Ebay's Worst Offerings

[jelida 1,196]

1 hour ago, Paddy said:

Are people crazy? This is not Ebay but a local auction house. They have been careful to describe it with let out clauses and it is clearly 100% fake, but still people have bid it up to £200 already. (That is a bid - I guess the reserve is 200 as that is the low estimate and 2 days ago the bid showing was £150.)

https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/75f0afbd2a2aa18c21f0093057d4e5f6/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/march-auction-of-militaria-collectibles-watches-lot-19/

 

I have emailed the auctioneer. It will be interesting to see the outcome. 

Jerry

[hibernianscribe 159]

9 hours ago, jelida said:

I have emailed the auctioneer. It will be interesting to see the outcome. 

Jerry

I too have done this, I've pointed out to them that since they have applied a reserve on this outstandingly obvious fake and regardless of their non-committal description, they are blatantly unethical and intentionally trying to deceive! 

Frank

[zookeeperz 470]

11 hours ago, Rob said:

So, auctioneers are all crooks. We know eBay is full of crooks. Where else would you buy your coins? China? At least there is no pretense, as you can buy multiple identical examples of whatever coin you choose very cheaply. There are decent auctioneers who will pull an item if there is doubt cast on it's authenticity - most in fact. 

I have already been stitched up twice for over £800 one for a fake coin that was a magnetic piece of garbage and another that claimed the lots as ex collection and a very useful lot of victorian pennies. Not 1 coin was better than fine and no varieties amongst them. LCA handled 2 of my consignments and screwed me over. Why I used them twice god only knows. then there are the auctions that will post your coin in a jiffy bag if you want to pay £50 for the privilege it's just left me with a bitter taste in my mouth when it comes to auctions. I dare say there are good guys but certainly not the majority. I just get angry when I see the likes of that 1933 penny being touted as a "could be would be, Might be" by an auctioneer that has already been flooded with posts telling them it is a fake coin and it's becoming more and more the norm than the just odd sale. Catwiki another load of crooks Then you have the stories from the members who have had their own problems with so called reputable dealers and auctions. When did it get so cutthroat? It never used to be like this. Even the bay a decade ago was full of a decent smatter of coins from all areas and some fantastic mixed lots. All those are now extinct and the place is just a training ground for crooks-r-us! 

I am kind of buggered as I can't get to any auctions so online is my only outlet. I need these places to be my eyes and to be honest as If I was there viewing the coins myself. If they cannot do both they have no business adding online to their sales criteria because they fail to cater properly for that side of the business.

[zookeeperz 470]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/George-V-Penny-1918-Split-Planchet-Peel-Flaw-Coin-Error-970/300867260069  I think i'll buy 2 lols 

[Rob 2,998]

I would suggest that most of the problems arise in provincial auctions which are not specialists in anything other than arranging and executing an auction. Any specialist auctioneer has to tread very carefully and failing to withdraw iffy lots in its chosen field would kill any reputation that was painstakingly built up over time.

I've not had any problem with the major players in refusing to take note of anything requiring either a saleroom notice or lot withdrawal. The number of withdrawn lots on the grounds of authenticity are minimal.

[hibernianscribe 159]

36 minutes ago, zookeeperz said:

I have already been stitched up twice for over £800 one for a fake coin that was a magnetic piece of garbage and another that claimed the lots as ex collection and a very useful lot of victorian pennies. Not 1 coin was better than fine and no varieties amongst them. LCA handled 2 of my consignments and screwed me over. Why I used them twice god only knows. then there are the auctions that will post your coin in a jiffy bag if you want to pay £50 for the privilege it's just left me with a bitter taste in my mouth when it comes to auctions. I dare say there are good guys but certainly not the majority. I just get angry when I see the likes of that 1933 penny being touted as a "could be would be, Might be" by an auctioneer that has already been flooded with posts telling them it is a fake coin and it's becoming more and more the norm than the just odd sale. Catwiki another load of crooks Then you have the stories from the members who have had their own problems with so called reputable dealers and auctions. When did it get so cutthroat? It never used to be like this. Even the bay a decade ago was full of a decent smatter of coins from all areas and some fantastic mixed lots. All those are now extinct and the place is just a training ground for crooks-r-us! 

