eBay rant about deceptive sellers who have high ratings

As a new collector, I look to people who are "pillars" on these forums for good information. with almost 10,000 posts, ~10 posts per day, you have a large influence on this forum. You sir, insult my intelligence. The feeling that I am getting from you, is that you are supporting the obvious coloring methods this seller is using to sell Lincolns. Regardless if it is toning of the coins or editing of the images, this seller is blatantly doctoring his coins/images. It is deceptive, misleading and although I am not sure about internet law.... That if experts were called in, it is illegal. Furthermore, this seller has been doing this for years and you as a pillar of this community, is apparently supporting this.

I am sad and disappointed.

It is painfully obvious to any collector of Lincolns, that random cents taken from circulation will take on many a different hue or shade of brown. All one has to do, is view the sellers listings and they will see that something is very wrong.

http://shop.ebay.com/nancye913/m.html?_trkparms=65%253A15%257C66%253A1%257C39%253A1&rt=nc&_ipg=50&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14.l1514

Over the last 2 days, I have periodically tried to duplicate those images. I literally have 100's of thousands of wheat cents along with professional quality camera/studio equipment, photo editing software etc. and I can assure you, that in order to create those images in the manner they are depicted must have taken a lot of forethought. Maybe not.



Thank you to the person who won a listing. You beat me too it! I anxiously await the results.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Agreed... I've never seen Lincoln cents that even remotely look like this.

 

In summary, I believe you have succeeded well in demonstrating that it is at best difficult to prove a negative. i.e. "Prove to me what is not in the pictures."

First, you need to learn how to read. Please show me one line where I have stated that what he is doing is right and proper. Like this line maybe "All I am saying is that on a scale of 1 - 10, he is a 1 or 2. The counterfeiters are a 100."? Eric might disappoint some people. The counterfeiters will and are killing the hobby. Still, you think Eric is the worst thing around. I cannot follow you logic.

Keep reading those laws that you say "I am not sure about internet law". You should have left it there because I can assure you that there is nothing eBay is going to do about it and there nothing in any other law you can find could be used against Eric here. (then again, that is like trying to prove a negative.) However, there are some internet laws (slander?) he might pursue to make you feel very uncomfortable. He probably would not win, but you would feel it.

BTW, you are presenting this without showing us any evidence to the contrary except where he gave you a coin for FREE. Yep! He sounds like a real crook. Can't be much worse than the ones who give their coins away. Also, if you look at his feedback, 2 buyers were dissatisfied (one left 34 negs) in the last 6 months (2200 feedbacks). Were he so horrible, I would sure expect many more than 2.

 

this is gettin' hardcore! you guys need to go outside....

 

Also, if you look at his feedback, 2 buyers were dissatisfied (one left 34 negs) in the last 6 months (2200 feedbacks). Were he so horrible, I would sure expect many more than 2.[/QUOTE]

That's a poor evaluation method at best . What this seller does is manipulation to best present his offerings, but to a greater degree specifically, it further suggest's an effort in " Deception " , targeted toward the in-experienced collector. That's just wrong . Is there a " Legal " issue here , I don't know , I'm no Lawyer . But I do know the difference between right and wrong , and that is just wrong, in the context as presented. Rim, you ask for proof , just look at his offerings. That is all the proof anyone needs . Common man !

 

"Seller refunded and told me to keep coin. I never left feedback - my bad."

You answered your own question.

 

OH MY, LYD"S got " Hush " money!!!

 

You guys obviously believe every food commercial you've ever seen!

EBay is an offer to sell by bidding and the buyer has, in turn, an opportunity to bid and buy, look and then return if whats pictured in the photograph does not meet his/her needs.

Thats what the return option is for.

IMO, if you buy then return and get a refund, its a clean auction with no need to leave negative feedback regarding what you "think" or "believe" the seller might be up to.

Yes, there are sellers out there making some money off of folks selling inferiorly described merchandise which is photographed to make it look spectacular but that scenario is NOT limited to eBay or even coins. It happens EVERYDAY across the country and the World. Some people simply sell crap and useless junk. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious but as a buyer, you buy once, examine, return, then simply stop looking at the businesses product.

Its NOT eBay's job to tell their sellers what they can or cannot sell (unless, of course, it's illegal) or how they can or cannot photograph their merchandise. It IS the seller's responsibility to service their customer's needs, realizing that EVERYBODY has different needs. For example, one customer may only want MS65RD coins for their collection but another would be perfectly happy with an ugly piece of crap for their Dansco collection.

It's that simple,

 

I've seen more than a few large cents with this exact look -- from dipping and recoloring.

I plan on showing this through pictures of the coin sent to me, along with examples of large cents, and finally with some Lincolns I will "make" with this exact look.

Like I said above, this should be fun (and I hope a bit educational).

 

While it is impossible to prove a negative (my assertion), how much would you like to wager?

 

While you're at it, don't forget this fella!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1934-1936-S-1938-1950-S-WHEAT-CENTS-GEM-UNC-FDC-4pc-/350410112342?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item519611fd56

The guy knows how to photograph a coin and has been selling his "grandfathers collection" for years!

What about this guy?

http://shop.ebay.com/jwcameo/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=10&_rdc=1

I bought one of his sets many years ago and virtually NONE of the coins were CAMEO's! NONE!

What about these guys?

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1147&Lot_No=4056&Lot_Id_No=71001

You think that coin really looks like that or is the photo perhaps washed out?

 

EyeEatWheaties and conman0456,

Try looking at this post and tell me which 3 pictures you think have been doctored. By your standards, only one is correct.

The people you need to worry about are aboncom and SGS, centles and NNC, hunanawai, coins-liu, numismaticbureau, grandpastoyshop, greatamericancoinco, et al

 

all you have to do is save the image of the coin you won. Then open it in MS Paint - then go to view and expand the image to 800% and you will clearly see how it has been blurred and how "cartoonish" the image appears. not sure if this will work... here is a screen shot of the blow up.

 

Freudian slip?

 

click on the image .... who wants more proof?

 

And here is another random picture from eBay. Funny how it looks just about the same as your attempt. Yes, it was also blown up 8:1. When you learn what eBay does to their pictures, come back again

 

No! When he learns my name, I might learn his.

 

So let me ask you a few questions, if I may.
What does posting this rant accomplish if you did not take the time to post a neg on ebay and you accepted his coin for free?
Perhaps if you had posted a link to the coin you brought along with the picture shown and then a picture of the coin you kept, we could see your concern and your point of view.

 

Good lord, once again a thread goes to pot, because people start attacking one another. Can there not simply be a good exchange of thought without doing that ? Common Ladies & Gentlemen . I give up .

 

Dang! I don;t remember doctoring this Kennedy Photo!



Oh Well, I guess I'm guilty according to some.