This thread is nothing other than a rant of my most recent Ebay fail. Being about an hour and a half from a dealer, I do rely heavily on Ebay for my purchases. Through the years, I would like to think I have learned how to tell a fairly good photo and I do have a process for what I would deem an acceptable photo for the sale. Enters this half dollar. I was looking for XF for this particular date and mint. The photos all seem to suggest it to be good and the pictures looked reasonable, price point was not bad, so yeah, I took a chance. When it arrived I have to say the surface is not quite right in my eye and then, if you tilt at an angle, you see that nice scratch in the field on the right of Lady Liberty. What a bummer to say the least. And to answer the question: that is the seller's flip. I believed it to be potentially XF on purchase...$30 and not $75! What can I say? of the past 20 purchases, if I lose on 1 I guess it is not too bad. It is just the game I must play buying online. It will certainly just be a place holder for now and will be upgraded by the time the set is complete.
We all have some eBay fails over the years. If you did well 19 out of 20 times, I'd say that is quite impressive!
I think it depends on how the seller described the coin. Did they mention it was likely a details coin? Did they disclose the scratch? Was it from a coin seller or just being sold along with a bunch of unrelated items. Sometimes we have to own up and accept that a gamble didn't pay off. It isn't the seller's fault that a buyer figured a coin to be better than the picture. Of course if there was any deception or outright untruths, then returns are warranted.
He does have a return policy, but for the price, I think I'll just keep it. I am a skeptic. Who is to say I return it, but he says he never got it and I am still out the money for it. For the price I paid, I'll just keep it and learn from it. Thanks for allowing me to rant.
Ebay has an excellent return policy. If the seller was deceptive in any way or it is not what you expected, consider returning the coin. Good luck in your decision.
The problem is pics can be deceiving, as light and angle have allot to do with it, and when you do get the coin you have the situation your facing now, if you dont have that particular year in your collection, you can always use it as filler until the right one comes along
I usually keep the coins too. However, I think I'd return this one. I've gotten quite a few BU's as of late with the undisclosed staple scratch. So you keep it, later dump it as scratched and lose $? Don't settle for pricey junk.
IMO if you think the coin would grade as labeled, you need to get the ANA Grading Standards Guidebook. The left hand appears to be missing as are most of the gown lines. I see it as VF.
The scratch would really bother me. I would return it with a message to seller that the scratch didn't show up in the photos.
I understand why you bought on eBay, not having a dealer near you, but IMHO buying at shows or at your LCS is way better because you can see the coin in hand. Plus you don't have to pay shipping. Just my 2-cent piece worth.
