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Shipped wrong coin to eBay Buyer!!!
hiijacker
Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭
Question
I discovered today that I shipped the wrong coin to an eBay buyer a month ago. The coin he bought was for around $600 and the coin I shipped I can sell for $1,200.
I left him a message thru eBay. I offered to send him the original coin plus $100.
Any other ideas on what to?
I know title does not pass just because I sent the wrong coin accidentally.
But other than my cert numbers what evidence does this help me?
I discovered today that I shipped the wrong coin to an eBay buyer a month ago. The coin he bought was for around $600 and the coin I shipped I can sell for $1,200.
I left him a message thru eBay. I offered to send him the original coin plus $100.
Any other ideas on what to?
I know title does not pass just because I sent the wrong coin accidentally.
But other than my cert numbers what evidence does this help me?
Buyer of all vintage Silver Bars. PM me
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
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Comments
<< <i>Question
I discovered today that I shipped the wrong coin to an eBay buyer a month ago. >>
i'm not even sure i'd persue this after a month and just call it a reason to stay on top of my business dealings better in the future...lesson learned
do as you see fit though
as this isn't my business to interject upon
It is an expensive mistake and you will be more careful in the future.
I am not sure if he is a dealer, but i do see he runs a coin club and a coin show.
I know I screwed up, but I would hope another coin collector would do the honest thing.
Hopefully, the fact that he didn't let me know when he got the coin is because he deals with a lot of coins and didn't realize.
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
Good luck with yours. I still believe most people are decent and good.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
I only process one item at a time , to keep this from happening. However about a year ago, when I was feeling under the weather and had to get stuff out, I made the mistake and shipped the wrong coin. Luckily I caught it before mail left the facility. One of the clerks was nice enough to go thru the bin and retrieve it before it went out. I gave her 25 bucks for a dinner out on me for doing it.
But am i correct in that its still my coin, even if someone else bought the coin for the full price?
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
to be valid. At least it is voidable for sure. It's still your coin but don't send his out just yet!
bob
<< <i>We shall see. Keep you posted when I hear back from him.
But am i correct in that its still my coin, even if someone else bought the coin for the full price? >>
IMHO, no it is not. It wasn't stolen and if you mail out something to somebody that they didn't order - it is considered a gift.
I've sent the wrong coins to the nice people on eBay twice, both less than $30.
I didn't want to bother with getting them back and sending them out again, so I just refunded everybody's money and told them they could keep what they got with my compliments. All were happy with their free coins.
in the future, may i suggest printing packing slips when you get ready to ship. you can place the coins on the packing slips and that helps prevent mix ups when you got to packing.
About your situation... The buyer knew he got the wrong coin and knew he got a more expensive coin. Anyone buying a $600 coin isn't a naive, novice coin buyer. I think it's dishonest that the buyer didn't contact you with the mistake to ask you how you'd like to handle it.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>
<< <i>We shall see. Keep you posted when I hear back from him.
But am i correct in that its still my coin, even if someone else bought the coin for the full price? >>
IMHO, no it is not. It wasn't stolen and if you mail out something to somebody that they didn't order - it is considered a gift.
I've sent the wrong coins to the nice people on eBay twice, both less than $30.
I didn't want to bother with getting them back and sending them out again, so I just refunded everybody's money and told them they could keep what they got with my compliments. All were happy with their free coins. >>
It's not a gift here since the recipient was expecting a coin. Now, if you send them a coin or other item out of the blue with the expectation that they will pay for it, that's another story.
<< <i>IMHO, no it is not. It wasn't stolen and if you mail out something to somebody that they didn't order - it is considered a gift. >>
I'm not sure that's quite how it works.
Yes, if you receive something out of the blue, by mail, it's yours to keep. OTOH, if you order a product and receive the wrong one accidentally, I do not believe it is yours.
Whatever. This is small potatoes, a month old, and I figure OP should write it off. Tuition.
Lance.
<< <i>Whatever. This is small potatoes, a month old, and I figure OP should write it off. Tuition. >>
Oh my. 600.00 is "small potatoes" now. Nothing personal against any certain poster, but many of the fine folks of the forum sure like to write off other people's money.
<< <i> The coin he bought was for around $600 and the coin I shipped I can sell for $1,200. >>
And I’m usually correct 87% of the time.
There are three types of ownership here
Moral – the seller still owns the coin
Legal – Since it was a unilateral mistake, the seller probably still is the legal owner of the coin since the law doesn’t reward someone who is unjustly enriched by a mistake.
Practical – The buyer didn’t contact the seller when he got the coin and can deny he ever received it. Maybe the seller sent it to another buyer? It isn’t easy to prove and when confronted he is in denial mode.
I think the practicality of ownership will win on this one.
