EBAY's blatant disregard of the Law is helping kill numismatics

Not being a lawyer, I don’t need money to define truth.

 

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They've been around a decade. The Early Release is the most misleading if you want to nit pick, but none of these are new. It's not like some new term came out and now people are jumping on it, the market likes it and it isn't because they've been mislead

 

Magnetic slide (one actually performed well but you could also pick it up with a heavy duty magnet), Digital Caliper (diameter was perfect but the coins were too thick, well over 3mm), and my personal favorite ring test (set the coin on your knuckle and tap it with a plastic pen). Until they start making them with 90% silver and 10% copper, I think I will be able to spot the fakes. My digital scale showed the weight within a few hundredths of a gram.

 

Because there’s a history of misleading language doesn’t mean a thing other than there’s money in it. Doesn’t make it the truth.

I really don’t understand why something so obvious is a topic for discussion. Is Coin Talk funded by TPGs? I don’t buy into the First Strike or Early Release advertising. I don’t care, personally, but don’t try to tell me it’s acceptable.

If something does kill numismatics it will be dishonesty. In big things like counterfeit coins but also in small things like unscrupulous dealers overcharging new collectors or charging for imaginary coin attributes. I can see we have to draw a line to define acceptable behavior but is it really that hard to see which side of that line we stand on?

 

No wonder people prefer to be cats. Thanks for the scoop.

 

As most of you know, I have been an active collector since 1948. I have one TPG coin, my 1916D dime. That was only to confirm the mint mark since it is a very worn example. My collection is virtually complete from 1900 to date except for the very rare items. My collection is represented by mostly as found coins. Some are purchased. Some have been traded for. With that, I don't need things graded to a fine line. When you open my coin albums you see a lot of character that can't be found when looking at a bunch of plastic holders with high grade samples. TPG's have evolved from providing confirmation to providing marketing leverage. I don't need them.

 

$4.99 and free shipping: 'Silver Morgan ONE Dollar Coin US 1879 One Dollar ( Choose any one mint'. Cruising the Bay tonight for Morgans and found this obvious knockoff from a seller in Guangzhou. But what really makes me sick to my stomach is this: '415 sold in 1 hour'. No doubt the Buyers are located in the U.S. with intentions to deliberately resell the fake Morgans here. Besides being resold on Ebay, these fakes (and many, many other coins) are making their way into nearly all points of sale throughout the country and into the hands of unsuspecting collectors and eventually to their heirs or estate auctions. I never understood the depth of fraudulent sellers and fake coins in the market place until reading posts here on CT. Caveat Emptor at all times.

Seller vcblueszone: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Silver-Mor...m=202548738791&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

I agree with the flooding of the market with fakes for years to come. What I don't understand is how anyone could expect to buy an ounce of silver for $4.99 at today's value. So, I further agree, these buyers are turning these back on their markets for quick profits. We used to be able to drag people out in the street and shoot them for this. Now we need to be nice and politically correct. Is it possible to petition eBay and threaten with collector bailout?

 

No mention of 'replica' or 'copy', etc. on the seller's ad which I understood was required by law (?). I tried reporting this ad, but the report form was disabled, not active, or something--- seller most likely a big source of repeat commission.

 

I noticed that one person bought 380 of them at one time. If that isn't criminal then what is? Now that eBay will no longer give access to the identification of the buyer we can't trace to see who it is.

 

Interesting. How can a seller supposedly located in China push these at $5 a pop, with free shipping to the states, and still make a profit (legitimately) -- unless he has a Volume buyer who also happens to be his partner in crime.

 

Because its insanely cheap for them to ship from China to the USA. The whole international postal system makes it more expensive for better countries with stronger currencies to ship things out. There's a reason why that's become an issue

They're making money whether you buy 1 or 100. If they weren't they wouldn't do it

 

Could be what is happening. I've seen similar scams on eBay regarding coins.

 

As I said in an earlier post, there was a time on eBay when you could "ask the seller a question" and the question would be posted for all to see. The unscrupulous sellers didn't like it and got that function removed. If it was still an option we could stop posting of fake material.

 

As far as I can remember, it was always up to the seller to decide whether the question (and answer) would show up on the auction. Otherwise it's just too trivially easy to sabotage sellers, good, bad, or otherwise.

On the other hand, when I started there (pre-2000) anyone could leave feedback for anyone, for anything. I got something like 50 positive feedbacks for one joke auction. So, yeah, things used to be a lot looser.

 

Call Ebay and complain. 866-540-3229

 

I had a friend at work found out I collect coins and offered to sell me a "stack" of old silver dollars. I asked what dates? he said mostly 1799 and 1801 that look like new. My alarm went off and asked to see them. next day he brought them. ALL fake copies I dropped on on the formica topped table and it sounded like a iron washer, not the silver sounding ring that real silver brings. He asked how much they worth? I said "15- 20 years in Prison each." lol

 

what happened to the saying "ignorance of the law is no excuse"? The offenders should be jailed and fined nuff' said

 

Thanks for the feedback. I seem to remember now that the seller had an option like that.