Buying from Zero (o) rated Ebay sellers - What do you do?

jmcu12 · February 9, 2011 1:00AM

Everyone had to start somehwere on Ebay - but some are con-artists while others are just the first timers looking to get started.

With this in mind - do you buy from these sellers?

If so do you set a speding limit until they reach X amount of positive replies?

PerryHall · February 9, 2011 1:05AM

No. I expect new eBayers to do some buying to establish some feedback and then to start off selling with inexpensive items. An eBayer with zero feedback selling a four figure coin is to be avoided IMO.

LindeDad · February 9, 2011 1:07AM

<< No. I expect new eBayers to do some buying to establish some feedback and then to start off selling with inexpensive items. An eBayer with zero feedback selling a four figure coin is to be avoided IMO. >>

ziggy29 · February 9, 2011 2:09AM

<< Everyone had to start somehwere on Ebay - but some are con-artists while others are just the first timers looking to get started.

With this in mind - do you buy from these sellers? >>

For $10? Maybe. For $100? Probably not. For $1,000? No way.

dsessom · February 9, 2011 2:31AM

Really, I usually only buy from a few select sellers and a good number of them are here on the forums as well. Once in a while, I will buy from an unknown, but only if they have a good number (100's) of positive feedback and have had no complaints in the last 3-6 months.
I don't even bother with sellers who have less feedback than 100 unless I know them.

Russ · February 9, 2011 2:53AM

Under the current eBay system? Sure, why not? Buyers are protected seven ways to Christmas.

Russ, NCNE

pennyannie · February 9, 2011 2:58AM

I could care less as long as i am protected, i thought new sellers had their funds held till you left feedback or x amount of days have passed on some items? Price and what i want means more than feedback numbers. You can have issues with zero feedback sellers or sellers with 1000 feedbacks. A few negs do not mean much to me, coin collectors are nuts to start with. As long as i can get my money back from paypal i am a bidder.

RedTiger · February 9, 2011 2:59AM

If there is any doubt or bad vibes, I pass. Ebay is now the venue of choice for those selling fakes. It might be fake slabs, fake albums full of fake coins, fake raw coins. Virtually every kind of coin has been reported as being faked, so again, if in doubt, I pass. Very few coins being sold on the bay are only being sold there. I'd much rather take my chances with someone I know. The chance of a fake has gone up exponentially, and continues to grow. Half the time, the seller is complicit, half the time the seller may not even know.

AUandAG · February 9, 2011 2:59AM

New sellers do not bother me. I'm protected, period.

bob

edited: What if a seller, new to ebay, inherited 3 coins from his Dad and will
only be selling these on ebay and nothing else. Perhaps he has no coin dealer
in his area or does not trust the local guy. But, one of the three listings is
THE KEY that you are missing, and have the money for, and DEARLY WANT. Do
you just pass? Wait for his ratings to rise?? Ah, come now, you bid your heart
out, right?

PinkFloyd · February 9, 2011 3:02AM

I probably wouldn't spend big bucks, because if they try to pull something, you've got money tied up for a little while as you jump through ebay's hoops to get it back.

Small dollar items, no problem.

PerryHall · February 9, 2011 3:02AM

If a new seller screws you on a four figure coin, how hard is it to get your money back and how long will it take?

Russ · February 9, 2011 3:05AM

<< If a new seller screws you on a four figure coin, how hard is it to get your money back and how long will it take? >>

Easy, and a matter of hours. On the other hand, if you're a seller getting screwed by a buyer, you better pack a lunch because it's going to be a long haul.

Russ, NCNE

jmski52 · February 9, 2011 3:18AM

<< If a new seller screws you on a four figure coin, how hard is it to get your money back and how long will it take? >>

Easy, and a matter of hours. On the other hand, if you're a seller getting screwed by a buyer, you better pack a lunch because it's going to be a long haul.

I remember ebay. It's been over 2 years now, but I remember it.

johnny9434 · February 9, 2011 3:37AM

if i were new seller of feebay id only go paypuke till established. $10 or 20 bucks yes. more then that no

RedTiger · February 9, 2011 4:15AM

<< 
edited: What if a seller, new to ebay, inherited 3 coins from his Dad and will
only be selling these on ebay and nothing else. Perhaps he has no coin dealer
in his area or does not trust the local guy. But, one of the three listings is
THE KEY that you are missing, and have the money for, and DEARLY WANT. Do
you just pass? Wait for his ratings to rise?? Ah, come now, you bid your heart
out, right? >>

A year or two ago I might bid. Today, I pass, I wait. The new reality is that too many fakes are being passed on Ebay. I don't have near the skill to authenticate against a good fake. Neither do 95% to 99% of other collectors. If a potential buyer is in the top 1% to 5% in terms of authentication skill, go for it. For the rest, I say steer clear. There are too many fakes of all kinds at all value levels, but especially key dates (raw and slabbed), being passed on the bay. I believe that the better fakes are fooling 80% to 95% of the buyers. That there are likely thousands of fake coins being sold every month on Ebay. Many of the fake sellers are getting positive feedback from the average collectors that are snapping up their wares. I am in the large group of average collectors, so mostly I steer clear of Ebay.

