Stolen coin from ebay - READ

My two cents - I think the use of the word "stolen" in this case is inappropriate. As you stated in your original post the seller made a simple mistake and sent the wrong coins to the two buyers.

How do we know the other buyer knows he received a much better (and more valuable) coin than the one he bid on? For all we know he was simply looking for an "old coin" and does not know the difference between these two coins. (I certainly don't.)

Then again maybe the other buyer does know he got a much better coin than he bargained for. Ethically (and even perhaps legally) he should return it to the seller but getting him to do so is easier said than done.

So what is the seller's obligation to you in this case? In my opinion he should either 1) send you the coin you bought in the auction if he can get it back from the other buyer OR 2) refund you money. I do not think he owes you another coin of similar value or the difference in price between the coins. You almost got a bargain but the seller is under no obligation to give you the gain that slipped through your fingers (unless, of course, he gets the coin back from the other seller in which case he is obliged to complete the transaction by sending it to you).

I sympathize with you because I have had the same thing happen to me. But I am less sympathetic when you are bantering around the word "stolen". The coin was not "stolen". Sorry.

 

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Hobo - much more eloquently phrased, thanks. I understand what you mean, and maybe 'stolen' was a bit of a harsh word. Again, I feel the seller did everything in his power to help me.

But I can be reasonably sure that the other guy knew what he was doing - when I found the auction for the coin I was sent, I checked the actual buyer's previous sales (a habit of mine whenever I'm on ebay). He had purchased numerous sestertii of Viminacium - not exactly a beginner's purchase.

 

Ardatirion,

Since the Seller inadvertently shipped you and the other Buyer the wrong coins, then the coin is not stolen, whether you received a refund or not! Also, just because the other Buyer will not return the coin that you were supposed to get, the coin is still not considered stolen and the other Buyer is under no obligation to return the coin since the Seller is the person that made the mistake. I am just stating the technicalities!

If you interested, there is another one on eBay right now but it is in much poorer condition.

http://cgi.ebay.com/138-GERMANICUS-...oryZ4734QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Frank

 

Thank you, huntsman. I'll keep an eye on it.

 

YOU posted it stolen

Go back and read your post? you mis-represented this coin as STOLEN from the get go. When others question the word "stolen" you were defensive. Had your post ONLY claimed mistake in mailing item would have been ok. To accuse someone of theft is serious. I believe your motive was to post "STOLEN COIN" on various forms in hopes the guy that had coin would read post, scare him into returning coin. Like he should have!:loud::loud: OT

 

The thought crossed my mind! Lol. Besides, I only posted it here and the place I linked to.

 

agreed as memebers of the same brotherhood we should help a long standing brother out

 

Sorry to hear about this....hopefully the coin turns up, or you run across an even better example for even less money (hey, you never know!).

Anyway, your comment reminded me of a classic xkcd comic:

 

Gotta love xkcd! Thanks, Jhonn!

 

Ha, unfortunately, I read waaay to many web comics...xkcd, Dinosaur Comics, Piled Higher & Deeper, The Perry Bible Fellowship, Wondermark, Cyanide and Happiness...the list goes on.

 

I only follow xkcd and PBF myself. Brilliantly disturbing, in the true spirit of the Far Side!