Need assistance. What would you do in this situation.

[hasfam]

Here is the dilemma.
Buyer purchased a 1995-1DO-002, CONECA 2-O-V back on May 5th. He sent it to ANACS for grading and he just got it back graded MS62 RB BUT, with a note saying "the coin is not the requested variety". Now the buyer has come back to me for a refund for all the money he spent on the coin and slabbing.
Even though it's well past the 14 day return period, I don't have a problem refunding him his winning bid. I don't feel I should pay for the slabbing. I believe my attribution was and still is correct. I myself have also experienced the same "note" from ANACS in the past because if it's not in their library, then it doesn't exist. I've had to resubmit coins with attribution documentation upon request. I don't think this person wants to do all that. As far as they are concerned, they have a $50 dollar slabbed penny in plastic. I'm not sure how to make this guy happy without my having to pay for the slabbing which was entirely his decision and desire. I haven't replied yet. Still pondering what to do.
Here is a link to the listing.
Updated on separate post, pg 3 of thread.

[Antiquity]

I think ebay will side with you on paying slabbing fees. He cant make you refund more than he paid. I would call ebay and discuss the situation and possible outcomes feedback wise. They are generally pretty helpful.

[jnesbitt82]

By refunding his winning bid, you are being nice. However, what he does with a coin after purchasing it is his problem. You are in no way obligated to pay for his grading fee. What if he chose walkthrough service when grading? Would you be expected to pay the high cost of this service?

[DCW]

Super clear photos as always on your part. You are 100% correct that he slabbed it on his own account. I'd politely let him know of that fact and offer (as you've already suggested) a refund of the purchase price on eBay. (Minus the listing fees and FVF's, since he went THERE suggesting you cover his fees)
Incidentally, I'm not picking up the variety either. It's always up to the buyer, though, to understand what they are purchasing. And once the window of returns closes, you are out of luck IMO.
Good luck

[simonm]

Slabbing fees are on the buyer. If he wants a refund, I think you should only refund the winning bid and not a penny (cent) more.

[tea-party]

Im agreeing with the other members .. Slabbing fees are outside of Ebay policies!!I'd say call Ebay and explain the situation so that this guy wont be able to jerk you around or be able to give you a bad feed back!!



John

[hasfam]

Incidentally, I'm not picking up the variety either.

I haven't been wrong yet, but it's definitely a possibility. I re-looked at the listing and took a look at Coppercoins to compare and even though I don't have the coin in hand to verify the markers, the doubling does look pretty much like the CC photos which is all I have to go on right now.

I think ebay will side with you on paying slabbing fees. He cant make you refund more than he paid. I would call ebay and discuss the situation and possible outcomes feedback wise. They are generally pretty helpful.

Good advice. I'll call eBay in the morning 1st to get a feel for what could happen with this.

All in all, I do feel bad for this guy because he trusted us to sell him an accurately attributed variety and ANACS says its not. If it were me, I would be on the phone with ANACS requesting to resubmit it with attribution documentation for free.

[liveandievarieties]

Why don't you just state the obvious to the buyer: "ANACS makes mistakes too". You can relate your own experiences. Or relate our recent situation-

We sent in several submissions to ANACS. One of them was about a dozen Coppercoins Discovery coins. They're all in flips with inserts in Bob's handwriting, stating "added on ...". They're the EXACT coins pictured on CC. All goes well, except one coin- a 1946-D/D which they claimed was "Not the same Mintmark Position". That's funny. The coins went from Bob's hands, into the flips, to me (staying in the flips). I copied down the attribution numbers and NEVER removed any of the coins from their flips. But ANACS decided that the mintmark shifted somewhere between Florida, Washington State and Colorado....

ANACS DOES make mistakes. They've tightened up and are a lot better than they've been. But I'd completely expect them to miss such a minor DDO. As a buyer of said coin, one has to educate themselves and know what they're buying. If he's doubting that the coin is a doubled die, why did he ever buy it?

[GrumpyEd]

I would offer to refund the ebay price, not slabbing.
Explain that they can make mistakes and tell him if he thinks it's the variety he can ask ANACs to re-check it but what ANACs says is not something you can guarantee.

You are already being nice to take it back after 14 days.
The only thing you might consider is if you look at it and agree it's not die-2 then maybe refund the slabbing fee but that's your call.

I've gone in circles with ANACs on a few coins. If I kept working with them and sending it back with notes they did get it right but it took some effort.

[liveandievarieties]

There's a lot of truth in that. TPGs do take their guarantees seriously. Two to three times a year we send a box to PCGS, NGC and ANACS. Box is filled with slabs that were incorrectly or not at all attributed. In nearly all cases, the coins come back with the proper attribution or correction of label and no argument. When they're mistaken, all three of them take ownership of their goof.

I don't know how much the buyer will listen to you, but you may try to explain how he would go about doing this- printing out the CC page and markers and writing a letter citing the markers from the page on the coin in question. I'm almost certain they'd correctly label the coin. I don't doubt your attribution Rock, I clearly see the doubling in your photos.

[Maineman750]

I think the easiest and least stressfull way would be to refund the cost and slabbing fee.It is only another $25 and not worth the headache. Then get ANACS to slab correctly and sell it again.

[coppercoins]

ANACS uses my website for authentication of die varieties, so this WAS in their "library".

Any responsibility beyond your correctly identifying the coin in the description lies completely with the buyer. They can choose to have it slabbed, bury it in their back yard, whatever. You have no responsibility here. I am sick and tired of eBay turning their site into a complete buyer's market. If you as a seller don't meet their every unrealistic expectation, you chance being damaged by the buyer. THAT is not a fair market.

I would take the chance. The coin is what you describe it to be. End of story. Doesn't matter what ANACS says.

[Antiquity]

It sounds like you probably knew it wouldn't get slabbed from ANACS "if it's not in their library, then it doesn't exist" and should have disclosed this up front, to this and any other potential buyer.

You are extremely confused, as Chuck said Coppercoins.com is used by ANACS as a reference. Therefore it is in "their library". And anyone who would question Rock on his selling practices needs to frequent the forum more. He is one of our more respected sellers. So before you go accusing someone of shady selling practices, educate yourself on the subject.

[Antiquity]

Go back to your autographs.

[coppercoins]

I have no idea why "attacks" and "gentlemen" is plural. I was in no shape or form attacking anyone with my post. I was making a statement that was intended to clear up any misunderstanding.

I am "bent out of shape" about eBay because they take all the power out of the sellers' hands and make them second guess what would seem to be an obvious and normal response to a situation for fear of irrevokable lashing-out by buyers who expect everything for nothing, and when they don't get it, they cause grief for the sellers - who in fact aren't doing anything wrong. I have completely stopped selling on eBay for that reason along with the fact that their fees take all the profit out of selling close margin items. Might as well stand on the street corner and give the coins away.

eBay used to be my preferred method of doing business online. I now consider it the worst option, even though it is about the only option for many people.