I just won the coin below from BAC Numismatics for 40EUR. The Judaea Capta coins of Titus are not often seen, so I thought this was a real steal. Römische Münzen, MÜNZEN DER RÖMISCHEN KAISERZEIT. Titus, 79-81 n. Chr, AR-Denar 80 n. Chr, Kopf mit Lorbeerkranzn. r. / Tropaeum mit zwei Gefangenen. Silber. 3.29 g. Sehr schön, leicht korodiert. When I went to pay for the coin through PayPal, I was charged a 5.5% PayPal fee and a 22% purchase fee that includes a VAT charge. The invoice states that "An expulsion of the VAT is not possible." Now I have bought through european auction house before that charge a VAT to buyers in the EU, but they all have removed that charge when invoicing me in the US. My total cost for the coin was $82.76 which I still think is a bargain, but this is one auction house I will not do business with again.
Very nice coin.. but ouch!... I am sure they got you on the shipping charge too? I don't play with the big boys on net spend - so I stay away from these European auctions - fees are just crazy in my opinion. Although I fully admit to drooling over their offerings quite regularly. I've decided that for 2020 to just go (relatively) bigger with North American auctions with reasonable shipping and low (or no) fees. Like AMCC and Frank Robinson for example.
You are right, Clavdivs, about the shipping. They charged me 20EUR which is half the cost of the coin. Like I said, I won't be dealing with them anymore.
My antoninianus of Valerian II was $89 but they hit me with a $27 shipping charge from Europe (even though it was just sent regular mail).
I was looking to get something from an auction house in the UK recently but ended up walking away when they only offered postage costing £14 for an item that would have cost around £40. It's a mickey take. Personally speaking, and with only a very limited experience so far, I have found way too much terrible service and mickey taking with regards to costs and turn around times in the world of numismatics. Although I should add (edited in) that I've also had a lot of great experiences, especially with smaller outfits with smaller shops on places like eBay, and recently had a superb experience with Silbury Coins here in the UK too.
Yeah that explanation isn't good enough. They have no right to charge you a VAT when one does not apply. They are just stealing your money.
The costs you describe are high relative to the hammer price, but they look about normal for buying internationally. I use a spreadsheet to estimate the costs added to the hammer price of something I buy on-line. The fees are a good reason to buy from a coin show or coin shop. Most of us who collect ancient coins have limited choices when buying locally. The buyer's fee and postage / handling charges you describe are listed in auction terms. There is no way around the exchange rate plus someone's premium for making the conversion. Paypal hides their buyer's fee by adding a few % to the exchange rate. Paypal charges the seller: "4.4% transaction fee plus a fixed fee based on currency received". Postage seem about right. This package 16.85 EUR for a coin similar to yours from San Marino. The mailing pack cost a few cents and there is time to prepare the package.
PayPal charges a much higher fee than they claim for international sales by sneakily using a poor exchange rate. The seller gets about 4% less than you send, which is the expected fee. But you pay for euros at a higher rate than the listed "mid-market" exchange rate. So, when I paid in euros Dec. 8 and the day's exchange rate was given on websites as $1.106, the actual rate PayPal gave me was $1.154 (dollars subtracted divided by euros I sent). For example, the seller asks 100 euros and accepts PayPal and knows he will only get 96. I buy 100 euros in dollars (at $1.154/euro) so I pay $115.40. $115.40 really buys (in bulk at $1.106/euro) 104.35 euros. So, they give out 96 and get in 104.35. That works out to a 8% take. If you are in the US and pay abroad, I invite you to compute the ratio of the PayPal deduction from your account in dollars to the number of euros or pounds or CHF sent. Then google the price of that currency that day and see how they compare. Any excess you pay goes into PayPal's pockets, and that is not counting the fee of about 4% to the seller. That's way I now pay abroad with TransferWise. They give a much better rate and much lower fees. By the way, TW incurs no "wiring fee." Firms will remove any charge for that (often 12-20 euros) from your invoice. TransferWise takes a while to set up, but once I have paid a particular firm the second time is very easy. I feel good about giving the seller the full amount and not giving so much to the financial services industry.
A while back I was thinking of bidding on a coin from "Oslo Myntgalleri AS" but then i read their terms.. "Items sendt to countries outside Norden will be shipped with Bring (Price Europe NOK 790,-, outside Europe NOK 990,-)" 20% buyers fee and a shipping fee of ..... .. 990 NOK or 110 USD....
