Poll: Ethical dilemma...

ziggy29 · June 1, 2005 10:48AM

I'm looking for some coins on eBay when I notice a coin that looks fairly nice (and would fit well in my album) and something I needed for one of my collections.

So I put it on the watch list for potential snipe later. Just now, I look at the item again and look at a close-up of the picture. The coin, not listed as being mintmarked, has a weak (but clearly visible) "S" mint mark which turns it from a $20-$30 coin to about a $150 coin.

I know I have no legal duty to say anything, but ethically and morally, I'm just not sure if I can keep quiet with a clear conscience.

Would you notify the seller of their mistake or sit back and hope for a rip (unless others have also noticed)?

Russ · June 1, 2005 10:54AM

<< No -- it's a jungle out there and I'd lay in wait and go for the kill >>

Russ, NCNE

RYK · June 1, 2005 10:59AM

My favorite like story is the one of the 1870 eagle that was ripped on ebay for $1000 or so and later sold by Heritage for $25- $30,000. Did I forget to mention that there was a "CC" on the reverse? Yeah, the original seller did not notice either.

RKKay · June 1, 2005 11:00AM

I always go into ebay transactions with a bit of trepidation, not knowing anything about the seller. I'd wait until I had the coin in my hands. Then, if you still feel it is worth what you had thought, send him a small bonus check.

ziggy29 · June 1, 2005 11:05AM

<< I always go into ebay transactions with a bit of trepidation, not knowing anything about the seller. I'd wait until I had the coin in my hands. Then, if you still feel it is worth what you had thought, send him a small bonus check. >>

True. Another possibility is that I'm far from the only one to notice, and it will be bid up closer to its actual value anyway. In that case, there's little point in saying anything anyway. (I don't suspect any shenanigans from the seller in this case, though I suppose it's always possible.)

Nickelback · June 1, 2005 11:09AM

I agree with Rick, but wouldn't feel too much of an ethical dilemma at the price...

Michael

DorkGirl · June 1, 2005 11:14AM

I used to email them, now I don't bother, and here's why:

If you noticed, everyone else did too. Chances are you won't get a rip.

Most of the time they have the wrong reverse pic, happens all the time.

Some selllers don't care. I've seen 1885cc Morgans listed without the cc. Didn't matter, everyone else saw it was a cc.

You do whatever feels right.

K6AZ · June 1, 2005 11:17AM

The answer is no. A seller should check and double check his listings, and if he is so careless as to miss a mint mark, that's his problem.

I scored a 96-O Morgan in AU about five years ago this way, got it for $23.

MadMarty · June 1, 2005 11:18AM

Didn't you know Russ tells every E-bay seller that they have Accent Hair Kennedy Halves and he also tells them that they are selling the Deep Cameo coins for way to low of a price!!!

stman · June 1, 2005 11:18AM

I once seen an 1880cc Rev 78 Gsa Morgan listed as just the regular 1880cc on ebay. And I could tell they didn't know the difference.
I did indeed notify the seller. They didn't seem to believe me but added a sentence in their listing that it "Might"
be the rev 78.

Glad once again nobody listened to stman (I wasn't even gonna bid) as I got it CHEAP.

And it was a nice 64 to boot.

ER · June 1, 2005 11:19AM

What ethical dilemma?

coinkat · June 1, 2005 11:24AM

ethics... I did not vote but I want to make a few comments and observations...

Always do what you think is right... keep in mind that a seller should have some ethical obligation to take the time and get it right and sometimes that doesn't happen because they are to busy dealing with a real customer in an area of their specialization... whatever happens, I would not feel guilty or that you had some obligation to the seller that failed to do their homework.

ziggy29 · June 1, 2005 11:25AM

<< If you noticed, everyone else did too. Chances are you won't get a rip. >>

That's what I'm thinking, actually. I can't be the only person to notice the mintmark. It is a weak mintmark, but if you look with more than a passing glance you can clearly see it.

I suspect it will probably go for close to its worth with the mintmark, so there's no reason to do anything now in *any* event. If I can notice it, I'm sure others will, too.

Russ · June 1, 2005 11:27AM

<< Didn't you know Russ tells every E-bay seller that they have Accent Hair Kennedy Halves and he also tells them that they are selling the Deep Cameo coins for way to low of a price!!! >>

Actually, I eMail them and tell them that they can saves themselves a giant headache by blocking a bidder with the eBay handle "MadMartyK".

