Thread: If I Dood-it I get a whipping.

Numerous times I have walked into a coin shop and can't help from viewing what some people bring in to sell. Some old coins really make my mouth water. As I look, I see the coin dealer adding up the buy prices. Since this is a business I can only think that the sellers are getting ripped off. My instant thought is that if I could up the coin dealers offer would that be proper and how could I do it without affending the dealer ?

No way to "not offend" when in the dealers presence. Trick is to try to get these guys before they walk into the dealers establishment.

Originally Posted by green18

No way to "not offend" when in the dealers presence. Trick is to try to get these guys before they walk into the dealers establishment.

Hi ! Ken, I have thought of that, but I also have thought about getting shot at. :>)

Funny thing Dave.......I remember the WB cartoon.

If you walk out of the shop after the customer leaves , IF he didn't accept the offer, and make him an offer on the street, I can't see any damage to the dealer, he had first crack and let him walk. Make up a small card with your name and phone number on it and maybe something like "I buy coins" and keep in your wallet so you can hand it to an escapee.

If you were to interupt a deal in progress, the dealer would surely throw you out of the shop. That is HIS place of business. Like the others said, outside of the shop all is fair.

At my fav shop I wait until the deal is done and then ask to look over the fresh material he bought. I can usually get some great deals since he's really had to do no work.....just middleman. I don't mind paying him a little profit.

That's really a bad idea Dave. When you're in his shop you're on his turf and should never try to get involved in a deal he's trying to make. Thad's idea is good...wait until the deal is done and then have a chat with the dealer. He would definately be interested in making a quick turn around sale to you...probably at a good price too.

Bruce

Have you ever noticed that someone who thinks nothing of stealing from others doesn't trust anyone?

I was standing at the counter of one of the local B&M's in Ft. Myers (FL) waiting patiently for the owner who was in the back room that is separated by a large glass window to notice me. I had made purchases from this shop on several other occasions. Another older gentleman walked in and stood at the counter next to me. The owner saw him enter and came out immediately to wait on him (still ignoring me). The other customer opened a small box which held several Morgan dollars and asked what they would be worth to him. Since I collect Morgan's, I leaned over to look at them. The owner saw this and quickly covered the open box with his hand, gave me a nasty look and slid the box about 3' further along the counter away from me. I turned to leave and it was then that he said he would be with me shortly. I replied, "Never mind! If I stood here any longer, you might think I was trying to steal something." That was about 4 years ago, and I've never gone back to that shop again.

Chris

Getting cards made is a great idea but make sure you make contact outside the establishment.

@cpm9ball- I hate being ignored in any type of retail business. And it seems to be a problem that is rampant everywhere. I came from the old school of retail where you acknowledged everyone who walked in the door. Now, if I'm ignored or don't get the service or respect I expect, I'll never return and I'll let as many people as I can know how bad it was.

Originally Posted by BadThad

If you were to interupt a deal in progress, the dealer would surely throw you out of the shop. That is HIS place of business. Like the others said, outside of the shop all is fair.

At my fav shop I wait until the deal is done and then ask to look over the fresh material he bought. I can usually get some great deals since he's really had to do no work.....just middleman. I don't mind paying him a little profit.

A good relationship like that works for everyone. I have had my local dealer show me newly purchased items before he put them away. A couple I have said how much and he priced them for me. I bought them, then and there.

On a side note I also realize there are people who do way more business with them than me. A couple of times they have asked if it was okay to wait on other people - I always say okay. I can be patient and they have even left me with the special box at times - the rare items like 1856 Flying eagles, gobrechts, etc. They know I can't buy these items, but they like showing them to me and I appreciate it.

Accidentally, I walked into my coin shop (when I lived in Cali) with the owner digging through an estate and working with the widow and her son. As soon as I walked in, I instantly realized what was going on. My dealer, being old school, acknowledged me and I stayed out of his way. I sat at the other end of the counter where he kept the graded Morgans.

My dealer closed his shop on Mondays. And, I wasn't thinking that Monday and happened to drive by to see if he was open. I had been at my mechanic's shop and was on my way back to my town. So, I rolled up on a deal in progress.

And we're back in. I'm at the end of the counter with the 2 milk crates at the other end. My dealer's wife is there and she asks if I need anything. I politely tell her that I am just browsing, can wait until they are done with the estate, and would like to quietly watch the deal.

Soon after, the widow's son starts asking me about coins. He must be insane or dumb. Still not sure.

So, before he gets into playing me off my dealer in my dealer's shop. I shut him down. I pointed him to the Red Book on the counter and explained to him that book will tell him 90% of what he needs to know about his dad's collection currently being itemized and picked apart. He raced to the Red Book, fanned the pages, and put it back. Next, I told him that if I started making counter offers in my dealer's shop, I wouldn't be welcomed in there ever again. Finally, whatever my dealer buys, since I'm sitting here, staying out of the deal, and being polite, I'll get 1st look at the collection. He backed off.

For the rest of the time the widow and her son were in the shop, he would come up to me with a mint set, or a commen, or something and ask my opinion. I would politely remind him where I was and what my position was on staying OUT of the deal. When this didn't work, I would tell him, "Yes, that sure looks like a mirror" or "Yes, that does have its certificate of authenticity" or "yes, it's in a nice furry case" and other noncommital stuff.

At the end, my dealer bought "un searched" wheaties for face and I paid him 2x for the rolls.



Cutting in on a deal in someone else's shop has to be up there in dumb things to do. Right under completing the circuit of a car battery with your tounge.


But hey. Jump in if you can afford it. Take pics. Post results. I love good stories.

Yeah, I would never try and snake a deal from my dealer. He is always good to me, he doesn't mind if all I do is buy a couple of cheap filler coins or pick through the junk coins and he always gives me good deals when I do buy higher priced stuff. Plus, I know paying him a little profit on the stuff he buys keeps him open. Owning any small business anymore is very difficult.

It is never a good idea to step in on a deal at a coin shop. Unless you are paying for rent and advertising and all the untold effort of owning a coin store, it just isn't another customers place to weigh in. That would be total claim jumping and we all know how that turned out in the old west. Know your place and have proper respect. Even if you are in a total "RIP Station" type shop, there is no place for a person to chime in on a deal. If you overhear some B.S. going on then that is a good way to see how you will be treated when it is your turn to trade. Even when I'm in a store where I'm a regular and the owner is looking at buying an item he knows I specialize in and asks me what I think, I resist the urge to give an opinion. I don't want to be a third wheel in a deal I have no skin in. It is best for the customer and dealer alike to have private kiosks to do deals that are separate from any retail display areas. JMO

Since this is a business I can only think that the sellers are getting ripped off.

And what do you base that decision on? Do you assume that if someone owns a business they must be a crook?

My instant thought is that if I could up the coin dealers offer would that be proper and how could I do it without affending the dealer ?

If you do it you'll probably be thrown out of the shop and never permitted to come back.

Cutting in on a deal in someone else's shop has to be up there in dumb things to do. Right under completing the circuit of a car battery with your tounge.

100% agree.