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Ethical Dilemma rec'd wrong coin but at right price

PaultjunoPaultjuno Posts: 76
in U.S. Coin Forum
I think I might have gotten a slightly better deal than I should have. I placed an order on eBay from a very reputable coin dealer for a 1954 Franklin Half graded MS66CA for $255.90, including shipping. What I received was a 1924-D PCGS MS63RD Lincoln Cent, which I believe is worth more than the Franklin. Now if I was sent a crappy coin I certainly would complain, but in this case I think that I did better. Now do I go through the hassle of trying to return this coin or do I just keep the darn thing as the pros should never have let this happen. If this happened in a store I would correct it right away, but packing, shipping, etc.... it's all a bit of a hassle. Please tell me what to do! I'm pretty sure I'm going to send it back, just somebody please tell me to do the right thing the devil on my shoulder is pretty loud!

Thanks.

Comments

  • coinlieutenantcoinlieutenant Posts: 9,318 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Do what feels right...

    I think you know.

    siliconvalleycoins.com

  • pharmerpharmer Posts: 8,355 ✭
    OK. Do the right thing.
    Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

    Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."

    image
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,539 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I personally would send it back with an invoice listing a very large amount due for the pain and suffering I reaped by having to even hold a Lincoln cent. I HATE the d-mn things.

    Jim

    By the way, do the right thing.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • flaminioflaminio Posts: 5,664 ✭✭✭
    There's no "dilemma" here at all. Return the errant coin and get the correct one. Anything else and you'd be a thief.
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭
    Do the right thing. The Frankie is bigger, and besides Lincolns suck anyway. You don't want to start a set of Lincolns anyhow -- do you have any idea how many date and mint mark combinations exist in the Lincoln set?
  • JulienJulien Posts: 533
    I had a similar situation. I called and was told to keep coin. See here for details.


  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,608 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You probably got someone elses order and he got your order. Happened to me once. Simple mixup.

    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

  • marmacmarmac Posts: 1,452 ✭✭✭
    Return the coin-- karma man.....someone else is probably sitting by the mailbox waiting for that cent.
  • LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,722 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Someone is looking for a 1924-D cent.

    If it was you, would you want the person that received it to simply keep it and say nothing?

    Even if the coins are of the same value, maybe the person that wanted that 24-d was looking for the last coin in his/her collection.

    Then again, WTF - you have a nice coin. right?
  • PaultjunoPaultjuno Posts: 76
    Yep, that Karma is a killer. I did call and let the dealer know of the mishap on his voice-mail. I'll let him decide how he wants to handle this. I really would feel bad if a Lincoln collector wanted this coin and now it's sitting in my grubby paws.

    Ah well. Such is life.
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    There should be no dilemma, whatsoever, regardless of how much or how little the (wrong) coin is worth.

    Contact the seller and make him aware of his error. Also, ask that he reimburse you for any shipping charges that you incur.
  • OuthaulOuthaul Posts: 7,440 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Anything else and you'd be a thief. >>


    image
  • ERER Posts: 7,345 ✭


    << <i>I think I might have gotten a slightly better deal than I should have. I placed an order on eBay from a very reputable coin dealer for a 1954 Franklin Half graded MS66CA for $255.90, including shipping. What I received was a 1924-D PCGS MS63RD Lincoln Cent, which I believe is worth more than the Franklin. Now if I was sent a crappy coin I certainly would complain, but in this case I think that I did better. Now do I go through the hassle of trying to return this coin or do I just keep the darn thing as the pros should never have let this happen. If this happened in a store I would correct it right away, but packing, shipping, etc.... it's all a bit of a hassle. Please tell me what to do! I'm pretty sure I'm going to send it back, just somebody please tell me to do the right thing the devil on my shoulder is pretty loud!

    Thanks. >>



    I don't understand. Why is this a dilemma?
  • Freak1cFreak1c Posts: 714
    I have the return address if you need it, just let me know.

    Freak
  • ldhairldhair Posts: 7,291 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You did the right thing by contacting the dealer.

    I'm sure he will take care of the shipping charges.
    You might have him decide the type of postage to use to make the return.

    Larry

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,608 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I have the return address if you need it, just let me know.

    Freak >>

    image
    How did you get my mailing address?

    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

  • SavvySavvy Posts: 80
    This is a no-brainer. Make it right.
  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,344 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Do the right thing. Send the Lincoln back.

    I don't mean to rain on the parade, but $250 for a PR66 Cam Franklin is a bit stiff unless it approaches Dcam status. If it were me, I would just ask for a refund.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,649 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I had a similar thing happen to me many years ago. I have purchased a 3-cent silver piece from a major dealer, but received a 3-cent nickel instead (same date). A simple shipping error. The 3-cent nickel was easiliy worth twice as much.

