How do you handle it when the coin just is not what you expected?

RYK · October 5, 2005 1:34PM

Ibzman350 purchased a half cent that missed the mark on ebay, and he decided to keep it anyway. Some criticized him for not sending it back.

I am sitting on a bust quarter that I purchased for my type set on ebay that is not quite what I wanted. The auction pictures (below) are very gray and low-contrast. I emailed the seller and asked if the coin is original and if there is a return privilige. He pleasantly and quickly replied that the coin had never been cleaned (his words) and that I could return it if I did not like it. The coin came, had a nice strike and relatively mark-free surface...BUT it looked like it had been dipped and is retoning on the periphery. It's attractive enough but not original. If it were an expensive coin, it would have been out the door immediately. For what it is, the price was actually quite reasonable. Plus, the seller was very nice, shipped it immediately upon payment (auction ended Sat AM, was at my house on Monday!), he left positive feedback immediately, and he did not lie in any way. Looking through other auctions, I do not think he is sophisticated enough to know the shades of gray between cleaned, dipped, and original. In the case, I was so undecided that I elected to flip the coin (in a slab) to determine whether I would keep it. It landed "heads", and I am keeping it.

Lesson learned: If you want a specific coin look, buy in person or from a sophisticated seller who can make sure that the coin you get in the mail is the one you really want.

What do you do when the coin is not exactly what you had wanted?

jabba · October 5, 2005 1:38PM

I have a Morgan that I wish I would have sent back! Im not sure why I didnt because it ended up not looking like the coin that was being sold and its way past the return date so Im just sitting on it but next time that happens it's going right back out the door!

skerke · October 5, 2005 1:41PM

Yep.Been there dpne that. The first thing I did was cry..then bought something else to cover the pain!

lordmarcovan · October 5, 2005 1:42PM

I drive to the dealer's shop or residence, take a slingshot, and thwock him between the eyes with the offending coin.

(Edit: not really. I just wanted to use "thwock" as a verb. It's a cool-sounding word.)

ibzman350 · October 5, 2005 1:42PM

the operative word in your thread is sophisticated or in my case unsophisticated, an unsophisticated buyer stumbles upon an unsophisticated seller and the result turns into a 50 post pissing match

Herb

stman · October 5, 2005 1:43PM

If you were looking for an "original" looking coin..... just from this image it's very obvious it's not even close.
The back button should have been hit immediately upon viewing the image. Nice seller, or not.

DJC · October 5, 2005 1:51PM

<< I drive to the dealer's shop or residence, take a slingshot, and thwock him between the eyes with the offending coin.

(Edit: not really. I just wanted to use "thwock" as a verb. It's a cool-sounding word.) >>

I really, really, really like this idea. Mind if I steal it

TomB · October 5, 2005 1:56PM

I'd have to state that the images you have posted, RYK, do not look like they are from an original coin at all as there is no evidence of patina and the grey looks too white to have original gunk on it. I realize this is easy to say after the fact, but that is how I would have interpreted them to begin with. Perhaps you were letting wishful thinking interfere with analytical observation.

Regardless, if a coin does not meet my standards for the issue and for the purposes of my purchase of it, then it goes back immediately.

markglicker · October 5, 2005 2:01PM

Send the coin back. Coins are a luxury, so make sure that you are happy with your purchase. Any decent seller in not satisfied until his customer is.

clw54 · October 5, 2005 2:01PM

That would make a good pocket piece.

RYK · October 5, 2005 2:02PM

The above is "the look" that I was seeking. I should have just ordered it from Teaparty. I have had very few pleasing ebay coin purchases--I am probably better suited to buy coins by other means.

Rollerman · October 5, 2005 2:04PM

As I have written before, only 1 in 5 Ebay purchases have been ones that I would have purchased if I had held the coin in my hand first. I have sworn off Ebay and buy all my coins from any one of 3 excellent shops in my area.

As for those coins that have disappointed, I put them in the coin club auction and let them go for whatever they bring. Most have been slabbed, so I list them at the grade on the slab and let the chips fall as they may. I've pretty much broke even and don't have coins around that I grumble at each time I lay my eyes on them. I'm kind of picky and others seem to love some of the coins I've moved out - a win/win scenerio!!

Pete

Cladiator · October 5, 2005 2:08PM

<< If you were looking for an "original" looking coin..... just from this image it's very obvious it's not even close.
The back button should have been hit immediately upon viewing the image. Nice seller, or not.

