Most interesting ebay buying experience in 18 years, how will it end...UPDATE
panexpoguy
Posts: 1,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
Purchased what was for me a very expensive coin off ebay. Looking over the auction I had some concerns from the beginning but with ebay purchase protection I decided to take a chance. Here is what has happened so far:
- Paid for item within an hour of purchase. Heard nothing from seller by middle of next day which is unusual (in my experience) for a higher dollar item.
- I emailed seller asking when item would be shipped and was emailed back that it would be within two days.
- Seller has somewhat low feedback, no purchases or sales documented in the last 12 months, appears to never have sold a coin before and offers USPS priority shipping in auction.
- This morning was 2 days since I heard from seller about shipping. I get an email from ebay saying the item has shipped.
- I go into ebay and look at the item and it says it was delivered to my mail box yesterday. It was not. I also lists a tracking number that comes up as invalid at USPS. While USPS says tracking number is invalid, ebay shows tracking details for the package and that it came from Michigan and was mailed to my address. Problem is that the seller's listed address in PayPal is New York.
- I get an additional email through ebay from the seller. Says he accidentally added the wrong shipping number to my order and that the shipping number he listed is for a different sale. Remember, he shows no sales or purchases via ebay in last 12 months.
- Seller provides me with another tracking number. This one does pull up an item at USPS. However, this item is shipped out of San Francisco yesterday and is listed as USPS product media mail and not priority mail and is not projected to get to me until 7 days from now (I am in midwest)
- In the email the seller assures me that the coin will be received and that is is completely genuine and I will be pleased. My thought is 'why would it not be genuine?'
I am curious how this will turn out.
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You will be fine with the PayPal protection for sure.
Could very well be an honest seller who made a typo. Time will tell.
I just entered the first tracking number provided into UPS and FedEx out of curiosity and it comes up as a UPS shipment of a 61 lb box to my same suburb, but 'left at dock' yesterday. I am still inclined to believe it will all work out, but it is a bit like a mystery novel.
It looks like red flags were ignored in the case of your initial purchase. When buying high dollar items, if in doubt, pass.
Incorrect. I don't need to ignore concerns with purchase protection. I simply note them.
If you need to make a claim, this is very important IMO, Call Paypal. Do not call eBay.
Put me down in the SCAM camp. Best of luck to you!
that's why I always buy big dollar items from sellers like Apmex. if something like that happened to me I would be worried. the seller sounds like he can't handle shipping more then one order at once without screwing everything up
If you got a good deal, and are not concerned about money being gone for a couple weeks (if things go bad), you did well.
People sell things by many avenues, so nothing recent on eBay is not really an issue. If they truly did ship media mail on your item, you may get a postage due when arrives (unless of course it is media mail).
That was where I was headed. I was going to contact them when I get home to see if I can give them an FYI. It all might turn out fine. The curious thing to me is how weird everything has been individually. And then when you put them all together it is kind of bizarre.
I agree. I would not call it a deal, but it is a coin that I wanted and it doesn't come up too often and I had the money. I am pretty sure I will end up whole one way or another, but I would like the coin if given the choice.
Good idea.
I have called Paypal (in this case I was the seller) and asked if I would be covered to ship to an overseas APO address I was worried about fraud. Paypal assured me I would be covered if it got marked delivered. It got delivered and it was fraud and Paypal covered me for $749.95
It sounds like you are referring to a certain special investigation
Sometimes we get what we pay for, but there is always that feeling, Until we do.
BTW I'm in the scam camp on this one.
I would recommend you buy sight seen at shows - I do on anthing over my risk limit if $300.
That is one of the most common MOs for Ebay scams. Hijack an account and sell an expensive item. No sales in last 12 months? No previous coin sales or purchases? This one stinks to high heaven.
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
I'm curious to know the auction number. I'd like to see a 61 lb coin.
bob
I don't suppose it's a Nigerian coin is it?
Can you post the auction?
Opened a case with PayPal just in case and see that the seller's yahoo email address is in the......Philippines dun dun DUN! LOL
At 61 pounds it may be the dead body of a Nigerian prince who was smuggled out of the country to claim his long lost family fortune...
I would never buy anything that cost over 5 dollars from a seller out of the country
Is this the 61 lb coin?
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Could end up legit but my experience with accounts with no activity in 12 months usually end up a hijacked account. Worst case you will be refunded....eventually.
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
I would call Ebay and voice your concern. When the item show up, open it up under video. In the future, check out the seller before paying so fast. Hope all is well.
Best place to buy !
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I don't know what you paid for the coin but even a scammer isn't stupid enough to pay for shipping 61 pounds of rocks to you.
Successful BST transactions with lordmarcovan, Moldnut, erwindoc
Keep us posted.
