Random Coin Show Observation

There are a lot of similarities between lures/reels/rods and the coin market. There are huge price differences between low-end and top-of-the-line-professional-grade set-ups. There is also a fairly active collector base for vintage reels, rods and lures. So, I can see the correlation although not exactly the same.

edit: forgot to mention that reels can have huge problems that aren't evident until use.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Simply a matter of treating people with a little respect (not kissing their gluteus) if you want them to spend their hard earned $$'s with you...it's called customer service, and most people appreciate it.

 

Dealers are at shows to make money. Period. Now, if they aren't busy making money (Which often happens even at the biggest shows), they can be fun and informative to talk to. Small shows are the best for social interaction and dialog.

 

What are the TPG's?

 

third party graders.... PCGS, NGC, ANACS, PCI, ICCS...plastic slabbed graded coins.

 

Can we we think those coins?

Generally, I agree that most dealers who deal in slabs only tend to be rude rude and give me the sleazy feeling as well. There's always an exception here and there and they are worth looking for. I usually look at the wares, ask a question or two, and based on their response, I usually just promptly move on.

 

And by think I meant see... autocorrect.

 

My experience has not been the same. For the most part, dealers I know that stock primarily slabs do so because that's what moves. The only time a case full of slabs is a red flag to me by itself is if there are a ton of ancient coins in them. A case full of ancients in slabs says to me "I don't know what I'm doing, and I want to try and sell these to people who also do not know what they're doing." It won't stop me from looking at the coins and talking to the dealer, but it's definitely an impression they have to overcome with me.

 

Fair enough. One of my favorite dealers sells just about all slabs (no ancients). I guess it's not fair to put down any specific rule, but my experience has not been the best with people who wholly deal in slabs. Of course, I'm also a low-budget collector so I'm not as appealing and time-worthy. Those dealers, however, will regret it as I age and increase my budget. I keep track of the dealers who treat me fairly and nicely and make an extra effort to work exclusively with them.

 

Yup!

 

That's a beautiful half dollar. What did it grade if you don't mind?

 

AU details, Questionable Color. The dealer did not question PCGS and assumed that they had to be right. He was the first person out of maybe 50 that has agreed with PCGS.

 

Being fair to the dealer, I would not personally want to pay a clean grade for a details graded coin. Having said that, I'm still learning to detect what is cleaned/toned and what is just toned. Without that slab, I wouldn't be able to detect a cleaned coin unless it was harshly cleaned. All in all, I think it's beautiful and I would love to have it in my Type Set.

 

I have to agree 100% with Dave and Jerry on the customer service issue.
I have been in the food business for over 50 years...I was taught by my first employer this.."If you take care of your customers everything else in business will fall right in line"
I personally have lived by these words since day one.
And still today live by them .....
Yes everyone has their good and bad days!
But.....one needs to realize that if you respect your customers and give them good service they are a customer for life.
Another dealer friend and I had this same discussion yesterday .
No matter how much you spend on advertising nothing has more bang for the buck then word of mouth!

 

I wasn't selling these coins. I was just soliciting opinions on the coins and their value. The half has not been cleaned. The trade dollar has.

And no offense, but slabbed coins are not a sure protection from cleaned coins. I have seen dozens (with hairlines, not just dipped) in problem-free slabs.

 

Ahh, perhaps the dealer assumed you wanted to sell? Every time you buy, it's overgraded and every time you sell, it's undergraded. Or so they say.

And no offense taken. Truthfully, slabs just let me know they're genuine and generally give me a grade range +/- to consider. I'm still learning to grade and hope to someday take a seminar or sit down with a bunch of coins of various grades and piece it all together.

I have also seen slabbed coins that are graded clean despite being cleaned. Now, this example was ICG, but it is my Type Coin for my set and I am happy with my purchase.

 

Not just coin shows, I see the same thing at fossil shows.

 

Many dealers are unfortunately rude, sleazy or some combination of both. I used to laugh how lambasted those 'we buy gold guys' get in threads when many 'coin dealers' operate with not much better ethics but seemingly get a pass. Many so called 'dealers' don't care one iota about building a long term relationship and prefer to make a quick buck by ripping someone off when selling something or buying from someone.

Not to say there aren't some decent folk, but even then I've seen a dealer that always treated me decently and I had respected majorly rip off others when dealing with them. So while one guy may be a crook to you, that same guy may be another persons go to guy. I think more collectors should take to heart the advice I read when I first starting frequenting the forums. Which was to not only buy coins as part of the collecting experience but also try to sell some once in awhile. This allows one to get a feel for what that part of the experience is like and I think if many collectors did they'd probably have an eye opening experience.

 

I explicitly said "I am not trying to sell these." But whatever. I won't be approaching his table ever again.

 

Again I wasn't there, but collecting is one area where people seem to expect a free education. If someone walked into a car dealer and said I'm not buying or selling anything but please educate me you'd be blown off, same with every other industry.

Everyone needs to remember the crazies that come up to dealers all the time low balling, trying to scam ect ect. They don't know you aren't one and will blow you off if you remind them of one