Question for eBay cherrypickers

Greeniejr · March 22, 2010 2:34AM

For any of you who cherrypick die varieties, VAMS, Die Marraiges etc. If you try and cherrypick a variety on eBay and it turns out you are wrong, do you lick your wounds and move on or try and return it and lie about the coin as an excuse? VAMLOCO on eBay did the latter

cheezhed · March 22, 2010 2:43AM

You are taking a chance so if you're wrong you suck it up, it's not the sellers fault.

DoubleEagle59 · March 22, 2010 3:02AM

<< You are taking a chance so if you're wrong you suck it up, it's not the sellers fault. >>

Wolf359 · March 22, 2010 3:22AM

<< For any of you who cherrypick die varieties, VAMS, Die Marraiges etc. If you try and cherrypick a variety on eBay and it turns out you are wrong, do you lick your wounds and move on or try and return it and lie about the coin as an excuse? VAMLOCO on eBay did the latter >>

I know VAMLOCO personally and I seriously doubt he lied. You'd better provide proof of that one.

Bochiman · March 22, 2010 3:26AM

If one is cherrypicking, one may be more lenient on the rest of the coin (ie....grade, look, etc). However, if upon cherrypicking, it turns out to be a pit, then one may look at the rest of the coin and make a decision.
So, I would take my lumps if I missed on a cherrypick but, the rest of the coin and description/photo better be dead-on or else I will feel that someone tried to take me.

Greeniejr · March 22, 2010 3:26AM

He claimed the coin was not a strong enough of a MS63 when it is a very clearly solid for what it is.

Wolf359 · March 22, 2010 3:27AM

<< He claimed the coin was not a strong enough of a MS63 when it is a very clearly solid for what it is. >>

Well that's your opinion. I'd believe Tom, he knows what's he doing.

crypto79 · March 22, 2010 3:28AM

If they had a return policy I would use it just like any other coin I didn't want once in hand. I would not lie cheat or paypal cry to enforce a return if the seller did not take them and was clearly stated in the auction.

Rampage · March 22, 2010 3:36AM

<< He claimed the coin was not a strong enough of a MS63 when it is a very clearly solid for what it is. >>

Well, that is your opinion versus the buyer's opinion. Depending on the date of the coin, I'd probably not worry with it too much. If it is one of those that jumps in crazy money, then you should have it graded by PCGS so there are no questions later.

Bochiman · March 22, 2010 3:46AM

Do you think he was trying to cherrypick based on the lower die crack on the obverse?
Without knowing what VAM or what he paid, it is hard to say.
if all that scuffiness is on the coin, and not the holder, around her cheek and lower, I wouldn't like it, even as a MS63

(but then, it is evident in the pictures, so I wouldn't have bid either)

Greeniejr · March 22, 2010 3:49AM

It is an 1878 8TF so they all qualify as VAMS, some extremely scarce with subtle die characteristics.

19Lyds · March 22, 2010 3:55AM

Edited to change my response to "No Comment".

Take it up with your buyer and just deal with the outcome.

seanq · March 22, 2010 3:58AM

Lick my wounds and move on, but keep in mind I'm not going to lay out more than a few bucks for a coin unless I'm very sure I know what I'm buying.

Sean Reynolds

Bubblehead · March 22, 2010 4:05AM

Lately, looking for Type B Washington's, I have had to
toss a dozen or so, into my melt bucket. I take my chances,
and move on. Wouldn't think of returning them.
BTW, that Morgan looks awfully good for an MS63...

cmerlo1 · March 22, 2010 4:45AM

<< Lick my wounds and move on, but keep in mind I'm not going to lay out more than a few bucks for a coin unless I'm very sure I know what I'm buying.

Sean Reynolds >>

100% Agree

Every once in a while, something comes along, though, like this coin, which I put in a maximum bid of $400 for and was outbid at the last minute by our own jonathanb (you still SUCK)...

I had taken the auction photo, and enhanced it every way I know, and it really looked like the real deal, so I felt confident about it... there have been only a few others like this.

sinin1 · March 22, 2010 5:02AM

I don't get it

is this the coin sold by Harlan Berk?
do you work there? or doing consignment sales?

if so, VAMLOCO clearly wanted the coin as they had 3 separate sniping programs placing their bid

but as a seller, if they want no returns on slabbed coins, they should say so
not a 7 day return

AND why are your pictures in this thread so much better than the crap photos in the auction
link the photos in the description just like you did in this thread

are you trying to deceive the buyer or suggest it is something that it is not?

