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Am I right to feel weirded out by this buyer?
Azurescens
Posts: 2,686 ✭✭✭✭✭
Account is 24 years old. It has 3 recent feedback with some pretty canned responses, so idk if I should trust those. Everything else is old.
Red flag 1 - Is this the coin I will be receiving?
Red flag 2 - Sent from iPhone? I've never seen this in an ebay message only emails.
Red flag 3 - Told them they could buy a raw one cheaper, and they buy this one anyway
Is a $700 coin. I can't afford to lose this right now and feel uncomfortable with this exchange. Am I worrying about nothing?
Would you proceed with shipping this?
They can't operate a phone I don't think they're getting a PCGS slab open.
Something is wrong but I'm second guessing myself and I don't know why I haven't canceled yet.
Edit: Thank you in advance for any feedback
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Scam at worst, suspicious at best. If it were me, I’d block them and move on.
i would seek clarification from them to the point you're satisfied they know what they are getting into. you can just tell them that you are asking so that they don't get a coin holdered coin they don't want holdered.
Can we see the coin in question?
Early American Copper, Bust and Seated.
I don't trust the potential transaction. At best, I would expect the coin to be returned because they didn't understand what they were buying. At worst, I would expect an empty package when they return for refund because of a SNAD claim.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
considering this is by text, i'm assuming this isn't ebay
The top of the embedded image indicates it is an ebay exchange with "Don't exchange contact info to buy or sell outside ebay."
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Close the deal, get paid, ship the coin
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
It's the ebay app messaging system. I don't know why they asked if I got their email, or why I'm getting "sent from my iphone", which on my end only ever shows in emails from people.
I think maybe a scammer is copy/pasting I'm not sure.
I was wondering about that, too. it reads weird and if they typed it into the message, then why mention an iPhone. maybe self-expression isn't their forte.
The person sounds clueless. I suspect you will be sorry if you deal with them.
Red flag 2 is the only one that isn’t a red flag. When someone gets a message, they can reply in a few ways if they read the message in an email client (as opposed to reading it within eBay messages). Click reply on a phone and you get the text interface seen in your screenshots. Click reply from a desktop and you get what looks more like an eBay version of webmail. Reply directly to the email within your email client and that will put the reply into eBay messages. If you have a signature like “sent from my iPhone” that will be part of the message sent to eBay.
Here's a hypothetical message to you from the buyer after they receive the coin:
"I took the coin out of the holder and it won't fit in the bezel, so I'm returning it to you."
Tough call.
It sounds like they don't understand what they are buying. And that will end up becoming your problem.
Maybe add to your future ebay listings that you don't consider transactions binding and you reserve the right to cancel a transaction for any reason you see fit.
Put yourself on the other side of this transaction. You'd be furious if there were a cancelation.
my spidey senses are tingling, trust your gut and cancel the deal
You do not mention the coin or value. Is it a gold eagle/double eagle?
I would be very reluctant to crack a valuable coin before sending.
If he sold a double eagle for $700, he's got bigger problems.
RFR.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Although I believe one should follow the ebay rules and system... ship when a sale has been made, etc. ...I also believe one should pay attention to the 'spidey senses'. When dealing with someone who you sense is extremely likely to a problem, due to communications or actions, may be prudent to cancel the sell, put the buyer on the exclusion list, and move on. Not worth the hassle IMO.
Don't like it one bit
The buyer appears to be a novice and wants more information about the purchase. You should have been more descriptive in explaining the protective holder. For example, The coin is in a PCGS plastic holder and graded MS64. You will need to remove the coin from the PCGS plastic holder, so you can put it into your bezel. Once the coin is removed from the plastic holder, I do not accept refunds.
oops did not see the $700 - half eagle?
Idk. But he said he took it from original mint packaging. And it only graded 64 but is worth $700. It is a bit of a puzzle.
How is this a red flag? People in this forum are always concerned about stock photos.
Not a flag. Just indicates the manner in which he responded through his phone app.
See flag 1. If they didn't want this specific coin, why would they have been concerned about the stock photo possibility?
I have seen a couple people wear the slabbed coin on a "bezel". Maybe he's not breaking it out.
I don't see one red flag.
Except, that eBay will probably side with the buyer if he attempts a refund in this situation.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Poor communication.
What is there sounds FISHY.