Everyone checks in their coins when they receive them even it is just a minimal amount of data – a description, date purchased and amount paid. I’m sure this buyer did that, especially if he claims to be a pocket vest dealer.
<< <i>Yes, I'd say you are correct about a distinction between solicited and unsolicited merchandise.
And I’m usually correct 87% of the time.
There are three types of ownership here
Moral – the seller still owns the coin
Legal – Since it was a unilateral mistake, the seller probably still is the legal owner of the coin since the law doesn’t reward someone who is unjustly enriched by a mistake.
Practical – The buyer didn’t contact the seller when he got the coin and can deny he ever received it. Maybe the seller sent it to another buyer? It isn’t easy to prove and when confronted he is in denial mode.
I think the practicality of ownership will win on this one.
Everyone checks in their coins when they receive them even it is just a minimal amount of data – a description, date purchased and amount paid. I’m sure this buyer did that, especially if he claims to be a pocket vest dealer. >>
Easy enough to prove.
Seller lists coin on eBay.
Buyer wins auction.
Seller ships coin to winner/buyer. There is a tracking # with the listing.
Tracking # says package delivered to buyer.
Seller still has coin he listed.
Logic says buyer got the wrong coin.
<< <i>Seller lists coin on eBay.
Buyer wins auction.
Seller ships coin to winner/buyer. There is a tracking # with the listing.
Tracking # says package delivered to buyer.
Seller still has coin he listed.
Logic says buyer got the wrong coin. >>
Did the buyer give you positive feedback?
Who got what? Maybe he shipped the $1200 coin to the $10 coin buyer and the $10 coin to the $600 coin buyer.
It is a known fact the seller makes mistakes shipping out coins.
I beleive the guy got the $1200 coin. The OP could pursue the matter in small claims court, but do you think he would win?
<< <i>But what if the seller sold 2 coins, 3 coins, 18 coins or 42 coins.
Who got what? Maybe he shipped the $1200 coin to the $10 coin buyer and the $10 coin to the $600 coin buyer.
It is a known fact the seller makes mistakes shipping out coins.
I beleive the guy got the $1200 coin. The OP could pursue the matter in small claims court, but do you think he would win? >>
I'll give the OP the benefit of the doubt since he's missing one coin and seems pretty sure where it went to. All we have are the facts given in the OP.
For what it's worth, I once received the wrong coin by mail but it was the right series and almost the right circulated grade, so I did not even notice it until the seller contacted me frantically that he had sent me a much more valuable coin and the one I purchased to someone else. Upon confirming it was the wrong coin, it was returned and I got the coin I had actually purchased.
Choice Numismatics www.ChoiceCoin.com
CN eBay
All of my collection is in a safe deposit box!
Every night I pray the thief buys something again. He will get his.........
What WERE the 2 coins in question?
Same type/MM/Date? Different grade?
Different type of coin?
Without knowing that, it's hard to speculate why he didn't contact you back
For instance (example only), if he bid on a lot of coins, and yours was a Morgan 1887/6 PL in MS62 with a PCGS guide value of $600 and you sent a Morgan 1887/6 PL in MS64 with a guide value of $1200, he may not have noticed it (busy/scattered mind with a lot of coins coming in...there is the 1887/6 mint state in PL that I ordered.....).
However, if they were quite different coins, then that is another thought....
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
<< <i>
<< <i>Seller lists coin on eBay.
Buyer wins auction.
Seller ships coin to winner/buyer. There is a tracking # with the listing.
Tracking # says package delivered to buyer.
Seller still has coin he listed.
Logic says buyer got the wrong coin. >>
Did the buyer give you positive feedback? >>
Good point. Yes he did leave me positive feedback.
"Beautiful addition to my gold type set!"
Since I still have the coin he won, clearly he got something else...
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
<< <i>Missing an important piece of information...
What WERE the 2 coins in question?
Same type/MM/Date? Different grade?
Different type of coin?
Without knowing that, it's hard to speculate why he didn't contact you back
For instance (example only), if he bid on a lot of coins, and yours was a Morgan 1887/6 PL in MS62 with a PCGS guide value of $600 and you sent a Morgan 1887/6 PL in MS64 with a guide value of $1200, he may not have noticed it (busy/scattered mind with a lot of coins coming in...there is the 1887/6 mint state in PL that I ordered.....).
However, if they were quite different coins, then that is another thought.... >>
He won a $5 gold indian 1913 in MS62 and i shipped $5 1915 in MS-63
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
<< <i>
<< <i>Yes, I'd say you are correct about a distinction between solicited and unsolicited merchandise.
And I’m usually correct 87% of the time.
There are three types of ownership here
Moral – the seller still owns the coin
Legal – Since it was a unilateral mistake, the seller probably still is the legal owner of the coin since the law doesn’t reward someone who is unjustly enriched by a mistake.
