This is a seller I bumped into when looking at a coin on eBay that looked very familiar to me . . . eBay item 134505802807. Here’s a link to the coin I was thinking of. I wonder how many of the other coins in this seller’s store are similarly offered.
I learned to avoid sellers that I hadn't done business with in the past; especially when bidding bigger numbers. Years ago I passed on bidding on a 1926-S buffalo since the photos of the coin in it's NGC slab were bad. It was almost impossible to discern the cert #. I messaged the seller about providing me with the cert # but got no response. I just wanted to match it with the NGC app. Even if I got a valid cert # the poor image quality couldn't convince me that the slab and coin were legit.
He even listed it as the same serial number and co-opted some of my descriptive text. He listed it for a grand more than on my site, so I don’t know if he’s just marking up other seller’s coins, and then buying them only if they sell out of his store . . .
Mark it up to $6,495 for the time being. If this is what they are doing, then maybe that'll teach them not to target your shop
After some investigation, it turns out that this seller is a guy that I sold a coin to for the first time on Friday night, although that was a completely different coin. He told me he'd be back for more purchases, but he may be getting a bit ahead of himself.
Like when I see coins sell in auctions, then see them on Ebay the next day with a BIN that is double what they just paid. I try not to be too judgmental about how people make money, but I can't help thinking that this type of thing seems a bit scummy. But ya, basically drop-shipping somebody else's inventory, that'd be a whole other level.
It's one thing to broker for someone else so long as amicable prior agreements are in place but to rip off someone else's pics / marketing is pretty low. Quite the markup on some of that inventory.
Yeah, it's been recored here at CT, that there are people that will "sell" a coin they don't yet own, then try to purchase it at the lower price, then ship it to the new "buyer" for a profit, which may be happening here.
This guy just called me today (at work, which I'd already informed him I prefer he not do), and told me the coin I sold him Friday (ANACS graded) arrived, holder broken. This coin was quite expensive, and packaged no differently than I package other high value coins, and I'm surprised that the holder is broken. I've asked for photos, as I don't yet know if this means the coin is removable from the holder or not. My return privilege clearly states, "We ask that merchandise returned to ToughCOINS® be fully insured and returned by the same shipping method originally used when delivered to you. To be eligible for a refund, coins must be returned in their original unopened, undamaged holders, and be sent back within 14 days of receipt." Clearly this guy's past actions demonstrate a willingness to take advantage of others, and I'm concerned he may switch coins on me. I'm not feeling very chipper right now . . .
If possible, get your coin back, then give him his money back. Then tell him to go find a river to jump in.
I hate to be such a cynic but, when someone describes a holder as broken, I take that to mean one piece has been made into two or more. It turns out that, in this case, the holder simply has a few cracks in the edge, and the halves are not separable. I am now less worried about coin-swapping.
He insisted on using PayPal instead of a check or MO . . . refunding him for this purchase will take $245 out of my hide, unless I issue a partial refund instead. Ugh!
"A few cracks in the edge" reminds me of that guy being sued by NGC for substituting coins into their holders. A photo of one of the holders showed... a few cracks in the edge. I've never dealt with selling any coins but I'd sure be wary of what's going on here, the guy sounds like a sleazebag. Do you have images good enough to ID the exact coin you sold him?
