This summary will earn a higher number of "Not Helpful Reviews" given so many sellers who will glance at it sell coins in the manner so mentioned below? Obviously these concerns are not set in concrete regarding the honesty of any dealer, but are observations about areas of possible concern.

Purchasing coins online involves risk for the buyer. Descriptions and digital images are limited in what they actually convey regarding actual eye appeal and true condition. eBay is the worlds largest coin store, and while in person purchases at coin shows are best, the reality is that online coin shopping is here to stay, no where else offers the selection found here.

Non certified coin grades are subject to the skills of the individual selling them. And while the certification
services themselves vary in opinion, those coins are examined by industry experts with a higher degree of accuracy. Given the certification services are not the seller, the opinion on grade is unbiased. Obviously, coin dealers want the best price for any given coin, and while excellent coin dealers exist on eBay, most sellers are not experts, including myself.

Its difficult to offer a truly unbiased opinion on grade value when it is the determining factor in how much your product sells for. This has been discussed in the industry for decades and is why third party graders (TPG) exist.Some dealers will refuse to admit that any particular coin is at any given lower grade when their profit is contingent on higher numbers, numerous coins are cracked out of slabs and are sold raw for this reason.

Disagreements of grade on certified coins are easily found in auction text: Better than graded, will grade higher on resubmission, will crossover to another service at a higher grade, etc. While not all coins in slabs are graded accurately 100% of the time the risk of inflated grade for profit is minimized. In the end it remains the buyer who decides if the condition is suitable for their collection?

With all this in mind, certain policies are hopefully found in auctions. If they are spelled out, that's good sign that the transaction is safer than when they are not. The option to return a coin for any reason is one of the more importent, and if such isn't mentioned in the description, ask the seller directly. A policy that all sales are final involves risk that the coin in hand isn't as attractive as the image and description suggests it is? Most buyers feel better knowing a warranty of satisfaction exists.

What are the penalties for returning a coin if any? A restocking fee in my opinion amounts to a fine for returning the item if you are unhappy with it? Five or ten percent restocking fees may amount to significant costs? very few companies on average charge such fees, yet online the penalty seems prevalent, especially with coins? Most sellers can argue that auction fees and PayPal fees are the motivation for such restocking charges, but those fees are refundable from both those services upon request for a non-completed auction. Restock fees are a strong red flag to me to avoid the purchase. If I purchase the coin and return it, they still profit regardless?

Feedback serves as a credit report of business ethics, others buyers past experiences with that seller will show problematic areas to be concerned with. However, not all negatives received are justified? Some are obviously done in a retaliatory manner. It is up to the buyer to decipher which? A close examination of the feedback given and the reasons mentioned are important, however, it is equally important to examine the persons feedback who gave that negative. It may be a matter of routine that this person gives negative feedback, thereby lessening credibility? If the sellers negative feedback history appears factual, this serves as the largest red flag possible. For every person who complains, others were silent. If 25 people say the coin was overgraded, or damage was not described, it probably was. some dealers will not admit mistakes? Statistically, all negative feedback's given by buyers can't be done with malice?

Constant complaints received of the same nature will show areas of transaction concern? One dealer selling coins has literally dozens of complaints regarding shipping charges, in the fine print of the auction was wording that the shipping costs were $45.00 for a single small value coin. Those negatives served to remind us to look at the auction text closer. In looking at the return negative feedback's given by that seller for what were legitimate complaints about shipping charges from buyers they displayed a hostile, vindictive personality. Not someone I would care to enter into a transaction relationship with.

Shipping charges are a whole topic in themselves, how much does it realistically cost to ship a coin well packed, insured and with tracking? Consideration must be given the seller for legitimate expenses, a charge of say $6.00 is reasonable for a coin valued at say $75.00, but when that coin is valued at $10.00 such shipping charge is unjustified. I am less than impressed by sellers who charge me a small fortune to buy something from them above the cost of the auction? If the shipping charges are not mentioned in the description, I assume they are unreasonably high and will write the seller to ask specifically what those costs are?

I may pay an otherwise unreasonable shipping charge if the item is so rare that to avoid the transaction is something I will always regret, otherwise if the item is available from another seller, I will wait for another to come my way at a lower cost.An interesting problem exists when the coin is $10.00 but the shipping is $40.00, in the event you need to file a complaint with PayPal, the cost of the coin may be awarded back in that dispute, but shipping is not covered for refund. So even if you are unhappy, the dealer still made a small fortune in the rejected sale.

Certified coins offer some reasonable protection from over inflated grades, sadly not all services are created equal. Myself, I only trust third party opinions from a select few services. PCGS, NGC, and ANACS are quite well respected. Another newer company ICG also has also earned some respected market opinion, it is not these particular services I have concern with? There are a myriad of companies whose opinions I would not accept. I have seen coins in lesser known certification slabs as being five grades to high? There are dealers online who only carry only the one brand of the lesser known certified coins, the reason for that is self evident. In all cases, buy a coin based on its own merits and look beyond the printed grade on the label.

If a PCGS, NGC or ANACS slab normally sells for $100.00 but this sellers slab of choice, "Bubbas Grading Service" is his primary choice and is priced well below that amount, chances are the grading service isn't dependable. There are dealers of certified coins on eBay who in fact own the grading company of the coins they are selling, this is of course not mentioned or denied if asked. A major conflict exists for obvious reasons. Some TPG services grade all coins at unreasonable high grades.

Some warning flags are more subtle, claims of value given in auctions where the coin is purported to be valued at $500.00 and the auction has a buy it Now price of $100.00 is ridiculous. If the coin were so valued, why would anyone in their right mind sell it for so much less? Statements that the seller has no idea of how to grade or determine a coins value or rarity but then give strong opinions on these details always strike me as odd?

Then there are those auctions where the grab bag theme is used? "I have a gazillion dollars worth of coins and no time to search through them"? Gold, silver and certified coins valued at $5,000 dollars may be guaranteed for $200.00? No one gives valuables away in my world. Yet looking at those listings there are always numerous bidders, a look at the sellers feedback almost always reveals that the prior buyers of these lots were much less than thrilled. Simply put, those third party certification services who inflate a coins grade and thus its paper value are usually seen in these auctions. If it doesn't specifically state all coins are from reputable TPG firms, I assume they are not.

The reality is, eBay is the worlds largest coin store, there are some incredible coins available at some attractive prices. Most dealers are honest and they are relatively easy to separate from the less than honest sellers. I have had some extremely good luck in both selling and buying coins, I truly wish you the same.