A CHERRYPICKERS WORSE FEAR (Long)..... VAM Story...
Peaceman
Posts: 5,098
For most of us, it’s the Ebay seller finding out that the coin they just sold you is worth a whole lot more. A lot of things can tip them off.... maybe you paid 2.5 times what it’s worth... or too many people sent them an email to put a buy it now up... The “nail biting” gets worse when we cherry 4 figure coins for $20-$30. At lot of “what ifs” always pop up.... case in point...
I find a coin :20 after it’s posted with a buy it now already up... counter is at “1” and I purchase it... As a cherrypicker, obviously you cant tell the guy “O, by the way, could you insure that for $ 2500?”... nope... you have to let your beloved ride in a .63 envelop and hope you get it like any other $20 coin you buy.... So, a week goes by, no coin... I start getting nervous thinking that it should have made it to me by now.. another day goes by, another...10 days go by, still no coin. I decide to go look at the auction again and find out that the counter is at 13! O man, how many people are looking at what I buy... A LOT I GUESS!!. Now, imagine what’s going through my mind.... it’s been 10 days, no coin, counters at 13 and no feedback from the seller. So I send out an email... 3 days go by, no response... shoot them another email 2 days later, no response... It’s now 15 days later, no response from the seller and the counters at 21... I’m thinking my chances of getting the coin are about slim and none....
After going back to take a look at the auction, I find out the seller is selling over 1000 coins all at once (all buy it now’s).. in his auctions he says he ships late, but never more than 7 days. That reassured me a little but still, it’s been 15 days AND no response... So I decide to email another buyer of another coin from the same seller around the same time I bought my coin. I’m in luck, the other buyer contacts me and tells me he hasn’t got his coin either. Finally, on the 17th day, the seller sends me a “Paypal printout shipping email” that my item has shipped out.... Great,in 3 short days, all of this will be over... .. or will it....
The day comes and I finally get to open the package only to find that it isn’t the coin pictured in the auction..(That didn’t shock me).... My 1st conclusion was the seller found out what it was or sold it to someone else and sent me this coin on purpose... Fine.. it’s the chance we cherrypickers take... Then I think, well, maybe this guy is just selling too many coins and made a mistake... So I email him with photos of the coin he sent me and tell him that it isn’t the pictured coin in the auction. I then ask him to send me the coin in the auction. He emails me back in 3 minutes (It was weeks before...now it’s minutes..) and tells me in one short sentence “I’ll refund your money once I get it back“... At this point I’m 95% sure I’m NEVER going to see this coin.. So with 5% hope still left in me, I email him back indicating that I don’t want a refund, I just wanted the pictured coin. His reply.... “I think I may have got them mixed up with another auction” ok, hope’s now at 1%.... until five minutes later when he emails me to tell me that he “thinks” he found the coin and will wait for the one I mailed back to him before he sends it out. I didn’t want to take anymore chances so I paypal the guy $35 right then and there and ask him to mail it out that day WITH confirmation.. He agrees. Well, turns out he waits until he gets the coin back that I mailed him before sending out the “correct” coin (this guy deserves to get picked...) I guess the whole paypal thing didn’t register with him....
Finally, after some 30 days...with no confirmation and in a .63 envelop......
I have it.... I know I could have just put up a quick post on this one but I thought you’d get a kick out of how much I sweated over this one......
I find a coin :20 after it’s posted with a buy it now already up... counter is at “1” and I purchase it... As a cherrypicker, obviously you cant tell the guy “O, by the way, could you insure that for $ 2500?”... nope... you have to let your beloved ride in a .63 envelop and hope you get it like any other $20 coin you buy.... So, a week goes by, no coin... I start getting nervous thinking that it should have made it to me by now.. another day goes by, another...10 days go by, still no coin. I decide to go look at the auction again and find out that the counter is at 13! O man, how many people are looking at what I buy... A LOT I GUESS!!. Now, imagine what’s going through my mind.... it’s been 10 days, no coin, counters at 13 and no feedback from the seller. So I send out an email... 3 days go by, no response... shoot them another email 2 days later, no response... It’s now 15 days later, no response from the seller and the counters at 21... I’m thinking my chances of getting the coin are about slim and none....
