A+ Ebay Seller Follows Through on Mistake

I would have cancelled the deal upon learning of the sellers mistake. But I don't think that it is wrong to have a "deal is a deal" philosophy. Although, I'm curious how many people believe in that philosophy only when it in their favor. Bg, if you had made a mistake in your offer and offered more than the coin is worth, would you have stood by the deal after you discovered your mistake?

 

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Great question, what if your offer had been $2150 instead of $1150? Or even worse, 11500 instead of 1150? And the Seller accepted your offer.

 

That's a good and fair question that we need to each ask of ourselves internally. The short answer to you is yes I would have for $350, because that is who I am.

Jim you make a good point, my answer to you is I don't know, if the coin would have been bought for 11.50 instead of 1150 would the dealer have sent me the coin? Neither you or I can answer that question. If the dealer at that point had not sent me the coin and returned my 11.50 I would have respected his decsion.

 

This all reminds me of an article I read a few days ago about a mistake in the on-line reservations for a hotel in Venice. The rooms were offered for 0.01 euro. I don't recall how many reservations were made before the mistake was corrected, but the hotel was going to honor the ones that were made. Sorry, I don't have a link to the article.

 

I have kept to myself on this largely because I don't want to sound as though I am condemning or judging the OP. However, I don't think I can let this go without comment. I, personally, could not accept this deal as is. No way, no shape, no form.

BG - I understand you see this as a great deal, and I understand a deal is a deal. If the seller never said a word it would be one thing, or, if you found out about his mistake and he refused to accept more then so be it. But, given the situation that you have I personally would have admitted that I was really willing to go to $1500 and offered that as a middle ground.

You mentioned earlier in this thread that there is a greater power that will judge us all and I agree. However, I also believe we should judge ourselves. And, I believe all the old adages out there: you reap what you sow; do onto others as you would like done onto you; what goes around comes around; etc…

If you believe these things too (the judgment and/or the adages) I fail to see how you can rest easy with this. There are a thousand perspectives or spins that can be put on it. However, to me it comes down to two: right and wrong. I am sure you can guess what my perspective is. Both you and I are entitled to our own and we will both live by our own guidelines. However, I suggest that you think long and hard about this decision… you reap what you sow…


With that, I will refrain from commenting further on the matter. I wish you and the seller the best of luck.

 

Regarding the issue with time, my point was that I think time does matter if someone wants to change their mind (rather than simply discover a mistake). And I was thinking more along the lines of coin values going up if a customer wanted to come back after he sold, say, a gold coin to a dealer and the next day the price of gold went up and now the customer wants more money for the coin he already sold to the dealer. I don't think it's fair, nor would I be inclined to pay the guy more money, because if it was reversed and the price of gold went down, should the dealer be able to go back to the customer and get some of the money back that he paid the customer? However, I might take the coin back and give him the original money, but I probably wouldn't do any more business with him either.

If a mistake was made and caught "timely," then I think both sides owe the courtesy of trying undo it or reach a compromise. If someone comes back quite a while later to try and undo a deal, IMO and I think most would agree, that's not so cut and dried and how I react would depend on the circumstances.

While I am flattered that you took the time to find out more about me, you seem to be grasping at straws a bit in trying to compare my 1873 deal in my Penny Lady Story with your actions. You are over the top comparing apples to oranges. That was an AUCTION, not a buy it now - it wasn't a mistake like your deal. And the seller had 7 days to figure out whether he had made a mistake in posting the 1873 and could have yanked the auction at any time. Totally different scenario and a completely different type of transaction!

And asking to undo an auction once it has ended brings on a lot more complications than asking to undo a simple cash-type transaction. With auctions, if a seller has remorse, it's usually due to the item not being sold for as high of a price as he thought it should go for (that's why many people set reserves). So IMO trying to get out of an auction sale shouldn't be treated the same way as your deal.

 

You sound as if you are angry. Please don't let this upset you. Beacuse, as you said your self it is a matter of opinion. I respect yours please don't denigrate mine.

 

Wow, I'm not sure why you feel I sound angry because I'm not in the least. I respect your opinions as well, I just don't agree with the way you handled this particular situation, and though it's obvious you are not going to see it differently, you posted your story here for others to comment on, and that's what we're doing.

And I'm not denigrating your opinions, but perhaps you didn't want others to discuss their thoughts on your actions, but you put it out there. And because you did, I think you ought to at least consider that the way you handled that deal was not necessarily the best way.

There's no anger here at all, just hearty debating going on.

 

The difference in " The Penny Lady " auction is simple, She won it for what she thought it was worth and the auctioneer auctioned it for what they thought it was worth, there, niether went through with a deal that they new was flawed by human error. At a later time it was found out to be worth a great deal more. You decided not to help a person that told you they made a mistake, you do not help people that declare a mistake was made when there is a financial gain due to human error in your favor. Hence her story is the apple and yours is the orange.