    I called immediately, and returned the coin. Your point of "pros should never have let this happen." is irrelevant.

    Return it, and ask that they reimburse you for your shipping/ins expense.

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    get the sellers phone number.

    call him/her.


    chances are that someone got your half dollar!

    he may just ask you to ship it to that person for him and of course pay for your troubles.

  • ormandhormandh Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭
    Send it back. The other buyer would definately appreciate it. Besides, it is not the coin you wanted anyway.
    Morally you are obligated to make sure things are good with this mistake.image
    Numismasource ebay store
  • segojasegoja Posts: 6,141 ✭✭✭✭
    Ask Doops what he would do? He'd keep whichever is the most expensive and then whine about it.

    That means, however, that you should return it.

    agree with cameonut that $250 for a 66 is a bit expensive. i think i could sell you one for much less, or a 67Cam for a slight bit more (PCGS of course). Send me a PM if you are interested, and I'll go and see if both are in inventory)
    JMSCoins Website Link


    Ike Specialist

    Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986

    image
  • gyocomgdgyocomgd Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭
    To expedite this matter faster and with less chance of further confusion, you should speak with the seller over the phone before dropping the coin in the mail. Just for clear instruction on how to proceed, the whereabouts of the Franklin, and so on.
    image
  • PaultjunoPaultjuno Posts: 76
    I'm definitely waiting until I speak the Senior Numismatist whose card was enclosed with the package. I don't want to ship it until I find out the method of shipping, insurance amount, etc.... Without proper instructions it could just cause more headaches for both of us.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,472 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Stop....Drop and Roll ,

    oooops, wrong thread image
  • mozeppamozeppa Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Do the right thing. The Frankie is bigger, and besides Lincolns suck anyway. You don't want to start a set of Lincolns anyhow -- do you have any idea how many date and mint mark combinations exist in the Lincoln set?[b/] >>



    1. no they don't.


    2. yes i do... and i nearly have 90% of them.image
  • beartracks42beartracks42 Posts: 2,834 ✭
    I had this happen last month. I won two coins for the seller and one of the ones sent was a wrong date, but the same coin series. I called the dealer and they ask me to return it and they would send the correct coin plus my postage. I returned the wrong coin(from Ohio to California), and two days later, I received my coin, $4 in cash and a BU 64 Kennedy from the seller.image
    Gary
    image
  • skerkeskerke Posts: 404
    Tell him he sent a 87 pcgs 3 brn liciln by mistake, keep the original, send him back the worthless one and score two cons, then don't forget to leave negative feedback...

    Ok come on seriously whats the dilemma, send the penny back get the right coin , I do think he/she should reimburse you for shipping though.


  • PaultjunoPaultjuno Posts: 76


    << <i>Tell him he sent a 87 pcgs 3 brn liciln by mistake, keep the original, send him back the worthless one and score two cons, then don't forget to leave negative feedback...

    Ok come on seriously whats the dilemma, send the penny back get the right coin , I do think he/she should reimburse you for shipping though. >>



    Thanks for the input Skerke, but I would rather get the situation corrected vs. trying to scam the seller.

    The reason I originally posted the message was that I was at my computer getting ready to register my newly acquired Franklin half in the PCGS registry and upon opening the package discovered that the coin I was expecting wasn't what I had received. Initially I was quite upset, but upon checking the PCGS Price Guides realized that the coin was worth more than I knew. Now then, did I really intend to keep it? No, but the thought had crossed my mind for a fleeting moment .... and I expressed that in my original post. If I really hadn't wanted to send it back, why would I have asked others to tell me to do the right thing? I know what the right thing is, but there is a certain greed factor in all of us ... if not none of us would even brag about getting good deals, we would pay the greysheet + and the dealers would always charge greysheet +. Is that the case? Nope, buyers want a deep discount and sellers want a strong premium. Are all coin buyers/sellers evil? Nope, we're capitalists and that's the way things are done. I think the core issue here is that I think we all agree that the coin was not the agreed upon coin between both the seller and seller ... now then I bought and paid for this coin on eBay with no human interaction whatsoever. Am I to blame that I received the wrong coin? Nope. Now then, I'm going to try and correct this issue with time and effort that I will not be compensated for. Is this fair? Nope. Will I have to run to the post office, yes, use gas, yes, take time out of my day, yes? How much is this effort worth? More than I'll be compensated for, that's a given. Would anyone out there work for free? Bet not, but I'll essentially have to do it.

    Well, that's enough venting for today.

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