Ebay's Worst Offerings

[Peckris]

I wonder if he'll get his money back on this coin he bought and is now selling

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200461725886 <<<<<< the one he bought for 365 pounds

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1879-VICTORIA-YOUNG-HEAD-HALFCROWN-EXT-RARE-AU-/230468642543?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item35a90066ef <<<< and the same coin he's selling

Looks a little cleaner than before though

No-one seems to have made the obvious comment : his blatant lies about rarity! NONE of the post 1874 series of halfcrowns is rare, not compared to the majority of the earlier series. Not even the 1887 which is merely scarce. Ish. There's nothing special about the 1879.

Yes, it's clearly been cleaned. But before that, £365 for an 1879 in no more than EF ?? The world's going mad. I have an 1875 and an 1886, both in better shape than that coin.

There's one born every minute it seems.

[azda]

Most of the coins he sells Peckris is in some way or another CRSIP RARE blah blah blah. As i said, i'm curious where the halfcrown will end up, i think it ends today

[azda]

Mannnnnn.............Here's another he's bought and is now selling on his ebay, of course it has been dipped, but check out the difference in grades and prices now after dipping.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390179438959 <<<<<<<<<< bought for 56 pounds

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1856-VICTORIA-GOTHIC-FLORIN-EXT-RARE-NEAR-UNC-/330428678067?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item4cef157fb3 now at 155 pounds with 5hrs to go

Check the difference in grades, amazing.

Edited May 4, 2010 by azda

[choolie]

So how on earth does someone like that get 100% positive feedback?

[Leviathan]

Someone paid £258 for it.. the reason for good feedback is simple.. those buying it believe what he writes, and are happy to use the providence for their new collection.

What is it he is doing to the coins? Electro? Vinegar? Alcohol? I suppose I am asking what dipping is really..

[Leviathan]

Mean't Provenance obviously..stupid spellchecker..

[azda]

Mean't Provenance obviously..stupid spellchecker..

He gets away with it due to the fact no one knows what he's doing, but someone one day will buy his coin and leave him a negative for it being dipped, maybe they should add his wifes ebay number that she bought the coin from to so that people can see what he's doing. Maybe we should chip in a few quid each and purchase one of his mickey mousers.

[Leviathan]

That is not a bad idea.. I would throw in a £5 alright...

[azda]

Here's the dipped version of a coin his wife bought from me, she paid 255 for it and he sold it for 321. His text states EF, when it left my hands it was only a good VF

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230462143381

[Gary D]

. I bet his wife shill bids for him to.

We have ebay to thank for that. Now they hide the identities of bidders there's no way to check it the same bidders come up again and again. Increases ebay profits or cause to allow shill bidding so no vested interest there then.

Gary

[Peckris]

. I bet his wife shill bids for him to.

We have ebay to thank for that. Now they hide the identities of bidders there's no way to check it the same bidders come up again and again. Increases ebay profits or cause to allow shill bidding so no vested interest there then.

Gary

I've ALWAYS found that bidding is anonymous in eBay. Except for my bids, it just says "Bidder 1" "Bidder 2" etc, and always has. I've never seen any other system there.

[Peckris]

Someone paid £258 for it.. the reason for good feedback is simple.. those buying it believe what he writes, and are happy to use the providence for their new collection.

What is it he is doing to the coins? Electro? Vinegar? Alcohol? I suppose I am asking what dipping is really..

Dipping = using Silver Dip, a proprietary chemical for removing tarnish and tone from silver. Some toning (unlike that UNC florin) is ugly and can and should be removed.

The problem is, you should only use silver dip in the briefest of bursts, e.g. 10 seconds immersion, then rinse off immediately. If you do that once or twice on a coin that is toned ugly, it's possible to improve it, even if you can't fully cure it. Trouble is, people like that clown on eBay bung the coin in the dip, then wander off, make a cup of tea, go out and do the shopping, watch Star Trek, then say to themselves "Wonder how that coin's doing?". By that time, the damage is done.

