I have been purchasing coins on ebay for about a year now. I've had some good experiences and some bad experiences. As we all know, ebay can be a scary place to buy and it is chalk full of unethical sellers. Over the last month or so, I've been playing ball on the other side of the field experiencing life as a seller. I am trying to consolidate my collection by selling coins I'm not currently collecting, as well as baseball cards and comic books that I collected many years ago and now have no interest in. Anyways, I'm starting this thread specifically aimed at coin buyers on ebay. I would like you to list issues that you come across that either bothered you, or really pleased you regarding the purchases of coins on ebay. What can sellers do to improve there service? Also, do you think it beneficial that the seller of a raw coin list his opinion of the grade? or is it better just to photograph it and leave it be? Here are some issues that I've come across as a buyer. -If the coin is cleaned or damaged, LIST IT! Also take better pictures of the damaged area. - Take big pictures of multiple angles. If the coin has luster, capture it. If it is lacking luster for the grade, that should also be mentioned. - Have a grid iron return policy. to be continued...... by the way. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!:kewl:
Wish you the best in your sales. In regards ro what you said about the grade I can tell you how I feel. To me if you list the grade you need to be very accurate and definitely do not over grade. It really turns me off if a seller is over grading, so much I don't buy. As for pictures I can blow them up myself just fine, so size is not an issue. I think any obvious flaws/problems pointed out it does make the buyer feel more confident purchasing from that seller. I also look at how much the shipping and handling fees are, another turn-off if too high. There are a lot of coins being sold, just be a seller you would trust in buying from. The items you mentioned other than coins I have no idea, but again good luck.
The problem is that eBay is a bit of a magnet for the unethical, no matter what it is. If you are buying raw coins off of eBay, expect that 30-40% of the time you're going to get burned. I just got a SLQ in yesterday that was megadipped. I couldn't tell from the pics and took a gamble. I'm out $8-$9, not the end of the world. It's the people bidding on things like high grade bust and seated coinage that worry me
You are certainly right about the magnet part. But, there are also reputable dealers that sell on ebay. It does take time to learn who they are. I'm not happy at all with one coin I bought. I did buy another one once a few years ago and I was unhappy with it. I got a full quick refund to include my shipping. If he wants to sell on ebay then again just be the type of seller he would want to buy from himself. IMO people that sell coins are no different than anyone selling whatever, some are good and some are not.
I think the good far out weigh the bad... it's just that you hear about much more about the bad. I registered on eBay in 1998; in that time frame I've bought and sold hundreds of items. I've had exactly two bad experiences, both successfully settled (however, I realize the eBay of today is far different from that of even five years ago; it does appear to be a magnet for the unethical). As a coin buyer, I generally search for lower grade coins sold in lots. That's what I like to buy on eBay, and if I was selling I would describe my raw coins generically, such as "lower grade", or describe them as falling into a range i.e., "VG to Fine". Grading is a science that I'm not anywhere near qualified to perform; that's why professional graders get paid the big bucks. I've never bought a raw high end coin through eBay... that would really scare me. I just wouldn't feel comfortable, and the stress of waiting for the coin to arrive would keep my blood pressure elevated. So I just don't do it. However, as I stated, I love low grade and damaged coins. And as a buyer, I keep almost all my bids under a hundred dollars, usually searching "lots" in the $50 range.
My key to looking on ebay is good pictures. If the pictures are not large enough or clear enough - then I skip the auction. So good pictures is a must. I also do not care if the dealer estimates a grade - I do the best to grade a raw coin myself. Then determine what I will pay based off that grade. I think there are honest dealers on ebay, but there are a lot of scammers. Just checking feed back is one way to notice them. The think I dislike the most are the cleaned coin crack out artists - but a cleaned NCS or ANACs, crack it out, list it as Uncirculated(or whatever) - telling how wonderful the coin in some cases saying it is not cleaned. Wish I still had the email for the last one toad sent me.
I've been buying coins on ebay for several years. I can say that I have only one bad experience for a coin that I purchased for just $1. I never bid on items from newbies or ones with ratings below 99%. I like it when they show good pictures and explain any issues with the coin. I don't mind a grade from the seller but would recommend that you caveat it with a statement indicating that you're not a professional grader. I don't like a seller who won't accept paypal. It is a pain in the ass to have to send a check and wait for it to clear before I get my coin(s) and it adds another $0.42 and a trip to the mailbox. Also, I like quick delivery and I like it when the seller provides immediate feedback upon my prompt payment and not waiting for my feedback. I've only left one negative feedback for hundreds of transactions and it was the $1 coin that the seller claimed got lost in the mail. Furthermore, she never refunded my back my buck. I was able to retract a bid once when a seller was trying to sell a fake 1914-D penny. It was an altered 1944-D penny that another bidder alerted me to. I complained to the seller and I noticed that a newbie (I think the seller under a different name) bid up the coin. I immediately notified ebay and they removed the seller and the posting from ebay the next day.
