eBay auctions from Chinese sellers

worldcoinguy

I was poking around on eBay during the world cup halftime, and I saw a couple of coins that didnt quite look right. I think the location (China) tainted my personal opinion, so I thought I would solicit others for their opinion.

Salzburg 1/2 taler

1798 Swiss Taler

ajaan

The actually look OK to me. But I still wouldn't bid, I don't like the private feedback although their feedback rating is high.

coinpictures

I've seen these 2 Ebay sellers before, and while it's easy to dismiss them as the normal Chinese fraudsters, I don't know...

1. They've been on Ebay LONG prior to the recent Chinese invasion.

2. They have high feedback, both in numbers and in percentages.

3. No recent negs or neutrals.

BUT:

1. Can't actually read the feedback.

2. Can't see what they've bought and sold in order to create the feedback they have.

With a return privilege and PayPal, I might take a flyer on one of their cheaper auctions just to see.


To me, the Salzburg looks like it could be legit (coloring might be due to lighting), but the Swiss piece I don't like. Color and surfaces bother me for some reason.

ROBERTB

I agree, the Swiss piece looks off in the color dept.. The first coin looks legit., but I always wonder, is that even the coin that's for sale? As I've said before I don't even give Chinese auctions the time of day. Too many horror stories out there. As always it's your choice. Just remember, buyer beware!

Rob

ttxp

What's sad is that there are legitimate dealers in China selling decent coins, but given the influx of criminal dealers, its getting near impossible to trust anymore?

Even with some of the casual Chinese sellers who have sold a decent coin in the past, unless they are full time collectors or dealers, the coin they themselves believe is real might be a local knockoff.

The hidden feedback thing has always been suspect, if a neg. is mentioned but I can't read it, I can only assume the worst?