Featured Recycled Article No. 1: Coin Show Etiquette

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I don't think anyone here is saying anything about all dealers. But some of us (me included) have experienced a larger percentage of rudeness then found in any other sales field.

 

Amen to that!

 

At a show, why worry if one dealer is a jerk, there are 30 more or 300 more to choose from, depending on the show. Move on, choose your fights (or concerns).

 

For me it's 50/50.

 

I don't think anyone is worried. Unless I'm mistaken this is a coin chat forum where we talk about all
aspects of coin collecting. Some of us have more then expected negative encounters with some coin dealer. And some of us want to chat about it. And if you read most of the posts they do in fact say that the poster will just move on at the show.

 

You will find rudeness in any business sector if you sample enough businesses. I think coin dealers and collectors may be more sensitive to it because of the passion, desire to get the best deal, and desire to make money. By the nature of most hobbies, as collectors you have dealings with a wider range of sellers than you would in general business dealings (unless you are in sales yourself). This at least applies to me. You are more likely to get more rudeness by sheer numbers than you may be use too.

I just went through the process of selecting and buying a piece of granite for a home project. I talked with as many as 6 different suppliers and as many installers. Most of them had poor customer service and some were real jerks. I was the one with the money ready and willing to spend it and these knuckleheads couldn't figure out how to provide even mediocre service. Tomorrow (I hope) a piece of marble will be installed because I couldn't get two different suppliers to give me what I wanted at their price - go figure. Two installers we walked away from during the process and the one doing the work waited almost a full month before ordering the granite we wanted after giving them a sizable deposit. Weeks later the supplier then broke the granite during transport and the went radio silent when we tried to get another slab from a different batch they had of the same granite type. We moved on and gave up on what we really wanted. Sometimes, that's just the way it goes.

My point is, I do not let it get to me and just spend my money somewhere that wants it and appreciates the fact that I am willing to spend money for a product if I feel the price is fair and the dealer is respectful. (There are plenty of those types of dealers at any show) I also understand that it must work both ways! When a deal doesn't work out, still be respectful and part ways as you would a friend. That type of behavior is what we should all hope for.

 

I do agree with the geek that knowing what can upset a dealer can be very useful information. For example I've had customers try to buy from me when I'm selling to dealers and they just didn't know better. I just want the other side of the story if we are going to talk about etiquette.

 

etiquette smetiquette. Your not going to like everybody you meet in this hobby, and everybody not going to like you. Just be yourself and enjoy the hobby.

 

I've never YET had a customer/dealer interaction with Charmy Harker at any show. I have enjoyed her exhibits, have photographed her receiving awards, and cutting a rug at the Kickoff, and we have interacted casually on a show bourse floor when I was wearing my Show Staff "hat", actually a blue shirt and a purple ribbon, and not my customer hat. I was casually looking at her cases with my usual hands behind my back casually walking style, almost speed-skater like. She greeted me as if I were looking to buy, not realizing what role I was in at the moment. I found her warm and, umm, err, Charmy-ing? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) I appreciate her suggestion list in the spirit it was intended, even though it saddens me that it should have been necessary. It's 90+% common courtesy. I believe major show dealers, with horrendous up-front fixed costs to cover, are due no less.

My up-front costs are RELATIVELY minimal when I'm working for the ANA at a show, and I usually think fairness demands of me that I take a back seat to both dealers' and regular customers' needs and desires in that role. I am hypersensitive about bourse ethics, but that's just me. I have Early Bird type access but I would NEVER THINK of using it. I'm there for the ANA's purposes, not my own. It's sketchy enough that I get inside knowledge of stuff that goes on behind the scenes. Every once in a while, I will use that inside knowledge to be onsite early to get a photograph of a transient event. I had about 18 hours advance notice, compared to most potential buyers, of the end of Kennedy sales, and didn't use it for anything other than being able to be there to document the unhappy reactions, and used my professional and insider factual knowledge to explain why suing somebody was pointless and counterproductive, even though my lack of Mandarin language knowledge impaired my effectiveness.

All that said, I think Vegas Vic's and geek's idea is a good one. I think Charmy's list is useful for some, and I think a customer gripe list, or even 2 or 3 of them, would be similarly useful.

I know for ding dang dong SURE that BOTH some dealers and many collectors need a course on what the ANA is for and what it isn't. That's MY rant.

 

Snoring.........

 

I think there is a new thread about how pretty and cute kitty cats are, possibly started by some of our more feminine members, that you might enjoy.

 

Perhaps a time to get in touch with my more 'feminine' side? Pray my Canadian friend, a link indeed to accomplish such........

 

I get along so well with many dealers that I consider them friends. It's always a chat session before we do business. At the main show I go to about 80% of the dealers are extremely nice, good, honest people. The other 20% aren't really "bad", just not as social and friendly upfront....but they like my cash too.

Dealers are just making a living like us regular folks and I honestly don't mind paying for their services. Not many places I can go for free and see hundreds of coins I'm interested in buying in just a few minutes. MUCH faster than searching on the web plus it's REAL. There is absolutely no substitute for holding a coin in hand! No worrying about having to do a return or getting cheated in any way (assuming you're an astute buyer).

 

I'm curious - would your view of dealers be any less favorable if your primary alternative were not the web, but 20-30 annual decent to excellent coin auctions right in your metaphorical backyard?

That describes my life circumstance. Yes, I suspect it's unusual. I have plugged many other zip codes into the Auctionzip live auction search engine, and I have not yet found one more target-rich than mine. But when you have the viable option to buy how and where dealers do (and I know this because I see them sitting next to me), wouldn't that alter your calculus on the indispensability of dealers?

Where auction houses abound, both coin buyers and coin sellers tend to use them, to mutually avoid having to have their respective prices have to support a dealer's living. SOME, not as many as 3 years ago, still don't even tack on a buyer's premium - you pay "hammer", and at least in PA, no sales tax either on coins. (6% on medals and paper currency.)

And as an added extra bonus, you can find rare varieties that neither the consignor, nor the auctioneer, were ever aware were there, like a Lafayette Dollar in a box lot with junk medals.

 

No and no. I don't like auctions, prices spiral out of control and I don't like the idea of having to "compete" for something I want. The dealers I work with are the opposite of auctions because the prices can go DOWN but not up from where they start.

 

Wow! My auction experiences are 180 degrees out of phase with that. I usually win all I can afford at 40-50% off of retail. Sometimes lower. I find it's usually a lot of work to get a dealer DOWN TO Red Book list.

 

Try doing that on Heritage.......

 

as a currency dealer and someone that goes to most of the shows, i think
most of these suggestions make good sense
thanks again for sharing your article :0