2013 US 5-Star Generals 3-Coin Commemorative Proof Set BIN $109.99. For a set that includes a $5 gold. More than 10 available. Seller since March 14, 2015. I've been known to bid on some sketchy BINs, because every once in a while they DO come through... but I have my limits.
Honestly, other than a headache and annoyance, there isn't much risk buying one. Ebay protects buyers very well.
What is to lose? That fact that you may not be able to proof a claim before any time limit expired. Admittedly Ebay policies favor the buyer, but it may still be a risk. In my opinion there are many other auctions worth more attention.
I do think eBay has limited patience for BP -- if you file too many cases, they can cut you off (declare you ineligible for further Buyer Protection). And, as I said, they can make it a pain in the neck for you even if they don't cut you off. That said, I don't think anyone would have trouble getting BP to make good on a listing like this. A seller with 0 feedback, selling gold for 1/3 spot? I'm sure the seller is an upstanding member, and it's all just a misunderstanding...
You know I've noticed a lot of these types of 'BIN's lately and it's always new sellers offering things that would entice someone to take a gamble on it. Personally I think they are being used to collect data as once you buy whoever is behind that listing becomes privy to the buyers personal Ebay/Paypal data.
Also a possibility. I've received phishing email directed to my PayPal email account. I only use that account for PayPal payments -- but everyone who's ever paid me or received a payment from me has it. If any of them have their machine (or even just their address book) compromised, my name and address is there for the taking. But if that were the motive, they could simply refund my money with "sorry, listing error", and they'd still have my info. That rarely happens, and when it does, it's usually an obvious actual human at the other end.
I don't understand the 'time limit expire' thing, and I've never had to use 'buyer protection' to turn a deal around, but the fact that something like this seems too good to be true would be enough to ward me off..........
It was once for me, too. But one of the first things I found when I got back into buying coins on eBay was a proof $50 AGE for $800, at a time when gold was climbing past $1300. It came through, and was legit. Every once in a while it happens. It's been a long time since I've seen a deal like that, but silver under spot comes up fairly frequently -- you just have to be there ready to catch it before the next BIN camper. This one, though? No. Just no.
Heck, I went to sell a few things from my buying account, which had been steadily active for ten years and was linked the whole time to the same Paypal as my selling account, and they still held my money.
There really isn't a time limit expatriation thing unless you wait months and months. 14 day return periods mean nothing when it comes to scams. For about a month last I checked