Russ, NCNE

Bochiman · June 1, 2005 11:58AM

<< 

<< Didn't you know Russ tells every E-bay seller that they have Accent Hair Kennedy Halves and he also tells them that they are selling the Deep Cameo coins for way to low of a price!!! >>

Actually, I eMail them and tell them that they can saves themselves a giant headache by blocking a bidder with the eBay handle "MadMartyK".

Russ, NCNE >>

But, he has a backup handle when you do that....."MadMarcia"

DHeath · June 1, 2005 12:06PM

Ziggy, I once contacted a seller who was intentionally putting up the same S MM reverse in all his Peace dollar listings, with no mention of a MM in the description. I think it worked pretty well for him, because although he pulled the listing I asked about, he listed more the followingf week with the same reverse shot.

csw · June 1, 2005 12:30PM

Sounds to me like you're the kind of guy who might sleep better at night if you notified the seller. That being the case, I'd do it.
-c-

TUMUSS · June 1, 2005 1:18PM

It depends if it is my listing or not.

coldcicle · June 1, 2005 2:11PM

Rip him like a cheap piece of paper

Shamika · June 1, 2005 9:38PM

You are not your brothers keeper (when it comes to eBay).

Don't be surprised if you find yourself battling it out with another sniper (or two) in the end.

TerrapinWill · June 1, 2005 9:38PM

I guess there is nothing "really" wrong with not telling him, but telling the seller is the right thing to do in my opinion.

coinguy1 · June 1, 2005 9:57PM

If I were positive of such a listing error, I would inform the seller at the time I became aware of it.

If I could not tell for certain and won the item, I would let the seller know about it if/when I had confirmation of the error (upon receipt of the coin). At that point, I would ask the seller what he/she thought was fair and hope that my honesty would be rewarded.

While I would not necessarily expect it, I would hope that someone would do the same for me if the roles were reversed.

Many times the "right" thing to do is not the same as a "legal" obligation - that doesn't mean one should ignore it, however.

By the way, on occasion, I have even seen big, bad, slime ball coin dealers fail to take advantage of each others in such cases.

Robgetty · June 1, 2005 10:02PM

So what would you do if you bought the coin and he didn't send you the mintmarked coin?

If you complained and he said, "Hey, I goofed and put the reverse picture of another coin
I have, but the auction clearly stated what the coin was" would you be entitled to be mad
considering you only were bidding to try to take advantage of a different type of mistake?

PerryHall · June 1, 2005 10:06PM

If he sent a coin other than the one shown, it would be a case of bait and switch and it would be wrong and fully deserving of a neg.

ziggy29 · June 1, 2005 10:19PM

<< So what would you do if you bought the coin and he didn't send you the mintmarked coin? >>

This seller has a couple dozen coins of the same type for sale with this one, and they all have their own pictures for the reverse -- and this is the only one misdescribed. Plus, I was able to positively match this to a known variety for this date with the mintmark. The feedback rating is over 600 with 99.8% positives. That's no guarantee, of course, but I'm pretty sure this isn't a con job.

TerrapinWill · June 1, 2005 10:27PM

A nice middle ground on this was posted by another member who suggested that you should bid for the coin, if the bid ends up being low and the coin ends up being a huge rip you could always send seller a bonus check. That way you do well, he does better than he expects and generally I think everyone would be pleased. But as others have indicated, theres a good chance you're not the only one who noticed, so maybe the coin will go for it's actual price. Even if you don't tell him, you can still "do the right thing: later if it turns out to be an absolute rip. This is a tough one.

nankraut · June 1, 2005 10:41PM

What Mark Feld said:

TorinoCobra71 · June 2, 2005 5:53AM

Seems that most people in the poll are looking to score one heckuva deal for themeselves.......

TorinoCobra71

relayer · June 2, 2005 5:59AM

As far as ethics, it is not a dilemma. That's what ethics are about.

Hedger · June 2, 2005 6:02AM

Sleaze bay. Who cares?

topstuf · June 2, 2005 6:14AM

I just had an auction close and told the buyer the wrong price with shipping. I noticed it and corrected the math error even after he accepted the wrong amount and was happy. Hopefully he's happier after the lil price adjustment.

I'm so swell.

Longacre · June 2, 2005 6:25AM

I don't think you have an ethical obligation to tell the seller. He posted on Ebay and he should know what he is selling. How else do you think that people buy million dollar paintings at garage sales for $2?

Poll: Ethical dilemma...

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