What would you do with this ebay coin buyer?

relayer · July 30, 2003 2:30AM

I sold a PCGS MS69 on eBay for $56 + $4.50 S/H on Sunday.

First I get an email asking how I ship 1st Class or Priority because he is going on vacation soon and doesn't want it sitting in his mailbox uninsured. (I just put a vacation hold on my mail when I go out of town).

So I told him I'd send it priority mail on Monday (it would get there in 2 days instead of 3/4). So today I get an email ...

Hi, just recieved the above coin , very nice and great service , however the holder is chiped and a small crack is developing(needs replaced)upper left obverse, my local coin dealer said he would send it back to pcgs with others for 7.00 thats cheaper than i could do it for myself, iam requesting a refund in that amount to cover the cost. thank you

My cost was $44.10, eBay got $2.27, PayPal got $2.05 and the post office got $3.85 so even after all that this was a coin that I actually made a profit of $7.78

Would you....

a) send him $7.00
b) ask him to return it for a full refund (return postage at his expense)
c) Ignore him and hope he goes away
d) Send him $4.00 since he already got $3.02 out of me for priority mail upgrade.

(I have about 100 more slabs I want to sell on eBay before I can get out of the coin business and have a record of 761 positives 0 negatives)

redcents · July 30, 2003 2:33AM

First notice that their e-mail seems VERY polite,cordial, and understanding. SECOND, YOU COST/PROFIT STRUCTURE ON THIS PARTICULAR DEAL IS TOTALLY IRRELAVANT WITH REGARDS TO YOU DOING THE RIGHT THING. Do you think they're trying to scam you for $7? You should be glad they'll handle the problem and let you off the hook for just $7. It never ceases to amaze me how many sellers are willing to completely discard someone as a FUTURE potential customer over something so trivial.

GO WITH a): Send the $7 & put it to sleep. b) If you refund ALL he paid including shipping. c) Just plain wrong - YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN ADMIT THIS IS AN OPTION FOR YOU d) Almost as bad as "c". Don't try to renegotiate (i.e. reneg on) the upgrade you already gave him for free.

Don't succumb to the cynics that say screw him or block him or only give him $4 instead of $7 (wasn't the original $4.50 for shipping enough to cover priority anyway?) Is $7 that important to you? Also, who cares if you beleive it was chipped or not when you sent it (unless you know for sure it was). Do you really want to get in a dispute as to the facts and thereby basically accuse the buyer of being a liar? Couldn't it have gotten damaged in shipping? What's his feedback record from other sellers? Finally, if anyone says he bought a coin and not a holder, I disagree - he bought a PCGS graded coin not a raw one, and a crack that's starting to form is reason enough to get it reholdered. TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND YOU'LL SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT.

P.S. WHAT TOPSTUFF, RAMPAGE, EAGLE7, HOOKOOEKOO, RBB617, DCAMFRANKLIN, BRADDICK, BACCARUDA, & NEWSMAN SAID.

P.P.S. GLAD TO SEE YOU DID THE RIGHT THING

THIS THREAD JUST SHOWS WHAT SELLERS TO AVOID.

Placid · July 30, 2003 2:33AM

Send him $7.00 and block him from bidding on your auctions again.

baccaruda · July 30, 2003 2:34AM

Was it chipped when you sent it?

theboz11 · July 30, 2003 2:35AM

I would offer the full refund option only. Resell the coin to someone else who wants the coin and not the slab.

Russ · July 30, 2003 2:35AM

Was the chip/crack on the slab before it was shipped? If so, send him the $7.

Russ, NCNE

legacycoin · July 30, 2003 2:40AM

He bought a coin, not a holder. Do not refund.

billboat · July 30, 2003 2:46AM

Full refund option only. He has the coin at the grade specified. If he wants it reholdered that's his decision and his responsibility. I've gotten some slabs that were a tad scruffy--but then I was buying the coin not a holder. Sounds like a real pain--next he'll want reimbursement for the gas he burns going to his dealer.

coingirl · July 30, 2003 2:47AM

Being an Ebay seller I would send him the $7.00 refund, and block him from bidding on your other auctions. You don't need to get a negative over $7.00 and it is not worth the worry. If you have more items you want to sell on Ebay then you should protect yourself (ratings) and in the future don't do business with this person.

