You mean like at coin shows and coin stores and everything else in life? Sorry but those of us who actually use eBay know you’re flat out wrong about the majority of people being bad there. You’re just guesstimating a negative number based off of your bias even though you admittedly don’t have experience there
I don't have recent experience there, but I do have a lot of experience there. I bought and sold coins there for many years. And I have never stopped watching what goes on there on almost a daily basis.
Then you know that it’s no different than any other aspect of life. Most people are honest and good but there’s bad apples in the mix for sure. I’m honestly surprised more people aren’t dishonest on there at this point given how lopsided their system is currently
Boy, I don't agree with this at all. It's one thing if the coin was what it was advertised as...it's a completely different thing if it's not. The buyer bought the item assuming it was a 90% silver planchet. The self-slab it was in hid that fact from the buyer. He removed it because it was impossible for him to examine it any other way. I don't think he would have had grounds to return it if it had been silver...I think what he did would have voided the return policy. But, since the coin was not what he purchased, he should have the right to return it. I think eBay got this one right. I don't totally agree. I'm going off the belief that the buyer would have kept the planchet had it been silver. This item could not be confirmed without removing it. Because it ended up being sold under incorrect pretenses...I think he is justified in getting his money back even though it was open. I do agree that the buyer is fortunate that the coin had toning marks that proved it to be the same piece...but to me this one feels open and shut.
What I know, what I see on a daily basis - whether it's by selling fakes, altered, harshly cleaned, damaged, no returns, over-graded or simply grossly overpriced, one scam or another - is that the bad outnumbers the good by leaps and bounds.
I stopped buying on eBay due to that I see so many old coins, Commemorative Halves, etc. on Alibaba. And pretty good fakes too. I've halted most of my buying these past couple years and only buy from what I consider high regard sellers.
None of us are saying he shouldn't have gotten a refund or that sellers shouldn't deliver what they promise. What @ToughCOINS and I are pointing out that is that the process that gets you to that refund is important as well. We're also speaking in greater terms than this individual instance. He bought it knowing the terms ahead of time though. That's the issue. As much as sellers have a responsibility to deliver what they promise buyers have a responsibility to abide by the terms of the sale, they shouldn't get to make their own terms. If they were given permission that certainly changes it if not just return the item right away. Avoiding sales like that as well could avoid the problem too. I don't think anyone doubts he would have, but that was never really the issue that was being discussed. Then you would have been covered with the pictures you took.
But this individual instance is all that matters because it's unique. agree that as a general rule...the coin should be returned unopened in original packaging. But that's a general rule...not an absolute. There are instances where it can't be applied...such as this instance. Yes...and the terms also included that the item be what it was advertised as. I don't care about what permission the seller gives...if the item is listed as something it is not, they lose that right. Just so were clear...I'm not talking about something subjective here like grading the coin. I'm speaking of something that is clearly wrongly (and possibly fraudulently) listed...such as listed a coin as silver when in fact it is clad.
For the same reason when people want food they go to the grocery store, that's where the food is. The coins I need are not likely to show up in a coin store, or coin show even a large one. But they do show up from time to time on eBay. So I go to eBay because that's where the coins are.
A valid point Michael for an exceptional situation which yours actually is. But I feel there is a broader point to be made here, especially in regard to your last sentence. A big part of the reason ebay is where the coins are is because the sellers are all too well aware of the fact that ebay is also where the fools, ignorant, and the uneducated are. In other words one begets the other.