eBay problems..... Proof coin.... or just a polished coin

Alright, so I bid on a 1941 Mercury Dime that claims the coin is either a proof or proof like coin. I get the coin. It's polished.

I contact the seller stating the coin is not a proof or proof like and tell him it's been polished.

This is his response...

Did you read the auction? In the title it even states a bunch of question marks after the word proof - in the description it states I dont know if its a proof or not to check the pics etc...No where in the auction did I state the coin was indeed a proof so I am not sure what your expecting me to do -


Now I've only left 1 negative feedback in my entire eBay history, and I didn't pay much for this coin but given that response from the seller, I'm starting to wondering if maybe I should.

Here is my response to his email...


From the actual listing....


Up for your consideration is a 1941 Mercury Dime Proof or Proof-like Coin. These proofs if this indeed one (Will let you be the judge as I can never tell the difference between proof and proof-like) are rare and would add to any collection.

I don't see how you can say you never said it was a proof in the title or the description. In the first two lines of the description it says proof 3 times. Even if it is not a proof, you state it is proof LIKE, it doesn't say anything about the coin being polished. If you can't tell the difference between a proof and a polished coin you shouldn't be selling coins.


What do you think...??

 

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I was about to say it was your fault for buying with such lousy pictures, but then I found this under his "ME";

I think he deserves a negative.

BTW, the 2X2 says "PROOF". It does not say proof?

 

I think there are a lot of people who believe they can pass off a polished coin as "proof-like". And, of course, there are some who honestly don't know the difference.

I think you've pretty much shot your chance for an amicable resolution with the line about "you shouldn't be selling coins". File for Not As Described, pointing out that the coin was described as "proof-like" but was actually "damaged" (polished). It's unlikely that eBay will decide against you, and the seller will learn something about selling on eBay.

Edit: Okay, I went and found the auction after reading the other response. I'm a big fan of eBay gambles on bad photos, but looking at those shots -- especially the reverse -- I'm not sure what you were thinking. You can barely see the fasces, never mind the bands.

 

I was hoping it was just a reflection in the middle of the reverse.

 

LInk

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1941-PROOF-Mercury-Silver-Dime-SCARCE-90-Silver-Coin-/390599132952?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item5af185c718&nma=true&si=nA8%252FP7PW53eHdO7ekXPkwBE5kf0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Seller exclusively sells coins (and a lot of them) but even from the mediocre photos you can see its probably not a proof. The 2x2 says "proof", description says it is proof or proof-like, and it is neither. This looks like an attempt to disguise a polished coin, not a honest mistake... The options would be returning, asking for partial refund, leaving neutral, leaving negative. Up to OP what to do next.

 

Looking at the auction photos it's clear it was polished...

 

I always take a sellers opinion as proof or proof like with a grain of salt when it comes to older coins. Regardless of his question marks he described the coin as either a proof or proof like. It was neither. He said it's hard for him to determine between the 2 making a reader believe it was one or the other. I wouldn't have bought that based on the pictures, but i don't think you are out of line questioning the seller. Regardless whether his intentions were to deceive or not, the item isn't as described.

And his return policy says he will only refund the coins melt value regardless of price paid. Note to self never to buy from this guy.

 

The seller offers a 14-day return for money back. Send it back and open a dispute, if needed. Regardless, did you have your beer goggles on when you looked at this listing?

 

not a proof, and damaged.

 

That's what got my attention.

I know that if it is SNAD, then FeeBay will refund the full amount, but the fact that he's putting this out there tells you a lot about him as a seller.

Of course, there's other things that raise a flag too. Like that he requires same day payment because of fluctuating PM prices. He provides an example of an auction closing at 11PM, and payment would be due by 11:59PM. Then when you look at his return policy, it states that after the item is received and inspected, a refund will be issued within five business days.

All of this doesn't exactly reinforce his statement: "What I take pride in most is my dedication to my customers".

 

Looks like you gambled on a bad picture and lost. You can't place all the blame on the seller.

 

This is not meant to defend the seller (appears to be nothing more than another ebay dreck peddler of the type that should always be avoided), but I am having a hard time believing that the OP did not know full well the coin is junk and was just taking a shot-in-the-dark gamble. Had it been the impaired proof hoped for, all would be fine and he surely would be pleased as punch, but since it is not, it seems that he wants to place blame and cover his losses.


If the OP was fresh to the game and had actually taken the seller’s claim at face value, I would be all for a neg, but he has been here long enough for us to know that this is simply not the case. I could not care less about the feedback this type of seller receives, but the OP needs to accept that he gambled and lost. He could leave a neutral and mention the poor customer service if this will make him feel better, but he need to accept some level of responsibility for his poor choices which resulted in a bad buy.

 

I bought a scratch off Lottery ticket a while back.. on the front of the ticket it said I could win $300,000. I scratched off the ticket and won nothing.. Dang lottery game is a ripoff.

If you can not see that this coin was polished in the pictures, you need the set of trifocals I am wearing more that I do! $5.00 for even an impaired proof 1941 Merc would of been a steal.. $5.00 for a bullion 90% dime, not so much.. I would frame it, put it next to my computer monitor just to keep reminding me how dumb of a gambler I am..

 

Obvious a seller to avoid... here's another "proof-like" coin he sold, but at least he states the possibility it may have been polished.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1930-P-Standing-Liberty-Quarter-PROOF-LIKE-90-Silver-Coin-STUNNING-Not-Junk-/161034646681?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item257e69b499&nma=true&si=s66e%252BAB1Z%252B4gupLnhRFxlb8rl%252B4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Perhaps the term he's looking for is "FOOL-PROOF".

 

Yes he mentions Proof three times, but he never states that it IS a proof and in fact the language specifically raises doubts. "proof or Proof-like", "These proofs, if this is one" and "I can never tell the difference between proof and proof-like". This tells me the chance of it actually being a proof is very slight. You took a long shot gamble and lost.

As Fall Guy points out his return policy is very interesting, a 14 day money back return policy, but only of the melt value of the coin. "I'm selling a proof mercury dime and if you aren't satisfied just return it with 14 days and get scrap value back."

 

lol :d

 

Yes, he offer to refund me $1 in his latest email message. Which is still 60 cents under melt.

Like I said I didn't pay much for it so I'm not that concerned but it just bothered me how his response was in the message. Yes, I took a gamble with what I thought was bad pictures, but offering a proof or proof like coin and when I tell him it was polished I get attitude. I've been selling on eBay for years and I've never handled a situation like that. I guess it's just me.

Maybe not a negative but most certainly not a positive.

 

question is how does he have 99.8 and 2000 plus feedbacks