We differ in buying techniques. I have a Silver and Golden rule for buying and selling on Craigslist for more than 5 years (i.e. treat your trading partner as you'd rather experience). It has resulted in many return and new trading partners. I advertise thoroughly what I'd deliver, and what I'd expect to buy, including pricing. An example similar to yours is that I advertised to purchase Good to Extra-fine average pre-1921 Morgan Dollars at $18/coin. I received a call from a young man who had seen my ad for some time, while shopping for a trustworthy buyer. He had taken a couple rolls to numerous buyers who all offered less than my price. What was the catch? None, I with a lady friend would meet him with his requested lady at a neutral location busy McDonalds, and pay the promised price if the coins were in undamaged condition requested. I asked if he had more than the 2 rolls he was normally showing to potential buyers. He stated yes, and I asked him to bring 2 rolls of those he considered better condition. I described my vehicle and my appearance, and where I'd park at the facility, and provided a contact phone number, asking same from him, and a date/time preferred for meeting. We came to an agreement. I contacted him when I left home, and when I arrived at the destination. He arrived promptly with a female, and we all went into the facility, finding a remote location in a corner where I always sit with my back to a wall. He asked about the triple beam balance I carried as we were seated. I set it on the table, and asked for a roll of his coins, which I removed from their "tube", spreading them inline on the balance tray. I now knew the general coin condition. I waved a rare earth magnet from an electric can opener down the row of coins, and received no resistance. I now theoretically knew them not to be ferrous. I checked their weight, finding them to be ~525gm. I knew the nominal weight of a minted roll to be 535gm. I placed the coins in their container, returning same to the seller. I repeated the process on the 2nd roll, finding similar results, and returned the coins. I then counted 7 $100 and a $20 bill, asking if he would accept/trade same for his 40 coins. He calculated, and agreed. We exchanged currency, and I asked him if he had additional coins, and informed him I'd be interested if he wanted to repeat the process. He informed me that the coins were from his deceased grand-fathers estate, and he was selected by the family to sell same for his grand-mother. He didn't know how many coins there were, but estimated more than a thousand. He said that others he met had offered less than $15/coin. I told him if he had 600 additional coins, I'd be interested in meeting again. He felt that wasn't a problem, and he'd be pleased to meet again. He called, and we met again, where he guessed why I wanted 600 coins, after carrying the ~39# "lot" of Dollars, seeing my beam balance, an ammunition can, and 30 rectangular Dollar coin holders. We completed the previous process 30 additional times, except placing the coins 20 at a time in the tubes I supplied, which were stacked neatly in the ammunition can with the 2 rolls I'd previously purchased from him. I offered him 108 $100 Dollar bills for the filled box, and we happily parted, expressing pleasure with "the process". We met again where we completed a similar process for an additional 640 coins. The final meeting was for a lesser quantity of coins, including coins of lesser condition than Good, where I paid him less than $18/coin for the lower grade, but more than any other had offered. I met a wonderful couple, and had a great unstressed experience. I suspect that my experiences with sellers is more fulfilling than yours, resulting in less time/hassle, and probably doesn't cost significantly more. I personally conceal-carry, and have an on-site "back-up" for Craigslist transactions, normally finalized a minimum of 15 miles outside the urban general area. I've had less adversity with my system on Craigslist, than I've had with National and CoinTalk generally unsecure sellers. Caveat Emptor! JMHO My equipment and partial results are portrayed in the attached image(s).
No it's the 1999 WAM but I do have the 88 with the 89 reverse. Found it a few months back after a very long search.
You'd be wrong assuming that, I have made some wonderful connections, like the older lady who sold me her late husbands silver ( I paid substantially more than the dealers offered) and the older guy right down the road who trades with me all the time now. I also conceal carry (Kimber UC2) and so does my back up that I bring when needed. All in all, I've had very pleasant dealings with folks from Craigslist and I agree, Caveat Emptor.
Thee "pen" is more reliable than my female companion, but I appreciate their "company/function", and their probably just as, or more reliable a legal resource. I've experienced privacy legal problems with recording devices. JMHO
And don't get me started on "Dealers", the older Lady I bought from showed me an email from a so called dealer (stealers?) that offered her 1 and a half face for around $120 mix of pre-65 dimes, quarters and halves ( in it he claimed that the market was soft and "junk silver" wasn't bringing much of a premium), I paid her 13 times face and also bought her lunch at the little diner where we met at in the Ft. Worth stockyards. She still emails me sometimes when she comes across something of her late husbands to see if I'm interested.
This is one of the things I REALLY enjoy about CoinTalk. People get mad at each other, fuss a bit, tell some stories and enjoy it (at least I hope they do).
I am tempted to wade into this "conversation", however I generally just flat refuse to argue with anyone about anything. I could have never have made it as a lawyer, A? Just remember "The world is full of dumb ____s". I skip the bad word so as to not misbehave on this forum, where I lack seniority and endeavor to excel nicely. Most of us who frequent this forum are mature, thoroughly grown up people by now, and hopefully have gained some wisdom (rather than simply sliding down hill). I too have run into a few fake coins, heck, I might have some in my collection and remain blissfully unaware of it, or only slightly suspicious. Such is life. When I start thinning out this hodge podge of junk I call a coin collection, any coins I am not really sure of as being genuine, I will label as being possibly fake, and let the buyers make their own call. Keep my conscience clear that way. There, my 2 yen worth, or should I say 2 baht?
