Question for eBay sellers

I'm not a novice seller on eBay (first sale in 1998), but only recently began selling coins. What I've been doing is weeding out some of my lower grade stuff, and selling it in small lots. I've sold perhaps a dozen lots (of four coins) of mixed Barbers... a half, quarter, dime and V-nickel. All have sold, in prices ranging from $22 to $40. I've included good photos in the auctions, accurate description (circulated/previously cleaned) and all are common dates. Well, recently one auction sold for considerably more than the others... $86.00 for the four low grade, common coins. The buyer paid immediately with PayPal. I feel somewhat guilty for accepting that much money for four coins that are worth basically melt (the V-nickel at best is worth fifty cents). My question is: should I let the buyer know he paid way too much, and perhaps offer him a few more coins for free, a partial refund, or maybe credit for another auction? Or should I let it slide as just another "bid-idiot" (or whatever you guys call them)?

 

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Maybe he saw something you didn't... A rare variety perhaps.

 

Include a small gift (an inexpensive coin), buyers love that.

 

There would be absolutley nothing wrong with giving a partial refund especially if you would feel less guilty. But personally its his fault for over paying and if he can afford to buy coins then he can afford to overpay a little for this mistake.

 

I agree, add a few coins to the lot if you want be sure though to check that there isn't something you missed, like a higher grade coin or harder to find date. Maybe they were a bidiot, and if you feel guilty about it, then add some free coins and mark them as a free bonus or something.

 

I don't think so Matt... here are the coins in question:

 

Even Numismedia says these coins are worth $43. I wouldn't say they are worth melt but can tell you people over pay for Barbers on Ebay. You could throw in a couple Barber quarters and v nickels. and still be way ahead.

 

I'd ship them with a few extra (gifts) without really saying anything or bringing it up. If when he Recieves them he questions the extras, at that time you can tell him what happened.

 

Thanks for the replies... I'm packin' it up with an extra Barber half and quarter and simply marking them "bonus coins" without (as suggested) explanation. The buyer, if at all savy, will know.

 

...So buyer could realize he paid too much and return the lot for full refund

jloring: This could have been an uneducated buyer, maybe bid war, maybe the buyer needed exactly these years/mints and preferred to bid high on one lot instead of buying them from different sellers and paying more for shipment.

You didn't do anything wrong, you don't have to compensate the buyer. Enjoy the good sale and hope for many more of these.

 

Well played!

 

What is his feedback score? It is likely a mistaken bid and bidder figured that out but didn't retract since it was too late or not worth the trouble...

 

Yes, by adding the bonus coins, if the seller realizes they overpaid, they will not return them.
I see people overpaying for stuff all the time. I just saw this auction here for a coin similar to one I paid $1 for:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1909-LIBERT...50?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item53ee8961d2

 

That's what I thought at first... but he has a 100% positive feedback score of 288, plus after reviewing some of his previous auctions, I notice he likes bidding on small lots, often with them ending considerably higher than fair market value. Also, he just won another similar lot from me that ended tonight for $28.00 (a fair price I believe). Since these are true auctions with no BIN, it means there had to be another bidder (also bidding too high) involved in the $86 auction. I've had this happen to me in the past with non-coin related items, where two (or more) buyers get into a bidding war. I once sold an old photograph (worth twenty bucks tops) for over $1,500.

 

I guess that I'm a little surprised by the question. If he paid too much for these four coins, someone must have been bidding with him. Thus, two folks thought these coins were worth more than melt.

 

If I needed, say, an 1898 Barber half to complete my date / mintmark set of Barber halves... and I already had a complete set of Kennedys, Franklins, and Walking Liberties in the closet... and I didn't like the look or the price of Sitting Liberty Halves... I would pay $300 or more for that lot.

My point is that we live in a free market society where (a) the value of goods is precisely what somebody is willing to buy them for and (b) goods are transferred to those individuals who value them the most. Who knows whether this guy is a bid-iot or has some reason for purchasing them. Either A or B (or maybe both) were met so don't feel so bad. Its not like you forced him to click bid.

 

Hmm the two bidders have close to 100% bidding history with this seller either shills or buying large quantity for shipping discount.

 

Just offer him a few more free coins. Maybe he thinks it's worth, and a few more freebies will make him very glad too.

 

Really!?
The auction is over. Send him what he paid for.
If your going to start adding items or refunding money after the auction it's not really fair to the other bidders.

 

Snipe gone bad is my guess. Two bidders really wanted the coins and entered crazy high bids.