How should I leave feedback?

I'm asking for your all's opinion.

I purchased a 1919 wheat cent off eBay for 99c shipped.

Since it was just 99c, I didn't expect the seller to put delivery confirmation on it.

However when I got it, the coin was taped to a piece of paper.

I thought maybe just one layer of tape was holding the coin to the paper.

Nope. The coin has been wrapped about 5 times in tape. There is no way to remove the tape without damaging the coin.

I was thinking of just leaving a neutral saying "Coin was wrapped in several layers of non-removeable tape".

But, before jumping the gun, I want your opinion.

 

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I'd leave a negative because the coin is meant to be collected and taping it ruins the value. Maybe I'm just strange, but if you are selling a coin as a collectible, why would you send it as though it's not?

 

Who in their right mind would wrap a coin in tape like you describe? They must have no idea what they are doing. I would first contact the seller and see if he/she has another coin to replace the one sent to you. You may also want to educate them on how to properly send coins. Based on their response, I would then determine how to proceed. If they do not make it right, then leave the feedback you feel is appropriate at that point. Good luck. Keep us posted on how it goes. TC

 

Lol

 

Well after being very careful with a razor I was able to get the tape off.

I think I will just leave a neutral saying "please do not wrap coins in tape". Neutrals don't hurt or help, they are kind of a "meh".

 

But imagine how many other people have been put in you position. If you tell him what he did wrong, he might change and then no one else will have to deal with it.

 

Definitely a negative. Wrapping a coin in tape is unprofessional.

 

Here is what I emailed.
For future reference, please do not wrap coins in tape. This makes them difficult to remove, and can sometimes damage the coin itself. Also please do not send coins in a regular envelope as the sorting machines can often remove the coin from the envelope. Thank you.

 

Goo Gone will remove a tape residue.
Would have safely removed the tape too, if you waited long enough.
Goo Gone is great for that type of stuff.

 

What kind of tape was it, that it needed a razor rather than just peeling it off. Unless it had been taped for an extended period of time, there should be no damage. If the tape was alcohol based adhesive, 95% isopropyl would remove any reside, and if other, acetone would. It must be a well circulated coin.

Tape does the damage when it is on so long that it allows a different toning, or if the tape is a water based solvent or a saliva based one. Otherwise I really wouldn't waste efforts to complain. After all he probably made 30 cents for his efforts of putting it up for sale, seems desperate to me, and wanted to be sure the coin didn't escape the envelope and then you would have a real good reason.

 

I have wondered why communication after a sale is almost limited to just feedback. I often buy badly cut , but inexpensive gemstones from Thailand and other countries for re-cuts, and they do offer regular mail ( sometime free), but usually also registered for a buck or so more ( not like the US fee), or FedEx for $30 more if you need it in 2 days. Once I forgot to click the registered option, and the dealer wrote me and suggested I do so as many foreign postal services are rampant with thieves, and I wrote back and said Thanks, yes please.

If I was trying to sell a coin, postpaid, for a possible .99 cents, I wouldn't just write "standard shipping" in my ad, but add an option of a padded mailing envelope with coin in a sealed plastic flip, with a delivery verification for $4.00.

If the deal I found is the one in question, the mailing part just said standard delivery which would be in any envelope, secured in minimal fashion. IMO.

 

Detecto,

This e-mail was spot on. At .99 cents it is not like he is ripping you off, he most likely just doesn't know, so I believe a nudge in the right direction is appropriate. No need to leave a neg when you freed your coin safely. No harm, no foul. The seller should just realize he is dealing with a collectable and it should be treated like one even if it is only 99 cents. Hopefully he will listen

Mike

 

My rule is, before you ever leave negative feedback (and even neutral in most cases), always contact the seller first to work it out. Surprises can get ugly and the seller should have the right to correct themselves in any mistakes made before feedback that can impact them is left.

I left positive feedback to a seller who I bought a $1.50 IHC from and never received (I waited like 4 weeks before contacting them). They seemed genuine in their response, offered refund, etc. I said no worries since it was only a $1.50 and the price of a stamp. The funny thing was, I purchased it back in October of 2011, I actually received it last week. I was laughing when I got it, it was a surprise. I contacted the seller to tell them the good news that it was likely stuck in the postman's seat and it was just found to be delivered.

 

I think neutral or negative feedback would be an overreaction. I've purchased a lot of coins that were taped to a piece of paper, and I might tell them that they shouldn't do that, but I don't leave negative feedback. A lot of people who sell coins aren't collectors and don't know any better. Many times sellers will offer you a refund if you don't like something about it, so you should definitely contact them first. Of all the coins I've had that were taped on, none of them ever seemed damaged to me. I think Desertgem is right that a few days don't hurt it any.

It's hard for a person who sells low value items to know what to do, because many people who buy an item for 99 cents also want to pay low shipping, because they're trying to save money. Then someone else comes along who wants it wrapped in bubble wrap inside a bubble mailer with delivery confirmation and is willing to pay for that. With that range of customers, it's hard to make everyone happy. Personally, I'd rather it be shipped cheap, but I know many on here disagree.

 

Not only tape residue - but can be used on some glues also. I used it yesterday to remove some sort of elmer's type glue off of a '22 Peace dollar. Apparently a previous owner glued it to a board or something.

For the OP I would see how the seller responds before leaving any feedback. They might offer a refund, and learn from the experience - no harm no foul. Otherwise if they don't respond or are negative then I would leave appropriate feedback.

 

Talk to the seller first.
I wouldn't neg a person, and have that stick with them forever over a .99c transaction.
Sure, they shouldn't have done it, but give 'em a chance.

 

Give them the link to this thread and send them on a learning experience.

 

I can't believe the things people leave negative feedback for. For example, there's a guy that sells wheat pennies that are advertised as worn, spotted and dark. He sells them with free shipping and they usually go for 6-11 cents each. A few people have left him negative feedback because it took him a week to ship, or the penny wasn't as nice as they were hoping. Unbelievable. Negative feedbacks for pennies that people paid $0.06 for.

As has been mentioned a few times already, don't leave negative feedback for a penny that only cost you $0.99. Contact him and politely advise him not to tape the collectible coins he sells.

 

I left a neutral.

From looking at listings this sellers seems inexperienced. I don't want to damage his/her account for a 99c item. I was banned from eBay because someone negged me for a 99c item, which I even provided a refund.

A neutral won't do any damage, and would make other buyers aware.

EDIT: I left a positive. I usually leave feedback en masse, accidentally left the seller a positive. Oh well.