I am kind of buggered as I can't get to any auctions so online is my only outlet. I need these places to be my eyes and to be honest as If I was there viewing the coins myself. If they cannot do both they have no business adding online to their sales criteria because they fail to cater properly for that side of the business.

I think we would all agree that the main problem is some "online" auctioneers, where ethics seem to have been ditched in favour of unscrupulous profit. Apart from eBay (that we all know the pitfalls of) there is certainly Catawiki with which to be very wary (see my posts last Dec/Jan) and now this band of Welsh cowboys are showing their colours - note: I've nothing against the Welsh and fully accept there are equal proportions of English, Scottish and Irish cowboys as well! They again demonstrate that online auctions must be treated with caution. Regarding zookeeperz comments on all auctioneers - a little harsh in my own opinion, but I certainly understand if he has had bad experiences. As for my local traditional auctioneers in Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Bristol, all of my experiences have been positive.

Frank

[hibernianscribe 159]

15 minutes ago, Rob said:

I would suggest that most of the problems arise in provincial auctions which are not specialists in anything other than arranging and executing an auction. Any specialist auctioneer has to tread very carefully and failing to withdraw iffy lots in its chosen field would kill any reputation that was painstakingly built up over time.

I've not had any problem with the major players in refusing to take note of anything requiring either a saleroom notice or lot withdrawal. The number of withdrawn lots on the grounds of authenticity are minimal.

I agree, your average provincial auctioneer being relatively small compared to the 'big boys' will never have the expertise to know about everything he sells (speaking of antiques, generally). However, your provincial auctioneer, especially if well-established, also has his reputation to maintain and if he is reputable and ethical he will know where to find the answers and his descriptions should reflect his certainty or otherwise.

Frank  

[hibernianscribe 159]

I would also say that regarding auctioneers, membership of a reputable antique/numismatic trade organisation should go some way to allay fears about reliability.

Frank

[hibernianscribe 159]

I've just received an email from Red Dragon Auctions (a Robert Lock) thanking me for my advice and also saying he'd been sent a link showing an identical coin on eBay and that has convinced him it is "too much of a coincidence". Therefore, "to retain Red Dragon's good name and also protect any possible purchaser" the lot will now be removed. Success!

Red Dragon Auctions has now gone up in my estimation.

Frank

Edited March 31, 2018 by hibernianscribe

[Peckris 579]

4 hours ago, hibernianscribe said:

I too have done this, I've pointed out to them that since they have applied a reserve on this outstandingly obvious fake and regardless of their non-committal description, they are blatantly unethical and intentionally trying to deceive! 

Frank

Me too. It's not a genuine GV penny with date altered (those might well go for £200 on eBay). It's a replica 'fantasy' penny sold in recent years, and there are enough pointers to this - the portrait, the width of the rim and length of teeth, the 'near but not quite' Britannia - that any genuine collector wouldn't be fooled. Let's hope the poor sap who's bidding £200 realises their mistake and discovers that those replicas cost around £20 (?) new.

[jelida 1,196]

3 hours ago, hibernianscribe said:

I've just received an email from Red Dragon Auctions (a Robert Lock) thanking me for my advice and also saying he'd been sent a link showing an identical coin on eBay and that has convinced him it is "too much of a coincidence". Therefore, "to retain Red Dragon's good name and also protect any possible purchaser" the lot will now be removed. Success!

Red Dragon Auctions has now gone up in my estimation.

Frank

Likewise, I had sent him the links and he wishes, quite correctly to protect his reputation. Perfectly genuine but numismatically inexperienced auctioneer I suspect.

