 Godzilla Cam, holder no 666.666.666. Drop what you are doing as this is a once in a life time
oppotunity. Gather the kids around because what we have here is one of the finest rare coins I've ever offered. Almost as fine as
the Lincoln penny that Skeezicks Washburn sold last week that were run over by a train carrying a load of Al Kayda prizners.........
When was the last time you needed your sunglasses just to look at a coin?"

dbldie55

I just cannot figure out why there are no bids after 7 days.

dorkkarl

hype is just what you make of it

K S

Steve27

Why is it that I never bid on auctions with long descriptions?

ccrdragon

This same sellers uses the PCGS proof numbers in all of his auctions to hype the value of his coins that are graded incorrectly from a company that does not even qualify as a 'bottom-feeder'. I wouldn't buy from him if he was the only seller on ebay...