An ebay threat?

I sold an NGC graded MS-64 1958-D Franklin half on ebay for 18.03+3.00. I get a very polite e-mail from the buyer today. He's complaining about a light toning on the front that he said he didn't notice on the picture and that I failed to mention in the description. He's wanting a partial refund or he's going to have to put a "blemish" on my feedback.

What am I supposed to do? I think I'm darned if I do or darned if I don't. I think any slabbed Franklin is worth at least 20 dollars. I charge three bucks shipping, which is close to right on the money. If there was any noticeable toning, I would have said something. I looked at the pictures and see no visible toning. The front doesn't look as shiny as the back, but that could be the picture.

I don't offer refunds, but I think I'm going to offer it to him, as long as he pays return shipping. That might settle him down, but I still think I'm going to get slammed for this one.

 

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If you think he deserves a refund, then if it was me I would refund the whole amount and I would pay all the shipping charges as well. BTW, I used to charge $3.00 for shipping as well but I changed it to $1.50 and things have gotten waay better for me since then.

Just a side note here, it shouldn't matter how polite his email is because it seems like he's playing you. Either he deserves the refund or not. It's up to you to do the right thing and the shipping charges you pay today could go alot further than making this one person happy in the bigger picture of things. You may be able to offer him a $5 bill and be done with the whole matter, try working it out and see where it goes. just my 2 cnts, good luck!!

 

Typically, toning is a good thing.

This buyer is trying to scam you out of a few bucks. Offer a full refund, and get the coin back.

 

" "

 

I charge three dollars for slabbed coins.

1.00-bubble wrap envelope
1.30-postage
0.75-delivery conformation
-----
3.05

Anything over 20 bucks I get conformation. Anything less I charge 1.50.

 

We get these every once and a while. Just politely explain that you don't do partial refunds and if he is not happy with the coin that you'll happily refund his money once the coin is returned. Even offer to pick up the return shipping if your worried about it... at worst you'll be out a couple of bucks.

 

tell him him to return it and I give you 20 for it

 

Take the coin back and block him from future bidding.

 

It's a shame, no refund, he should have looked in the picture. Coin is well worth that. He got a good buy and is trying to get it for less. If he wants a refund he pays all shipping.

 

I took your guy's advice and offered to refund the whole price. I'll keep you posted.

 

This appears to be feedback extortion...I'd report it to ebay immediately.

 

The 'I don't offer refunds' doesn't float with Paypal. A simple 'Significantly not as described'-SNAD- complaint WILL get Paypal to side with the buyer.....and there goes your 'No Refunds' policy.

 

i had exactly the same thing with someone who bought a william III sixpence from me, he said that the coin had some staining to the obverse and wanted a partial refund, in my description i stated that there was some staining but he was just trying to scam me. i told him to either return the coin for a full refund or keep it, as i wasn't giving him any partial refund. i never heard anything else from him..........

 

Exactly My Solution (which doesn't always work)

Your solution is that which I've always used, even offering to leave positive appreciative feedback for their consideration.

However, some on eBay make a habit of this scam, and when they aren't successful, they leave negative feedback about the "uncooperative" seller.

Often a polite considerate response will placate the buyer, and they will be satisfied with appreciative feedback, and discontinue communications.

 

FWIW, using PayPal or equivalent is a lot cheaper;

$1.39 - postage
$0.19 - delivery confirmation
$0.10 - padded mailer (just bought some on line - delivery included)
$0.10 - half sheet labels (I use 2 halves because I have not yet figured out how not to print the other half)
$???? - printing /paper costs
-------
$1.78+ something

BTW, NotSure is correct. PayPal will refund their cost plus shipping whenever the item is returned, although the buyer does pay return postage.

 

Slabbed BIN's should be Free shipping IMO - sellers who ship free get 5 stars automatically for shipping cost, that means that 4stars= ???.. just a thought


Has anyone else also noticed the automatic 5 stars for deliveries before the anticipated delivery date in the shipping speed category?

 

That's the honorable thing to do, even if that buyer isn't.

 

Just got off ebay. The dude put a case against me. He says the coin is damaged. He states that I am uncooperative because I won't give him a partial refund, even though he acknowledges that I offered him a full refund.

 

extortion on ebay??

....nahhhh

 

Has this seller marked his feedback as "private"? Had the same issue a couple months back. Ended up refunding buyer full amount ($7.95) as it wasn't worth messing up good feedback record.