Serious Topic: POSSIBLE eBay SHILL ALERT - Seller "harborcoin", Bidder "brandond483&q

Comments

• roadrunner Posts: 28,371 ✭✭✭✭✭

  August 26, 2006 9:03AM

  I've run into Harbor Coin (aka Brian Timmons) on ebay as well. He loves to sell overhyped stuff with lots of +++ signs, PQ+, and old holders that are described as 1-2 pt upgrades. In checking his sales over a longer period he does the same thing with his raw coins...everything is PQ, high end, and possibly an upgrade. He must be a grading genius then. I assume he went to the Brian Timmons alt ID to sound more like a collector selling his "hand selected dear old friend" coins rather than a dealer. After getting smoked on a poor photo of a scarce date MS63RB 2c piece (described by him as 90% RED and 64++ OGH...it was 15% RED with dead surfaces and a low end 63 with low eye appeal)..... I got caught again with his alt ID! Just my luck! And on that purchase he refused to honor a return after giving me his word. 99.8% FB is not always a good sign. Puffery is expected by sellers, and we all take chances and expect to lose some. But at least be in the ballpark - 90% RED 64++ to describe a low end 63 nearly full Brown dog that cost me a 45% loss. I wonder if I was shilled up to the amount?
  
  If he's shilling, I would not be surprised. He seems to play the game very well. He's blocked me which is a good thing just in case I run into his next alt ID by mistake (lol). Checked out an auction of his last week on a $20 saint he called a 65++ upgrade shot. The coin was very average with zero chance to upgrade. Beware of this seller.
  
  roadrunner

  Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold

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• RBinTex Posts: 4,328 ✭

  August 26, 2006 9:06AM

  My last experience I remember was a coin that sold for just under $300 but with shipping was just over $300 & refused to let me use a credit card due to his $300 max credit card policy. What a butt-head.

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• SUPERCARCOINS Posts: 1,152

  August 26, 2006 9:47AM

  .....interesting ; i see him at shows in Chicago area . Two coins i bought from him I made money on .
  
  Shilling is a giant misuse on ebay , few get caught, many do it.
  
  

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• 777 Posts: 1,056

  August 26, 2006 10:06AM

  Ive purchased many gsa cc dollars from Brian Timmons, one of which was on ebay, a sealed and dated 1881cc GSA in the mailer, my winning bid: $500. He is a nice, personable, well to do dealer with exceptional quality highend material.. Ive never had a problem with him in the past

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• coinlieutenant Posts: 9,327 ✭✭✭✭✭

  August 26, 2006 10:07AM

  I am in total agreement with roadrunner...
  
  I bought a bad picture coin in an OGH PF64 holder from him. He said it was a gem....I figured I would take a chance. Got the coin and it was obviously overgraded....it was a '+' allright...but a 63 '+' about 400$ too much. I told him that I wanted to return the coin...he said that he would only take it back for a restocking fee. I lost 200$ since there was no way I would sell it to one of my customers and wholesale it would have been less.
  
  He is a crook...cant grade his way out of a paperbag, OR, he can and is lying when he sells. Either way, I will NEVER deal with him again.
  
  John

  siliconvalleycoins.com

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• roadrunner Posts: 28,371 ✭✭✭✭✭

  August 26, 2006 10:54AM

  Quite a dichotomy. On one hand he is a member of the League of Extraordinary Gentleman (lol), and on the other hand a hypster or scammer or both. You be the judge. Simply put, you either shoot squarely all the time with each customer, or you don't. I'm still trying to get the raw flowing hair half he sold me into a holder after several tries. This supposedly once in an old ANACS holder (and came with 100% return privilege, albeit revoked when he failed to respond to my emails for 3 weeks....the first within 24 hours....then claimed I failed to return it within 3 days). The last time I returned overgraded raw coins to a dealer he kept the coins and the money.
  Hence I don't send anything back without some type of reply. At least that way you are out at most 50%. Beware Harborcon. Sure, judging how he grades on ebay one can probably make money on him...in person....but not via ebay and the so-so photos that are dark in just the right places.
  
  roadrunner

  Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold

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