Thoughts on Heritage

Don't you mean 425... 425.00 x 1.175 = 499.38 ??

 

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It all is, it's just that not everyone has the leverage to get part of the buyers premium from them

 

Are you looking for a life partner? I'll need your SS# and address to do a back ground check... LOL... just kidding of course.

 

Yes. I had 15% in my mind which is what the Heritage buyer's premium was before the increase to 17.5%.

 

Just wanted to add, I bought this 1881 CC ms65 from Heritage in April and it's one of my favorite Carson's...I probably paid too much but am very pleased.

 

The shipping fee is also very expensive, around 50 dollars.

 

The total depends on the price realized.
https://www.ha.com/c/shipping.zx

 

I've paid no additional shipping fee with Heritage...and none with DLRC.

 

I am more an observer than a buyer, but I have seen many fine collections (numismatic and otherwise) get sold at Heritage. More times than not, the coins get strong bids. Sometimes, however, a large collection for auction means some nice coins will "slip through" for a very fair price.

If nothing else, Heritage has a great data base against which to compare future purchases.

 

I guess all depends on the value of the coin in question. I have never examined an online auction coin in person before bidding on it. I suppose if I had deep pockets and could afford a truly expensive coin I'd want to see it first. I don't have an "agent" to look out for me but suppose if I could afford high priced coins it would be something I'd consider. Given my budget it's only a pipe dream.

 

My only issue with Heritage is their no return policy. Dealers and Ebay (and of course dealers selling on Ebay) often allow returns on items in auctions. I've bought several coins in Heritage Auctions - one of them had a problem and when I brought it to Heritage's attention they did respond, but wouldn't let me return it. Instead they offered to send it to PCGS and have the problem resolved, which of course changed the coin. I wound up selling it without a loss, but when it was clear to them that something they sold had a problem they didn't identify in the listing but recognized after the sale, they should have let me return it with a fully comprehensive refund rather than leaving me hanging for several months. Also, I have never had any success getting a coin I bought through Heritage CAC certified - but I've succeeded with coins I bought from Stacks Bowers, David Lawrence and many dealers. It may be coincidence, but I think it's more likely a manifestation of the odds based on who is selling what part of their inventory on Heritage. So, if I was able to view coins in person I might be more likely to buy more frequently from Heritage - but since that isn't practical for me, I don't use Heritage unless there's a coin that I can't find elsewhere or one that I win for a super bargain price (which has happened).

 

I do remember successfully returning a coin I had bought from a Heritage auction. It was a fairly common S-mint Washington quarter, probably in the '40s or early '50s. The reason I returned it was that the mintmark was almost invisible. They took it back, but I lost out on the postage, of course. Also, I should have taken a closer look at the pictures of the coin before bidding on it.

 

As Hugh has experienced, so have I with their main office. I experienced actions that were definitely illegal, not just "dishonest". Having said that, I recently viewed a scarce date better grade certified Gold coin listed by Heritage on eBay. An unusual listing, as they usually only list Silver coins in that venue. The coin was even competitively priced. As I read the entirety of the listing, towards the bottom there was a bold statement that until Minnesota changes their coin sales legislation, they wouldn't sell to a Minnesota resident. Since they constantly contact me to consign in their auctions, and send numerous auction brochures, I considered their statement of non-saleability to be a challenge. I had watched the limited interest in their coin, and considered purchasing the coin which probably was too expensive for the average buyer, and had been listed for some time, with seemingly minimal viewing.

I purchased the coin with prompt payment, and was very pleasantly surprised with their efforts. They virtually contacted me immediately after my purchase, stating the coin was shipped. Their shipping/handling was free. The coin was received within a couple days, securely packaged with special handling service, and insured. The Gold coin, which was poorly imaged in their listing, was exemplary.

I was very pleased with their eBay sales efforts, and posted appropriate 5 star "feedback". I would recommend their eBay efforts to anyone, but suggest Caveat Emptor awareness when bidding otherwise.

JMHO

 

I have seen this with multiple dealers with both ebay stores and standalone shops/websites. On eBay they have to follow eBay policy and the buyer has protection. On the dealer's site you play by their rules.

 

Sellers always have the option of canceling. They may not have noticed or just not have cared, but eBay can't force anyone to ship anything all they can do is refund the money if the seller hasn't

 

True, but if they cancel the buyer gets a refund fairly quickly. On a dealer's website, an item can be canceled or out of stock and it can take a while to get the money back. So there are still less risks to buying on eBay.

 

Completely agree. Anything canceled you will get a refund for sure from eBay

eBay I do find it interesting Heritage has an eBay presence though given that eBay will basically force returns and their own auctions really don't allow returns.