>>

I knew this was coming before I was even done reading the main post

stman · October 5, 2005 2:09PM

<< 

<< If you were looking for an "original" looking coin..... just from this image it's very obvious it's not even close.
The back button should have been hit immediately upon viewing the image. Nice seller, or not.

>>

I knew this was coming before I was even done reading the main post

>>

And???? Heh

Cladiator · October 5, 2005 2:16PM

<< 

<< 

<< If you were looking for an "original" looking coin..... just from this image it's very obvious it's not even close.
The back button should have been hit immediately upon viewing the image. Nice seller, or not.

>>

I knew this was coming before I was even done reading the main post

>>

And???? Heh >>

No "And"

JSsson · October 5, 2005 2:33PM

You would return the coin to the dealer you bought the coin from. Everybody sees coins differently, and if you don't like it someone else might like it very much.

michael · October 5, 2005 2:41PM

teaparty coin aint original either and is cleaned and has many hairlines to boot

well time to sell the coin you bought

that is why collectors turn into coin sellers/vest pocket dealers, etc. to get rid of all the slock they buy

but sometimes in the human physice you need to buy to prove a point and to gain knowledge

you only learn and gain experience but making mistakes

if you never make mistakes you never ever learn anything

KurtHorn · October 5, 2005 3:05PM

The seller should have represented the coin as cleaned. His own pic shows it to be obviously cleaned. The JJ Teaparty coin also looks lightly cleaned. They also are much better at taking pictures that compliment their coins.

coppercoins · October 5, 2005 3:36PM

How do you handle it when the coin just is not what you expected?

I simply lay it back down on the dealer's table and walk away. Since I don't buy valuable coins online I don't have this to worry about. Perhaps there is a message in there.

airplanenut · October 5, 2005 4:06PM

A few times, I've sent coins back. That said, one time I got a very original coin, but it simply wasn't the right original look that I wanted. I sold the coin at a show a few days later at no profit--I figured that was easier than the hassle of the return.

Lakesammman · October 5, 2005 4:22PM

Only buy from those with a good return policy. Have made a few pity purhases but, if not happy, generally will return the coin.

LeeG · October 5, 2005 8:55PM

So many of each type coin is available that I return a coin that doesn't have "The Look" I'm after.

DNADave · October 5, 2005 9:14PM

How do you handle it when the coin just is not what you expected?

I keep em in a 7070 as reminders of what not to do.

Barry · October 5, 2005 9:19PM

I've learned from experience that if I don't like the coin on first glance, it's not going to get better over time. I'd send it back.

My prediction is you will be replacing it in your album, once it is complete, and you see the coin just doesn't fit well with the rest of the set.

boiler78 · October 5, 2005 9:46PM

If you have to talk yourself into keeping the coin your making a mistake.

nwcs · October 5, 2005 9:46PM

When I buy a coin that isn't what I expected I usually take a look at my expectations first. But then I look at the coin and see if there is anything really annoying with it. If so, I will send it back. Otherwise I'll probably keep it. Although it would likely be the first one I sell if I sell later.

RYK · October 5, 2005 9:49PM

All excellent advice--you are right. No matter how relatively inexpensive the coin, how nice the seller, etc., if the coin is not right now, it will be even more wrong later. I will return this coin shop for my capped bust quarter in person at the Silver Dollar Show in two weeks.

BillJones · October 5, 2005 10:43PM

It all depends upon what you paid for this piece. Going by the pictures I’d say that it’s a pretty decent coin so long as it has not been whizzed or polished. Most Reduced Size quarters that you see today in the circulated grades are overgraded, overpriced and unattractive. I’d be a buyer of a piece like this at the right price.

Most every early 19th century coin has been cleaned or dipped at some point. If you rejected them all, you would have hard time buying anything. And if the truth be known if the coins were not dipped or cleaned a little you wouldn’t buy them because they would be unattractive. “Original” does not automatically translate to “attractive.” Natural toning can be ugly too. Just look at the tarhish that forms on your wife's sterling silver. Most of it is an ugly brown or black, not colorful.

There are also coins that could be called “original now.” These are pieces that have been dipped and have not retoned naturally. Sometimes you can spot these pieces; sometimes you can’t. In the end if the coin is attractive, it really doesn’t matter.

As for having to guts to send something back, please do so if you are unhappy with it. There is no sense in keeping something you don't like unless the return costs make it an uneconomic decision to return it.

How do you handle it when the coin just is not what you expected?

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