Coin dealers are like car dealers. There are some really honest ones who price things fair, offer good service, etc. Then their are bad ones who take junk and want pristine prices for it, offer lousy service, and would scam the shirt off your back if you weren't looking.
From the few dealers I have dealt with, I find they are okay. The two major stores I buy from are the most pleasant people so far. No typical stereotype fits them and they will go out of their way to help customers, and they're always friendly.
We used to have 2 dealers and neither met the stereotype. One was very friendly but had his prices too high so he went out of businesses but the other has been here 50 years and I've been dealing with him since I was 10 he's a real nice Guy who has the most honest coin shop I've ever been to. Cody
The problem remains that most dealers and most customers they serve really don't care for coins at all. What they care about is how much a coin is worth. Most of the storefront coin shops I have seen recently look like a place to buy and sell bullion at melt plus or minus a fee. Some may have 'collector' coins as well but that is not what pays the rent and not what the owner cares about. If you think I am wrong about this just count up the number of posts on CT that relate to 'what it is worth' compared to any other category. We can hardly think the general public who patronize coin store/scrap dealer combinations (what most of them have become) to care about the coins more than those who post to a discussion group or the dealers who service those bullion transactions to care about anything but the dollar value of the deal. That ''show me the money" attitude soon develops into the fat cat buffoon dealer stereotype we all know.
Stereotypes are dangerous. They're wrong more often than right, and suggest that some of us homo sapiens have a distressing tendency to emphasize the negative. Stereotypes are one step removed from outright bigotry and have been the source of much trouble. I reject stereotypes of coin dealers... and lawyers for that matter. heh
I won it Sunday on TeleTrade. LOL I'll post the set when I receive it, but yes, I finally have the nickel now too. An entire 62 Proof set in Ultra Cameo. Only took me a little over 2 years.
I would say that stereotypes could be a problem if they are used to falsely characterize people, situations or things. They say there are three types of cops; peace officers, intimidators and rogues, but there are many other types as well and variations among the types. There are lawyers who are truly helpful, but they tend to be overwhelmed with their services in legal aid societies. We all need experienced experts in various fields, including coin and precious metals dealers. The CDN had a monthly article a little while back on whether coin dealers are really needed. Of course they are as well as all the other collectibles dealers and experts.
How could one possibly generalize about coin dealers? Just like humanity at large, there are all types of coin dealers. Why assume that they are all "corpulent gassbags?" That sounds mighty prejudicial. I know all sorts of coin dealers--some extremely nice, some less so. I also know a couple of female coin dealers that are hardly "corpulent gassbags---" you would definitely turn your head if they walked down the street.
Actually, it's depressing to go on most of coin stores. Many of them are out of date and too much brown colors that doesn't feel like uplifting to buy coins. Two coin stores doesn't have sufficent lights and during afternoon, you can feel the evironment as depressing as sun going down. I did keep attend one store in San Bernardino area because their store have lights and everything is moderized and neat. Also the dealers are friendly as well. Bottom line, many coin stores do need Ty Pennington to help them! We should have a new show called, "Extreme Makeover: The Coin Store!"
I've met a couple coin shop owners that don't have time for small talk and or small dealings. But I've also had the opportunity to meet some very friendly and genuine shop owners as well. There are many shops, so if one doesn't suit you go somewhere else. Just like when you're looking for banks to supply you coins some are good and some not so much. The shop owners are in this to make money...
Of the coin shops that are local here the owners are all way over 50 years old. Takes $$$ to have inventory. Young folks have been too dumbed down by public education to understand silver, gold, and real things.