What is your experience with this firm? Just wondering. Here's my story... none of this is they're fault whatsoever. I ordered an 1812 bust half that is on the way. However it is late which isn't they're fault. They shipped on time. While checking my order status today I noticed the pic is still online and "for sale". This raised alarm so I read some policy details and discovered they use stock pics. If I wanted the exact coin I was to specify...I did not. Again...not they're fault. So those of you who have used them ,how was your Coin? I actually found them from a mention on this site. I don't think I would have ordered had I made myself aware I was looking at a stock pic. But who knows maybe I'll get a coin that I like better?
I've ordered from them a few times without any issue; however, I've never ordered a single/specific coin from them. Always been a set or grab bag. My experience with L&C has been perfectly fine.
I prefer ordering from dealers that use actual photographs and will send additional ones if you need them.
I have bought a number of coins from L&C. Matter of fact I bought one last night. I look and then bookmark anything I'm interested in and then, after a couple of days, use the bookmark to look again. This keeps me from making impulse purchases. The coin bought last night had IN STOCK under the pic. I just went back to it and now has OUT OF STOCK underneath the pic. I had never read the info about stock photos so here is my best guess. Maybe they have multiples of the coin you bought. Same grade, same TPG. The difference between the coin you bought and the one being shown now for sale would show up on the obverse of the slab if they haven't covered it up with an inventory sticker. Be patient. I have two other coins on the way that USPS got on the 16th. USPS tells me it is late! This is not the first time this has happened. Their customer service has been excellent.
A coin like this, I want to see a good picture of the coin I'm buying before I purchase. I once did the same thing on Ebay, (not sure who the seller was), got a coin that was a different die marriage and less attractive than the pictured coin. When I contacted them, they pointed out the stock picture clause. They were gracious about the return though. Hopefully you are happy with the coin you get.
Mine is a raw 1812 cap bust. It still displays the pic and reads add to cart. So your probably right. They have multiple in stock. We'll see what happens....I'm not terribly worried about it unless they send me a crappy coin. I think as long as the tone is right (I'm picky) and it's a VF ...all should be good. If not ..i now know how to use they're site for further purchases. Because they're pricing is actually not bad. If it's close but not exactly what I want...than I'll just flip it and move on.
My only purchase from them was 2 years ago, via ebay. I had the same concern about their stock image language. I sent them a message asking if the one I was interested in was the exact coin pictured, they said yes, I bought it, I was happy. Mine was a slabbed coin. In your case, they're raw, they have 3 categories for 1812: choice F, F, and VF, showing 2, >10, and 2 available. Their blurb says "We welcome inquiries to see if the exact coin pictured is in stock. In many cases, if it is not, we will post new photos of a current coin in inventory upon request. If you want to purchase the exact coin pictured, please request it in the order comments during checkout". So I would have asked first, but if you're not happy they'll probably make it right.
I think the use of stock photos is at best extremely lazy, and typically a sign of an unethical dealer. Perhaps if the dealer is selling cheap modern proofs or bullion where the value is intrinsic, then ok, but to sell a 200 year old coin with a stock photo is inherently deceptive IMO.
It bothers me about them but I don't perceive it as unethical - just lack of time/lazy. Look at their website (non-ebay) Barber dime inventory, for example, and see how many are "no image available" - these are specific 1 in stock coins. It did put me off shopping there, since I'm looking for specific varieties, not some widget.
I first bought coins L&C had for sale from a coin world ad in 1975. They have been around a long time. Never had any problems from them. That's way before Ebay and the internet for that matter.
I've never had any problems and I've gotten some great coins. As I remember every coin was in a slab but that was what I was buying at the time.
Update: The 2 top pic are what I received today. The bottom pic is the stock photo I purchased from. I honestly haven't decided how o feel about the coin. It actually has better feathers . It is also much darker than I anticipated which makes 50C almost not detectable with the naked eye. It's there though..a smudge weak? I just wanna refrain from making a judgement to quick on how this panned out on me. Open to comments however.