Jenn

Tassa · July 30, 2003 2:50AM

<< <i>Full refund option only. He has the coin at the grade specified. If he wants it reholdered that's his decision and his responsibility. I've gotten some slabs that were a tad scruffy--but then I was buying the coin not a holder. Sounds like a real pain--next he'll want reimbursement for the gas he burns going to his dealer. >>

I agree.

topstuf · July 30, 2003 2:59AM

IF the slab was chipped, scruffy, cracked, or drilled for a chain, it is a simple thing to MENTION it in the description and prevent ANY problems.

If the slab was IN ANY WAY not perfect, do whatever he wants and do NOT block him.

He has a right to expect whatever was in the description. He should NOT have to accept any defect that is not mentioned.

Just tell em ahead of time. That's my policy. If it's in the description, it's THEIR baby.

Rampage · July 30, 2003 3:01AM

As asked before, 1) was the chip and crack there before you mailed it? 2) If it was, did you state this in your auction?

1) If the answer is yes to number 1 and no to number 2, then I say you should not even have to ask that question and refund his money since you did not state the bad holder in your auction.

2) If you answered yes to 1 and yes to 2, then tell the buyer that to look at the auction that is was all there and bla bla bla.

3) If you answered no to question 1, then question 2 does not apply. Did you insure the coin? If you did, then tell the buyer to take it up with the USPS. If you did not insure it, then refund the $7.00.

4) If statement number 1 above is the correct option, then slap yourself on the hand for not mentioning a damaged holder in your auction.

ElectricEye · July 30, 2003 3:09AM

Tell him nicely to pack sand. Uninsured was his choice and your resposibility ended when it went out the door. A negative won't kill you and your response to it will satisfy most bidders checking the feedback.

eagle7 · July 30, 2003 3:16AM

I would cheerfully send him his seven dollars as requested.

baccaruda · July 30, 2003 3:23AM

He bought a coin, not a holder. Do not refund.

Does that mean you'll give me full PCGS prices for all my raw coins?

relayer · July 30, 2003 3:25AM

If it was cracked when it left my house, it sure wasn't anything I noticed so it couldn't have been that big. But to a buyer who just got a new coin he would be looking more closely. I'll take his word for it. If he hadn't already hit me up for extra shipping I wouldn't think so much of it. I sold a 1984 DD Cent to a dealer on eBay for $130 (raw) and then he wanted to neogoiate a $30 refund after he got becuase he only wanted to be $100 into that coin. So this guy reminded me of that weasel.

I sent him $7 but didn't block him - I'll still be willing to take his money in the future.

Hi Dennis,
I'm sorry to hear you had a problem with the coin. I've sent a $7.00 credit to your PayPal account to cover it for you.
Regards,

hookooekoo · July 30, 2003 3:31AM

Given that the user is only asking for $7, it doesn't sound like a scam.

So assuming that he is correct that the slab was damaged during shipping, then that is your fault for poor packaging and be greatful the mistake is only going to cost you $7.

Send him the $7, leave positive feedback, and don't block him from future auctions.

When he sees that you're a reasonable seller, you'll increase your chances that he might purchase one of your other coins in the future.

I've been on the recieving end of seller's mistakes, and when they don't make good, I never buy from them again because their name get engrained in my mind for getting burned.

KlectorKid · July 30, 2003 3:40AM

Send him $4 he weasled $3 out of you. I'm sure he can afford the extra couple bucks. To late I see you sent him 7 dollars you must be nicer than I am.

RBB617 · July 30, 2003 3:45AM

In my mind, you did the right thing, especially if your goal is to get out of the business and have a perfect eBay score. You never know, he might pick up a few more slabs from you now. Good luck.
Brian

DCAMFranklin · July 30, 2003 3:58AM

You did the right thing. He offered a good compromise and both parties can feel good about the transaction. He was very polite in his request and I bet you have a good opportunity at his future business. Way to go!

braddick · July 30, 2003 4:17AM

Simply refund the $7. and then promptly forget about it. To do more is "throwing good time after bad".

BigE · July 30, 2003 4:17AM

I would have asked him to e-mail a photo of the bad slab, no matter though, he will probably just be using the 7 bucks towards getting a two point upgrade and has probably cracked it out by now anyway----BigE

abuell · July 30, 2003 4:19AM

Tell him that you're really glad that he contacted you because you had another bidder contact you and offer you $15 more for the coin after the auction closed. He can get a full refund simply for returning the coin, you can sell it for more money and this other bidder will really be happy - everyone will be happy with the deal. I'll bet that you never hear any more about it from him.

baccaruda · July 30, 2003 4:23AM

The buyer actually sounded fairly reasonable to me - and the seller acted responsibly.

