Hypothetical. Return privileges and Ebay coin flipping.

coinmanic

Let us say that an Ebay coin seller sees a coin on a dealer website that he thinks he can resell at a profit. The dealer has a 7 day return privilege.

The Ebay seller buys the coin and puts it on Ebay with an opening bid that ensures a profit if sold and runs it for 3 days. The coin does not sell. He attempts to return it.

Most (but not all) will agree that this would be an ethical violation. Would the dealer though, have the right to void the return privilege if he discovered that the coin was offered for resale?

Please note, this is a hypothetical, I will put on the Asbestos underwear though, just in case.

kryptonitecomics

I can't imagine the dealer ever knowing unless it was a particular rare item......so I would say the return privilege would be valid unless the dealer got wind of what was going on.

coinmanic

Hypothetically an 1861-D Dollar.

ricko

Certainly unethical unless agreed to prior to the action. Not illegal, however, I would not want such an individual in my circle of trust. Cheers, RickO

mrpotatoheadd

Hypothetically speaking, if I found that a buyer had listed a coin he got from me for sale, I would not accept a return. The reason for having a return period in the first place is so the buyer has a chance to inspect the coin before committing to the purchase, not to provide an opportunty to market and profit from the sale of *somebody else's* property.

coinmanic

....But what if the dealers website says "no questions asked". Does that imply that the buyer is free to do what he wishes with the coin as long as it is returned in the 7 days in the same condition?

mrpotatoheadd

<< <i>....But what if the dealers website says "no questions asked". Does that imply that the buyer is free to do what he wishes with the coin as long as it is returned in the 7 days in the same condition? >>

I would say no. A return policy is not the same as a buy-back policy. In order for the buyer/eBay seller to sell the coin through eBay, he must first own it (I realize that some eBay sellers do consignments, but this is obviously not the case here), mustn't he ? If he is representing himself on eBay as the owner of the coin he's selling, it sure seems to me that he's agreed that the coin is bought and paid for as far as the original seller is concerned.

garsmith

A seven day return period is a seven day return period, period. If you want to put stipulations on the return policy you are free too.

pheh

Happens all the time. Of course if you do it enough times wherein it results in returning the item, then it becomes a sure way to make a bad name for yourself. And, you'd be quite likely to be denied ordering from said dealer (if not said dealer + dealer's close associates).

Silverstate

<< <i>A seven day return period is a seven day return period, period. If you want to put stipulations on the return policy you are free too. >>



We can get technical...but, it is what it is.
Agreed that If it happens a lot, then the buyer would be denied from purchasing.

What about people that do not have the "Item" they list.
When a sale has taken place, they make the purchase and either drop ship it or ship it on after they receive it.
Is this any different?

mrpotatoheadd

Whether (and how frequently) it happens is irrelevant to whether or not it's an acceptable practice.

Tell you what- call up the dealer, explain what you plan to do, and ask if his return policy is still good for 7 days. Then you'll have your answer.

Anybody who intends to try this but who's not willing to ask that question before ordering the coin has pretty much admitted that they don't think what they're doing is particularly ethical.

coinmanic

Good, thoughtful responses. If I were the dealer I would honor the return and warn the the flipper that the next time he tried it would be his last.

highbidder1970

As broke as ebay buyers have been lately I don't think your guy would even bother.

illini420

I've had people buy things from me on the BST here and then return them several days later when their resale fell through... sort of ticked me off, but I didn't want an unhappy buyer so I took it back.

i don't think it's right though.

soty27

I see several of my coins pop up on ebay from time to time. If I was to catch someone attempting what the OP describes I would void the return and simply tell the buyer why.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>Whether (and how frequently) it happens is irrelevant to whether or not it's an acceptable practice.

Tell you what- call up the dealer, explain what you plan to do, and ask if his return policy is still good for 7 days. Then you'll have your answer.

Anybody who intends to try this but who's not willing to ask that question before ordering the coin has pretty much admitted that they don't think what they're doing is particularly ethical. >>



And doesn't care either.

PerryHall

<< <i>I see several of my coins pop up on ebay from time to time. If I was to catch someone attempting what the OP describes I would void the return and simply tell the buyer why. >>



How many negs did you get from these buyers?

airplanenut

Is it truly the same coin being returned? Once it's listed at a higher price, couldn't the actual value potentially drop as the coin is no longer fresh?

fishcooker

To me it's part of having a 7 day return. However, if a business knows someone is potentially wasting their time, they could block the purchase(s).

WinPitcher

I see no problem here, now if the buyer tried to sell the coin without buying it first I have a problem with that.

I also would have somewhat of a problem if the buyer tried to sell it before he had it in hand on the net.

Example of no problem: Seller has a coin, and buyer buys it because he has a client that needs such a coin.

buyer gets coin and shows his client who passes, buyer returns coin.....no problem.


Buyer see's coin and before he buys it lists coin on the net for sale......problem

Like mentioned a no questions asked 7 day return is just that.


Steve