Purchased Flowing Hair dollar online. Dealer sells it in Baltimore instead.
MonsterCoinz
Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭✭✭
Murphy's Law has been prevalent in my life lately. I've been looking for an affordable, original skin FH dollar for about a year now. I found one online Thursday and purchased it immediately. Fast forward 7 days and I still have no coin, no tracking number, no communication from the seller. I called them up and he assured me the coin would be on its way.
Day 8 and I get a text message that says he sold the dollar at the Baltimore show. Needless to say, this has been very frustrating for me. I was expecting the dealer to say he would make it right and find the same coin, same grade, same price, but he simply stated that he would add me to their want list and would refund me (which hasn't occurred yet).
What would you do? Is this common practice for dealers? Roll the dice and gamble that no one buys anything on your site until you get back from a show?
Thanks for your feedback.
Comments
Out the dealer.
Shuffle this dealer to the back of your pack. No need to go through this again. They had a buyer in person for the same amount or more and decided that was a "sure" thing....rather than sending you the coin, paying shipping, and not be sure you would keep it.
Dealers can be forgiven for occasional website confusion, ie, leaving a listing up after it was sold at another venue. You received assurance though that the coin was on its way.
I would think it is probably a web management conflict with a show schedule, hard to keep everything straight with a large inventory.
I agree with roadrunner. When a dealer does something like this, he getting on my "mostly ignore list." I'll still buy from him, but only if it's at a show, I see the item in person, and I write the check and hand it to him.
This.
I've had a few...VERY few.... same instances.
No dealer in his right mind would REMOVE a coin from the website just because it is GOING to a show.
Nor can they ALWAYS know if that coin sells on the floor.
About the best situation is the dealers who put "hold" or somesuch on the website .
At least the show rep could look and see prior to selling to a kibitzer.
But I wouldn't count on THAT.
Spit happens. In this case, I don't think there was any evil intent.
Dude owes you a favor
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Sounds like an honest mistake. Is it frustrating for you? I would imagine so, but I don't know what you might reasonably do aside from ignoring the dealer in the future or posting the dealer's name to ask if this is commonplace in their business.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
That happened to me once, but the coin was sold to another dealer that I frequent and paid a little less that the original dealer had it at. Sucks, but, it may come back around.
How did you purchase it immediately? On-line or did you call them and purchase it? I purchased the aforementioned on-line and by the time the dealer caught up with internet sales, they sold it at a show. I normally make the phone call and ENSURE that it is available for sale from then on.
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I'm not going to oust the dealer unless there is a general consensus to do it. It may have been a genuine error, but I'm baffled why it took 7 days and the buyer initiating contact for it to be known. I have to remove the cert # from my set registry now.
Real big bummer. It was going to be the pride of my set.
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Mach1ne, something better came along and your prior deal was ignored. Such an assessment fits the facts. I suggest warning others to help them avoid the same treatment.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
Depending on who the dealer was....it may very well be an honest mistake, JMO
No need to "out" them...unless you do not get your refund pronto.
Keep us apprised of the situation please.
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Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Why would you enter the cert number into your registry set before you have seen the coin in-hand? That seems a bit premature given that no matter how good images might be, there is no substitute for seeing a coin in-hand.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Do yourself a favor and don't out the dealer. Handle it internally
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I bet it was Coin Vault.
yep.... now they're outed.
I have had this happen as a seller too, mainly because I sold a coin at a show and forgot to delete it from listings.
But to tell a customer the coin is on its way and then sell to another (likely at a higher price too), and THEN not quickly refund your money with a sincere apology is poor business management.
To top it off, you say you had to initiate contact to get your money back ?......and STILL haven't received it?
That's piss-poor in my opinion.
There's no way I would treat a customer in such a flippant manner.
Yeah, stuff happens, and I have done similar things, but I handled the aftermath in a totally different way. And in my case, they were genuine mistakes--forgetting to delete a sold coin. We all can see how that would happen.
Maybe this outfit has too many guys selling and no one managing the inventory.
That's possible-but what happened after that is poor business, and will eventually cost this company customers down the road (if not sooner).
Not only that, but there MAY be a next time and a next coin.
It's a bummer, but since the show was happening Thursday-Friday-Saturday, he probably didn't see your
order until Monday or later. So someone else simply bought the coin before he saw your order.
The search continues; hopefully you will find another sometime soon.
At best the dealer is disorganized. At worst they are unethical. If you can be certain it's the latter, you should out the dealer and provide negative feedback.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
This happened to me with one of my favorite dealers.
I really didn't mind, as it was an honest mistake, we had done a lot of business in the past and he had a huge inventory.
These things do happen and he is still one of my 'go to' dealers and an important asset to me.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I had something similar happen. Bought a coin I saw online ---called and ordered it. My card was charged. Got an email confirming and that the coin would be shipped. Got a call later (like 5 days later) and was told the coin actually was sold at FUN and the sales guy added I had a good eye because they sold it for $800 more than my purchase price. The dealer was a png dealer and I contacted them. The owner (not his sales guy) called me and asked how they could make it right. I said I felt they sold my coin for a higher price ---lets split the profit. A few days later I got a check for $400 in the mail. Made a bad experience into a good one
Wow. I don't know what to think about that one...
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
If there had been no communication from the dealer it would have been a little understandable. As was said, sometimes it's difficult to maintain a website such that it is 100% current.
