Should I grant an eBay refund for a coin received 21 days ago?

Just to add a little spice to the thread, and to show perhaps the OP's business model leaves something to be desired.
Same coin?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1855-Braided-Hair-Half-Cent-CHOICE-AU-MS-BU-UNC-Rare-coin-old-money-56K-MINTAGE-/230941992630?nma=true&si=gZl800Emlq92F1HrJnKd7G4EoGQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1855-Half-C...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

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I think it is the same coin....

 

Yes! Feedback search shows it is the same coin.

 

Ooooh!!! That is juicy

 

I'm will step out on a limb and say I don't see anything wrong with this. He bought a coin and then sold it for a higher price. In an auction setting where there is a return policy it seems like both the seller and buyer were happy with the transaction.

 

I would not refund the buyer.

 

Not now that they've already left negative feedback.

ETA: I also added the buyer to my list of blocked bidders. I don't need that kind of drama...

 

I hadn't read that far. My reason is that if you offer a 14-day return policy then the return has to be initiated within that time frame, not 21-days later.

 

:eating:

 

Looks like this guy tried to flip it, found he couldn't, now wants to make himself whole on the OPs back.

 

I am not so sure man. Cracking out a details slab, then not mentioning it in the auction? That is not totally kosher with me.

Yes, I am completely aware how completely unfair it is for a customer to buy a coin from a dealer only to return it if he cannot profit. That is total BS. However, if you are a professional dealer, and you are cracking detail slabs, so therefor you ABSOLUTELY KNOW, its a problem coin then bragging them up like that. From the auction description:

"Choice color and lots of nice detail is present as well as plenty of luster. A couple tiny rim ticks are mentioned for accuracy"

Mentioned for accuracy? How about "mentioning for accuracy" you already cracked it out of a AU details slab, (but you go out of the way to advertise it as "AU MS BU UNC"), so you know EXACTLY how the TPG will grade it, if you wish to be "accurate"?

Sorry but I am out. That is just too much for me.

 

He rejected the offer of a $120 refund and stated the coin only has silver value. He left a negative and says he's about to open a case now. Here we go!

 

I'm not very familiar with the whole buying/selling graded coins on ebay. Is it considered wrong to buy a known "improperly cleaned" coin and take it out of the slab and resell as a raw coin without mentioning it to have been improperly cleaned? My first thought was, yes there is a certain amount of deceit in doing so, especially since the guy who sold it to him describes it as being improperly cleaned (as well as NGC).

On a side note can an ebay seller publicly respond to or address negative feedback?

 

Yes.

 

On the half cent, I looked it over long and hard and saw no evidence of cleaning, but saw some issues with the rim ticks. So I cracked it out and sold it. Probably not the fairest thing to do though... I'm definitely learning a lot here. For one, transparency is something I need more of. Secondarily, I need to be more consistent in my item condition section. On many I list, "cleaned, scratched, corroded, etc." but there are one's I failed to do this on. Time to improve...

 

Oh man, this is not cool at all with me. It was done purposely and with the intent to mislead buyers.
Very disappointing C-B-D.

3700 buys/sells and you're "still learning"? Who are you trying to convince?

 

There is no question about them being the same coin. All of the little nicks, dings & scratches match up even though the photos of the "de-slabbed" coin do not show them as well.

I've been reading this whole thread, and have to admit that I didn't care for the buyer's actions, but then reading the actual listing, I have to agree that the seller intimated that the coin was gradable in a roundabout way....."high grade". Now, seeing the half cent listing, it seems to me that this is the seller's comeuppance. It's kind of like the pot calling the kettle black.

Chris

 

To me the coin is obviously cleaned.

 

Now there's some useful information. I would have offered a refund with certain stipulations chiefly as a way of maintaining my record. But the purchaser is clearly immature and is going to be more trouble. I also never offer partial refunds (too much extortion is going on in that category nowadays) but the one offered by the OP was fair in my view.

eBay (and PayPal) will protect the buyer in all situations. Someone else remarked on here that eBay has become the world's largest 'on-approval' selling site and I think that's accurate. It may not be equitable, and it may not be reasonable, but it's how they're running their site and we have to accept and adjust accordingly.

Read up online and you'll find hundreds of horror stories. Some unscrupulous buyers will return random coins or slugs even and insist that they returned the original coin. eBay and PayPal back them up--what proof would you have that can't be faked? They support buyers period.

There is a way around that dilemma but it involves using a third party to accept returns.

 

I agree, but the vast majority of old collector coins have been cleaned at some point in their long lifetimes.

In a case like this it should be assumed, frankly. However, an unsophisticated buyer may not know this.