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Why do you feel the need to alter the color of your coins. I'm getting tired of looking at chocolate cents and gun metal grey nickels and trying to guess what they really look like. I've passed on so many coins because i wasn't sure if they were trying to hide something.

Comments

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,331 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • @MFeld said:
    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Your right I shouldn't narrow it to Ebay. But if I can't get an accurate grade on the coin I pass. So I don't think they are doing their selves any justice with all the Photoshop-ed images. The more flashy the less trust. Anyone else feel the same, guess I'm not a trusting soul.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,331 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @justcollecting said:

    @MFeld said:
    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Your right I shouldn't narrow it to Ebay. But if I can't get an accurate grade on the coin I pass. So I don't think they are doing their selves any justice with all the Photoshop-ed images. The more flashy the less trust. Anyone else feel the same, guess I'm not a trusting soul.

    Alterations of coins and manipulation of images are a big turnoff for knowledgable bidders. But there are many bidders on eBay who don’t know better and who bury themselves in their purchases.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • CregCreg Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For the whine.

  • jonrunsjonruns Posts: 1,201 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Buying a coin from any pic is just an educated guess. IMHO the only way to buy a coin is to be able to view in hand. Or have a verbal description and opinion from a trusted friend or dealer who has seen the coin in hand.

  • TPringTPring Posts: 372 ✭✭✭
    edited February 22, 2026 10:30AM

    In ebay's defense... they do provide a fairly generous return policy.

    But to your point, seller's are looking to sell -- And if you have ever taken an economics /business course then you should be aware of the phrase caveat emptor.

    What I don't understand is why the seller's put up out-of-focus pics and why they don't check the auction to make sure that the information is correct/acceptable.

  • I'm guessing they do it because it works on enough people. They're missing out on some potential buyers but they must be finding some or they wouldn't do it.

    Rare-Change.com - Low listing fee

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,962 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I just feel the need to get you silver at the lowest possible price.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 40,342 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TPring said:
    In ebay's defense... they do provide a fairly generous return policy.

    But to your point, seller's are looking to sell -- And if you have ever taken an economics /business course then you should be aware of the phrase caveat emptor.

    What I don't understand is why the seller's put up out-of-focus pics and why they don't check the auction to make sure that the information is correct/acceptable.

    Mistakes happen. I'm guessing you've made a few.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • cheezhedcheezhed Posts: 6,299 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @justcollecting said:

    @MFeld said:
    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Your right I shouldn't narrow it to Ebay. But if I can't get an accurate grade on the coin I pass. So I don't think they are doing their selves any justice with all the Photoshop-ed images. The more flashy the less trust. Anyone else feel the same, guess I'm not a trusting soul.

    Alterations of coins and manipulation of images are a big turnoff for knowledgable bidders. But there are many bidders on eBay who don’t know better and who bury themselves in their purchases.

    To the detriment of the hobby imo

    Many happy BST transactions
  • MasonGMasonG Posts: 6,858 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The coins i list look pretty much the same on my monitor as they do in hand. I have no clue what they look like on your monitor.

    So there's that...

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,331 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @cheezhed said:

    @MFeld said:

    @justcollecting said:

    @MFeld said:
    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Your right I shouldn't narrow it to Ebay. But if I can't get an accurate grade on the coin I pass. So I don't think they are doing their selves any justice with all the Photoshop-ed images. The more flashy the less trust. Anyone else feel the same, guess I'm not a trusting soul.

    Alterations of coins and manipulation of images are a big turnoff for knowledgable bidders. But there are many bidders on eBay who don’t know better and who bury themselves in their purchases.

    To the detriment of the hobby imo

    Absolutely!

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Project NumismaticsProject Numismatics Posts: 1,829 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @justcollecting said:

    @MFeld said:
    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Your right I shouldn't narrow it to Ebay. But if I can't get an accurate grade on the coin I pass. So I don't think they are doing their selves any justice with all the Photoshop-ed images. The more flashy the less trust. Anyone else feel the same, guess I'm not a trusting soul.

    Dare to say it, TPGs and CAC go a long way in providing at least a minimum amount of comfort for transactions based on photos only.