But you got a verbal assurance. That is what is disappointing. He should keep better records of his inventory.
Okay, mistakes happen. But when they do it's nice when they are followed-up with a gesture...one that says "Sorry...I'm a dope...let me take care of you this way...".
One of my favorite dealers is Andy Skrabalak (Angel Dee's). Andy has held coins for me for months so that I can see them at shows. Without even asking for deposits. And never once did he mess up, even when someone came along with money in hand.
Andy is exceptional. I don't expect this from other dealers, even those who know me well. But I do expect a dealer to stick to his word and if he screws up, to show proper remorse and good customer skills.
Lance.
Because I owned the coin. It is graded PCGS G4.
This is almost verbatim what happened to me, except I don't know what they sold it for at the show. I paid via PayPal and received a confirmation email.
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I've had similar instance happen in occasion but every time the dealers were very apologetic and went above and beyond with a "we're sorry" replacement of higher value.
Keep in mind the sales guy "checked" to make sure they had the coin and said they did. I got a couple of confirming emails the coin was in their vault and was being prepared to be shipped. Also odd that they sold it for so much more at FUN. Regardless, the owner realized a mistake was made and made it right. I wasn't expecting it but he asked what I wanted and I told him.
I agree with a number of the comments that it may have been an honest mistake, but it was terrible customer service. So even if it was an honest mistake, on that point alone I would try to steer clear of the dealer.
This situation is exactly why I bought an Iphone several years ago. When I sell a coin at a show I have online I am on my Iphone immediately removing it!
Agree. "Not realizing that is sold at a show" is an easy answer.
I purchased a coin online that the dealer sold shortly after on Ebay. It was a very good deal but we had a long relationship. I told the dealer not to worry about it and sell it to the Ebay guy to avoid the repercussions of a busted deal on that site.
He said he would take care of me on the next deal.
He didn't leave me hanging for a week though, like the OP.
A declaration by the dealer on their website that a "web management conflict with a show schedule, hard to keep everything straight with a large inventory.... may result in your not purchasing a coin. Please be advised in advance."
What's with all the defense of dealers in this thread?
LOL
not a defense, just a plausible explanation. would you be happy if I said the dealer should be lynched??
I just went with Occam's Razor.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
C'mon Topstuff......you would be standing at the top of the Willis Tower with a 1700 watt megaphone if you got snurbed.
The best, surest way to sell a coin on eBay or on our website is to sell it at a show over the previous weekend. :-)
Seriously, I have to maintain inventory on three websites every time I list or something sells. As perfect as I tell my wife I am, some just get past me. :-)
I agree on this part..........he shouldn't have left the OP with his arse in the breeze for that long.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Out the dealer. This isnt a simple mistake - its malfeasance and obviously this person has no idea how to run a competent business... and its actionable. Title passed to you upon purchase, not when he gets around to shipping the coin.
I would force him to buy back the coin and sell it to me per the contract. He might know who has it.
Now a days it should be possible to link the web site to the smart phone or tablet to the inventory. In orther words dealers that want to live on the WEB should be real time. I got a notice a coin sold on eBay while I was out walking the dog ealier today.
I would call right after purchase next time, get a tracking number...
Years ago, I won a Braided Hair Half Cent at a Large Auction House. The coin said it sold at my bid amount, but that I did not get the coin. It went to a floor bidder who bid the same amount I did.
When I pointed out in the auction rules that the coin should be mine because I made the bid first, they tried to get the coin back from the person to whom they sold it on the floor, and he refused to cooperate.
The auction house apologized and sent me a book. I never did find another Half Cent like that one.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
I'll out my "dealer" if you out yours. (here's a hint, my dealers name rhymes with schmaritage)
Would order more coins and renege.
That seems to be the BST paradigm now so why not carry it to dealer orders?
(I wish THIS forum had a puking smiley)
I sympathize with both sides here. I really don't like ordering & paying via a website without confirming things with the dealer. A coin like this is reasonably valuable, even at G04, and I'd want the assurance that the deal was closed.
I also strongly dislike it when people rush to judgement when only one side of a story is presented.
From an emotional standpoint, I never assume it's mine until it's in-hand.
Hey, maybe that's IT. The guy who "bought" my BST coin had told the dealer that he was GETTING it, but decided that playing games was too much fun so he screwed up the whole thing and everybody lost.
Huh? Huh, huh huh?
And where's my MEGAPHONE?
There isn't going to be a next time.
I'll post his name if I haven't received my refund by tomorrow. A competent dealer would have known when they got back from the show 5 days ago that something was wrong with my invoice.
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No, I believe you misunderstood the timing.
(Which may not have been clear in the original post).
I believe the timing is:
3-30 (Thursday) - mach1ne orders coin on website
3-30 - 4-1 - dealer is at Baltimore show, coin sells at show
4-6 (Thurs) - mach1ne calls dealer, asks if coin has been sent.
Dealer has not seen web order yet, or has not tried to process it yet; promises to process the order.
4-7 (today) - dealer realizes the coin was sold at the show; sends text message to mach1ne.
Simple problem of not keeping online inventory up to date.
Wow.... amazing thread....diametrically opposed viewpoints.... Certainly a nasty experience, certainly open to interpretations...... After all is said and done, it is done.... Move on... Cheers, RickO
Was the book "How to win at Auctions"?
Seriously, you should have been the winner of that one since the floor bidder bid up to your preexisting amount. That bites!
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