How I Recovered My Money from Great Southern: A Cautionary Tale of Patience, Research, and Legal Action

I’ve Been Dealing with This Issue for Months. Here’s My Honest Experience

Let me take you back six months to when I clicked “buy” on what seemed like a routine coin order from Great Southern Collectibles. Little did I know I’d spend weeks battling for my money back – fighting through delayed refunds, endless customer service loops, and eventually needing police assistance. Today, I’m sharing every raw detail of my collector’s nightmare so you can avoid repeating my mistakes.

The Situation Unfolds

I was browsing their site one evening when a rare silver dollar caught my eye. Debit card in hand, I completed the purchase. Within hours, warning signs started flashing:

• Emails going unanswered for 3+ days
• Three different reps giving conflicting stories about my “processing delay”
• Absolute refusal to send order confirmation paperwork

The Critical Mistake I Made

Looking back, I cringe at how lightly I researched them. Sure, their eBay ratings looked decent, but digging deeper into collector forums revealed multiple threads titled “Great Southern Refund Nightmare” – warnings I wish I’d seen sooner.

The Turning Point: Getting Law Enforcement Involved

After 12 days of phone tag, I walked into the Boerne Police Department near San Antonio. What happened next shocked me:

• They opened a case immediately (I expected brush-off)
• Detective Martinez called me within two business days
• Suddenly, Great Southern started returning my emails

What the Police Told Me That Changed Everything

“Bring us phone logs, emails, receipts – the paper trail tells the story we can act on.”

Their advice became my lifeline. That notebook filled with timestamps and names? It turned my frustrated rant into a legitimate fraud case.

Key Lessons Learned

This ordeal cost me sleep, but taught me priceless rules for collector transactions:

1. Credit cards only – debit offers zero fraud protection
2. Google “[Company Name] + scam” before buying
3. Start a paper trail from the first suspicious email
4. Know your bank’s dispute deadlines cold
5. File a police report before day 14 – statutes matter

The Financial Timeline That Surprised Me

Let me break down the reality versus what I expected:

• Purchase to refund request: 3 days (felt immediate)
• Refund request to police report: 12 agonizing days
• Police involvement to money returning: 7 business days
• Total time invested: 22 days plus 14 hours of effort

Long-Term Perspective: Protecting Yourself as a Collector

This whole mess transformed how I handle my collection. Now, I:

• Only buy from PCGS/NGC certified dealers
• Use a dedicated credit card with text alerts for every charge
• Maintain a Google Sheet with purchase dates, reps spoken to, and screenshot links

The One Thing I’d Do Differently

In hindsight, jumping the gun before the standard 10-day refund window passed probably made Great Southern dig in their heels. Sometimes patience really is protection.

Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

While I recovered $1,850, the emotional tax was steep. If you remember nothing else from my Great Southern nightmare, hold onto these truths:

1. Anger clouds judgment – breathe before escalating
2. Your screenshots are armor in financial disputes
3. Local police often have dedicated fraud units hungry to help
4. Fellow collectors’ warnings are golden – heed them

This became about more than money – it was about refusing to be another silent victim. But next time? I’m picking my fights wiser and walking in armed with proof.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• I Tested 7 Conflict Resolution Tactics With Coin Dealers – Here’s What Actually Works (And What Backfires) – The Coin Collector’s Conflict Guide: 7 Tactics Tested, Ranked & Explained Let me tell you, nothing tests your…
• The Coin Collector’s Beginner Guide: How to Avoid Disputes and Protect Your Money – Your First Coins Won’t Cost You Thousands (If You Avoid These Mistakes) Starting a coin collection? That excitemen…
• The Great Southern Coin Controversy: What This Payment Dispute Reveals About Collector Protection Systems – The Great Southern Coin Controversy: 3 Shocking Truths Every Collector Should Know At first glance, this looks like just…