Advice on Ebay Auciton Keep or Return VAM Coin? (update 1/26/07)

moosesr · January 16, 2007 5:01AM

I have just started buying a few raw coins on ebay and recently won this coin. When I received the coin it had been highly polished. The seller says he takes returns, but charges a $5 restocking fee.

Before I bid on this coin I asked the seller for his opinion on what it graded and he replied AU/BU with no mention of the coin being polished. If I had know the coin was polished, I would not have bid on it.

I know this is a small value coin, but it just upsets me that it wasn't mentioned in the auction or when I asked about the grade of the coin. My question is should I send the coin back for a refund and pay the $5 restocking fee or try to get the seller to waive the fee since the coin was polished? I also wondered if I carry the coin around in my pocket with other loose change can evidence of the polishing be removed?

My own thoughts are to resell the coin stating it has been polished and just assume this is part of the hazards of buying uncertified coins. Any recommendations and comments would be appeciated.

Thanks,
Charlie

Auction Link

morgansforever · January 16, 2007 5:09AM

A whizzed coin is very undesirable, send it back, and get a refund.

Russ · January 16, 2007 5:10AM

I think the seller has an obligation to waive the restocking fee since it is a problem coin and he failed to note the problem.

Russ, NCNE

segoja · January 16, 2007 5:12AM

Clearly polished in the poor photo.

Take your lumps and move on!

Maybe a neutral is in order!!!

Russ · January 16, 2007 5:15AM

<< Clearly polished in the poor photo. >>

I agree, but then I've imaged thousands of coins and viewed thousands of other images. Not everyone is as good at detecting this stuff from an image as somebody with a lot of experience at it. The seller had an obligation to inform the buyer that the coin is polished.

Russ, NCNE

storm888 · January 16, 2007 5:17AM

I would just throw the coin in my junk-silver bag
and move on.

The hassle of doing a return is just not worth it.

Also, unless you want retal FB from the seller, do NOT
leave him a NEG or a NEUTRAL.

Often, buying raw coins on EBAY is not the best idea.

Twincam · January 16, 2007 5:19AM

Send it back...

Myqqy · January 16, 2007 5:26AM

I agree with Russ- I would tell the seller he should waive the restock fee since he tried to dump a POS on you- and start making mental notes about images and what indicates problems- I could see from the photo that the coin was dreck...

RichieURich · January 16, 2007 5:28AM

<< I think the seller has an obligation to waive the restocking fee since it is a problem coin and he failed to note the problem.

Russ, NCNE >>

I agree with Russ (again). If he doesn't waive the restocking fee, then you shouldn't feel that you should waive the negative feedback. (In other words, if he charges $5 to return the polished coin, give the seller a negative.)

BigE · January 16, 2007 5:31AM

All of his stuff looks polished-----------------------BigE

moosesr · January 16, 2007 5:33AM

I sent the seller an email asking him if he will waive the restocking fee. I have not heard back from him yet.

The coin is a 1923-S VAM-1c pitted reverse "Top 50" and I hate to send it back if there is some way to salvage the coin. That is why I asked about trying to carry the coin in with my pocket change to get it back to normal looking.

Russ · January 16, 2007 5:35AM

Actually, if the seller doesn't do the right thing there's something else besides a neg that Moosesr can do by way of payback.

<< and perform Consignment Services - Please email DSpearmanh@Yahoo.Com for additional information >>

The seller is offering consignment services when he is not a registered trading assistant. That's a no no, and eBay will cancel his auctions for it.

Russ, NCNE

291fifth · January 16, 2007 5:39AM

Send it back.

You need to step back and learn to spot problems before you purchase another coin. That coin was an obvious polished dog. If you couldn't spot it, your grading skills need a lot of work.

WinPitcher · January 16, 2007 5:44AM

send it back

the seller is a POS like his coin.

Steve

WinPitcher · January 16, 2007 5:49AM

RARE DATE, HIGH BOOK VALUE, HIGHLY DETAILED, ORIGINAL, LUSTEROUS, ULTRA-CLEAN FIELDS, WELL STRUCK AND ALL-AROUND INCREDIBLE EYE APPEAL!

From the description.

also the quality of the pic is lacking and I'm not sure anyone could say for certain that the coin was polished. (from the pic) In any event he claims it is original.

