I think it would be wise to consider the possibility that the dealer was not interested in the coins, and he felt his excuse was more polite than saying “I am not interested in these” or “I can only offer a fraction of what you think they are worth.”
OK, but the way the story was presented was that Coinblazer had prior experience with the dealer and that you were along for the ride. If you have purchased coins from him before, it is likely that TypeCoin is right and that he just didn't want to buy your coins.
I'd agree that most likely 1) He doesn't want angry parents coming back demanding the coins back (either because the coins could have been stolen, or YNs might not realize that brick and mortar dealers pay about 50% of what they charge), or 2) He doesn't think the coins would sell in his shop. I'm 29 and I've found that so many dealers are so patronizing and/or dismissive even at my age that I don't even bother with physical shops anymore.
I don't really know what it is like with age discrimination, I have had to deal with people doubting me in my abilities as a numismatist and military collector though. My dad does not like me accumulating so much stuff saying it will hold me down even though I am perfectly happy with the life I choose. As for coin stores the dude who sells to me has been selling to me since I was 14 and I have not had any issues before. I do recall at Memphis coin and silver shop the dude was a lot more unwelcoming but still did business as well. It can also be hard for me personally in the collector community when people call me "nazi" or "commie" at school for always discussing history and wearing german hats (which mind you are from west Germany and often from between the 1950s and 1980s). It can be sort of hard yes but I get by. I am a no bs type of person and will get down to business but I do fear that I am looked as lesser in the collecting community as a whole due to my age. I am 15 btw. So all in all I have had a bit and have my fears but have not been out right refused as a YN.
That's honestly the worst age group to be in for most dealers. Too old for them to treat you nice like a kid, but to young for them to think you're serious.
I can sympathize... Forget about the negative people at school. If your experience will be anything like mine was, after you leave school, you won't be seeing them ever again. Well, 95% of them anyway. Yes, older collectors will look down on you, and think less of you. And because of your age. It's completely unfair and that attitude could come back to bite these same people if they are dealers who own a coin business. I never went back to any business where they laughed at my name or called me "kid" or didn't at least deal with me like an adult customer. When I was 15, I looked like I was 9; when I was 22, I looked like I was 15; which made MANY aspects of my life hard. And the baby-face didn't really go away until I hit my mid-30s. The only thing I thought I could do back then was to deliberately do fiercely loyal business with those who treated me as they would any other customer, and to go out of my way to shun those from whom I had detected the tiniest snub. I thought it was my only way to deal with it. I'm not sure that I was right about doing that, but... That experience taught me that people DO judge books by their covers, and most of the time! Buying an expensive, good-fitting expensive ($1,000+) suit, shoes and ties did wonders for me. And it still does.
It can be hard looking young but, I do have on trick for that. Tall German caps, I don't know if it gives me confidence and I look up more or if it hides me a bit but it works. And take it from me lads, if you are ever feeling like you can't do something, well get a German peaked cap and then you will have higher chance of success. I will keep going along in the hard world of young collectors. One person I am a bit skeptical about is the military store dude. I don't know he just seems like he looks down on me. Like he seems nice but he scammed my friend Mustafa by saying he had some Vietnam era "jump boots" for 75$ and they ended up being civilian boots that had wear and tear and also were only worth about 20$. Anyway that's my plan for it and I do love the idea of a tie that would sell them as anyone with a tie and a big German peaked cap will defiantly mean business. I have mask on to not show face but you can see hat. And fun fact, Ges Gesch the brand of my hat is the same brand of cap the Nazis used in the war but this one is not Nazi because it came from the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
When I was 12, 13, 14, etc., maybe even younger, I would go to the bank on Saturday morning. Walk right into the vault, sit on the floor and the tellers would bring me trays of loose change to count and roll. They got rid of a mundane task and I got to see a good amount of the change that came through town. People trusted you until you proved that you were untrustworthy. This is a whole different world.
You could still do that, they just may drop the gate on you and be greeted by a bunch of Cops with guns pulled afterwards
Adulthood is vastly overrated. Play your cards right, and you can put it off for at least another 6 years . . . longer if you pursue a post-graduate degree and avoid marriage.
I met a fellow flight test engineer at work, and his job and his wife let him channel his inner child. Really great and happy guy.