Greeniejr · March 22, 2010 5:21AM

<< I don't get it

is this the coin sold by Harlan Berk?
do you work there? or doing consignment sales?

if so, VAMLOCO clearly wanted the coin as they had 3 separate sniping programs placing their bid

but as a seller, if they want no returns on slabbed coins, they should say so
not a 7 day return

AND why are your pictures in this thread so much better than the crap photos in the auction
link the photos in the description just like you did in this thread

are you trying to deceive the buyer or suggest it is something that it is not? >>

I work for Harlan Berk and this was one of our eBay listings. Due to a recent series of incidents, where people were using us as an approval service on eBay, we stopped taking returns on slabbed coins on that venue. This auction was started before we changed the policy. To answer your question about the pictures, I take fairly quick pictures for our eBay listings because it is more important to eBay to have pictures of the holder than closeups of the coin. It is sad but true. I always provide additional pictures on request but spending the extra money on the listing isn't usually worth it.

sinin1 · March 22, 2010 5:31AM

you do not need extra listing pictures

just put the links to your photobucket acct in the description

here is an example

one free eBay pic, 4 pics in description

AUandAG · March 22, 2010 5:36AM

put it up on the BST asap, and lick my wounds.

bob

Wolf359 · March 22, 2010 12:41PM

The 3 separate snipes is just a characteristic so the bid gets through. I use Phantom Bidder and that's exactly the result of my bids - 3 snipes
show in the bid history, but I only placed one bid.

As far as Harlan Berk, you attribute your coins, so there's no picking to be had. We all know this, including VAMLoco.

Bochiman · March 24, 2010 1:40PM

<< 

I work for Harlan Berk and this was one of our eBay listings. Due to a recent series of incidents, where people were using us as an approval service on eBay, we stopped taking returns on slabbed coins on that venue. This auction was started before we changed the policy. To answer your question about the pictures, I take fairly quick pictures for our eBay listings because it is more important to eBay to have pictures of the holder than closeups of the coin. It is sad but true. I always provide additional pictures on request but spending the extra money on the listing isn't usually worth it. >>

Ok, as a business, that is WEAK.
Pictures can be on a webpage (since HJB has a website, there is obviously a place to doo it...just do a separate area off it, etc).

It is also weasely to say that "it is more important TO ebay" about the types of pictures you do (quality-wise).
If you are selling to "ebay" then fine. But, if you are selling to PEOPLE, then post a nice picture if you have the ability. To do less than that is suspect, imho. Either lazy or purposefully using low quality to hide something.

As for the "approval service" thing....sure, I agree with you that sucks. It's one thing if a buyer is walking into your store and buying it, and telling them "no returns", but I would also say that if the picture isn't the best and if it is online, then it is pretty cheesy to state "no returns" even for slabbed items.

coindeuce · March 24, 2010 1:58PM

<< For any of you who cherrypick die varieties, VAMS, Die Marraiges etc. If you try and cherrypick a variety on eBay and it turns out you are wrong, do you lick your wounds and move on or try and return it and lie about the coin as an excuse? VAMLOCO on eBay did the latter >>

That persona has been a thorn in my side too. He picked that up from a few predecessors, like mnick38, who had to change his user ID several times to stay ahead of the intel on this scum sucking ploy. These aren't one shot incidents, they're a plague on eBay. They're the ones that are so tight their shoes squeak, but when they make a score on a cherrypick, the first thing they do is go bragging, or putting the coin back on the market at full retail with no wiggle room. BTW, that coin is a VAM 3, which isn't hard to locate in MS-64, and there are even MS-65's available occasionally. I have had multiples of this variety in high grade PCGS holders, but I won't waste my time offering them to someone who thinks that cherrypicking knowledge is an entitlement to abuse the system(read that as:unrestricted approval service wanted). Take a look at his buyer feedback for the last 90 days, and you'll see some of the other 1878 garbage bought that is far lesser in quality for the price paid, and then think about the reason given for the return of the OP's coin. Smoke and mirrors. Unless of course, a high percentage of his purchases are being returned as "off quality"

VAMSKY · March 24, 2010 11:29PM

I lick my wounds. You may find the item re-listed at a later date, but I don't disguise what it is. I've returned one Morgan of the hundreds I've picked on EBay and that one was in a PCGS 63 slab. I didn't return it for mis-attribution, but because I felt PCGS missed the mark and the seller's photos "purposely" masked the chatter.

I also don't bother with HJB listings anymore. Once I saw their first attribution that was it. It didn't help them that their photos of the slab and not the coin irked me to no end.

EBay isn't the target-rich environment it used to be. Picking is much harder these days. I make mental notes of VAMmer userids and gloss over their listings. The list is growing day-to-day. But there are still some jewels hiding in the weeds. Jack I'll let you know if that 1880-O is a VAM 49 any day now.

Question for eBay cherrypickers

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