Practical – The buyer didn’t contact the seller when he got the coin and can deny he ever received it. Maybe the seller sent it to another buyer? It isn’t easy to prove and when confronted he is in denial mode.
I think the practicality of ownership will win on this one.
Everyone checks in their coins when they receive them even it is just a minimal amount of data – a description, date purchased and amount paid. I’m sure this buyer did that, especially if he claims to be a pocket vest dealer. >>
Easy enough to prove.
Seller lists coin on eBay.
Buyer wins auction.
Seller ships coin to winner/buyer. There is a tracking # with the listing.
Tracking # says package delivered to buyer.
Seller still has coin he listed.
Logic says buyer got the wrong coin. >>
I believe you are right and your logic is impeccable. As usual.
You have proven that the op did indeed send the wrong coin.
But can you prove he sent a $1200 coin in place of the $600 coin?
Perhaps in court the buyer suddenly remembers that he did receive the wrong coin but that it wasn't a $1,200 coin. Instead, it was a $100 coin and he wants his $500 refunded!
<< <i>Accidentally sent the wrong coin to a person in Warwick, RI. Notified him well before he ever got it to return to sender. Then shipped the right coin thinking the person had a pretty strong buyer history, he'll do the right thing. He didn't. Then I had to explain to the second buyer that the coin he paid for was out of my posession. Fortunately, he was a gentleman who accepted a refund. >>
I had something similar to that happen to me a month ago as the buyer. I bought a coin and Ebay showed the coin shipped. The next day the seller sent me a message that he sent me the wrong coin and that he'd mail out the right coin later that day. Then this is what got me... He then asked me to make him an offer on the wrong coin he sent me and I could buy it from him rather than sending it back. It made me suspicious whether the wrong coin was sent on purpose with the hope that I'd buy it. I sent it back and I had to withhold giving him a positive feedback until he'd give me a PayPal refund for the return shipping. (It's the principal of the thing.) The coin I bought was a PCGS MS64 Walking Liberty Half. The wrong coin he sent me was a harshly cleaned and very shiny XF Walking Liberty Half in one of those self-holders that was nicely labeled by him.
<< <i>
<< <i>Whatever. This is small potatoes, a month old, and I figure OP should write it off. Tuition. >>
Oh my. 600.00 is "small potatoes" now. Nothing personal against any certain poster, but many of the fine folks of the forum sure like to write off other people's money.
<< <i> The coin he bought was for around $600 and the coin I shipped I can sell for $1,200. >>
>>
Well, you can lose sleep over it. Spend time fretting about it. Heckle the buyer. Seek advice and opinions. Consider legal action, countermeasures. All for naught. Or you can move on.
My opinion is it's a lost cause and, small potatoes or not, I wouldn't prolong the suffering.
Lance.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Yes, I'd say you are correct about a distinction between solicited and unsolicited merchandise.
And I’m usually correct 87% of the time.
There are three types of ownership here
Moral – the seller still owns the coin
Legal – Since it was a unilateral mistake, the seller probably still is the legal owner of the coin since the law doesn’t reward someone who is unjustly enriched by a mistake.
Practical – The buyer didn’t contact the seller when he got the coin and can deny he ever received it. Maybe the seller sent it to another buyer? It isn’t easy to prove and when confronted he is in denial mode.
I think the practicality of ownership will win on this one.
Everyone checks in their coins when they receive them even it is just a minimal amount of data – a description, date purchased and amount paid. I’m sure this buyer did that, especially if he claims to be a pocket vest dealer. >>
Easy enough to prove.
Seller lists coin on eBay.
Buyer wins auction.
Seller ships coin to winner/buyer. There is a tracking # with the listing.
Tracking # says package delivered to buyer.
Seller still has coin he listed.
Logic says buyer got the wrong coin. >>
I believe you are right and your logic is impeccable. As usual.
You have proven that the op did indeed send the wrong coin.
But can you prove he sent a $1200 coin in place of the $600 coin?
Perhaps in court the buyer suddenly remembers that he did receive the wrong coin but that it wasn't a $1,200 coin. Instead, it was a $100 coin and he wants his $500 refunded!
It proves the buyer got A wrong coin. Seller only shipped one coin that day, so I'll take his word that he shipped THEE wrong coin. THEE wrong coin just happens to be worth twice what buyer was supposed to get. Doesn't seem like a situation worth seeking legal remedy for. I'd have to believe that if buyer got a $100 coin that he'd a squawked real loud real fast.
OP states he send the wrong coin, waits a month, and then notices it.
I will assume the coin crossed state lines.
Does the OP have proof of ownership and price paid for the missing coin?
Does buyer acknowledge receiving the incorrect coin?