After going back to take a look at the auction, I find out the seller is selling over 1000 coins all at once (all buy it now’s).. in his auctions he says he ships late, but never more than 7 days. That reassured me a little but still, it’s been 15 days AND no response... So I decide to email another buyer of another coin from the same seller around the same time I bought my coin. I’m in luck, the other buyer contacts me and tells me he hasn’t got his coin either. Finally, on the 17th day, the seller sends me a “Paypal printout shipping email” that my item has shipped out.... Great,in 3 short days, all of this will be over... .. or will it....
The day comes and I finally get to open the package only to find that it isn’t the coin pictured in the auction..(That didn’t shock me).... My 1st conclusion was the seller found out what it was or sold it to someone else and sent me this coin on purpose... Fine.. it’s the chance we cherrypickers take... Then I think, well, maybe this guy is just selling too many coins and made a mistake... So I email him with photos of the coin he sent me and tell him that it isn’t the pictured coin in the auction. I then ask him to send me the coin in the auction. He emails me back in 3 minutes (It was weeks before...now it’s minutes..) and tells me in one short sentence “I’ll refund your money once I get it back“... At this point I’m 95% sure I’m NEVER going to see this coin.. So with 5% hope still left in me, I email him back indicating that I don’t want a refund, I just wanted the pictured coin. His reply.... “I think I may have got them mixed up with another auction” ok, hope’s now at 1%.... until five minutes later when he emails me to tell me that he “thinks” he found the coin and will wait for the one I mailed back to him before he sends it out. I didn’t want to take anymore chances so I paypal the guy $35 right then and there and ask him to mail it out that day WITH confirmation.. He agrees. Well, turns out he waits until he gets the coin back that I mailed him before sending out the “correct” coin (this guy deserves to get picked...) I guess the whole paypal thing didn’t register with him....
Finally, after some 30 days...with no confirmation and in a .63 envelop......
I have it.... I know I could have just put up a quick post on this one but I thought you’d get a kick out of how much I sweated over this one......
0
Comments
Now tell those of us who don't know Peace D9llars the significance of it.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
******
Worth more than a 28-P in the same mint condition, IMHO.
Admire your patience, I'd be going nuts in the same situation.
Congrats! -Ron
I was wondering if you would actually receive the coin.
The Whisker Cheek Collection - Top 50 Peace VAM Registry
Landmark Buffalo Collection
Too bad you sweated it out on that one but it paid off!
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
ah life as a non-VAMer.
myCCset
...and you got a helluva lot of thrill on that hunt!
(Great Post, by the way.)
How much is it worth?
Tom
It's coins like these that keep me going... Cherrypicking is a rough life as you always;
1) Have someone else trying to buy the same type of coins you are (competition).
2) Are spending hours and hours looking at coins (What's that come out per hour you're making)
3) Worrying if someone will find a coin you've spotted and drive the price up to retail. (Why cherrypick at all then)
4) Worrying if the seller finds out what they have and never sends you the coin.
And the list goes on....
If I only had a dollar for every VAM I have...err...nevermind...I do!!
My "Fun With 21D" Die State Collection - QX5 Pics Attached
-----
Proud Owner of
2 –DAMMIT BOY!!! ® Awards
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I feel your frustration...I had a similar experience two years ago. Only it was a competing A**hole bidder that emailed the seller after I made a $7500 BIN on a rare VAM with the wise-a** remark "I know someone that would have paid 10K for that". Don't think I didn't have to do some fast talking on the phone to the seller after finding out about that stunt. Had to send a certified check by Express mail to avoid "seller's remorse". Needless to say the seller copied me on the wise-a**es email to him. That douchebag is forever persona non-grata with me.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
And an even better story.
Edited to add: Oh, BTW...GREAT COIN, Peaceman and I'm glad your diligence was rewarded.
Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum
<< <i>Mike, I haven't had the time to scour through the EBAY listings lately. Like Peaceman says, it is a big time commitment to try to keep up. With my day job, I'm lucky to get 3-4 hours a week...not nearly enough. But...I will PROMISE not to bid on any more 91-O 'E on reverse' coins through the rest of April.
Edited to add: Oh, BTW...GREAT COIN, Peaceman and I'm glad your diligence was rewarded. >>
Greg I wasn't complaining, but you have a very good eye too.