Using stock photos on circulated coins

[sin-n-dex]

So today I found an 1834 Capped Bust US Quarter.

I searched on eBay.com to see what others are selling for to see if the shop's price on theirs was similar to what they sell for, and I see a seller in France using what appears to be a stock photo for this coin on several listings (some of the listings have different grades).

How is that not deceptive to show a stock photo of something really nice that's representing "several" that the seller has for sale? These are circulated coins, dings, scratches, etc, are unique on a circulated coin. The coin is 200 years old, so I highly doubt all 6 or 7 of them they had listed (different item numbers, and sometimes some different description info) look exactly the same like the "nice" stock photo that was used.

Also we're talking about a $400 coin, not some $3 coin that came out of a mint roll that might look similar to the photo (but you have several similar ones for sale). Other sellers don't do this, but when I crack a mint roll and package them I put lot numbers on them so I'm shipping the one in the photo, not some similar one in about the same grade. Most of my competition with mint roll coins is using a stock photo for quantity (I don't think that's wrong, I just don't think it works on 200 year old coins).

C.

[simba6]

eBay does require an actual photo of items that are not new.   A buyer can always return it of it does not match the photo.   Buying high value coins it best done in person.  It's not easy to describe the condition of a circulated coin.  Each will have marks unique to it.   Might be fine for buying WW2 steel cents and such.

[pikabo-icu]

Personally I agree.

I buy coins and I'm ok with it if it's a big seller and they have multiples of modern, new coins but not for older specimens. 

Anything NOT brand new should require it's own photos. PERIOD

Coins, stamps, clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry and more; ALL of it.. 

[sin-n-dex]

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@simba6 wrote:

eBay does require an actual photo of items that are not new.   A buyer can always return it of it does not match the photo.   Buying high value coins it best done in person.  It's not easy to describe the condition of a circulated coin.  Each will have marks unique to it.   Might be fine for buying WW2 steel cents and such.

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We're having a good time talking about this at my house right now, and we found the exact same coin on Numiscorner for sale. Seems the eBay guy with 7 of them borrowed the photo from the Numiscorner one that's for sale.

C.

[ittybitnot]

How is that not deceptive to show a stock photo of something really nice......

@sin-n-dex 

It IS DECEPTIVE.  eBay does not seem to care.  They do provide the Money Back Guarantee for buyers who do not know how to check with a photo search to discover what you are describing.  

Did you happen to make note of what the feedback profile looks like for sellers who engage in this practice? 

[luckythewinner]

How is that not deceptive to show a stock photo of something really nice that's representing "several" that the seller has for sale? 

If it is deceptive, the buyers can file a "not as described" dispute and get their money back. But it could be that he is shipping coins that are in "better" condition than the picture, and the buyers are happy with what they get. 

Most of my competition with mint roll coins is using a stock photo for quantity (I don't think that's wrong, I just don't think it works on 200 year old coins).

Then you probably should not buyer those 200 year old coins from that seller. 

[sin-n-dex]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

How is that not deceptive to show a stock photo of something really nice......

@sin-n-dex 

It IS DECEPTIVE.  eBay does not seem to care.  They do provide the Money Back Guarantee for buyers who do not know how to check with a photo search to discover what you are describing.  

Did you happen to make note of what the feedback profile looks like for sellers who engage in this practice? 

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Didn't check his feedback, it's pretty obvious which seller he is... very nice 1834 quarter, seven of them all looking almost exactly the same, and the seller is in France (and ironically the Numiscorner one I saw with the exact same photo is priced in Euros, so I don't know if that's the same seller, or if he took the picture from Numiscorner to go with his listing).

C.

[nyr134]

@sin-n-dex 

I totally agree that it is inappropriate and misleading.   Perhaps France eBay rules allow stock photos.  C'est possible, non?

I am wondering: do you think that a potential buyer will know that the photo is not of the coin that they are buying? Any clues that it is a stock photo if someone doesn't look for and see a half dozen exactly like it? 

I am assuming a certain degree of sophistication behind a $400 rare coin purchase and that the buyer will detect a difference between the photo and the description. 