Did you use paypal?

Steve

ArgentumRex · January 16, 2007 5:49AM

I agree that you deserve a refund without penalty. However, in this case, if that's not going to happen, I think I would keep the coin and not waste the time or money to send it back. You're probably into the coin for about $28. If you can only send it back under the auction terms, you'll be out $13ish (shipping both ways, plus $5 fee) with nothing to show for it. You'll be PO'ed either way, but at least you'll have three-fourths ounces of (expensive) silver for your trouble, versus no coin - $13 + a bad experience to remember. If it were more expensive (not sure how much more), I'd send it back. Just be done with this whole thing, mentally.

By the way, yes, you can carry it around in your pocket and remove the polishing.

moosesr · January 16, 2007 5:51AM

I agree 291fifth with your comment "If you couldn't spot it, your grading skills need a lot of work." I am trying to learn. I have just recently started to buy raw coins because there are so many more opportunites to find VAM coins than just sticking to buying slabs.

RotatedRainbows · January 16, 2007 5:54AM

The seller states the coin is original but it is clearly not, if he does not waive the restocking fee file a complaint with Ebay and Paypal if you used them for payment. If the seller wants to take over 20% rstocking fee make him pay for it.

WinPitcher · January 16, 2007 5:56AM

the only thing I could tell from that pic is that the seller lacks taking pics skills.

I'd neg him for sending me an ' original' lustrous bla bla bla, POLISHED coin.

On second thought I'd keep it too. But i would neg him, screw the retally. What you need are 2 ebay accts, one for buying and one if you sell.

Steve

Coxe · January 16, 2007 6:01AM

I saw the coin over there too. It was ovbiously polished and not worth those bids, which is why I didn't bid it (would have taken for melt and no more). You are in for the $5 and two way shipping if you return it, which puts you getting back less than melt on all of it. Use it as a study piece or a write-off giveaway to a charity and forget about it.

moosesr · January 16, 2007 6:02AM

Steve, I do have two ebay accounts. The one I bought the coin under is my buying account, but I have no negatives on it and I had hoped to keep it that way. I have one negative on my selling account.

messydesk · January 16, 2007 6:18AM

Yuck. Why is it the cool VAMs are always problem coins? Anyway, the Top 50 Peace dollar value guide shows that 23-S VAM 1C in XF is $34, scrubbed like that one, you can cut it in half. Seller was full of crap in listing saying "original," etc., and will probably be a jerk when you try to return it, even before you ask for a full refund, then short you on the check when you return it, anyway, angering you a second time. I'd eat it as cheap tuition, comment in the feedback about his misrepresenting stuff, and turn him in to eBay for advertising consignment services. When you find a nicer VAM 1C, take better pictures of this one and sell it as what it is.

flaminio · January 16, 2007 6:20AM

Too much harshness in this thread. It's not worth getting all worked up over a $23 coin. Asking him to waive the restocking fee doesn't hurt, but if he says "no", suck it up and pay the five bucks. Or just keep the coin as Yet Another Damned Life Lesson. IMHO, buying raw on eBay is a crapshoot, and sometimes you roll snakes.

As for feedback, if the seller comes through and refunds your money, either a very light positive or no feedback is warranted. In no case should a neutral or negative be left.

WinPitcher · January 16, 2007 6:33AM

i disagree, how is anyone ever going to know that this guy sells cleaned coins then? he is a liar and should be reported as such.

moose, your buying acct. can take a retally neg. sellers do not care all they want is money.

maybe if these guys got the negs that they deserve crap like this would not happen.

Steve

moosesr · January 16, 2007 6:36AM

One thing that puzzles me is how this seller has only 2 negatives out of 1215 auctions

WinPitcher · January 16, 2007 6:39AM

No puzzle, people are afraid to get retally negs. they suck it up and let people like him to walk all over them.

