Smooth Edge counterfeit message at Ebay

Kaelasdad · March 15, 2007 9:45AM

I had a discussion this week to another collector, and we thought aloud about how long it would take for smooth egde counterfeits to show on Ebay, and destroy the market for raw coins.

Today, a friend told me that Ebay pulled his auction for smooth edge coins, based on an anonymous complaint that his coins were counterfeit. Ebay also contacted all his buyers and told them about the counterfeit complaint. He has cancellations running left and right.

The problem is, he hasnt even sent off any coins yet, he doesnt take paypal and his BIN/BO purchasers sent checks. Ebay wont say who made the complaint, and even when he said he hadnt shippied any to anyone, Ebay didnt care.

Be very aware that this could happen to you, on top of having to worry about couterfeiters, now you have to worry about someone destroying your business, and you have no recourse at all. My friend is a powerseller, and it didnt mean squat.

I have offered buyers of my coins the option of receiving graded or raw coins, and I have let all my buyers know to watch out for any complaint like this--and treat it for what it is--BS

For some out there, the charge might just be justified, but it seems that anyone is fair game at the moment.

Just keeping you all in the loop

Russ · March 15, 2007 9:50AM

Another example of eBay pulling the trigger on a legit seller while allowing the scumbags to hose buyers left and right.

Russ, NCNE

Kaelasdad · March 15, 2007 11:10AM

I know it totally screwed him, I am trying to think out scenarios as to why someone whould do that. Another thought is when the rumors hit ebay about counterfeits (real or not) what will that do to the market for raw smooth edge coins, and what will be the market for graded examples--because at least there is the auumption that graded coins arent counterfeit.

pf70collector · March 15, 2007 11:17AM

Sorry to hear. I bought two smoothies and have submitted one to PCGS already. I would not keep these raw.

RVDavis · March 15, 2007 12:43PM

This morning, Paypal embargoed my money because I have been selling a lot of smoothies. Paypal wanted me to provide invoices from where I purchased the coins. In three phone calls, two emails and one fax I explained that I had pulled the coins from bank rolls. I referenced the news media reports stating Florida coin finds. I suggested that they contact the fourty Ebay buyers who have posted positive feedback on the transaction. They said they wanted proof that my coins are the real thing; I invited them to come to my bank and I will pull the stash coins out of my box they said no, you prove it. I asked how they can hold money on transactions that are closed: The high bidder won the auction, I shipped the coins, the buyer is happy. The answer was "we have to protect Paypal so we are not exposed'. My money is still on hold. When this is over, I am done with these jerks.

Writersblock · March 15, 2007 10:51PM

Well boys and girls, we have finally gotten what every kept asking for. EBay/paypal has suddenly become much more proactive in the matter of counterfeits/altered coins (at least for one type) and it has come back to bite us. We kept complaining that eBay allowed coins that we knew were fake to be sold and not just pulled on our say so. Now we have legitimite sellers having their auctions pulled and their money held probably just on someones questioning of them. That's what happens when you expect someone unqualified to police the listings.

And now how does RVDavis prove that the coins he has already sold and no longer has are real?

COINB0Y · March 16, 2007 1:52AM

That's why I bought RAW only from someone I knew

DennisH · March 16, 2007 1:57AM

"When this is over, I am done with these jerks."

My sentiments exactly... and that's why I stopped accepting PayPal payments about two years ago.

kranky · March 16, 2007 1:58AM

<< <i>Another example of eBay pulling the trigger on a legit seller while allowing the scumbags to hose buyers left and right.

Russ, NCNE >>

Truly, one of the most baffling things about ebay.

LALASD4 · March 16, 2007 2:01AM

There are fakes out there, I just got three, Ebay and Paypal is tough to deal with, that is why I don't keep any money in my Paypal account, they get transfer out to another account instantly.

I think Ebay must have pulled auctions from a lot of people, they did that to me too.

chiefbob · March 16, 2007 2:07AM

It's amazing that when you advise the bay about a seller doing something unethical, all you get is an auto-reply that they are "looking into it". And the listing is still live when they say this, letting it go to finalization. Then Rick gets caught up in this draconian response from eJerks.

I was looking for glassware for my wife as a Christmas present when I stumbled on a listing for those Faberge Russian painted eggs. The listing had the name "Faberge" all over it. When I looked at the photos more closely, it was obvious it was a knock-off of the Faberge name. Anyone who collected these would think they were getting a bargain, when in fact it was deceptive and false. I even sent an eBay message to the seller and told her that it was deceptive, giving her the benefit of the doubt. Her reply: thanks for pointing that out. Yet the listing finalized with a sale and the buyer was screwed.

What would be even better would be a PCGS-sponsored auction site set up similar to eBay. You would have to be a CU member and be approved to buy/sell.

Good luck, Rick. I sent the coin I won from you to PCGS today and will let you know the outcome. Maybe that would offer some proof to the a-holes at eBay...

aficionado · March 16, 2007 3:23AM

<< <i>There are fakes out there, I just got three, Ebay and Paypal is tough to deal with, that is why I don't keep any money in my Paypal account, they get transfer out to another account instantly.

I think Ebay must have pulled auctions from a lot of people, they did that to me too. >>

How do you know they are fake??

BECOKA · March 16, 2007 3:45AM

This is one reason I rarely sell raw on e-bay. 99% of everything gets put into a slab. If it won't go into a PCGS slab then it is off to ANACS for authenticating.

Never had a complaint and it seems to work.

basestealer · March 16, 2007 4:06AM

That sucks, RVDavis. There is a very vocal and growing number of people who fell victim to Paypal's money freezes--when I read their stories I'm in disbelief. They will literally freeze accounts for seemingly no reason at all. Another reason to perform nightly sweeps and never keep a dime in there--the real scammers do this, too. And eBay has no clue what an erroneous auction shutdown can do to a seller's reputation. This has happened to me before, too. The buyers are told you're a scammer, and then when eBay realizes they made a mistake (good luck getting an apology, although I have before), they don't put your listing back up and they refuse to contact your bidders and explain that they were in error. So that's a chunk of people who will run away from your ID whenever they see it--totally unfair. Defamatory at the very least.

Smooth Edge counterfeit message at Ebay

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