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Wow.... I am always very cautious when dealing on ebay, and this one would have sent me running - away. I hope it works out well for you... Good luck, Cheers, RickO
Time to lay back and have a Camel.......it's over.
I have already contacted Paypal and filed the dispute and then verbally advised them to escalate it to a claim based on the various inconsistencies. There is still a chance that everything will work out, but I am covered by Paypal if it doesn't. If a package arrives I will open it on video in front of my mail carrier to cover my bases. At least my week hasn't been boring.
Don't forget to factor in the cost of your time and effort to CYA when evaluating this experience. It's not free...
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
plus hassles, aggravation etc to op & cu community
Another run forest run story...
It would be interesting to see how it come out. Hope you will be happy
where does the latest tracking have your item?
No............that's the Donut Hole where all your hard earned wages are going to disappear into.
Pete
Maybe it's me, but I'd be very embarrass, etc. to post something like this for all to see.
This kind of story is very similar to coin dealers leaving coin show, stopping to eat, gas up, etc. & end up losing their inventory.
I think you’ll be fine and either get your coin or get a refund. Sellers have more to worry about with buyers than buyers with sellers.
After reading Nencoins' thread yesterday, I'm wondering if this one is with a seller that was trying to sell something that wasn't his, for a higher price, then buy it from the actual owner/seller and have it sent straight to the OP here....?
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
The item for the second tracking number went from San Francisco to Los Angeles so far.
Yep. Was going to be whole either way. It is fun to watch things unfold.
So I was working with Paypal on this and they were able to recover the payment to the seller because it had been put on hold. While the original tracking number provided was clearly for a different item, there was the matter of the second item for which a tracking number had been provided. It shipped out as media mail from San Fran and had made it to Los Angeles by the time that Paypal decided to return the funds to me.
I had some emails from the seller during this process asking for contact so we could clear up the matter but I did not respond. Still, I was curious what had been shipped and if it would arrive at all. Several days after leaving LA, the package showed up in Cincinnati and then here in Columbus a few days later. One morning it indicated it was on the truck and out for delivery in my suburb.
Then an hour later it indicated it was back at the Post Office. And then it was back in transit. Seems like the seller recalled the package before it was delivered. A lot of work if the item was just an empty box. So I thought that maybe it was all legit but strange, but likely not legit. I thought that if it was legit, the item would show up again on ebay to be sold again.
Well, I found it today:
https://ebay.com/itm/1864-S-20-GOLD-LIBERTY-PCGS-AU58-CAC-SUPER-PQ-COIN/372265187373?hash=item56acbbf82d:g:h2IAAOSw3jBawEMt
This would be just about the time that the item got back to SF. Curiously, though, it is now being sold by an entirely different ebay seller, again with little recent activity and not a seller of coins based on available history. Will be interesting to watch.
I do not see your positive feedback that you left for the seller.
Why would the parcel listed as 61lbs in weight? Is it any chance 6.1lbs instead? Very strange indeed but hopefully it will turn out good at the end.
The 61lb package was associated with the original tracking number the seller entered with ebay that was shipped 2 days before the actual auction for the coin closed. Strangely, the tracking number was for a package delivered to my Columbus suburb. Shortly thereafter seller contacted me with a second tracking number. This was the item mailed media mail which meant it was travelling by truck across the US. Not a way I would expect someone to mail a coin.
Whole thing was just bizarre.
I smell something fishy.... keep us posted and BTW no one should be embarrassed for sharing this type of unusual experience as other member suggested. I commend you for doing so. Mahalo!!!
That coin sold on eBay for $9,299 a couple of weeks ago and for $6,200 a couple of months ago and for $3,131 a couple of months before that. This seller has made an exact duplicate of those listings and reused the pictures as well, appears to be a crime syndicate reselling this coin over and over under different accounts:
https://ebay.com/itm/1864-S-20-GOLD-LIBERTY-PCGS-AU58-CAC-SUPER-PQ-COIN-/162933032752
Wow! And eBay can't figure it out, amazing.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
And it's both April Fools day and Easter, you don't deserve this chicanery, panexpoguy. You're too nice and honest a person to get jerked around like this.
I've seen this done WITHOUT hijacking a 100% FB account. The 3rd party scammer recruits someone with a semi- inactive account and offers to pay them a % to use it. Happened to me. In a way, the 2nd party was scammed out of their promised commission and no coin was ever shipped to me. The 3rd party actually lifted an older coin auction so they never had the coin to begin with. Internet Financial Crime Center team said it smelled like the Russian Mafia. Ebay turned their backs on it (pre-paypal era) and ignored all my messages to them. The ring was centered out of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia.
Another way Russian mob makes their money if you really want this stopped you need to link the mob with Facebook / Trump supporter then the media will jump right on it!