To refund or not?

I am a part time buyer and seller on ebay. I had a customer just email me saying he bought a $1 gold coin from me last December, and just tried grading it with ANACS and it came back fake. I do my best to avoid buying and selling fakes, but occasionally one will fool me, and I always try to honor my refund policy. The problem is, the sale was so long ago that no pictures exist anymore to compare it to and make sure he is returning the same coin. What would you do?

 

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A year? I'm sorry but a year is too long.

 

Make the refund and take the return. Statistically, the story is more likely to be true than false.

Additionally the buyer is relying only on your goodwill, there is no way they can enforce a refund. Your average petty crook considers everyone has the same outlook as they do, and would have done any swapping in a timeframe that would have left them some leverage.

You can play it hardball, you'd get away with it, no problem, but in general it would not be the right thing to do. The refund would be the honourable thing to do.

 

Do everything possible to find the pictures. I managed to find pics of auctions ended years ago. Any details help - title, description, ebay listing number...try find those. Call ebay most likely they stored the pics. PM me your ebay id I'll try to make a search. Ask buyer for proof coin is counterfeit by ANACS. Don't refund anything until you are sure you sold a fake, or at least until you have done everything possible to find out about that.

 

Most dealers unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of the coins they sell. Time is not--nor should it ever be--a factor.

 

I have the auction number, but ebay and auctiva both have deleted the pics. Maybe I can call them and see if they can pull them out somehow. I agree I need to refund if I can verify it is the same coin, but most places that have guarantees make sure to have a way to verify it is the same.

 

While the buyer may be being honest, once a coin has been out of your hands for that long it's impossible to tell. He could have found a fake and may be trying to substitute it, no way to tell. You are under no obligation at this point. No bad feedback can be left either. I've read the other posts and some of what is said is true and some over the top for customer satisfaction. Always best when selling that you state "if coin is removed from holder it is not returnable". If I had made this purchase, I would have taken to a reliable dealer asap to make sure I had a genuine coin in hand. Not wait one year. IMHO.

 

Tough one. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as the seller, wouldn't you have to take the return if the coin turns out to be fake (not necessarily eBay policy but as matter of law). While it may be easy to prove the coin the buyer has in his possession is indeed fake, it's going to be a tough sell to prove the coin he claims is fake came from you (as opposed to the buyer pulling a switch). Unfortunately, you may be the one forced to prove the coin you sold him was actually the real McCoy. Good luck with this one.

 

Thinking back some time ago, maybe 15 years, I purchased a $2.50 gold piece from a local dealer. Just sent it out to ANAC's about a month ago. It came back the correct grade but listed as details "Former Jewellery,Cleaned". My fault for not asking for another opinion back then and I certainly would not go back to this dealer at this point and blame him. I'm better educated now and know better.

 

I think the law would have to prove"Intention" and if it's from another state that does not prosecute across lines, not to mention the cost involved with a suit, it would seem impractical at this point.

 

Ask him to provide pictures because you really need to see the coin. IF you can tell its an obvious fake from his photographs, then its a good possibility that you didn't sell it to him.

From now on, keep photo's of everything.

 

No refund should be granted.

 

I agree with this.

 

This isn't going to be too helpful but I think you could go either way on it personally. I think you just have to go with what your gut tells you. A year is a really long time, but if you feel morally inclined then that is very respectable as well. Just make sure if you do decide to accept the return you can somehow verify its a legit story.

I once bought a fake gold coin from an antique store (bad idea!) and I sent it to NGC, came back as a fake. Luckily the guy was willing to accept the return and I was very grateful for it, but I was prepared to eat my loss as well.

 

I would agree you need to keep photos. A good dealer will accept returns if the coin is fake, but usually require it to still be in the dealer's packaging. Since the seller by definition of having it slabbed removed it from the packaging, he invalidated this IMHO. So, the correct thing to do to me would be to accept returns if its in your packaging, he can prove he bought it from you, or it was sold recently. A year later, not in your packaging, without proof it was the specific coin you sold him, is asking a lot of you IMHO.

 

If you see it in hand would you remember if this is the same coin? Offer to pay all shipping. Inspect it and refund if it's the same coin. If not same coin, pay for return shipping, and forget about it.

 

I'm not entirely sure that I could work out which coin came from whom after a year. I think that I would be somewhat philosophical about it if I had left it that long.

 

a year later. no way. this guy wants christmas money.

 

If the coin you sold him turns out to be fake, you should refund even if it's been 10 years. That's what I would to. But first, you need to know for sure your coin is the same coin ANACS think it's counterfeit.