I was a recent bidder on Facebook for a 1908-D Barber half, about an XF. Before my 2nd bid I researched comparisons on eBay. Ironically, I found the *exact* same coin that sold for $103.51 ==> http://www.ebay.com/itm/1908-D-Barb...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 I'm confident it was the same because on the FB post it had the exact same images. Rotated slightly the same, same scratches, dark spots here and there and the exact same lighting; same texture patterns in the same place for the background, etc. Then the seller had it "in hand" and took other photos of it. wow, what a difference. I swear it was a different coin. That lighting aspect really opened my eyes on how sellers can make something seem as it's not. Anyways, I was the high bidder at $45. The seller put a reserve on it of $80. was trying to peddle it as easily a $110 coin. Ironically looking at the eBay auction a *new* ebayer started at $80 and pushed the price up above the other bidder who stopped. I looked at the 3 bidding items that bidder bidded on and they were all on the same seller. Pushing the price up where they won, or stopped bidding as the price went up further with other bidders. But on facebook, I initially thought that I find it odd that the seller would sell it for less than he bought it for? But after looking further I really don't think he bought it, just couldn't push the price up on eBay. I was going to post the Facebook listing here too but it has been deleted from last night to this morning. I think I have a few pics for comparison though that I have to find. Is this a common thing to occur ? Also, can lighting tricks make a coin look much better than it is?
Yes. No need to elaborate; whatever the question regarding frequency or creativity of scams, yes, it happens enough to be a fair percentage of total sales. You can make a coin look like anything you want it to with lighting, and you can make it even moreso in postprocessing. And keep in mind, that was only ten minutes' work and I deliberately left ample clues of the doctoring. Imagine if I took my time and did a good job....
Obviously eBay has a money back guarantee though. I would imagine you could never loose on eBay. I couldn't say though, never been scammed before.
But No all ebay is guarantee for your refund. I know for the fact just a few months ago. I bid on an item and I didn't read it carefully and the seller will Not take return and also didn't refunded me. So it is always good to read everything carefully before making the bid or buy on ebay. Also Yes there are many scams on ebay as well.
lol that's the first time I've come across this, though the first time I've really looked too. I was curious why the coin was sold on eBay and then immediately showed up on facebook, then I saw the one new buyer. I'm guessing the seller just cancels or the fake buyer cancels as I'm assuming it's the same person ?
For all we know, nobody involved in any of the sales you're discussing actually has the coin. It's that bad.
lol. The coin "in hand" looked like this - zoomed in to look at details versus in the FB pic, which was the same as the eBay pic
It was on this one, but was removed ==> https://www.facebook.com/groups/298597203648789/ Other bidding pages on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/roundemupforum/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/408165219394298/ and there's many more ...
They are the same coin but the pictures/lighting are very different. Look on the shield. In the first picture you can see two clear lines or scrapes down through the horizontal lines in the right half of the shield. Also in the vertical lines you can see a diagonal "scrape" from just above the center of the shield to the bottom of the second white stripe from the right. There is another one roughly parallel to it that ends at the bottom of the second red stripe from the right. The coin in the second picture has thos same scrapes, same locations but they are fainter due to the photography. The right hand scrape in the horizontal lines and the upper diagonal line in the vertical stripes are the most visible but all four are there on both coins.
I cannot imagine trying to purchase un-graded Numastics on Ebay. Your average seller just doesn't have the camera skills for close up photography. The one exception would be large dealers selling on ebay ie. Apex MCM. Likely, he was too lazy to take a close up picture of coin and just reused another picture off Internet. I have sold eBay and have borrowed other people's pictures of items if identical...But not for coins! I love to shop coins on ebay, but usually only for bullion, slabbed, or modern coins in original packaging. Best advice is to look for seller with long history and lots of past transaction with good rating. EBay is good at getting rid of bad sellers once discover them and has very strict policies. My mom sells clothes full time for almost 10 years, so I know it is hard for sellers to get away with cons and keep their account.
