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Old October 16th 04, 03:23 PM
Nick Knight
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In , on 10/16/2004
at 09:20 AM, "Jimmy Smith" said:

Thanks for your answer. Both you and Reid have been most helpful to this
beginner. BTW, I too have read The Fountainhead (twice) and Atlas
Shrugged. The books are life changers.


Unfortunately, I didn't see what Reid said. And while he was technically
accurate in much of his froth, what Michael gave you was an extremely
slanted, as usual, hard-sell.

I'm note that Michael actually writes columns, and I assume from this be
produces income from the Celator. Keep this in mind while you read his
"review". It seems to be a great publication, but I've always hesitated to
subscribe simply because he DOES write for it. Perhaps this is my own
version of the "eBay is Evil" chant, but I wonder if the other Celator
authors are as off-base as MM.

eBay has many traps. Yet there is no shortage of coins sold there; well
established dealers and knowledgable buyers (and this includes the
"specialty" of ancient coins). All using eBay successfully with mininal
"risk". In fact, my biggest gripe with eBay nowadays is that the buying
competition is too strong and prices often go above what fixed-price lists.
The Transylvanian taler I pointed out a couple of weeks ago makes a good
case in point; a piece selling for $200 more than a better piece's price I
had passed on at the ANA.

Warning folks to stay away from eBay is silly. It's similar to warnings
like this:

- Stay out of all National Parks. You might get attacked by a wild animal.
Metro-parks are much safer.

- If you must drive, don't drive on the freeway. Too fast and dangerous!
Best not to drive at all, tho.

- Don't claim any tax deductions, even if they are legal and earned - this
might raise red flags with the IRS and you might get audited.

I could go on ... but I'll spare you (all .

There obviously is fraud on eBay. And it might be heaviest in the area of
ancients. However, there ARE reputable dealers on eBay, some that will
guarantee a coin as genuine. Silly "rules" that warn you to stay away
assumes no intelligence, which ironically feeds directly on the audience
that can't see hard-sell.

Don't discount eBay. Use it with caution? Ask about deals/dealers here,
questionable or not. Lurk for awhile and see if a persistent dealer in
ancient coins continues to get good feedback. Use it as a learning tool ...
as "the book". In other words, think for yourself and don't let 1-2
over-opinionated folks here send you down the wrong path.

How hard is it to tell that an 1805 Seated Dollar is fake? How dangerous is
this coin, in reality? If you surround yourself with odoriferous foods and
sit in the middle of the "bear management" area of Smokey Mountains National
Park, you MIGHT encounter a bear (didn't work for my group , and it MIGHT
end up being interested in you. If a bear isn't what you want, don't do
that!!?

Nick
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