WILL GREED DESTROY EBAY OR IS IT US?

eddyemack

You try to play by the rules and most times you'll get screwed. I was almost a victim of a cleaned 55D/D that looked beautiful. I thank some members here for their help. I checked and it went for over $2200.00. I just had a customer buy something and it took 5 days to email me. Said it was an emergency and he was sending out money by special courier and I'm supposed to have it today. If not, I will give him a great feedback!!! And I did it for my daughter. $228.00. This is really getting crazy anymore. Do you think it's a "sign of the times"? Some of these ebay sellers must be operating out of their cells. (Jail) What are some rules that some of you look for when you see something you want to buy on EBAY? Thanks to everybody who answered my question last night!!!!

eddye

GO STEELERS

Goober

I think Ebay, at it's inception, started to bring out the best in us. Yes, it is going downhill fast. I sold an item, but the guy wanted it shipped somewhere else after he paid. I did so, not wanting an arguement, after shipping it, he says he's moved onto a new location and wants it rerouted/reconsigned. I refused. It would cost me money, and who know's who it's going to now. He's upset, spewing lies and threats. It's been like that all this year for me on Ebay. At least 3 out of every 10 transactions I've done this year have gone bad. I still have a perfect feedback score after 400+ transactions but I know it won't last long. I'm not saying there isn't really good sellers/buyers out there, but in my experience the tides are turning quickly to a demise of some sort for Ebay.

eddyemack

I totally agree. Thanks for the reply.

eddye

GO STEELERS

coinlieutenant

Buy slabbed coins for starters..

Goober

<< <i>Buy slabbed coins for starters.. >>




...and still be wary. I followed this for awhile. Then I still found MS65 coins that were slabbed by PCGS and NGC, that in my opinion didn't belong in those holders, and those pics were doctored on Ebay hiding some sightly discrepancies. That's one reason I came here. I won't say that everyone here is beyond reproach but I've lurked, listened, and made educated choices that benefited me and my colletion. coinLT for one, who just posted, is one of the good ones, and there's more. It's always good to ask questions and to educate yourself. It's good your looking for those answers.

jdsinva

<< <i>Buy slabbed coins for starters.. >>



If I did that, I would have missed out on some of the most valuable VAMs that I own. When collecting VAMs (and probably other denominational varieties), you sometimes have to go where they can be found.

Jeff

mrearlygold

Greeds ok, it's the fraud and dishonesty that's not good.


Tom

coinlieutenant

You're right goober. For those new to collecting especially, slabs (NGC and PCGS) are the way to go.

If you are into VAM's as discussed above, exceptions must be made but eddymack didnt seem to be a VAM type guy. No authentic steelers fan would ever collect such a wussy coin!!

Thanks too goober for the nice words. Your check is in the mail as discussed

ms70

The rule is not to buy raw on eBay.

jdsinva

<< <i>No authentic steelers fan would ever collect such a wussy coin!! >>



Does that mean I can't root for the Steelers?



Jeff

IndianHeadMan

buy nothing over $50 unless your do your homework on the seller. If you are the seller, who cares as long as you get your money.

flaminio

eBay was built on greed. How could greed destroy it?

(so says the happy EBAY shareholder since 1999...)

coachleonard

buy slabbed to be safe. buy raw to get your best rarity-for-a-song deals (ok, and your biggest rip-offs IF you don't know what you're doing).

PR70

I almost bought a 'PR68' Seated Half dime for $640 that was in a Capitol slab. I ended up backing out of the auction and was able to get a mutual cancellation on it, but I felt that I would have ended up with an overgraded (by far) coin. I didn't watch the warning signs (bad picture, unknown grading service, quite a few negative feedbacks although his feedback was fairly high). I had stars in my eyes at the opportunity of buying such a promisingly rare coin that I ignored the signs.

As a buyer, I personally would at this point only:

*buy coins with excellent pictures of the coin and make sure the auction states that this is the coin you will be getting
*Check for the seller's return policy. Good ones will allow you to return it (minus shipping charges) if not satisfied
*Be more cautious of non PCGS, NGC, Anacs and ICG if buying slabbed coins. I believe these are the top tier graders. Some of the other graders can and do grade accurately, but the general ratings that I saw would have me concerned
*If in doubt, ask for an opinion from others on the auction

I have bought quite a few coins through eBay and have been happy with all of the other purchases to date. I also expect the coin to grade less than the seller has stated and take the lower grade into consideration when deciding whether to buy or not. If a coin is listed as MS65, I will usually see if my maximum bid is still within line for a MS62 coin.

PR70

eddyemack

Thanks to everybody who added their insight concerning this overwhelming situation.


eddye

GO STEELERS

Myqqy

No authentic steelers fan would ever collect such a wussy coin!!

As a steelers fan, I find this comment to be very funny.....

I really think ebay is just a microcosm of society- 90-95% good guys, and 5-10% bad guys- The only way to maximize your odds of just dealing with the good guys (and getting good coins) is to arm yourself with knowledge about coins and knowledge about ebay red flags...