Can the OP PROVE the wrong coin was shipped? Not just that he sold coin A, and still has it, and now he cannot find coin B. Maybe he is also missing coin C, and that is the one actually shipped, and just does not know it yet.
How is "value" determined? (PCGS price guide however it is easy to buy for less than the price guide)
Since the absolute delta in value is $600, it is off to small claims court at best.
In my dealings with small claims court (won ever case), and watching those who come before and after me, IMHO, this case would last 17 seconds, be dismissed, and next case called.
Lafayette Grading Set
I was lucky they were both $5-10 items. It could have been a serious "OH SCH*TT!" moment.
We all get hit by the dumb*ss fairy eventually...
1/2 Cents
U.S. Revenue Stamps
It wouldn't matter if it was a million dollars or a widow's mite.
The real value would be if the buyer corrected your mistake.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>
<< <i>Missing an important piece of information...
What WERE the 2 coins in question?
Same type/MM/Date? Different grade?
Different type of coin?
Without knowing that, it's hard to speculate why he didn't contact you back
For instance (example only), if he bid on a lot of coins, and yours was a Morgan 1887/6 PL in MS62 with a PCGS guide value of $600 and you sent a Morgan 1887/6 PL in MS64 with a guide value of $1200, he may not have noticed it (busy/scattered mind with a lot of coins coming in...there is the 1887/6 mint state in PL that I ordered.....).
However, if they were quite different coins, then that is another thought.... >>
He won a $5 gold indian 1913 in MS62 and i shipped $5 1915 in MS-63 >>
Both gold coins, same denomination, close date at that size to naked eye=easily overlooked and sold without malice. Time to move on and take the $600.00 loss if it werte to sell for 1200.00.
<< <i>The bar appears VERY high for the OP.
OP states he send the wrong coin, waits a month, and then notices it.
I will assume the coin crossed state lines.
Does the OP have proof of ownership and price paid for the missing coin?
Does buyer acknowledge receiving the incorrect coin?
Can the OP PROVE the wrong coin was shipped? Not just that he sold coin A, and still has it, and now he cannot find coin B. Maybe he is also missing coin C, and that is the one actually shipped, and just does not know it yet.
How is "value" determined? (PCGS price guide however it is easy to buy for less than the price guide)
Since the absolute delta in value is $600, it is off to small claims court at best.
In my dealings with small claims court (won ever case), and watching those who come before and after me, IMHO, this case would last 17 seconds, be dismissed, and next case called. >>
Most of the time people can't PROVE that they shipped anything. You can print multiple copies of labels and prepare 2 or 3 identical dummy packages. You can videotape it and switch packages after the fact or edit the video. If a person wants to deceive someone badly enough, they'll find a way.
<< <i>Do you have any theft insurance? The other thing is to use the value of the coin as a loss on your taxes. >>
As a CPA, I just have to clarify this point. If the OP is a dealer he would just report his cost of the coin as part of his cost of goods sold, the hypothetical value of the coin has nothing to do with his deductible amount. If the OP is just a collector selling a random coin (not as a Sch. C trade or business) he could potentially deduct the loss as a casualty loss as an itemized deduction, however a deduction is only allowed to the extent it exceeds 10% of his adjusted gross income and a $100 per incident floor. For the OP's sake, I hope the $600 loss isn't 10% of his income.
<< <i>You can ask, and a honest person will return it for the correct coin, but if you haven't got a response by now you're not going to get one.
It is an expensive mistake and you will be more careful in the future. >>
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I notified both buyers, and it turned out they knew about each other, but had never met, about 120 miles apart.
One guy was a driver with a supermarket chain, and had a delivery in the other person's town that week, so he just put it on the truck, and they swapped.
I bought a round for them at the local Brewhaus.
I once had someone once pay me with two $1200 checks for the a $1200 item. I immediately informed the buyer and immediately returned one of the checks.
Sorry to hear that happened to you , looks like an inventory writeoff at tax time. If he is not responding to your messages about it, I would speculate he intends to beat you out of it.
<< <i>Its a $600 mistake and its easy to make that kind of error if your shipping multiple items the same day.. I don't believe you will be able to collect from him if he just decides to keep it. You can get with an attorney and consider options. Look at all the deliquent credit card accounts that have been turned over to collection agencies and people either beat them out of it (statuate of limitations) or got them to settle for pennies on the dollar. I am not an expert on debt collection law, only your attorney can inform your as to the best course of action.
I once had someone once pay me with two $1200 checks for the a $1200 item. I immediately informed the buyer and immediately returned one of the checks.
Sorry to hear that happened to you , looks like an inventory writeoff at tax time. If he is not responding to your messages about it, I would speculate he intends to beat you out of it. >>
The OP said that he has had contact with the buyer and that the buyer would look for it over the weekend. If he bought it for his type set then he probably still has it.