Jerry

[Ukstu 436]

Has been told by people it's fake but isn't convinced! The spiels hilarious. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAMMERED-ELIZABETH-1-SILVER-SIXPENCE-FROM-THE-YEAR-1562-TUDOR-MINT-MARK-PHEON/253532308810

Edited April 1, 2018 by Ukstu

[hibernianscribe 159]

Reported!

[hibernianscribe 159]

19 hours ago, Ukstu said:

Has been told by people it's fake but isn't convinced! The spiels hilarious. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAMMERED-ELIZABETH-1-SILVER-SIXPENCE-FROM-THE-YEAR-1562-TUDOR-MINT-MARK-PHEON/253532308810

I sent her (Trish) a message and today have received a repentant reply basically saying she genuinely thought it was genuine and the heart-shape was a rare mintmark! She then said that she thought the first message she received about it  was an attempt by a conman to get the coin for pennies when she thought it was worth pounds. Anyway subsequent to that she received 4 more messages including my own and this has convinced her to insert 'copy' in the description and to down the price. I believe her - inexperience I think, and she was probably duped when she bought it!

Frank

Edited April 2, 2018 by hibernianscribe

[Ukstu 436]

Nice work frank !

What made me think she was lying is that she said it was bent and her BF straightened it. There is no sign it was ever creased plus pewter tends to break when creased. Thats what made me think it was a crook , not sure why that was included in the description. 

[hibernianscribe 159]

34 minutes ago, Ukstu said:

Nice work frank !

What made me think she was lying is that she said it was bent and her BF straightened it. There is no sign it was ever creased plus pewter tends to break when creased. Thats what made me think it was a crook , not sure why that was included in the description. 

Her arguments were certainly convoluted in her email to me - I just think she was trying desperately to convince herself the coin is genuine - then the penny (Lizzy sixpence) dropped! (excuse the pun).

Frank

[PWA 1967 1,840]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Open-3-Edward-VII-Penny-Dated1903-CGS-F/323185153410?hash=item4b3f561582:g:qbUAAOSw7Vhawke4

Behave yourself 

[davidrj 194]

A picture’s worth a thousand words

[DaveG38 385]

Lionellancs rears his head again. Beware this seller - I had a 'difficult' experience with him on eBay over a 1882 no 'H' penny, and wouldn't touch him and his coins with the proverbial now. And as for the price, well he's having a huge laugh. I think my Open '3' cost about a tenth of the price of his and is in better grade, albeit not much more so.

[zookeeperz 470]

Is he deficient in the sight department? A picture of a Britannia's Knees and a ghost picture that Could of come from anywhere. Possibly up for the award of worse pictures of the year award?

[will1976 231]

I've messaged him asking for a clear picture of the date.....we'll see what happens!

[declan03 149]

This gave me a chuckle this morning. Has it really come to this?

[PWA 1967 1,840]

22 minutes ago, will1976 said:

I've messaged him asking for a clear picture of the date.....we'll see what happens!

The coin is genuine and ok ,however the seller isnt 

Numerous times he has listed items with false descriptions.including fakes.I am first to defend anyone but after how he was with Dave and blatant lies he told me have know time for him.Not that he will care and he does know what he is doing  but would not like someone to be had over by him 

To ask £600 at an auction starting price for a coin probably worth less than £100 is just daft.

 

[will1976 231]

If the coin is genuine I can't understand why he doesn't post better pictures....surely this would aid the sale. For the few bits I sell on the bay I always try to get the best possible picture

As for price he's clearly having a laugh!

[Peckris 579]

45 minutes ago, will1976 said:

If the coin is genuine I can't understand why he doesn't post better pictures....surely this would aid the sale. For the few bits I sell on the bay I always try to get the best possible picture

As for price he's clearly having a laugh!

IF. From the faint image I saw of the '3', it may not be an open 3, but we'll have to wait and see... or not!