[fm2000]

I wouldn't worry about it. By not using an actual photo they are setting themselves up for INADs and may not last long here. Showing a better condition coin than what is being sold is just begging to be INADed into oblivion.

This is a big problem with media. Some sellers who use stock photos for used books that are in less than ideal condition usually have hundreds (or thousands) of negative feedbacks because of it.

[harborauction]

Makes me wonder if that "really nice" bust Quarter is genuine, if it's a counterfeit that seller could have a stack of them to ship out that look all the same like the Chinese sellers with UNC 1884-CC Morgan Dollar "11 sold, 24 available"

It's not just China, there are a lot of fake coins coming out of Europe these days, mostly Crown size issues from around the world, I've seen some from Poland and other, mostly Eastern European, countries. Fake coins are big business and ebay is flooded with same as there is no regulation or policing of the site

[pikabo-icu]

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@harborauction wrote:

Makes me wonder if that "really nice" bust Quarter is genuine, if it's a counterfeit that seller could have a stack of them to ship out that look all the same like the Chinese sellers with UNC 1884-CC Morgan Dollar "11 sold, 24 available"

It's not just China, there are a lot of fake coins coming out of Europe these days, mostly Crown size issues from around the world, I've seen some from Poland and other, mostly Eastern European, countries. Fake coins are big business and ebay is flooded with same as there is no regulation or policing of the site

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@harborauction   Well that's just peachy!  I am rather new to collecting coins and have purchased from Europe, Poland, Austria and a few from China but only from very long time and 100 FB sellers that have sold tens of thousands. I buy modern so nothing ancient but now I'm paranoid as all get out!!

How the heck would I even know if it were counterfeit? 

[nyr134]

I tried to find the listing - maybe this is it.  Two different French sellers showing the same coin with the same stock # and origin description, different start dates, different price.  Is it possible there is some kind of coin seller cooperative with access to the same coin inventory and this is a photo of that actual coin?

[harborauction]

Yes feedback and a history of successful coin sales is a good indicator. The Chinese counterfeit sellers usually have very low feedback 0-10 for the most part. I've seen a few with feedback in 100s or 1000s but when I viewed their feedback it was largely about other products and they had only recently offered coins

Much of the European stuff varies in quality from good to obvious phonys, things to check for after buying are weight and metal content. Checking metal is a tough one for the average Joe/Jill but if you can find a coin dealer in your area with a Sigma verifier they can check it out. The Sigma is an analyzer that can check a coins metal content without scraping or damaging the item. I want one but they cost $1000-$3000 and I don't deal in Silver Dollars that much anymore due to all the fakes

[go-bad-chicken]

@sin-n-dex 

I hate to say it but I don't think that eBay is going to be doing anything about this anytime soon. Because they already would have.

One seller has 75k + feedback and the other has 31k + feedback.

In other words. They have been doing this for a very long time, and are obviously comfortable with their chosen business model.

 

 

More than likely they are apart of a consortium, that are selling out of a "catalog" of goods.

[pikabo-icu]

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@harborauction wrote:

Yes feedback and a history of successful coin sales is a good indicator. The Chinese counterfeit sellers usually have very low feedback 0-10 for the most part. I've seen a few with feedback in 100s or 1000s but when I viewed their feedback it was largely about other products and they had only recently offered coins

Much of the European stuff varies in quality from good to obvious phonys, things to check for after buying are weight and metal content. Checking metal is a tough one for the average Joe/Jill but if you can find a coin dealer in your area with a Sigma verifier they can check it out. The Sigma is an analyzer that can check a coins metal content without scraping or damaging the item. I want one but they cost $1000-$3000 and I don't deal in Silver Dollars that much anymore due to all the fakes

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@harborauction 

Thank you very much for taking the time to share that.

It helps and it puts my mind at ease a little bit.

I do have a scale and I weight them, like you a metal tester is just out of my price range. 

Also I believe in the adage; if it's seems too good to be true, it probably is. So nothing I've purchased falls into this category. 

I will think about going to a local place and having any that I question checked.

Thanks again! 

Sorry for jacking your thread for a second there Sin..