Conder101 · July 30, 2003 4:32AM

I'd have done B, offered the refund. If he wants to have it reholdered because th holder has a chip in it that's his problem. You sold a coin not a holder unless you promised it to be in a perfect holder.

<< <i>Finally, if anyone says he bought a coin and not a holder, I disagree - he bought a PCGS graded coin not a raw one. >>

And he GOT a PCGS graded coin, not a raw one. A chip on the holder does not invalidate the PCGS guarantee so it was still fully protected by that. Now if the holder had been broken up by the post office during shipping then I might be willing to send the $7

<< <i>Does that mean you'll give me full PCGS prices for all my raw coins? >>

If I think they are worth it, yes. If I don't think they are worth it I won't give PCGS prices for your PCGS slabbed coins either. But that is not relevent. The buyer didn't buy a raw coin and he didn't receive a raw coin. He bought a PCGS coin, he got a PCGS coin and now he wants the seller to pay to have the coin put in a new holder for what, to me, appears to be no good reason.

newsman · July 30, 2003 4:37AM

Relayer:

You did the right thing. I recently bought a PCGS coin from a dealer, who mailed it in a regular envelope without padding. The slab was broken in half by a mail-sorting machine when I received it -- fortunately the coin was not completely cracked out, so I only have to pay the reholder fee. I asked the seller twice to refund the reholder fee -- he says "sure" and never sends the money. Now he's ignoring me and, needless to say, I will never buy from him again.

Chuck

Shamika · July 30, 2003 4:46AM

Personally, I liked abuell's suggestion. But in the end, you did the right thing.

291fifth · July 30, 2003 4:47AM

Ask him to return the coin for a full refund then make sure you block him from bidding in any of your future auctions. Bidders like this aren't worth the trouble.

numonebuyer · July 30, 2003 4:58AM

Send him $4.00 since he already got $3.02 out of me for priority mail upgrade, unless you disclosed in your auction description that the slab was damaged.

Numonebuyer

baccaruda · July 30, 2003 5:15AM

I'd have done B, offered the refund. If he wants to have it reholdered because th holder has a chip in it that's his problem. You sold a coin not a holder unless you promised it to be in a perfect holder.

So I can take sandpaper to the slab - totally obscuring the coin, and as long as I don't claim that the holder is perfect I'm in the right?

mr1931S · July 30, 2003 7:08AM

>>>>I would offer the full refund option only. Resell the coin to someone else who wants the coin and not the slab.

This is what I'd do for this fussbudgit. I'd even pay the return postage. I block him from bidding on my auctions is part of the deal too.

my oh my

UncleJoe · July 30, 2003 7:22AM

You did the right thing (and you will be rewarded).

While it seems to be a Mantra on this board: "Buy the coin not the slab", that is an individual choice.

If you auction a coin in a PCGS slab I am almost positive that that fact will be mentioned in the auction. As the buyer I may be buying the slab and that is my choice. As a seller you cannot dictate to me that I am buying the coin and NOT the slab.

Joe.

mr1931S · July 30, 2003 7:28AM

Demand, no matter how sweetly put, for some specific action to be taken by this seller with such a great feedback record?

Give me a break. Nip it in the bud and block.

Bikingnut · July 30, 2003 8:09AM

I'd go with b. I don't think he'll ever be really happy with it.

Conder101 · July 30, 2003 1:58PM

<< <i>So I can take sandpaper to the slab - totally obscuring the coin, and as long as I don't claim that the holder is perfect I'm in the right? >>

Yes. If you do it before the auction you will get a bid based on what is seen. Doing it after the bidding is fine too because it will come back with a request for a refund not a request for reholdering.

K6AZ · July 30, 2003 2:04PM

This exact scenario happened to me once. There was a small chip in the holder, which personally I could care less about. The buyer didn't like it and wanted to get it in a new holder. I sent him the $5 refund he requested, and made sure to list any defects in the holder in subsequent auctions.

relayer · July 30, 2003 2:28PM

He got his $7 and is a happy guy now. He left feedback saying I'm a great eBayer (a term that when I use it means 'cheap weasel' )

Doug , thank you again a perfect coin one of the best ive recieved on ebay yet, worth the hassel of getting a new holder , just hope pcgs doesnt damage the coin as ive heard tales of them doing, regrading or reholdering coins, have a nice evening Dennis

It will now probably come back from PCGS with a fingerprint on it

MacCoin · August 11, 2003 9:47AM

it your responsibility to get the coin and hold you put on your auction to the seller. if you can't do that whos going to want to buy your coins.

What would you do with this ebay coin buyer?

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