 

The only thing that makes this Seller so Honorable to praise is that when he asked for help from you as a buyer that even though you chose to judge him based on your own negitive "what if" view and than bully him with the law of the matter and no human compassion what so ever, that he chose to do the Honorable thing and comply with his end of the contract quikly even though you both realized and accepted an error was made. Chances are that if everyone sais " you were wrong and that your actions can not be condoned " in a thread full of experienced collectors and your the only guy standing around saying " I don't accept, nor agree with your views " you are probably wrong:whistle:

 

You even admit that you came to the decision to wrong him, based on the belief that he would wrong you if he legally could. So hence you admit that you wronged him because you legally could and admit that you condemn your own actions in this to being moraly wrong. We, don't need to say you are moraly wrong, you stepped up and admitted it in your own decission making process

 

Penny Lady, I was not referring to your comments I was refering to Jmon. But since you while I have you, you mentioned:

And asking to undo an auction once it has ended brings on a lot more complications than asking to undo a simple cash-type transaction. With auctions, if a seller has remorse, it's usually due to the item not being sold for as high of a price as he thought it should go for (that's why many people set reserves). So IMO trying to get out of an auction sale shouldn't be treated the same way as your deal.

How so. Once the auction is over and the buyer pays, it is no different than me clicking but it now and paying, or better yet me making a offer and them accepting and me paying. So I don't get how the actual agreement amongst buyer and seller once receiving payment is any different, as the dispute process is the same. It should also be noted that every seller who has make an offer listed on thier listing has the abilty to check a box that automatically declines offers below a certain amount. In this case, the seller did not seem fit to do so.

Penny Lady, you also mentioned that my deal was not neccessary done the "best" way. Well then who determines the "best" way......you? cointalk? buyer? seller?

Many on here wish to express their opinions on such a debatable issue. That's fine and it's what makes this Country a great place to live. I respect each and every one but please understand this. I started this thread for another reason other than ethics, morals, and humerous back and forth over what someone else would have done. With that being said, I should mention that I recently purchased another coin from this dealer and plan on adding many more. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270357983847&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3984.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3D270357983847%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1


Because, it is in my belief that this seller sees more value in making a happy customer than trying to get them to renig on a deal. I would hope all dealers would take the same approach.

 

Disappointment in a fellow Numismatist, yes, anger no.

 

dctjr80,

Chances are that if everyone sais " you were wrong and that your actions can not be condoned " in a thread full of experienced collectors and your the only guy standing around saying " I don't accept, nor agree with your views " you are probably wrong:whistle:

The power of public opinion is prevelant. Once a select few state there opinion, very few if any will stand up to refute the majority. I would expect you to know this. Look, I am not here to argue, and I am not here for a "lesson". I am here to get a little info about this "hobby". It's just coin collecting. For many of you it's how you make a living, for me it's just that, a hobby. I don't spend too much time on it, in fact I don't want too as there are far more important things that I enjoy.

 

Auctions are indeed different than a cash transaction, and I am surprised that you don't see that difference. I think you are just trying to find ways to defend your actions amidst a throng of opposing opinions. Determining whether or not you were actually "wrong" or "right" in your actions isn't up to us, but everyone here has their opinion based on the facts you provided, and the majority disagree with your actions. I have to say, however, that it is frustrating for some of us that you cannot even concede to understanding the other side of your scenario.

So I think it's pretty much a dead horse now, probably even dead and decaying. So I understand you think what you did was perfectly fine, I (and others) disagree, you don't see it, end of story.

bg, I too enjoy CT, this is a really great place to learn, share, discuss, debate, disagree, see really great and unusual coins, and especially meet people with similar interests. Not everyone is going to agree with our opinions, but it's sure nice to have a place where we can share and debate respectfully, don't you think?

 

Penny Lady, very well said and I think that it is safe to say they we can all agree to disagree. I don't believe at any point during this thread I have came across as rude or condescending. It anyone felt that tone from my posts please understand that it was not intentional nor intended to be. I must say though that many of you through voicing your entiled and respected opinions, interjected judgement in that opinion. Unfortuantely, if that continues it will hurt this forum community long after this dead, decaying thread dies.

 

Having read the entire thread , i cant help wondering what would be a substantial amount in your opinion ?

Im wondering what the sellers feedback score was and what a seller might have to do to protect that.

 

That is a very fair question and one in which I reply openly and honestly. I don't believe that there is certain amount per se that is fixed and doesn't change. It will infact depend on a whole host of factors such as: 1) how flush I feel with cash at that the time (i know this is not impartial but i said I would answer honestly)
2) Sellers business. In this case it is not an individual bm shop dealing with limited inventory but a business with dozens of employees
3) Sellers inventory. In this case seller has close to $500,000 if not more in the way of coins listed on ebay. Do I really think $350 is going to affect the viablity of the business....

So to answer your question I will respond as I did earlier, If I had offered 11.50 and it had been accepted I would have considered that substantial and would respect the dealer if they had not shipped the coin. But to answer your question with any more degree of certainty you would have to ask the seller at what point THEY thought the amount was substantial enough to refuse shipping. As far as feedback goes the rating was 1522 feedbacks 99.9% positive

 

While i do thank you for your reply , i wasnt asking about the sellers inventory or what ifs..please correct me if im mistaken but you did say had the amount been substantial you might have reconsidered.

I just wondered what that sum would be?



"In this case seller has close to $500,000 if not more in the way of coins listed on ebay. Do I really think $350 is going to affect the viablity of the business...."

Using that logic its ok to rob a bank , they got loads of money.

 

IMO....I would have let the seller back out. He made a mistake and everyone makes mistakes. It okay I believe in karma.