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Meh... might pass on this one.
In reality, you still own this coin long after it is delivered.
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I would cancel the sale. Maybe I'm paranoid but so few transactions in so many years indicates a hacked account to me. That is all that would be required for me to cancel and block.
bob
If the coin was paid for, you need to ship it (I'd ask for a signature even though the amount is below the threshold). If I'm a buyer and the seller cancels the sale I'd be thinking a negative. (See what type of feedback he has left)
I would be very clear with the guy that if he takes the coin out of the holder, there is no return.
Might be worth calling E-Bay prior to shipping so you have something in the record as well.
Still would be nice to know what the coin is.
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
When in doubt, dont
Trust your gut.
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
The point is that no matter what the seller's policy is, ebay will still allow a return, even if cracked out of the slab. And if the buyer files a SNAD then the seller pays the return postage.
I wonder if the OP should send a message to the buyer once more to make sure they understand what they have bought and how it might not be the best choice for their purposes. If the answers are not clear and reassuring then that might support a cancelation.
JBK I think you are incorrect on that. I don't think you can just start buying stuff on E-Bay, altering the product (Cracking it out) and then returning it. Kind of like opening an original roll.
If you find differently on this, please advise, as I'll start buying sealed rolls, looking thru them and then returning if there are no good coins.
There is a thing called seller protection, and E-Bay is actually pretty good about it. I've had plenty of occassions where a package was returned with no coin and E-Bay made it right.
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
🙄
I'm glad that you've had good luck, but ebay has been stacked against sellers for some years now.
If the money is in your account and the address confirmed , send him a thank you card. When he opens a claim, reimburse him and thank him again.
I think at least some of the time it would all hinge on whom you are dealing with on ebay and how the issue or problem gets identified or slotted in the ebay/PayPal system when a dispute is initiated. I realize this is now an ancient thread, but the below linked thread from 2009 goes through the step-by-step process of a PCGS board member selling a US Mint sealed 2009 platinum set and having the buyer return the set for full refund after opening it up and claiming part of one of the clamshell capsules was missing. Even though the buyer received the US Mint sealed box as described in the listing, and might have swapped out coins after opening the package, the seller had to accept the return of the altered item. This is not all that different than opening original rolls of coins are going through them, in my opinion.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/706282/final-update-the-buyer-of-my-set-filed-a-dispute-with-paypal-received-the-return-today/p1
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Although ebay will sometimes side with the seller, that is not the norm, and can be an uphill battle for the seller to prevail when there are problems. I try to just avoid problems before they take place.... not always successful.
Cancel the sale and block the buyer. This one sounds like trouble.
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
Add that you cannot accept a return if it has been removed from the holder or if the holder is damaged. You're going to need a few coats of CYA on this sale.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
This has avoid written all over it, so no - don’t ship. Listen to your inner voice speaking to you loud & clear.
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Perhaps call the buyer. You have access to their phone number. Make sure they know what they are getting and that they can't remove the coin from the PCGS holder.
I have shipped successfully on communication that was at least as strange.
I may or may not have obscured the type of coin so I could post here in the US coin forum (where I know I will get better answers).
It could potentially be a 1/4 1986 gold maple 😂
This is really helpful to know 🙏 I will take it off the radar. Thank you sir.
Last time I had a deal like this, the bezel came back broken and the coin from mint packaging had a gouge on it. First it was the jeweler's fault, then it was USPS's fault, then it was my fault for bad packaging. I got a bunch of unconstructive, angry messages scattered over a weeklong period until she finally returned to her senses and we could get moving with a return.
I had to sell it for melt at a loss and I have unresolved trauma from the experience.
On a chargeback, the CC company handles it and they really don't care.
with a chargeback the decision is entirely up to the CC company. Ebay only provides input to them in an effort to protect you.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Debt
If the buyer already paid for this coin and you cancel this transaction, you can expect to get negative feedback.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Exactly
I can't believe the number of people in favor of canceling.
When coins are priced at high retail the chances of problems go up. The real marketplace is very tight, PQ coins in the "right" holder go for strong money at reasonable pricing.
The risk in this particular case of loosing the coin is not worth the reward (the net profit on the sale). Sure, there is some risk with every ebay sale, but the risk varies with each transaction and one must decide when the reward outweighs the risk.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Debt