[Leviathan]

So something using aluminium, baking soda and salt? Or is it a commercial product?

The reason I am asking is that I have used said ingredients before for silver spoons etc, albeit very sparingly and for minimal times.

[davidrj]

This one's interesting 1860 penny - LCW below foot 99p start currently at £825 with 5 days to go

[declanwmagee]

I've ALWAYS found that bidding is anonymous in eBay. Except for my bids, it just says "Bidder 1" "Bidder 2" etc, and always has. I've never seen any other system there.

It was about two years ago, maybe a bit more, that they brought in the "Bidder 1" business on the UK site. Before that, you always knew who you were up against, and who sniped you at the last minute, which was rather fun in a small hobby like ours - almost felt a bit community-like.

[1949threepence]

Here's the dipped version of a coin his wife bought from me, she paid 255 for it and he sold it for 321. His text states EF, when it left my hands it was only a good VF

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230462143381

It's still only VF. Surely no experienced collector would fall for that coin being in EF, given the amount of hair detail loss.

Edited May 5, 2010 by 1949threepence

[1949threepence]

Mannnnnn.............Here's another he's bought and is now selling on his ebay, of course it has been dipped, but check out the difference in grades and prices now after dipping.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390179438959 <<<<<<<<<< bought for 56 pounds

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1856-VICTORIA-GOTHIC-FLORIN-EXT-RARE-NEAR-UNC-/330428678067?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item4cef157fb3 now at 155 pounds with 5hrs to go

Check the difference in grades, amazing.

Sold for £258.77. I make that a mark up of 462.1% over the £56.00 he paid for it.

Sharp practice or good business sense ?

[declanwmagee]

Sharp practice or good business sense ?

No. Not allowed.

Sometimes I'm a bit embarrased by markup, but then I'm not altering the coins, I'm hunting for bargains, and that is allowed.

[azda]

Personally i'd call it stealing, this guy is a dealer, someone for people like us that we are supposed to trust. I emailed one guy who had bought the coin i had sold to his alias, he replied to me today and said he had spoken with him and was gonna give him a full refund. I wonder now if he'll stop or continue his crappy practise.

[Leviathan]

Well if he is going to offer a full refund.. surely that makes it ok this time? I don't know.. we need people we can trust, and that group, despite the widening interest in our hobby, seems to be getting smaller..

[Farmer Palmer]

From what i understand the guy bought a coin , cleaned it and resold it.I cant see how its stealing , surely buyer beware should always apply on ebay and more so with blast white coins.

[azda]

The problem being is that he also ups its grade as well.

Another example.................................. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280498050311 <<<< bought by his wife

Selling now cleaned, you can still see the stain in the crown

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1883-VICTORIA-GOTHIC-FLORIN-EF-/230470768068?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item35a920d5c4

Edited May 6, 2010 by azda

[azda]

This is what am talking about Leviathan, this guy is a dealer and the very person we as buyers we are supposed to trust, so if we start to distrust dealers, then what?

[Farmer Palmer]

Im not so sure anyone should blindly trust a dealer in any merchandise.The very nature of the game is to make a few quid,thats why they are dealers.

It wouldnt be the first time an unexperienced seller undergraded a coin and was taken advantage of,thats the nature of ebay,people want a bargain.

All credit to you for spotting what the seller appears to be doing,i honestly doubt its against ebay policy.I wouldnt always trust a 2nd hand car dealer any more than id trust a coin dealer.They are both out to maximise profit,they are not there to ensure we get a good deal.

[Peckris]

I've ALWAYS found that bidding is anonymous in eBay. Except for my bids, it just says "Bidder 1" "Bidder 2" etc, and always has. I've never seen any other system there.

It was about two years ago, maybe a bit more, that they brought in the "Bidder 1" business on the UK site. Before that, you always knew who you were up against, and who sniped you at the last minute, which was rather fun in a small hobby like ours - almost felt a bit community-like.

Oh I see! I've not bought from eBay further back than that. So I'm used to the whole Bidder1 thing, and think no more of it.