eBay advice on counterfeit coin

I hope it's okay to start a new thread. The story has taken a new turn.

Brief synopsis:
Bought a coin from eBay
Coin is 99.9% sure to be fake
I don't want to pay $30+ to verify
Seller refunds full amount (still pending)

Seller says he is a cop with NYPD and can't believe it's a fake, he is sorry, will make it right, etc. I ask if he can verify that. Suddenly, no replies.

If he is legit, I think I would return the coin so he can take it back to where he bought it (although it was some years ago) and pursue his own course of action.

However, if he is *not* legit, I don't want this coin back on the market.

What should I do?

 

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show us a pic....
then let him refund you and if it shows up again on ebay report it to ebay. If he says its a fake in an email send ebay that as well.

 

Pics in other thread here:
http://www.cointalk.com/index.php?threads/239823/

 

What does being a cop have to do with it? Cops aren't trained to recognize counterfeit coins.

 

I would not refund you, if you did not return coin. plus I would not verify anything to you.

 

I just thought it was strange that he would say that in an email.

 

Isn't this seller innocent until proven guilty? Send the coin in to get verified and then start the accusations if it comes back as a fake. OR.... stop buying coins you can't authenticate.

 

Not trying to be rude but if he doesn't know it's a fake, and you don't know for sure, how is he at fault or why should he give a refund?

 

No offense taken. I'll probably just send it back. Thanks.

 

Return the coin, make sure you get tracking to know it was delivered. Get your refund. It's that simple.

 

just get your money back or do a acid tes to checkif it turns green its bad if it don't turn green its good

 

If you alter the coin, the seller may make a stink about returning the money. Do y'all have any idea how many fake Trade Dollars there are? There's absolutely no point in trying to police the sale of fakes unless you have the resources of the Secret Service, and they can't even scratch the surface.

 

Sounds like a job for the hobby ambassador.

 

We need to get him a plastic badge and a pop-gun for Christmas.

 

the best coin collecting advice I will give

DONT BUY RAW COINS OFF OF EBAY, DONT BUY COINS OFF OF SOME ONE YOU CANNOT BACK TRACK TO OR GET A REFUND FROM>>>

 

I don't mean to be an azz but stop now while you can
, get your money back to many Chinese fakes..

 

That's actually bad advice. A buyer on eBay can ALWAYS return an item for a refund, regardless of what the seller says or what his return policy is. However, if you can prove the coin is counterfeit, then you will automatically get a refund and you do NOT have to return the coin. That's eBay's policy on counterfeit items. Buying raw coins on eBay is 100% safe... if you are not satisfied with the purchase, just return it.

 

If you paid through paypal and are within the time limits, start a report process. Paypal will freeze his money until he responds with a satisfactory answer. Get your money, send the coin back to be fair to him, if he says he didnt know. If he then relists it as a fake, then let him. If he sells it again as genuine then report him and leave it to someone else to deal with.
Buy from ebay, its great, but if it looks too good to be true, then unless you know your onions, leave it well alone.
well thats that dealt with then......next.!

 

DON'T return a counterfeit coin, ever. Here's an excerpt from eBay's policy on fakes:

If a buyer suspects that an item is counterfeit and there are strong indicators that the item is counterfeit, the buyer isn't required to return the item to the seller. The buyer agrees to cooperate with us to ensure the proper disposal of the item. In these cases, we refund the buyer for the full cost of the item and original shipping, and the seller reimburses us for the refund. The buyer may not sell the item on eBay or elsewhere.

 

Pragmatically, I would return it. If they buyer could not get on the stand and prove to a court they have the expertise to determine 100% the genuineness of an item, I do not think they have any place keeping what they THINK is a fake.

If it was sent in for grading and came back questionable authenticity, then that is different. If the buyer is actually a professional dealer in this type of coin, or is a collector who wrote an authorative guide on the series, then maybe. Just some average collector, (including myself), I do not think they have the credentials to guarantee its a fake. Therefor, just send it back for a refund.