Russ And His 'Unopened' Proof Set Auction

WWW · June 27, 2006 5:18AM

I like it. Shines a light on those 'unopened' proof sets that are all too abundant on e-Bay:
RARE!! VERY RARE!! 1964...

Russ · June 27, 2006 5:21AM

I'd imagine that the "report this item" link has been getting a workout from a few power screwers.

BTW, I'll be doing one of these a week for 10 weeks. I bought a group of sets just for that purpose.

Russ, NCNE

ellewood · June 27, 2006 5:22AM

Gotta love it. I wish everyone was that honest on the bay of e.

techeff · June 27, 2006 5:23AM

Elmers?

19Lyds · June 27, 2006 5:30AM

I just love this @#*!! Whoops, can't say that!

JLW · June 27, 2006 5:34AM

Too funny Russ!
Joe

ledzep87 · June 27, 2006 5:39AM

I just got done reporting this idiot.......

Just kdding, I did not report him.......

holadude · June 27, 2006 5:49AM

Thank you Russ. I'm naive and I still know it's a scam. Some people are actually dumber than me, I just hope they aren't too dumb to notice your educational experience on these sets. Any cameos? Oh wait, they're sealed, nobody has seen them since 1964!!!!

MajorDuty · June 27, 2006 5:49AM

What would there be to complain/report about? Honesty?

What's this? An utterly honest, clear, and concise auction? Better report this guy!

holadude · June 27, 2006 5:51AM

His title could confuse some poor helpless greedy buyer.

holadude · June 27, 2006 5:52AM

Russ, who's your shill?

Connecticoin · June 27, 2006 5:55AM

<< What would there be to complain/report about? Honesty?

What's this? An utterly honest, clear, and concise auction? Better report this guy! >>

Yeah, the slimeballs will have to get creative to find an excuse for Ebay to nuke this one.

Russ, did you buy the envelopes from Vernon Coin?

Russ · June 27, 2006 6:08AM

<< What would there be to complain/report about? Honesty? >>

They would report it as "gratuitous". In eBay lingo, that means its purpose is to target other sellers. It'll probably not be one they can get shut down, though.

eBay has ended my auctions in the past based on complaints from power screwers. The last time was when I ran my Mrs. Watta Crock unsearched hoard auction. They got it shut down based on keyword spamming because the title said "NO KEYS FOUND!" eBay said since I wasn't selling keys, it was spamming. I changed that to "NO RARE DATES" and immediately relisted it.

<< Russ, did you buy the envelopes from Vernon Coin? >>

Yep.

Russ, NCNE

JapanJohn · June 27, 2006 6:12AM

I've got to say that I bought one of these sets in my birthday year and did a Buy It Now. It was an "unopened" set as well. I kinda got hooked into this BS.

When it showed up I realized two things. One, it wasn't unopened, and two, if it were my set and it might contain something worth 5 figures, I'm going to open it and check. People aren't that nice.

People can and do get sucked into these things. My expenditure was probably $5 more than normal so it was fairly harmless but the guy on the other end doing it an unknown number of times is maximizing his profits.

John

BlindedByEgo · June 27, 2006 6:22AM

Thanks for the chuckle. The hit counter is at 351, so I imagine that a few non-board members have gotten an education.

I've been on Ebay since 1998 and have never run across a delisting for "gratutousness". Is this at all common, Russ?

Gemineye · June 27, 2006 6:29AM

Russ .........Only 4 people are watching this auction......it's early !!!!!!!!!!! 5 days to go...............

kiyote · June 27, 2006 6:32AM

<< Gotta love it. I wish everyone was that honest on the bay of e. >>

This should help keep a lot of money out of dealer's hands...

MajorDuty · June 27, 2006 7:21AM

<< Russ, did you buy the envelopes from Vernon Coin? >>

Yep.

Russ, NCNE >>

And did they come complete with stamp? I'm assuming so, but, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Gemineye · June 27, 2006 8:53AM

ttt

bigMACnoCheese · June 27, 2006 9:03AM

Here's a reverse angle...

Educating to avoide the scammers.. original roll my hiney

kiyote · June 27, 2006 9:38AM

Someone was kind enough to do likewise with the "slave badge" scene...

Very funny description...

clackamas · June 27, 2006 9:41AM

Russ, are you ill? I can't imagine a group of unopened proof sets just sitting on your desk. What if a 69DCAM is just under the covers?

eyoung429 · June 27, 2006 9:51AM

Awe........the seller didn't post my question......

Russ · June 27, 2006 9:57AM

<< Awe........the seller didn't post my question...... >>

Sorry about that. I usually just respond directly. I'll go post something pithy in the auction.

Russ, NCNE

PhillyJoe · June 27, 2006 10:48AM

1964 proof sets and a Sela Ward fan. I think I've found my long lost twin in Washington!

Joe

Boothill40 · June 27, 2006 11:19AM

I have to admit I fell for this twice 1964 is my birth year and I got caught up in it

Bikingnut · June 27, 2006 11:50AM

Nice job.

Russ · June 27, 2006 11:54AM

<< I have to admit I fell for this twice >>

When I first started hunting, I fell for it a hell of a lot more than twice. At the time, though, these "unopened" sets could frequently be picked off for not much more than Greysheet. These days, they're bringing ridiculous money and a lot of people are getting conned.