    Imagine the old days of buying without photos from a coin magazine or dealer price list!

    As mentioned, eBay’s return policy is generous - it’s hard to get completely screwed as a buyer.

  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ebay is no different than any other sales medium, you have sellers you can depend on to be accurate with photography and descriptions and some you cannot. When you buy anything from a total stranger with nothing but a photo, it is a very chancey purchase. So either purchase from a medium with excellent return policies, such as ebay or develop working relationships with dependable or recommended mediums. JMO
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • davewesendavewesen Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not all sellers have thousand dollar photo set-ups and for many, what you see is what they take. I would be surprised if many run their pics through a photoshop type program.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,331 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @davewesen said:
    Not all sellers have thousand dollar photo set-ups and for many, what you see is what they take. I would be surprised if many run their pics through a photoshop type program.

    Based on posts I’ve seen here, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they never owned the coin. And I’ll leave it to other posters who might know for certain, to comment about Photoshopping of images.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,421 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @davewesen said:
    Not all sellers have thousand dollar photo set-ups and for many, what you see is what they take. I would be surprised if many run their pics through a photoshop type program.

    While some sellers may doctor their coin pics, I get the feeling that many coin sellers just aren't very good at taking coin 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

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 40,342 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @davewesen said:
    Not all sellers have thousand dollar photo set-ups and for many, what you see is what they take. I would be surprised if many run their pics through a photoshop type program.

    Based on posts I’ve seen here, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they never owned the coin. And I’ll leave it to other posters who might know for certain, to comment about Photoshopping of images.

    Well, that's a somewhat different problem than simply bad pictures.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 31,449 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 22, 2026 1:51PM

    There should be another look what I brought off ebay again, that was fun

  • justcollectingjustcollecting Posts: 218 ✭✭✭
    edited February 22, 2026 2:21PM

    @Creg said:
    For the whine.

    No sweat off my back.

  • @jonruns said:
    Buying a coin from any pic is just an educated guess. IMHO the only way to buy a coin is to be able to view in hand. Or have a verbal description and opinion from a trusted friend or dealer who has seen the coin in hand.

    Agree but a lot are trying to put lipstick on a pig.

  • @TPring said:
    In ebay's defense... they do provide a fairly generous return policy.

    But to your point, seller's are looking to sell -- And if you have ever taken an economics /business course then you should be aware of the phrase caveat emptor.

    What I don't understand is why the seller's put up out-of-focus pics and why they don't check the auction to make sure that the information is correct/acceptable.

    Like I said It's the professional sellers that's putting lipstick on a pig not the amateurs. Most of the fuzzy image coins are not worth looking at.

  • @davewesen said:
    Not all sellers have thousand dollar photo set-ups and for many, what you see is what they take. I would be surprised if many run their pics through a photoshop type

    I don't think the sellers that are without the fancy equipment are trying to put lipstick on a pig.

  • @MasonG said:
    The coins i list look pretty much the same on my monitor as they do in hand. I have no clue what they look like on your monitor.

    So there's that...

    Apparently I'm not talking about you

  • justcollectingjustcollecting Posts: 218 ✭✭✭
    edited February 22, 2026 3:07PM

    @Creg said:
    For the whine.

    Apparently you must be one of those putting lipstick on a pig. I'm trying to help you. I would be more apt to buy a coin from a raw quality image than the ones that has to have lipstick to be appealing.

    Yawn

  • Old_CollectorOld_Collector Posts: 838 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @justcollecting said:
    Why do you feel the need to alter the color of your coins. I'm getting tired of looking at chocolate cents and gun metal grey nickels and trying to guess what they really look like. I've passed on so many coins because i wasn't sure if they were trying to hide something.

    I only sell my coins that I don't need following upgrades most of the time, but always include not only high resolution photos, but also a video to show the actual coin.

    Anyone that does less IMO is not a seller that I would deal with. Then again, I also ship same day and have 100% positive ratings for 20 years and communicate and charge a fair price.

    I do not buy from anyone who cannot at least post an acceptable image, which seems to include most sellers.