As I said, virtually every coin is available elsewhere, with much lower chances of getting a fake.

derryb · February 9, 2011 4:24AM

<< Under the current eBay system? Sure, why not? Buyers are protected seven ways to Christmas.

Russ, NCNE >>

An added protection with low and zero feedback sellers is the holding of funds by paypal until completion of the transaction. Zero's are OK with me as long as they are not located in Estonia. Have found some great gold purchases from zeros as others try to avoid them. Have also not received items from zeros but always got my buyer protection refund from paypal.

yellowkid · February 9, 2011 4:25AM

For a small purchase, fine. Otherwise I would move on.

Lakesammman · February 9, 2011 4:36AM

If I really wanted the item, I'd let them know AND have them agree (early on before bidding) to ship before payment is made. O/W no go.

Russ is correct, but who needs the hassle??

notwilight · February 9, 2011 5:23AM

I think Russ about covered this subject.

PerryHall · February 9, 2011 5:51AM

<< If I really wanted the item, I'd let them know AND have them agree (early on before bidding) to ship before payment is made. O/W no go./q]

How many times has a stranger agreed to ship you a rare coin before you make payment?

JamesMurray · February 9, 2011 6:13AM

I don't make a habit of it but i've bought off plenty zero feedback sellers or those with less than 10.Just 2 days ago i bought those 2011 gettysburgh rolls from a seller who had been to the ceremony,he too had zero feedback and was only selling these rolls.I got mine this morning with free shipping.
Not everybody on ebay is out to get you is a good rule of thumb.

Julian · February 9, 2011 7:01AM

<< Under the current eBay system? Sure, why not? Buyers are protected seven ways to Christmas.

Russ, NCNE >>

ebaybuyer · February 9, 2011 7:05AM

<< If I really wanted the item, I'd let them know AND have them agree (early on before bidding) to ship before payment is made. O/W no go./q]

good luck with that.

Juan · February 9, 2011 7:59AM

I bought a $50 2010 gold Buffalo for $1,000 from a zero seller a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't worried because of the protectionism that Ebay (and Paypal) has. For some reason, the seller wouldn't answer my emails and I thought this is a lost cause. I was waiting for the 7 days to pass so I could file a dispute but the seller refunded my money and said I could send him a money order or check...Heck, he lives about 200 miles from me, I could just drive there and pick up the Buff but I won't. Just because a seller has zero fedback is no reason to boycott, heck, we all had that at one time.

RRich2004 · February 9, 2011 8:04AM

<< If I really wanted the item, I'd let them know AND have them agree (early on before bidding) to ship before payment is made. O/W no go. >>

That will never happen in a million years.

Even new sellers to eBay with 0 feedback would never ship the coin without payment received first.

goodmoney4badmoney · February 9, 2011 9:04AM

About 6 years ago I was a brand new 0 feedback seller. I auctioned four or five $50 - $125 coins and one of my buyers left me my first feedback BEFORE he even received the item, just to be nice. He still buys from me today and I always remember his generosity and good will towards me. I have also bid on 0 feedback sellers items but never won. I agree with Russ here...the current structure for buyers leaves very little to worry about on eBay.

silverman68 · February 9, 2011 9:34AM

<< Under the current eBay system? Sure, why not? Buyers are protected seven ways to Christmas.

Russ, NCNE >>

Exactly, pay with CC and you are safe, I have been there.

pennyannie · February 9, 2011 9:43AM

<< If I really wanted the item, I'd let them know AND have them agree (early on before bidding) to ship before payment is made. O/W no go.

Russ is correct, but who needs the hassle?? >>

Yeah right!!!! Sorry but i would not send the president something without payment first. Even Longacre would need to have his butler send the funds before i make the trip to the post office. People and businesses go belly up every day, i try to take as few risk as possible.

InYHWHWeTrust · February 9, 2011 9:45AM

My experience with 0 feedback sellers last year: 4 wins on small lots of ag, 3 refunded my paypal immediately as items sold at 'nice score' levels.

Result: 1 neutral & 2 negative feedbacks from me based on some 'fun' email messaging about breaking seller contracts/ obligation.

1 out of 4 shipped the item, didn't make as much as a seasoned seller/ or took a loss, and now doing fine, on my favorite seller list. Everyone has to start somewhere and on the buyer side, as others have said, you're pretty well protected.

I still sell some on ebay and say my prayers every time.

Buying from Zero (o) rated Ebay sellers - What do you do?

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