Ebay Watch

Ebay Watch

Ken Kash 02 Jul 2007 00:42

Ken
Below is a note I sent to Ebay because of Listing I suspect is fraudulent. I have found ebay to be a great vehicle for coin shopping and I have had mostly great experiences. However, as you may remember I have been burned once and I try to do whatever I can to keep others from the same thing. Ebay doesn't do the greatest job at policing their listings. I'm hoping that by putting something in this forum I can again do what I can to keep others from being burned and get the message to Ebay. If you agree please post this. I hope I'm wrong but stating that he took the picture when I can find the exact same image in Google is a major Red Flag.

The Ebay listing that I'm talking about is ……….."Five total coins 1796 think its a Quarter-Dollar"
Item number: 140134393809

Put 1796 quarter in google search for images and you'll see.

"I strongly suspect that this seller is trying to pull a fast one. The coin he is showing in his listing is EXTREMELY RARE and worth a FORTUNE in the condition that he is showing it in. If he has this coin and is as naive as he is trying to come across as, that would be extremely rare too. He states that he scanned the image that is in this listing. However, I found the exact same image in a google image search for a 1796 Quarter. Of course pictures of a coin can look alike and indeed be different coins of the same type. But this image has the exact same light source with shadows and highlights in the exact same locations as the image that I found in Google. You guys need to police these listing more. I'm going to do what ever I have to, to keep other's from being screwed by fraudulent listings. You have a great instrument for letting people get what ever they want but you have to stop dishonest people."

Re: Ebay Watch

Ken Kash 02 Jul 2007 00:45

Steve,

I had to move your post to this new thread out of the forum rules.

I've got this one on watch for now and sent e-bay a word of caution on this also. Even though he has a 100% feedback he's never sold coins so it's another red flag.

---

Alright I figured it out

I found the photo. It's from wikpedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:..._Quarter.png

I saved it locally and turned it into a black & white image and it suddenly looks like the photo in the auction.

His photo is on top and mine is just below

Last edited on 02 Jul 2007 02:04 by Ken Kash Show more

Re: Ebay Watch

golfsferr 02 Jul 2007 03:01

Ken
Thanks for putting the post in the right place. I pressed the "post It" button, and then relized my mistake. Steve

Re: Ebay Watch

golfsferr 02 Jul 2007 13:08

Ken
Ebay states that in fairness to all it's members, it will only go after someone when it has "proof" of a violation. Your photo comparision does that in my opinion. Come on Ebay, the chances that a seller's legitimate image in a listing, and an image of that same thing found on the internet being the exact same image, are like a Ga-Zillion to one.

I was glad to see that we are not the only people raising a stink. Several ebayers have contacted him about this listing. In one of his replies he even states that all 5 coins are the same. Actually I can't believe this seller is putting the questions that potential bidders are asking, on his listing. Next, he will probably being trying to sell us "a box of chocolates".

Re: Ebay Watch

Ken Kash 02 Jul 2007 22:15

Unfortunately this happens quite a bit so instead of attacking the seller you have to be tactful with your questions to build up a case.

In this particular case, you always ask for more info such as additional photos of the remaining coins or pictures from different angles. Basically as the seller responds and modifies (or doesn't) his/her ad they are actually placing the evidence right there for you to gather and when you think you have a case you submit it all to e-bay. Most fraudulent sellers slip up wen you come off as an interested victim err…buyer as they try to continue the scam but as the old saying goes "one lie leads to another" and you basically let the seller incriminate themselves.

The only time I attack a seller is when they are very very educated and truly know their stuff. Fortunately these sellers are very rare and most of the scammers out there are not educated enough about coins to carry the scam for very long. kinda like this jerk. After asking him to post additional photo's he actually copied the same photo 5 times, tweaked each one with software and even made one blurry. Obviously not the brightest crayon in the box if he thinks he can sell the idea that a scanner will make one coin blurry and not the rest. The moron basically started incriminating himself right there.

Last edited on 02 Jul 2007 22:16 by Ken Kash Show more

Re: Ebay Watch

golfsferr 03 Jul 2007 13:38

Ken,
Well, we did it, you, me and about a dozen others got him to remove the coin. He said he took the advise of another Ebayer and took it to a dealer that convinced him he would never get what it was worth on Ebay. The dealer is going to put it up for sale in an " Auction House".

I asked him to tell me the Dealer's name and what Auction house it was in. I haven't heard a word.
Good job to all.