Major Ebay security flaw...justification for having a P.O Box...

This has always been a concern of mine. I never have anything shipped home... Much safer to have it shipped somewhere else and not have to worry about packages sitting on your doorstep or in a mailbox.

 

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Having all coin related material shipped, including auction catalogues and other reading material, sent to an address other then your home is very, very good advice. The first, and arguable the most important, line of defense is to restrict people's knowledge of your valuables. If you are a serious collector, getting a PO Box should be one of the first things you do to secure your collection. Link is to an article by Col. Steve Ellsworth about security, worth a read:

http://www.butternut.org/coins/tip4.html

 

I recently got a P.O. box for the reasons stated. So far, my biggest complaint is the lazy worthless staff in there won't put my packages in my box even though tracking says they're there. So I have to stand in the DMV line with all the other schlubs to get my stuff. Whether the P.O. box makes me safer, I don't know, since a dedicated burglar could probably find out where I live regardless.

 

Folks, your collecting activity is NOT UNKNOWN to everyone. People talk. And they probably won't hit your house when you're at home, if they've done any research.

I warned clients to put everything in the safe-desposit box years ago. On inspection, 'appartment dwellers' insurance policies (for those who had a safe) provided poor coverage in key metropolitan areas ... and for rural clients who take long vacations that empty house is an invitation to any well-advised thieves, no matter how loud the alarm or reliable the neighbors.

Does the postman know who Tulving is? 'Gee, that APMEX box is heavy!' And how many dealers print '...Coins' on their return address label?
This isn't a matter of PARANOIA - it's just prudence. Assume (a few) people know - so keep that PM/coin collection off-premises or very well-stashed.

 

A house alarm doesn't hurt either. With the reduction in our homeowners insurance the system basically pays for itself. Food for thought.

 

I will leave it to those who are experts in 'aggressive negotiation'.

 

My point is that in looking at anybody's feedback profile you can see exactly the item's that have been purchased for a period of about 3 months and the amounts that were paid. It is nobody's business to know what I, or anyone else, have purchased. A positive feedback number and whatever words the other party has left in it would be be more than sufficent to any buyer or seller to verify credibility. Obvioisly you need to have an address to ship to and from, I mearly recomended a P.O. Box, to those who understand what I said, for added security. If you don't mind the world having an inventory list of everything you have in your safe then that sounds kosher to me, it's still a free country for a while longer.

 

Exactly my brother, exactly! Trust But Verify!!!

 

"I warned clients to put everything in the safe-desposit box years ago."

The only problem with this is you do not have a key to the bank, and your valuables within are then entrusted to the government and low wage bankers. Honestly, I'd rather bury it in the backyard under where the dog does his business!

 

I did not take it as a threat. Just as a major blunder on your part.

Receiving a buyers mailing address on eBay is a matter of trust between two individuals transacting a business deal. Sure, that trust can be breached, as it was by you, but folks don't really need to have the "method" of that breech being broadcast on a public forum.

BTW, I don't view this as a Major Security flaw anymore than knowing that Teletrade or PCGS and whomever might work in their shipping department knows my address. There has to be a certain level of trust between buyer and seller.

 

Living in rural area's does present a problem for a trip to the P.O., however, I think there's no need for a P.O. Box if you have a place to bury the guy that tries to rob you. Also, as a general rule, people in rural areas look after each other way more than city folks and most are dang good shots too. God Bless America!

 

How is knowing the contents of someone elses safe a major blunder? I have 460 feedbacks 100% positive so I know the trust that goes into a deal. Are you saying you trust everyone you buy from and sell to on ebay? My point is anyone can look at anyone's else's feedback and purchases with dollar amounts and all, and yes, without an address it is basicaly worthless. I dont feel anyone has a right to know what I have purchased or for what amount, a good feedback number and a short, positive note would be sufficient. If you don't mind the world knowing what you own then by golly it's a free country but as for me, it's nobody's business.

BTW, It's the same reason I don't have a "rewards card", at any store, and I don't own a "smart" anything.

 

you should now your own situation and protect yourself and your important items accordingly.one thing i learned in the army was that just having a gun is not enough as it is hard to shoot people even when they are shooting at you.i have passed both tests unfortunately.being shot gives you a desire to not repeat and shooting people did not get easier so when you pull a gun make sure your head is in the same place and be ready for the results.

 

God Bless You! My daughters and I thank you for what you, and all like you have done for us, and our Beloved Country. We pray your sacrafices will not be in vain and we vow to do everything in our power to prevent such a tragedy! May you and yours have a long, healthy and prosperous life!

 

You need a users ebay handle coupled with their shipping address. Both of which are only available to sellers unless you watch an auction then check for feedback to be left. That is a possible tracking flaw for ebay.

Do I trust the folks I buy from? Yes. I trust that with the paultry items I purchase that they would not waste hundreds of dollars in gas just to get them and whatever else they can take.

Hopefully, my buyers trust me as well although I must admit, I have looked at recent purchases for certain low feedback bidders in order to see if they are "shopping" with the possibility of wanting a return.

Am I over reacting?

Yes but then I think that the original post was over reacting as well. Only the devious would consider such a thing and I am basically not devious.

 

I buy about 80% more than I sell. I sell only to supplement my investing in a solid assett such as silver, gold, and other rarities. These I purchase as part of my retirement plan which I will hopefully live to see. I rarely buy "paultry' items so my list is different than yours. Just as all that immediatly harken to gun talk so we know they will defend what is their's to the death, this is exactly why no list should exist in the public domaine. It is private information that should be mine and mine alone.

And, if you stop and take a look around you will see deviosity is rampant and growing, people are getting more and more desperate as times get harder, meanwhile every day your life gets less personal through teknology.

 

thanks but i think the ones who aren't here are the the ones to thank.i left the most trusted people i knew behind as they gave the ultimate sacrifice.i did not say what i said to bring attention to myself and i am sorry for that.i don't really like to think about it because it is so unreal unless you were there you can't really understand the sacrifice and if you were you don't want to relive it.