His description clearly states the coin is original, lustrous, etc. The photo blows. I could not tell anything from that photo. Like you i would email and ask. only to be lied to .............again

neg his butt. I'll feel better you will too!

steve

Tyler1924S · January 16, 2007 6:52AM

It looks like this seller has used Wright's Silver Cream on every Morgan & Peace he has for sale.

moosesr · January 16, 2007 11:17AM

This is the message I sent to the seller about the coin:

I received the coin today and it has been polished and is not acceptable to me. However, I am not sure it will be worth it to send it back for a refund since you say you charge a $5 restocking fee for returns. Since the coin has been polished and you didn't mention this in the auction or when I asked you what the coin graded, will you accept a return of the coin without the $5 restocking fee? (Buyer provides for return shipping fee and $5.00 restocking fee). Thanks, Charlie

Here is the sellers response:

Hi, We do not clean coins and resell coins purchased from estates, acutions, and brought to the shop. I do not know the prior histories of these coins.

If you are not happy with the coin you may return the coin and receive your original payment amount of $26.85 as refund. The $5.00 restock will be waived.
Dan

It sounds like the seller is willing to make it right and waive the restock, so I will return the coin to him tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for the comments and recommendations about this ebay transaction.

Charlie

BigE · January 16, 2007 11:26AM

The restocking fee is a way for him to discourage returns, and the reason he has decent feedback is because he waives it without a struggle-------------------------------BigE

Russ · January 16, 2007 11:31AM

<< If you are not happy with the coin you may return the coin and receive your original payment amount of $26.85 as refund. The $5.00 restock will be waived.
Dan

It sounds like the seller is willing to make it right and waive the restock, so I will return the coin to him tomorrow. >>

Many sellers who have restocking fees do so only to discourage returns for no legitimate reason, and will waive it when presented with a reason. He appears to be one of those.

Russ, NCNE

BlindedByEgo · January 16, 2007 11:37AM

<< I would just throw the coin in my junk-silver bag
and move on.

>>

$23.00+ for junk siver is too dear a price, imo. The seller lists a lot of coins and had to know that it was a polished POS. If you had any nads at all, you would neg him for selling cleaned crap, and take the retaliation. That is what the feedback system is for - a lot of his other coins represented as "high grade" look just as bad.

Ebay has become a total cesspool of overgraded crap.

WinPitcher · January 16, 2007 12:14PM

So basically he is a coin dealer that can't tell if a coin has been cleaned?

yeah ok,

the guy is a sleaze, glad you got your dough back. he should pay the postage back and forth as well.

Steve

WinPitcher · January 16, 2007 12:15PM

i agree with blinded ego, neg his butt. That way when someone else looks at his stuff they won't buy it and have to go thru what you just did.

Steve

BobaFett72 · January 16, 2007 1:04PM

i dont think a neg. is deserved, he took the coin back, waived the restocking fee and wasnt a jerk about it. Personally thats an awful pic/scan to judge a purchase on, but thats just me.

storm888 · January 16, 2007 1:32PM

"i dont think a neg. is deserved, he took the coin back,
waived the restocking fee and wasnt a jerk about it."

/////////////////////////////////////////

If the buyer gets NEGd or NEUTRALed, he will leave a NEG.
That is how EBAY works, today.

The seller did what the buyer asked him to. No reason for
anything other than a POS. Or, no FB at all.

storm

Wolf359 · January 16, 2007 3:06PM

It will take quite some time to work out the necessary skills in deciphering images, but it's well worth it. When everything looks really good, and it's a killer cherrypick, always email them about any problems before bidding. If they don't reply to two emails, that's all I need to know, I either cut the snipe, or drop it.

moosesr · January 23, 2007 8:26AM

I just thought I would give an update on this topic. I haven't received a refund from the seller yet, but he now has the coin listed again on ebay. Auction Link He is not mentioning that the coin is polished and this time he say's the coin is uncirculated, whereas before he said the coin was very high quality.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · January 23, 2007 8:45AM

if he refuses to waive the restocking fee, then keep the coin, wait till he posts you a positive feedback, then slap him with a neg for not properly advertising his coins!

Russ · January 23, 2007 10:51AM

So, it turns out that this seller is a slimeball afterall.

Russ, NCNE

moosesr · January 26, 2007 4:25AM

I received a full refund from the seller today including shipping cost. It still upsets me that he didn't mention in his auction that the coin was polished and now has relisted the coin still with no mention of it being polished.

So in my case he made it right with the full refund, but I don't know exactly what to say in feedback or if I should give feedback at all.

Advice on Ebay Auciton Keep or Return VAM Coin? (update 1/26/07)

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