Russ, NCNE

Boothill40 · June 27, 2006 12:21PM

So how do you know if a set is realy unopened, I want to buy more but with all the scams I just can't bring myself to buy any more at the prices they're going for---Tom

Russ · June 27, 2006 12:28PM

<< So how do you know if a set is realy unopened >>

If it's on eBay the odds are about 95% that it is not really mint sealed. The problem is that besides the reprinted envelopes, which are obviously bogus, there's a lot of unused genuine mint envelopes floating around. The only way to know with certainty is to buy mint sealed shipping boxes, which bring a HUGE premium.

Russ, NCNE

lloydmincy · June 27, 2006 12:28PM

Russ:

You are doing something I would LOVE to do!!! Nice job.

LindeDad · June 27, 2006 12:49PM

I know Russ is fooling us and I was out bid by somebody that thinks the same.

raycyca · June 27, 2006 12:50PM

THANKS Russ!!! Hopefully this will scare some of the people from the trash selling and overhyping on E-bay. Just like other certain members here on the boards with their MONSTER toned coins. Yeah RIGHT! Ray LOL

majorbigtime · June 27, 2006 1:39PM

Clever, and funny too!

joeyuk · June 28, 2006 12:26AM

Russ has competition. link

pontiacinf · June 28, 2006 12:34AM

<< Russ has competition. link >>

joe, that one rox!

stick figure buffalo, now ive seen it all

johnsim03 · June 28, 2006 12:37AM

<< Russ has competition. link >>

That is just so cool...

(Russ' too)

John

ss350camaro · June 28, 2006 12:59AM

I went thru one of the "sealed sets" debates a while back with an ebay seller.

I questioned his statements about the '64 sets he had up for sale, and his statement about them being sealed from the mint.

He gave me the usual "I've been selling these for 10 years, The mint sealed all sets,......blah, blah, blah....."

I asked him if he personally bought them from the mint, or if he bought them in the original sealed mint shipping boxes.

He immediately got very sarcastic and insulting, which pretty much told me right there that he knew (and i knew) he was FOS

That's the beauty of this forum. Ask questions, and get great answers from very knowledgeable and helpful collectors

ss350camaro · June 28, 2006 1:01AM

<< 

<< Russ has competition. link >>

That is just so cool...

(Russ' too)

John >>

BWAAAHAHAHAHA !

ttxp · June 28, 2006 2:00AM

That buffalo nickel is the rare two eyed stick person variety. I placed a bid, I think its a fantastic coin!!!

thecointrader · June 28, 2006 2:21AM

Yes, the "Buffalow" could be a legit issue from 2017 that somehow made it into circulation early.

I give it an SGS-MS70.

thecointrader

holadude · June 28, 2006 2:31AM

Do you think Mad Marty could get it slabbed NGC?

AlixTCat · June 28, 2006 3:06AM

Russ' honesty aside. You KNOW that someone is just going to buy this and advertise it as unopened. It's kind of like providing counterfeit coins to the Chinese. Hahaha!

I applaud Russ' honesty. However, we all know this coin set is going to end up going to someone in the future who is suckered by the buyer from Russ.

Jonathan

pf70collector · June 28, 2006 3:15AM

I guess you can buy a Hoosier unopened set. Anyone open one of these yet?

Longacre · June 28, 2006 3:18AM

I loved reading the text of that auction. Good stuff.

joefro · June 28, 2006 3:45AM

<< Russ' honesty aside. You KNOW that someone is just going to buy this and advertise it as unopened. It's kind of like providing counterfeit coins to the Chinese. Hahaha!

I applaud Russ' honesty. However, we all know this coin set is going to end up going to someone in the future who is suckered by the buyer from Russ.

Jonathan >>

This is pretty much what I was going to say. Someone is probably going to see this as a way to obtain a "sealed proof set" for a very low cost and then turn around and flip it on some unsuspecting newb. Keep an eye on your buyers Russ!

Russ · June 28, 2006 3:49AM

<< Someone is probably going to see this as a way to obtain a "sealed proof set" for a very low cost and then turn around and flip it on some unsuspecting newb. >>

Versus them picking up an opened one, (or a hundred), at a show for bid and buying envelopes for 49¢ each?

Russ, NCNE

AlixTCat · June 28, 2006 3:51AM

Yea, I see your point. Let your hair grow, though, and no one will ever notice it.

LOL!!

Jonathan

joefro · June 28, 2006 4:29AM

I guess what I meant is that in addition to educating newbs about the risks and scams so abundant on eBay... you may be inadvertantly educating some would-be scammers that it's easier than they think to get these envelopes and do it themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I personally love these kinds of auctions... but you just know there is someone out there who may read it and think, "so that's how to make a quick buck huh?"

BTW, what ever happened to the scumnuker?

MadMarty · June 28, 2006 4:55AM

<< I guess you can buy a Hoosier unopened set. Anyone open one of these yet? >>

I still have a 64 sealed in the plastic, but how do you know they haven't been checked before they went into the plastic?

fivecents · June 28, 2006 4:56AM

Authentic mint sealed proof sets do exist. I own quite a few....none came from ebay.
I used to buy them in dribs and drabs at bid around 1996 from a local coin shop. I still have about 175 of them dated 1960 - 1963.

Russ And His 'Unopened' Proof Set Auction

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