eBay Coin Scam

[collectorszonesportscards]

I sold 3  1 oz Silver Liberty coins to a customer about 2 months ago. The coins were packed and shipped with USPS tracking and insurance. The package weighed approximately 8 oz when it was shipped with the three 1 oz coins and the packaging and the materials. The customer opens up a return request saying he never received the coins when all three of the coins were in the package. He claimed the package was empty but the post office said the package was not empty because it weighed 8 oz so we got scammed. My question is I have some expensive items I'd like to sell on eBay I've been a member of this community for going on 12 years is there a secure way not to get scammed when you're shipping coins or paper money? Any help would be greatly appreciated 👍

[kensgiftshop]

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@collectorszonesportscards wrote:

 is there a secure way not to get scammed when you're shipping coins or paper money?

No.

Hope for an honest buyer.

If the buyer is planning on scamming you, not much you can do to prevent it.

[moderncoins999]

Collecting zone I, DONT KNOW IF this will help or not 

I've, never ever used A EBAY envelope 

I, know that they are about 7 cents cheaper than A stamp

Around 2022 I, was getting A few EBAY orders late by 3 weeks, I, contacted the post office talked to the mail woman SHE, took THE information I, DIDEN get A reply this was 1 week, late I, contacted the seller he wanted to refund me, I, said no let's try to fix this HE, DIDEN LISTEN I, got the refund I, called the post office for A search ARE mail woman told me, that when the post office has to much mail 

They throw EBAY mail aside until they are ready 3 weeks, later 3 items show up

For anything over $20 goes to the post office in person because you get A RECIEPT  I, DONT LIKE going their 

I, DONT KNOW HOW you mailed your coins 

Just put them in the mail outside your house or going in person

I, always send A FEW MESSAGES before I, mail $2 to $20 of coins 

1st is thanks I'LL message you when I, mail

2nd message is A PICTURE OF THE coins I'm, sending or A picture of your eBay address with the coins in the envelope 

It seems like it works, GOOD 

I'LL, pay the extra for A stamp 

When you fill out the address I,  always write the zip code on 1 line large

That makes mail faster for the post office to sort 

I'd, never buy silver or gold from EBAY 

not now I, DID 10 YEARS, AGO

A coin store is worth the price @ ride 

Tomorrow, silver at ANY COIN STORE will be $38 for A 2025 silver EAGLE 

OTHER years, are A $1 or $2 cheaper 

Gold by the gram is $10 cheaper than EBAY 

A coin store has A silver & gold tester 

1 message A LADY ask for A return because of 1 day, late maybe 3 messages 

I, sent another set of UNCIRCULATED PENNIES the day, I, mailed them she messages me, she received them 

That's when I, started sending pictures of purchases 

I, think your buyer just said that for free coins 

Hope you work, it out

[harborauction]

Sorry but no, there is no way for a seller to beat the empty box/envelope scam. Ebay will always side with the buyer/thief and issue them a refund. Anyone can steal pretty much anything here with this tactic.

About all a seller can do is list only items that they are willing to risk giving away

[collectorszonesportscards]

Hello thank you very much for the information. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures or anything before I mailed the package. The post office said there's no way the package was empty because it weighed over the weight of a empty envelope so. I shipped two more coins after that and we video taped the entire packaging as well as sealing the envelope. I was asking because I have a $1,000 bill from 1928 that I would like to put up for sale on eBay but the buyer might try to pull the same routine claiming that the envelope was empty when actually the item is there. eBay always sides with the buyer no matter what. Thank you so much

[collectorszonesportscards]

Yes I guess you're right. Unfortunately there's a lot of scumbags in the world that don't mind stealing from people

[art-at-50]

Sure, make sure your expensive items are securely packaged and send them registered mail with a signature required for receipt! That way you at least have an unbroken chain of accountability for the package from your hands right into theirs. If they then claim some issue you at least can say they accepted the item in good, undisturbed, unopened, condition.

[kensgiftshop]

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@art-at-50 wrote:

Sure, make sure your expensive items are securely packaged and send them registered mail with a signature required for receipt! That way you at least have an unbroken chain of accountability for the package from your hands right into theirs. If they then claim some issue you at least can say they accepted the item in good, undisturbed, unopened, condition.

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They have to accept the package in any condition and file for a return/refund.

If they refuse it, they void their MBG.

[soh.maryl]

Can't offer any tips about how not to get scammed, but have to ask: if this sale was about 2 months ago, your customer shouldn't be able to open any kind of a case with eBay.  The MBG expires 30 days after the date it was delivered.  

[art-at-50]

I have been on the other side of this issue. I had ordered a rather expensive item ( a certified coin in the usual plastic holder) which was shipped in the usual padded envelope. When it was received the envelope was torn and empty. I photographed it and sent the pictures to the seller, who promptly refunded my account. 

I guess a more secure way of packaging your products, and in the case of an expensive item like your $1000 bill, a more safe but all be it a more costly method of shipping maybe called for. If the cost of shipping is picked up by the buyer, it wouldn't impact your profit and protect you too!

[*smedley*]

i had an issue last year with an ebay live seller... they shipped items from two different streams in one package, normally no problem...

the items from one stream were not in the package, but according to the enclosed documents they were... the missing items totaled over $1700... the seller refused to do anything, and heavily implied i was trying to steal from them... 

ebay made me file a police report before they refunded me (i'm guessing they assume a real thief wouldn't file a police report) but they did refund me... i'm sure ebay refunded me, not the seller... this is a seller from whom i'd purchased many thousands in items over a 2 month period... needless to say, i refuse to deal with them again...

i hope whoever got those items by mistake is enjoying their $1700 windfall...

[elheron-grande]

Hola Collectorszone...! Well, there is one method that can offer some protection on shipping.  It is Registered Mail. Heron started a paper money business in 1970.  Selling paper money wholesale. The values of various items mailed to mostly buyers in Europa would be about $150 U.S. to $300 U.S.  Heron used Registered mail only when shipping to hobbyist/dealers located behind the iron curtain.  In the years 1970 to 2010 Heron only had One Registered mail package disappear.  Apparently, a mail clerk somewhere did not read the address correctly or did not read English.  The package was addressed to a person in Czechoslovakia and the package wound up in Moscow.  Where it went missing.  The insurance paid for about 75% of the total value of items.  A small loss.  However, that is the ONLY Registered Mail package that has gone missing on Heron.  Registered Mail costs in the 1970s were not large. And well worth the cost.  Especially for high profit items.  So, depending on current costs, using Registered Mail for expensive items could give peace of mind.  

[worldcoinauctions]

You mentioned selling a $1000 bill, that should bring you quite a bit. I would frankly take it to a coin show and sell it to a dealer before selling it here. On just a 100 ounce silver bar my take was the same as ebay made, you will do better in person with a dealer I suspect.