Buying coins: The good, the bad, and the ugly

I thought I was being clear so I'll highlight my words in my post

If say 5% of other salesman intentionally go out of their way it insult customers then it seems like 20-25% act in a childish way, totally nonprofessionally. Would you like an example?

And here is someone else condoning this behavior

Where else in America's economy is it appropriate or recommended to sell anything retail with the public and act in a way to "letting the customer know that what he did was an insult"?

Does this happen when you go to the Toyota dealership? Does the salesman intentionally raise the price to offend you on purpose? I would love to see someone give me examples where a salesman can insult the public and it would be considered professional behavior.

"Hey boss, they asked for our best price on the 2014 model and then gave me an offer under our best price so I blew him off and raised the price on him to let him know he offended me." Let me know of a sales position with the public when the boss high fives the guy instead of firing him.

Look I have sold coins to dealers at multiple different shows and most of my encounters were benign. Of course if I were using the penny lady standard rule set then they were very offensive. But by my own rules I didn't have huge issues. I did have a dealer literally yell at me because I would not sell star toned ngc Morgans for ask. And many violated the holy "best price" ethic. But it didn't bother me either.

I don't understand why people would have no problem with a dealer insulting a customer but immediately call for the manager in any other situation. Does your waiter get to act this way? It seems to go back to this antiquated notion that coin dealers are somehow not selling retail to the public. And before you say it I'll say it first. "They are mainly selling to each other" great then don't have a retail outlet where you have to deal with the unwashed rude masses.

Please don't make me dig up piles of posts where dissatisfaction with the dealers is referenced by others. I'm not the first guy here to post about behavior issues with some not all dealers.

As to the elder thing again I'm not the first guy to refer to the old school behavior again please don't make me dig that up as well.

 

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Why do some NOT ALL coin dealers try to be this guy?




(I guess stamp and comic dealers need to be lumped together. At least I found the first actual example of someone other then a coin dealer acting badly.)

 

I've never gone to a coin shop and had an owner or employee treat me badly in any manner. That said, I have gone to coin shows where I have gotten treated in a disrespectful manner. It's not a big deal you just go to someone Else's booth. The business of coins is mainly a man thing and some men are gruff, it doesn't have anything to do with anyone, it's just the way they are. Would you rather have the owner of a coin shop welcome you to their store with a hug? I didn't think so, I wouldn't either, just trying to make a point.

 

It's only libel if I write something defaminating that's proven to be false. I can say "that guy is a jerk" and that's an opinion. It's not libel.

The onus is on the plaintiff to prove false accusations.

Besides, I was being honest

@fretboard: It's a business and they are trying to make profit. There's a difference between that and taking advantage of people. For example, being unreasonable with prices or claiming there are defects that aren't there (this coin was recently cleaned, okay well show me). Also, it seems the internet has changed a lot this last decade or two. I wouldn't be surprised if people are frustrated because customers are choosing to go online.

Personally, I like shows and stores so I get to see what I'm buying. Not every store will sell for more than you'll find online; many will sell for less (I'd assume they'd buy for less then, as well). Also, people online often sell problem coins without stating it and stores are more likely to point these things out. Sometimes it's impossible to tell from a picture someone posts. I have to see it for myself.

If you come in knowing nothing, dealers are generally helpful. If you obviously know your stuff they are either rude or just there to do business and are very professional. What I wrote is what I noticed in various places I've been to. If someone is going to treat me like I jerk I'm out the door (even though I spend a lot on the hobby).

So, I guess its what you are looking for. I don't need someone to coddle me -- I just want to talk business. I can usually tell by the prices, anyway. If there's a 50% upcharge changes are I'm not buing anything there. If I sell the stuff I want to make money, or at least break even (I think I might have made some cash from the hobby).

I'd also rather wait, save, br patient and get the good stuff from auctions that may slip by. You will lose 90% of the time but the other 10% is worth it, IMO.

 

Vegas. Do you get out in the real world much?
From your post, you feel it's fine for a customer to be rude, childish and insulting but the person on the other side of the counter should just put up with it.
Large companies teach sales departments to put up with people that act like that.

Smaller, owner operated don't teach that. They don't put up with people that act like childish jerks. They do just fine without dealing with problem people. This is nothing new. It's been like that from the beginning of time and it will never change. Nothing is going to change based on who dies.

The folks that do service work in many fields will hand you your teeth when you get insulting. They won't put up with you.

Every operation is different. You can't stick everyone in the same boat.

 

Apmex seems to be a good place to buy wholesale from and they have low prices on silver and gold. Just search Apmex and it is the first link. I bought 500 silver dimes and got exactly what I was expecting.

 

Please highlight the part in my post where I said its fine for the customer to be rude, childish and insulting. When you have done that I'd like to see you then highlight the part where the person has to just put up with it.

I don't mind having a debate but please respond to what I actually say. I know it is easier to first adjust or change what I say and then make smart or witty remarks about it. But let's focus on what I said and not what you think I said.

It is not ok to be rude, childish or insulting to anyone and I never said it was ok to act that way. But there is a right way and a wrong way to respond to a customer insulting you. Remember everyone has a different interpetation of what is and is not rude. As a retail salesman you are statistically bound to meet many people who think they are acting ok but you think are insulting you. Sometimes you will be right and sometimes you take offense to what many other think normal.

The professional acts like an adult and simply thanks the rude person for their time and asks them to move on. Please note, it is not ok to be rude or insult someone. But in sales it is bound to happen if you are dealing with the general public.

What service industry jobs are you referring to? I'd love to know what job it is ok to "hand someone their teeth".

 

It's not easy buying silver coins at a fair price. The seller assumes that you just dropped from a turnip patch.

 

You flip back and forth with your words and twist others words to the point that even you don't know what you said before. You insult others all the time and I guess you don't even know you are doing it. I'm not about to dig thru all of your long rants to point out what you just want to argue about.

 

um all I asked was for you to point out where I said what you accuse me of saying. maybe you should be more careful about what you accuse people of saying. how about maybe just reading the post you quoted the first time. or is this your way of saying you were wrong?

 

You flip back and forth with your words and twist others words to the point that even you don't know what you said before. You insult others all the time and I guess you don't even know you are doing it. I'm not about to dig thru all of your long rants to point out what you just want to argue about.

 

We already read that post. Will that be your response here as well? I don't mind debating this or that but exactly what I did say is right above your posts. If you are too busy to reread a post after making an accusing comment then maybe you are too busy to any accusations.

Everything I said is in black and white (and blue) above. The great thing about a chat room is there is no he said she said.

Sounds kinda like an insult doesn't it? It does to me. But I didn't start name calling. I simply asked you to quote me. And you can't. Instead of rereading what I wrote you probably did reread it, realize you were saying inaccurate things and instead of being a man about it and responding in an appropriate manner you just throw your hands up in the air and declare you are right.

Basically the kind of unprofessional behavior I'm talking about. Are you a coin dealer?

 

I agree.

 

Pretty much any roughneck/fitter/welder in the oil patch will... if you don't believe me, drive out to a drill site in the northwest US and try it... (that is a single example, I can think of several more).

 

Great. Now can you give me an example of a retail salesman in any sales position dealing with the public that gets to act like your roughneck?

 

I'm from Flint, MI. Moved out here 5 years ago.

 

Ever see comic book guy on the Simpsons? You get the idea. But with coins instead of comic books.

 

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