  • CregCreg Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A tube of lipstick could not help this thread topic.

  • TPringTPring Posts: 372 ✭✭✭
    edited February 24, 2026 10:17PM

    @justcollecting said:
    Why do you feel the need to alter the color of your coins. I'm getting tired of looking at chocolate cents and gun metal grey nickels and trying to guess what they really look like. I've passed on so many coins because i wasn't sure if they were trying to hide something.

    Maybe the internet is not for you.

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,421 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Some of you guys are too spoiled. LOL. I remember coin collecting before computers and third-party grading where coin buying decisions were made based on the seller's written description of his raw coins. Most collectors bought their coins from the advertising listings in the major coin publications and the mailing lists sent to them in the mail. After a while, you learned which dealers' descriptions could be trusted but a major cost of coin collecting was paying for return postage.

    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

  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 4,643 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:
    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Why not ask our hosts here the same question?
    .
    Actual coin on top; Trueview on bottom. A totally misleading and worthless Trueview.

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 31,449 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:
    Some of you guys are too spoiled. LOL. I remember coin collecting before computers and third-party grading where coin buying decisions were made based on the seller's written description of his raw coins. Most collectors bought their coins from the advertising listings in the major coin publications and the mailing lists sent to them in the mail. After a while, you learned which dealers' descriptions could be trusted but a major cost of coin collecting was paying for return postage.

    Or just plain going into a coin store or 3

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,421 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @johnny9434 said:

    @PerryHall said:
    Some of you guys are too spoiled. LOL. I remember coin collecting before computers and third-party grading where coin buying decisions were made based on the seller's written description of his raw coins. Most collectors bought their coins from the advertising listings in the major coin publications and the mailing lists sent to them in the mail. After a while, you learned which dealers' descriptions could be trusted but a major cost of coin collecting was paying for return postage.

    Or just plain going into a coin store or 3

    Buying in person from a coin shop or a coin show is ideal but not ever coin collector has that option. Also, the selection of quality coins is extremely limited at most coin shops and many areas are far from the nearest coin show. The internet sure has made coin collecting a lot easier when you can view quality pics of the coins in hundreds of dealer's inventories.

    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

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 31,449 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:

    @johnny9434 said:

    @PerryHall said:
    Some of you guys are too spoiled. LOL. I remember coin collecting before computers and third-party grading where coin buying decisions were made based on the seller's written description of his raw coins. Most collectors bought their coins from the advertising listings in the major coin publications and the mailing lists sent to them in the mail. After a while, you learned which dealers' descriptions could be trusted but a major cost of coin collecting was paying for return postage.

    Or just plain going into a coin store or 3

    Buying in person from a coin shop or a coin show is ideal but not ever coin collector has that option. Also, the selection of quality coins is extremely limited at most coin shops and many areas are far from the nearest coin show. The internet sure has made coin collecting a lot easier when you can view quality pics of the coins in hundreds of dealer's inventories.

    Just a passing memory on what it was 👍

  • @Barberian said:

    @MFeld said:
    Why not ask the same question of all of the sellers who aren’t on eBay?

    Why not ask our hosts here the same question?
    .
    Actual coin on top; Trueview on bottom. A totally misleading and worthless Trueview.

    Trueviews not so true. Being a coin grading service you think they would try to portray coins accurately. I guess they are trying to sell their Trueview service. Where has the integrity gone.

  • Old_CollectorOld_Collector Posts: 838 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 25, 2026 10:48AM

    @justcollecting said:
    Trueviews not so true. Being a coin grading service you think they would try to portray coins accurately. I guess they are trying to sell their Trueview service. Where has the integrity gone.

    To GC, his name is Phil Arnold. ;)
    Too bad our host won't spend the money for excellent images.
    I for one, would be willing to pay an extra photo premium price for "high quality" photos before slabbing.
    Alas, that is not an option.

  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,645 ✭✭✭✭✭

    There's nothing I like more as a seller than eating the two-way shipping cost of a return when a buyer says the coin wasn't properly described, and editing images to make them less accurate is a great way to make this a more frequent occurrence.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research

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