What should eBay's TPG policy be?

Zoins

There has been a flood of 4th rate TPGs on eBay recently. If eBay is going to get rid of these they need some rules to distinguish legitimate TPGs from other ones. What are some rules they could uniformly apply to all TPGs that would keep the legitimate ones but knock out others?

Barndog

idealism does not generate cash for ebay, so don't hold your breath.

Jcarney

<< <i>If eBay is going to get rid of these >>



Ebay can barely run their auction site. Do you really want Ebay to act as defacto regulator for the coin biz?

291fifth

It can't be done. Like it or not, their is NO generally accepted grading standard for coins. Grading is an opinion, nothing more. Think the number one TPG is highly regarded? Look at the crack-out game and think again.

What can be done is preventing one brand of slabs being given values by using another brands pricing guide.

Zoins

I've seen a lot of people say eBay should do something about these and wanted to address the issue directly. If there's nothing eBay can do, the complaints trying to get eBay to do something become a non-issue and worth spending too much time to think about. Thanks.

Steve27

I agree, ebay can and will do nothing.

Bochiman

They shouldn't regulate.

How can they? Maybe someone starts a new one that is legit and accurate. Why would they stop that?
I agree, however, there are too many TPG ripoffs on ebay....but I don't think ebay can do much about that other than remove individual auctions. If they could, I wish they would link TPG slabs to those that own the company (ie...aboncom and SGS, etc) and then remove them completely. THAT would be cool

Preussen

It’s a free market (minus ebay fees), so caveat emptor. Bidding on ebay auctions is not mandatory for anyone. No matter how honorable the intent, we cannot protect all of the fools in the world, nor do I personally believe we should try. People (bidders) need to learn to take responsibility for their own actions. Just my 2¢ I always seem to get beat up here, so go ahead and let me have it - Preussen

Teletrader1950

I don't believe it should be ebay's place to regulate TPG's. Do you believe they are even qualified to do this? By what standard would these be regulated? And what about raw coins graded by the sellers LOL.....

The rare coin market is one of the last bastions of free enterprise.......the last thing I would want is some corporate type telling me how I should buy and sell coins.

OneCent

Supply and Demand....there is a market niche out there that believes by purchasing a slabbed coin they are getting some value in the slab...maybe authenticity or quality. Unfortunately this niche then equates said slabbed coin to PCGS and the price guide. Many times the seller aids in this perpetration by listing the PCGS Price Guide Value as a benchmark of what the coin is worth even though the slab they are selling is from Joe's Fly-by-Night Grading service. Sadly, they are shocked or in disbelief when they try to resell the coin...

90% of the coin market on E-Bay is a joke...it's a swindlers/ con man's market with unscrupelous sellers profiting every day.

toreador74

<< <i> It’s a free market (minus ebay fees), so caveat emptor. Bidding on ebay auctions is not mandatory for anyone. No matter how honorable the intent, we cannot protect all of the fools in the world, nor do I personally believe we should try. People (bidders) need to learn to take responsibility for their own actions. >>



That's right - it's not eBay's job. If it were, then: 1) eBay would be financially/legally liable for buyer stupidity or seller fraud (neither of which is eBay's fault); and 2) this would extend far beyond coins and so engulf eBay's resources that the website, for better or worse, would eventually cease to exist.

ziggy29

They have no desire to do any such thing. They always fall back on "we're just a venue" as an excuse, and if they started doing this, they would arguably be no longer "just a venue" legally.