An old tale of a coin return with a twist
Icollecteverything
Posts: 1,033 ✭✭✭
This was back in the old days before you could look at pics on the net before your purchase. I ordered an early tougher date Seated half dime from a company that regularly had full page ads in Coin World. This was my first order from them, I think it was around $30 and was claimed by them to be in VG condition.
When I received the coin I saw that there were not at least three letters in Liberty visible, in fact I think there was only half of two letters visible. I returned the coin with a note saying why.
I got the refund but also an interesting note from the owner. He said he had a whole lot more experience grading than me (probably true) and also claimed that even though there were not 3 letters visible the coin was actually BETTER than VG-8 (possible?) and he said I should buy my coins elsewhere.
So I did buy my coins elsewhere and I literally laughed every time I passed by his ad especially when my coin budget had increased by quite a bit. Luckily, I continued to return coins I didn't like and always got my money back with a polite response. I returned a coin to JJ Teaparty who apologized that the coin had been listed wrong. I actually returned a Colonial coin to Mike Ringo before I knew his reputation as an expert in the field. But he sent a nice note with my refund and signed it "Mike" like we were old pals. I continued to buy from him and was usually very happy.
Got any tales of odd returns?
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Comments
I have a backwards return story. I sent a series 1917 large size $1 Silver Certificate to Sloan & Co. (not sure if they are still in business). It was in very nice circulated condition, but their offer in the return mail was only $3, claiming it had been trimmed. I knew that it had not been altered so I asked for it back. When it was returned to me it had a top edge that had been trimmed unevenly, which was not the condition it had been in when I sent it to them originally.
They obviously used an automatic letter opener in their office and it had sliced the top edge of the note off, but they never even entertained that possibility. I was disgusted with the ruined note and sent it back for their lousy $3 offer. I was young then – if that happened today I would not have given up so easily. What an incompetent banknote dealer they were to use a letter opener like that to cut the tops of the envelopes off….
Well... I do not have a return story.... Oh wait.... I do have one... The only coin I ever returned was a proof ASE, to the U.S. mint.... It had a blatant scratch in the obverse field. I sent it back and they replaced it immediately. Other than that, I have had great luck with my purchases. Cheers, RickO
That is a bad deal with 1917 bill plus it got ruined.
ricko, only one return is a pretty good record.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.