You think I'd be happy to get 25 nice coins in the mail.....

Except I was the high bidder on only one.... When I received the auction house's package (from Europe and I'm in the US) I immediately knew something was wrong simply because it was so heavy. Not terribly expensive items but worth at least five or six times my winning bid. And no, my coin was not there.

I realize everyone makes mistakes but I'm wondering what I should say in my email to them tomorrow. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but packaging and shipping the coins back will cost me at least an hour of my time. I'll also have to lay out $ to ship the coins back. (I don't have packing materials + the drive to and from my post office which is very small and very busy)

In the summer I work from 6am to 6pm, I don't even know how I'll get them to the post office. Anyway, perhaps I'm just venting but what should I expect from them?

Glad to hear opinions,

Nemo

 

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"Thanks"?

Seriously, I bet they will give you their FedEx/DHL account number and gladly pay for the return. Pretty funny story though!

 

Hehehe, I must admit it went through my mind for a second or two

 

How many dollars are we talking about?

 

True story, I won an auction on a nickel a while back, when I got the package, it was a whole roll. I sent them a message that they had sent the wrong thing and they apologized, refunded all of my money, and told me to keep them for my trouble. There were a couple in the roll nicer than the one I won.

 

My coin was probably around $300. The lot I got has one nice tet worth around $700 or so. The rest of the coins aren't in my collecting area but I would guess they're worth another $1000 or so.
I'm surprised they haven't contacted me yet. Whoever got my coin should be more upset than me.

 

If it were me, I would expect compensation for shipping, plus materials, plus my time. But regardless, I would send them back if they only pay for the shipping. My conscience wouldn't allow me to do otherwise. I've been told that I'm honest to a fault.

 

I ordered a "cartwheel" a 1797 2 pence coin from an e-bay dealer. When I got the coin, I knew something was wrong...the weight and diameter fit a 1 pence coin. I e-mailed the dealer and said I would return the 1 pence and please send me my 2 pence. He responded that he shipped the wrong coin and didn't have any more 2 pence coins, so here is a refund, keep the coin.

 

Agreed - if I were them, I'd pay for all of the above, refund your shipping costs, and throw in a bit extra as well. Mistakes happen but we'll soon see just how well versed at customer care this auction house is!

 

let us know what happens nemo.

they pay for the shipping for returning the coins and refund the shipping/fees you paid for the coin your ordered. that's what i would do i think.

 

I'll post their reply when I get it.

My wife jokingly said I should email them and say they "inadvertently sent me three coins. How should I return them?" Frankly I think their goose would be cooked if I were that sort of person.

 

One time, I won a 1953 1 shilling in VF condition from a seller in europe, I paid about $0.5 in fake online credits for it, and I got the envelope in the mail, with a USPS thing that said that the mail was damaged, the envelope was obviousally water logged. Because it was not form a company, and it was not the sellers falt, I just did not worry about it.

 

I was taught by a Mentor early in my career: "Always do things as if you were doing them for or with your Mother." "Honesty and Integrity" is the only consideration. Period.

 

I hope it all works out for you in the end Nemo and you get the coin you won.

A very well known dealer once sent me a package of coins I did not order. I contacted them about the mix-up and he replied the buyer and I share the same last name, so he got us confused. I sent the coins back and was given store credit on my next purchase for the hassle. Years later I got a PM on Forvm from someone asking me questions about Flavian coins. He had the same last name as me. I asked him if he ever purchased coins from the dealer in question and if he ever had a miss-shipment from them, he replied yes. I told him I was the one who received the coins by mistake. We both got a nice chuckle out of it, small world and all.

 

That's a great story! I'm sure it will get straightened out. Now, if this had been a group of Flavian rarities or an EID MAR....

But seriously, one time I found an expensive pair of sunglasses that someone had left behind on the beach, they fit me perfectly. It bothered me every time I wore them that somebody else paid for them and that perhaps there was something I could have done to find the owner. For a certainty these will be returned.

It would have been interesting if they were destined for someone on this forum!

 

Last year i bought a raw B.U. 1881s morgan from a guy on ebay, he sent a raw B.U. 1891s by mistake, when i let him know about the mistake he was pretty happy, i sent it back and he sent the 1881s and some extras, as a thank you.

 

Karma.

I would do everything within my power to return the coins and not seek any compensation for my time and effort beyond the postage costs. This is just a common courtesy.

I also make mistakes and it feels wonderful when someone catches it and makes it right for me. It happens quite often in large dealer-to-dealer transactions.

The next time, it may be you making the mistake and it may not be in your favor.

 

You are correct. One should not have to seek recompense beyond the cost of shipping. However, I would expect something more than just a thank you.

 

I would contact the dealer to make arrangements for returning the coins on their nickel. I would wager that the auction house will bend over backwards to straighten out their mistake. Imagine the frustration of the rightful auction winners who are waiting for a package in the mail. My conscience would not allow me to keep them.