Should the coin you buy be the coin in the photo or is a stock photo OK!

[BankNote1]

I just won two Stone Mtn. half dollars on Yahoo and then found out that it was the same photo in both sales. The seller says that so what he used a "stock" photo the coins are all the same anyway. One of the Stn. Mtns. was suposed to be BU and one was XF-AU.

To make a long story short I have refused to pay because the coins I thought I was bidding on are not the coins I will be receiveing. Any thoughts from would be welcomed. Am I right or wrong in not paying?

[chinook]

I think it should be the photo of the actual coin you are buying. Anything short of this without notification of a stock photo is approaching fraud in my book. Kind of like a "bait and switch".

[spy88]

I think you were completely within your rights to refuse paying. If someone is going to take a picture of their item for sale, it should be a picture of the item---not a stock photo.

 

There is no excuse for the substitution and I would have backed out of the sale also. If you are serious about continuing with the sale, ask the seller to submit accurate pics of the coins you will be paying for. If he can't or won't, I'd keep your position. Don't know how yahoo handles this type of situation, but they should side with you on this.

 

 

[scroll]

I agree. I might see the point if someone were selling a number of state quarters and the seller had the experience to know that he was sending a coin in the stated grade with no problems on the coins. It would take forever to photograph them all and for such a low return on his investment! But there should be full disclosure.

 

OTOH, I just won a slabbed auction on a Merc dime and the title & description stated it was full bands, but upon better inspection of the photo and checking the registration number it was not Full Bands at all! I'm not paying!!

 

Yet another example, I saw a coin that looked basically black to me inside a reputable grader's holder but it was the highest grade in a population of 14. Let's say the seller had two coins in that exact grade and displayed the better coin, then I would be irate at receiving the black coin! That seems like fraud to me unless it is stated clearly that the pic is only a pic and that the seller offered a 100% refund minus shipping.

 

OTOH, sometimes what sellers charge for shipping is way beyond actual shipping costs. I had one seller justify his high shipping charge as including their time and trouble to aquire the coin, put it on eBay, and wrap it for you, in addidtion to actual postage. This amount did not even cover the $1.30 for USPS insurance. I responded that's why you have starting bid amounts! To be honost, the shipping amount was stated but because the bid was low for an unopened mint set I bid & won, but have had nothing but problems with that seller after the auction! I never did get a mint set - thought I eventually got a nice proof set at least.

 

So I'm thinking that high shipping costs may be a clue to avoid bidding in a seller's auction, unless that high cost would obviously be reasonable such as insuring a $1k coin shipped overnight mail.

 

I would recommend not to bid on an auction without disclosure of shipping charges unless I had time to get a response from the seller as to how much the shipping would be if I won. Full disclosure is a good thing for both parties in an honost transaction, IMO. But as was said, I feel you should at least get what you were shown unless noted.

 

[TomB]

There is no reason to use a stock image when it comes to coins. If one offers a coin in auction, or direct sale, then one has the responsibility to either picture the coin in question or to have no picture at all.

[Bruceswar]

ehat about the mint? They use stock photos all the time ... But I guess that is different...

[BankNote1]

Thanks for the responses. I am a seller to and I always have the photo of the item I sell. I will let you all know how this comes out.

The stock photo wasn't mentioned in hid auction. He does have outragious shipping charges but a lot of sellers do that, I call it fee avoidance.

[scroll]

I'd have to call just putting a proof set in an envelope with a stamp on it for $8 is just a tad bit more than avoiding eBay fees.

[michael]

There is no reason to use a stock image when it comes to coins. If one offers a coin in auction, or direct sale, then one has the responsibility to either picture the coin in question or to have no picture at all.

 

--------------------

Tom

Questions about toning? Read the articles on my web site.

 

 

as per the above tomb sums it up well

 

 

michael

[topsman]

I think it all depends on how the buyer represent the coin in the discription, and the buyers knowledge of coins and the misleadings of ebay (I'm not poking fun at Monty here, I'm sure everyone has had this misfourtune at least once).

 

I'll toss up 2 examples....

 

 

EXAMPLE 1) -- Good useage of stock photo.

 

This dutch acution is for 1,000 various Morgan and Peace Dollars. It is BIN at $9.99. The seller states coins will grade from VG and up, and that examples of the coins are shown in the picture.....

 

 

It is clear the coins will be lower grade, and a stock photo is being used. And at a price of $9.99 a buyer should not expect to get an AU or BU coin.

 

 

 

EXAMPLE 2) -- Misleading useage of stock photo.

 

This dutch auction for 5 1917 Type 1 STLQ just ended ended, with all 5 being purchased at BIN of $58.99. The only information provided in the description was as follows " 1917 STLQ.... See pic". Well here's the pic. Would you hit the BIN button???

 

 

 

 

IMO, This sucker has red flags all over it... I actually discussed this auction in a previous thread, and tryed to contact the seller for more details. But I still have yet to recieve a response.

 

Well as they say live and learn right?

[Bruceswar]

I would hit the but it now so fast.. on that one only if there was return policy!!

[topsman]

30 Day Guarentee!

 

I'm going to be keeping an eye out for the feedback from the 5 buyers to see what they got, espically since all 5 buyers have feedback raning from 200 - 2500.

 

Kinda strange though that the first purchase was make on 8/28, and not a signle buyer has left feedback yet.....

[HaydenTubbs]

I'd have to call just putting a proof set in an envelope with a stamp on it for $8 is just a tad bit more than avoiding eBay fees.

 

I bought a 1961 proof set way back in the day,and the seller mailed the proof set in it's own envelope!

The guy taped it closed put a stamp on it and mailed it off.I was a little freaked out about that

It was only a $5 or so item back then,but I was very suprised at the cheapness of the guy(charged me $2 S&H)

Has that ever happened to any of you all?

[TomB]

Only when I buy rare stamps and they use them as postage!

[Wihlborg]

Only when I buy rare stamps and they use them as postage!

 

Tom, that's happened to you too!

 

John

[scroll]

Did you return them for a refund??

[Morgannut]

You would never buy a used car from someone without a photo or a look plus a drive would you??? New coins and cars direct from the manufacturer have enough problems as it is, stock photos and all.

[BankNote1]

There was no refund all sales final! I haven't paid.

[Morgannut]

Well I'm not a lawyer so I don't know what to say except you are completely right to NOT consummate the contract. Some states have strong bait-and switch laws with clear exceptions for everything from new cars to FDA approved generic medicine substitutions, Others don't . If the "dealer" trys to threaten you I'd tell him you've consulted your attorney and the U.S. Postal Service and he better back off. Any money he's recieved is gone I'm afraid. I'm looking at CoinWorld weekly newspaper ($22,95-six months, 1-800-253-4555, www.Coinworld.com) and there's a giant two page advertisement from Coast To Coast Coins. I've never bought a single coin I liked from this big mail order operation---BUT even they have a 14 day return policy! Also, yes they use "STOCK" photos too but at least I had plenty of time to get second opinions, returned the orders, and got the refund (slow). One thing about the dealers with both Websites and advertisements in Coinworld or Numismatic News is these dealers need to have a good answer to all the complaints the papers get. How do you complain about a coin you could evaluate and send back for two weeks? Just one suggestion from one of many of my goofs. Bill

[Morgannut]

Sorry, I forgot to say under no circumstances sign for the package when it arrives. If the mailman just drops it off I have no idea what to do except absolutely don't open it or this weasle will say YOU!! switched coins too. I hope its insured because these bait-and-switch "semi-fraud" guys don"t like to quit.