My guess is that eBay is making a simple business decision to not attend to each and every one of the fraudulent sellers/buyers that use their platform. It may just be a simple cost-benefit analysis: If the level of fraud on their site reduces their revenues (fewer bids, scaring away customers, etc) by a only certain acceptable percentage, AND that cost is less than the cost of tackling the problem, then they probably don't bother. And eBay probably doesn't bother banning people with whom they don't have bad business interactions. As long as the seller is paying the fees, shipping on time, follows the other rules and communicates respectfully, it's usually your word against his... He said, she said. And eBay and PayPal laugh all the way to the bank...
Yeah, for buyers of "big money" coins, this is about all that you can do to protect yourself on eBay.
Back in the days of Judith and the more-effective coin-reporting mechanism, we actually got one of the really high-volume sellers shut down for a month. Within a year or so, Judith was reassigned, and the group was shut down. I'm seeing encouraging signs that a new more-effective mechanism has been reinstated, although I haven't been let in on it yet. I hope eBay doesn't again decide that it costs too much to listen.
He may even have a co-worker or employee who "stocks" the safe so he can "honestly" say that he found them there. (After all HE didn't put them there, he found them there.)
For all my complaints about some of the eBay policies, to be fair to them just imagine how many fraudulent reports they get and by that I means people reporting things that shouldn't be reported. People do attempt to use the reporting system as a weapon to take out competition or settle scores etc. When you have a PCGS CAC coin removed by the system for being fake you quickly understand when it's better they remove less not more especially considering how easy it is to avoid probably 99 percent of bad limitings just using some common sense
Your lengthy and outstanding post deserves a response and some questions: (1) Why is the ANA (or some other coin dealer association) not authorizing it's insignia to be used only by fully-paid up members and/or authorized dealers ? (2) Such a certification would let the general public know that someone is NOT an authorized seller. In fact, Ebay and others could BRAND them as NOT AUTHORIZED in big bold flashing red type. Their business would COLLAPSE. I am a financial professional and I have to annually pay dues and sign a Professional Conduct Statement regarding my ability and ethics to perform as a financial analyst. In fact, during a stretch when I was unemployed, I let my membership lapse and the certification body found an internet posting with my credentials listed. I had an investigation launched against me which was cleared up fairly easily but which showed that the professional body would NOT let professional designations and certifications be used for those not in good standing. The ANA or some professional coin dealers association should do this, and they could use their leverage to force sellers like Ebay and others to either prohibit scammers from listing their products or put them in some designated non-authorized section. I'd join and pay $$$ in a membership for that.
They are, NGC pays them and PMG to say they're the "Official Grader". Doesn't mean anything more than being the official beer of the NFL but is done anyways. Terrible idea. You're putting far far far far to much value on these organizations if you think someone should get branded for not wasting money to join.
I'm talking about enforcing standards. If the TPGs worked with the ANA and other groups, they could make this happen. Do that and use 4K image scanning of coins, you'd really put a dent in the scammers. You can't be a lawyer without joining the bar and you can't practice medicine without being an MD and you can't sell liquor without a license. Why should selling coins/currency not be a concern of the professional overseers, let alone the Treasury/BEP/US Mint/etc. ? If someone is not properly licensed...if they are selling doctored coins....if they are dishonest.....why shouldn't Ebay clamp down on them, or state AG's go after them ?
Not even comparable for those two anyways but what does that have to do with coins? So what would the ANA bring to the table out of curiosity? Why do you think standards aren't in place? Why do you think the ANA would be the savior?
I don't pretend to have all the answers, but if the ANA and other key coin/bill associations banded together and created some kind of certification/licensing Code Of Ethics that all members had to adhere to, it could be the basis for private industry (i.e., Ebay), the Feds and State regulators/AG's to enforce. I don't have all the answers, BB21, I just think that you have REPEAT violators and bad selles on Ebay and other platforms and instead of going after a listing here or there, you could get rid of the seller. Just tighten up the standards....fraud/bad sellers seem much less at HA and GC.
The ANA already has a code of ethics so does PNG, and I'll leave it at that. That's nothing unique to eBay, happens at shows and shops everyday.