VCoins Dealer Code of Ethics

Just FYI, this guy now does business on Vcoins under the name "Athena Numismatics"

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I've bought 3 coins from him separate times before with no issues.

 

Yikes! Close one! Thanks for the info! He has a lot of coins that I'd like to purchase. Maybe I'll order one for now and see how it goes. LOL!

 

I agree with Ken on all but what I quoted above and the problem as I see it was caused by VCoins itself. When it was first started VCoins did police their member dealers and require they adhere to standards. I know a dealer who got a note from management that a coin she was selling was fake and to take it down. She did and appreciated the service because it kept her from being one of those dealers than some of us treat unkindly. When VCoins was sold, the new management changed the whole thing and sold dealerships to anyone. In the old days, I had no problem buying from a VCoins dealer I did not know because I knew that bad apples would be tossed out. That seems to have changed.

I might say it is a lot like eBay but eBay does have one advantage. They do police sellers who do not fill orders in a timely manner and failure to respond to a 'case' opened against a seller will lead to a refund. Ignoring people does not fly. Coins I have ordered on eBay seem to come with predictable swiftness. Certainly there are more fakes on eBay; certainly both have good and bad sellers but I feel the time has passed that I can assume VCoins is on top of problems in their midst. For this change I certainly do blame VCoins. When coins with fake desert patinas are now acceptable, I blame them. When you inquire about a coin or make an offer only to be ignored, I blame them. There have been several ups and downs since that first sale of the name ended the 'good old days' and I do not know where we stand right now. I buy quite a few coins from VCoins dealers but from ones I have known from previous experience or who pass certain tests (like replying to a question or even politely turning down a counteroffer in a timely fashion). I would not expect so much but I was spoiled by VCoins and I wish we had a really good place to buy coins like I feel we once had.

 

I've used VCoins sellers for several years and have been generally pleased with my experiences. It's a shame that the site no longer exercises the level of oversight it once had, and I fear I have at least one coin in my collection that I might not have bought had the oversight been more vigilant. It's a coin that has most likely been artificially patinated--a fake "desert patina." Why wasn't I more vigilant? Partly inexperience. Partly because the dealer was from a desert area, and I assumed such coins were plentiful for him. But mainly it didn't occur to me to doubt a VCoins dealer because, well, it's VCoins. It's unfortunate that a simple VCoins identity is not enough to inspire the kind of consumer confidence it once did.

 

Well, I already alluded to it but will mention again. Who is to blame when we dont say anything? I would suggest only ourselves. We can talk our hearts out here but that does nothing for VCoins. If you get no response from the dealer you need to contact VCoins. There truly is a human being (and a nice guy by the way) behind the contact button.

 

Good point, Ken. Since I posted my disappointment about a coin with an artificial patina, allow me to voice a VCoins positive. I received a VCoins gift card that, for some reason, hadn't been encoded with an amount. I contacted VCoins customer service and the card was manually encoded with the amount I indicated, with no real verification required of me. I appreciated the responsiveness and trust there.

 

Not trying argue or anything, just letting people know my experiences.

The vcoins code of ethics about lifetime guarantee of authenticity has worked painlessly for me twice. Once with the Akragas hemilitron and another time with a $2200 tetradrachm that was condemned by the experts over 3 years after I bought it from a vcoins dealer. Both times I got my money back immediately with polite apologies. Try FINDING an ebay seller 3 years down the road. Half of them change their ids every 6 months. Paypal and ebay will do nothing for you three years later. One phone call to vcoins dealer got me a check in the mail. That is hard to beat.

Now, whose "lifetime" does the guarantee cover? Yours or the sellers? Many of these sellers are old, as has been pointed out. Some of us are not so young. I wonder what that is worth when 25 years later your major coin turns out to be a fake?

 

Just curious, did you contact the seller or vCoins?

Glad it worked out for you!

 

Both times I contacted the sellers. I don't think either one had any idea they were forgeries and both immediately refunded my money with apologies. They were both very good forgeries that fooled me and many other people.

 

The coin arrived today.

I got hold of the seller on January 11th. Part of his reply reads: "It was shipped two or three weeks ago. I don't sent out shipment notifications and I don't write down when I send a coin. It can take at least 4 weeks, infrequently, for a coin to arrive overseas. If it does not arrive I will refund your money."

In retrospect: A bit unconventional, but fair enough I would say. The most important thing is that the coin arrived and is in the condition as listed.

 

Come to think of it, I'm not sure I received a shipping notification every time I've ordered on VCoins, either. Glad to hear you got your coin!

 

Notifications depend entirely on the dealer. In the software we are able to enter shipping dates, tracking numbers, etc. When we do so an automatic e-mail is sent to the buyer with that data and they can see it within their account. BUT, it depends on the dealer as to whether or not they enter the information. Some dealers are a tad 'older' and may not understand how it all works. I cant speak for anyone else on VCoins but typically I pack and ship orders within either the same day or next day (though if you order late on a Friday it may not be processed until Monday). I understand that in this day and age people want the most, the quickest, and I try to make that happen.

But, some dealers are a bit behind the times. I suppose in some ways I am also as well. I dont print the invoice and send it with the order. I figure you already have that invoice in an e-mail (and on the site) and it is redundant for me to include it. Other dealers have told me I am wrong for that.

 

I sort of figured it depended on the dealer. I don't really care all that much as long as my coins arrive in a reasonable time (where "reasonable" varies depending on shipping method and country of origin). As long as the postal service does its job, and you ship out within a week, that probably meets the definition of "reasonable."

I don't care whether I get a printed invoice with my order, as long as I get an electronic one. I do really appreciate getting a business card if the dealer sells direct from a site other than VCoins, though.

 

I try to develop a rapport with the dealer!
When I receive my coin I like to email the dealer and let them know that I have received it and thank them. I know it shouldn't but it seems to make a difference the next time I order from them. Most dealers appreciate feedback. Positive comments tend to find their way up the corporate ladder to the owners of the company—unlike negative comments that get deleted.

 

More than agreed! I do the same and have the same results. Business relationships turn into friendships. Friendships are a result of two-way trust. Good for all.

 

Locally it is fine, but printed invoices are critical when it comes to anything shipped internationally. It causes unnecessary delays and expense if it is not included.

The same here.

 

I think you're referring to customs paperwork. I'm referring to a printed invoice included inside the package I receive.

 

This post has been a very good, and informative read, but I really would like to see a post dedicated to good, trustworthy sellers on v-coins, and maybe even the ones to stay away from, or is there one already ?

 

I've never heard of (much less experienced) a "pre-order" with an ancient coin dealer. Exactly what is a "pre-order?"