Weird coin show experience today.

I just remembered this from the second to last coin show I went to. There was a guy there that smelled STRONGLY of vodka. Why would I want to do business with a guy like that. Are you kidding me?! Conduct yourself with some respect my friend.

 

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As was every other dealer there. I visit the shows in Fort Worth and Grapevine, and always see the same group of dealers. They are always great and friendly people. This one I only see at the TNA. I know who he is and I know where his shop is in Dallas. If I had known it was his table I would kept walking. I remember a couple of years ago at the TNA in Fort Worth, a gentleman showed him a 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter he was wanting to sell. He took a quick look at it and asked how much. The customer quoted a price and the dealer tossed the coin on the table and told him "good luck, coin has problems, shop it around and check back with me on you way out". My son was with me at the time and was stunned. I had a $80 coin in my hand I was looking at, placed it back on the table and walked away. I explained to my son that even if it was a problem coin, it was a rarity and probably the man's pride and joy. A little later in the show we walked by a table that had a CAC PCGSMS65 1909 S V.D.B behind the glass. I pointed it out to my son and explained that it was a $3000 coin. The dealer walked up, took the coin out of the case, and handed it to my son to look at. That was class!. No I didn't buy it, but I always stop at his table.

 

I would guess that most of that 15 to 25% just don't need or wish to put up with an idiot on the other side of the counter. They own the product they are selling. They also own the company. They are not normal sales people working for others. Coin sales have nothing to do with standard retail sales protocols.

My post has nothing to do with you sonlarson. Sorry you ran into a jerk having a bad day. That's not the normal with coin dealers.

In all my years at this great hobby, I may have found 2 or 3% that I could not work with or walk away with both sides being happy.

 

I am pretty sure I know who you are talking about. I dealt with him a couple time (a year ago and more). I had no problems then. I started looking at his coins at this TNA (Friday). It took me about 2 minutes to figure all of his coins were way over priced.

 

Yes, class shows...

Couple years ago I was at ANA in Chicago talking to a dealer about something inexpensive like a Seated Liberty dime. The dealer sees somebody walking past, says "excuse me, I brought something for him to look at - he's a customer from Japan". I said sure and he called the gent over and pulled a PCGS slab from his pocket and gave it to the customer. We continued chatting while the other customer reviewed the coin. After a couple minutes the other customer hands in back saying "nice, but it's not for me. How much were you looking for it?" "75" "Thanks anyway".

The dealer turns back to me and hands me the slab saying you have to look at this. A Morgan in PCGS and I realize it's not $75. MS68* and I realize it's not $75x100... I'm nobody, a new collector having trouble deciding about a $55 Seated Dime and he's just handed me a $75,000 top pop coin. And then he proceeds to educate me, telling me what I should be looking for... I still don't collect Morgans, but at least I can recognize the high points of a nice example. Class is class.

 

Seems like you are making this personal to me. But that's kind of funny as person after person keeps posting similar experiences. Are all of the others who have had similar experiences also idiots?

 

A similar situation happened to me Burton Strauss III.
I stopped by a lady named C. E. Bullowa table at my first show. Nicest lady i have ever met. She showed me this trial cent, i believe, which was made out of Martha Washington's silverware. The coin was retailing for 150000 dollars. She was so nice to educate me and let me actually hold the coin. I ended up buying so STQs from her for under melt (i didn't know the melt value back then) which was really nice. I haven't seen her ever since, but i do hope to see her in the future. I keep her business card in my wallet!

 

Are you trying to prove his point?

 

If I were the only guy to make these statements and share these experiences one could argue it was just me. But with others having the exact same experiences it only shows that either all of us, including the op, are idiots or Larry is just trying to make a personal attack. Your call on which it is.

 

Nothing personal vegas. I was not calling you anything. I did find it odd for someone to have a problem with about 1 out of 4 dealers at a show. That's what you posted. No one here has had that much of a problem. My point was that dealers do face idiots all the time but very few of those dealers have "strong personality disorders".
Saying that 25% of the dealers have this problem is just not true.

 

I've seen this occasionally. I just assume they're doing something important and come back to the table if there's some reason for me to do so. Otherwise, I just visit the other dealers' tables.

 

I use it as a test...

Smartest dealer - asked neighbors to keep an eye out and left their cell phone # with them

Smart dealer - sign with cell phone #

OK dealer - asked neighbors to keep and eye out and "tell them I'll be back in 5m" or "I'm across the aisle at Joe's, just shout"

Just left? DTAP (Dumber Than A Plant) - I figure if you can't get the guy or lady you are sitting next to for 30 hours to spare 10s covering...

Either way I'll check on my next lap (I usually do at least two)...

 

Love it!

I know a number of dealers who are nasty as all heck.

I just avoid them.

 

Remember Ira?

 

Same thing you are, they are out buying from other dealers.

Yes she has a great reputation. Interesting background story about her. It was actually her husband that was the coin dealer. They married back in the early 50's and after just about a year he suddenly died. There she was with all those great coins and she didn't really know that much about them. Several dealers took her under their wing and taught her the ropes and a good knowledge of coins. She never faltered ad has always been well respected in the hobby.

 

What a rude rube.........

 

Dare I ask?

 

You from the metro NY area Paul?

 

No, I'm a West Coaster. (My girlfriend would say "Best Coaster," lol.)

 

Gotcha brother. You folks from the 'left coast' wouldn't know this guy. He's local (NY metro) and a pest......