When you're disappointed in an online purchase going from the pic, what's the most typical reason?
Luxor
Posts: 521 ✭✭✭✭✭
1) The luster is not as strong / vibrant as it appeared in the pic
2) The coin has hits, scrapes or hairlines I couldn't discern in the online pic
3) The toning is not as vibrant / attractive as it appeared in the pic
4) The strike is weaker than it appeared in the pic
5) The overall eye appeal of the coin is far less than the pic appeared
6) other
Your hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need it.
1
Comments
The eye-appeal is not as portrayed in the pic or some kind of mark, scratch or defect not visible in pic/hid
For me it could be #1,2,3,5 or 6. I've learned the weaknesses from the pics of some dealers that I purchase a lot of stuff from so I usually ask ahead of time.
Unrealistic expectations.
Seller didn’t accurately depict the coin in the photos provided. I have learned to pass on the coin with sub-par pics.
Could be anything, and it depends on the quality of the photos. Hits, hairlines, spots - those can all be hidden or de-emphasized with various techniques. Color can be off and luster is always hard to judge. Of course, it’s possible for the coin to look nicer than expected too.
Option #5 is sort of a catch-all, so I'll go with that.
It's not that hard to give a reasonable representation of what a coin looks like. I have learned the difference between ignorant photographers and deceptive photographers. Intentional misrepresentation is my biggest beef!
2
6
No. 1, need to be more careful of sellers who play with lighting and learn to recognize things better. I know there is one seller that I avoid because of this even though they have a lot of what I would like. If I didn’t get burned the first time, I would have spent a significant amount with them.
Successful BST Transactions With: AUandAG, SurfinxHI, tightbudget, dmarks, jfoot13, jimineez1, PerryHall, rte592, cucamongacoin, Flackthat, robkool, Walkerguy21D, pruebas, KJB, LukeMarshall, 1630Boston, chumley, privatecoin, Histman, SullyFan2, al410, mcarney1173, Coinflip, mbogoman, dm679864, commoncents05, scooter25
All of the above !!!
I generally agree but if it's in a NGC/PCGS CAC slab and it's priced cheap enough I sometimes take a chance. Usually the coin will look better in hand than in the sellers pics.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
All of the above in that mix
2 and 5
9 times out of 10 it is eye appeal
Latin American Collection
Generally it's part of a learning curve with me asking myself why did I not notice that? Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
I tend not to buy coins online anymore....well, not from auctions anyway.... I have purchased from a dealers site, and was not disappointed. Auctions, for the last 10-15 years, have become a real gamble, as attested to so often right here on the forum. The OP lists all the reasons that are frequently cited here. For me, just not worth the hassle. When I really want an item, I will seek out a good source...might pay a tad more (maybe), but worth it for - what has been, for me - a purchase that I am totally happy with. Cheers, RickO
2) The coin has hits, scrapes or hairlines I couldn't discern in the online pic
Some sellers are very good at only showing flattering angles and lighting.
Ditto. By angling the light just right the seller's pics can make marks, scuffs, and scratches disappear.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Off this list, for high circulated grades, I go with #2. Normally happens with some Ebay purchases. When I receive the coin and find dings and scratches I was not expecting. I look at the photo and can just barely make out they did exist. The angle, focus, light or combination does a good job at concealing them. Always a disappointment when that happens.
5 and 6 for me. I find, even with reputable dealers, that the lighting might tend to hide things. They tend to be lower contrast images accentuating color over luster (like most TrueViews). I’ve seen many that look amazing in the picture but are not as striking in hand.
It’s good to remember that a coin photo is a lot like a model’s picture. Lighting, angle, and choices can make good things go to the forefront and bad things recede.
Whatever it is - I find that when I go back and look at the photo I can almost always see the problem in hindsight.
Whatever you are, be a good one. ---- Abraham Lincoln
It could be any of those reasons, but the cause is always not taking my time and/or not being discerning enough. Not taking my time means I miss things that I could have and should have noticed had I looked closely. Not being discerning enough means I settle and buy without full information (lack of good photos, lack of trueview, etc.).
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
If a dealer has a large number of coins for sale, uses his own pictures & a oddly low number of TV holders.
Watch out for hocus-focus.
My Saint Set
This should have been a poll.
2
A hit, scratch, wipe, or what not that you couldn't see in the photo disappoints the most, because it's a specific feature that was missing or obscured.
Eye appeal is a more general thing which may gnaw at you a little, but it doesn't disappoint like a surprise defect. Over time, you can pretty much ascertain the eye appeal of a coin from the seller's photos if they post a lot of them and are consistent over time (e.g., Heritage slab shots).
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
All the above hidden by photox.
Most of the time I am disappointed in myself for not reading the pictures correctly.
Ken
5 Eye appeal is not there...
Know your seller and pick one that consistently provides accurate pics (along with a willingness to provide a review before committing to purchase). I know, this narrows the field considerably, but this has worked for me.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
We have all joked about the fuzzy eBay pics and debated wether they are intentional or not. Anyone who takes pictures of coins, knows how difficult it is to "capture' that coin and can take great pride when that shot comes with in 90% of appearance of a coin in hand. It would be fantastic if eBay had higher photographic standards for sellers but that is never going to happen. Because as a general rule better photos require better photographers and more sophisticated equipment. When thinking the coin photographed on a web site is going to look exactly the same is a big mistake. Use it as only "guide".
WS
Usually #2
Collector, occasional seller
I once bought an expensive (for me, at that time) coin on ebay. It was an IHC in MSRB and all the pictures were taken at angles, nothing was straight on. The angles and the way they caught the light mostly hid a copper spot in an unattractive position on the obverse. My inclination on seeing the coin in hand was to return it but then I went back to the photos and if you knew what to look for, you could see the spot. So it would have been hard for me to argue that it wasn't as described. I ate it, sold it a few years later and lost a little bit, and that was the last time I bought a coin for more than $25 or so on ebay.
Successful BST (me as buyer) with: Collectorcoins, PipestonePete, JasonRiffeRareCoins
Parallel cleaning lines and hairlines. Also misleading lighting often fools me. Low angle lighting that overemphasizes toning or wear when the coin, in reality, had been dipped and had only a wisp of toning.
I missed a thumbprint - didn't show up clearly in the photo's. Was clear in hand with light at the right angle.
There are two main types of bad, deceptive pictures. There are really bad, out of focus, too dark, too small pictures. Those who are selling counterfeits usually post these with their offerings.
The other type of bad picture is overexposed. That can “burnout” scratches, hairlines and even spots. This technique is often used by more sophisticated sellers.
Usually #1. Not as bright and sharp-looking as in the seller photos.
6 ... Difficult to tell if it's been cleaned especially by chemical process.
I do buy a fair amount on online auctions but the people I purchase through always provide clear and closeup images and barring a few "cleaning" issues I've been pretty happy about the results, also 60% are slabbed by the big 2.
I have 3 auction houses I use that are pretty much 95% raw coins and I've learn to curb my excitement when I see something I like....which I guess is a #6 also
Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.
Just got this today (seller's pics) but had my doubts on grade and steps from photos. But turned out exceptionally nice, solid MS65 with very nice steps. Waited some 30 years for this date this nice in strike, condition and steps.
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
2 and 5.