Those home shopping dudes.

We all know that those home shopping coins are a rip-off, but who are the hosts. We've seen the same three or four guys for years. Were they involved with the coin world before home shopping, or were they nobodies when they started the show? Are they respected by other big name dealers, or are they considered a joke in coin collecting corners?

Remember, I'm asking about the hosts, not the show.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The hosts seem aweful slippery. My guess is they were formerly used car salesmen!

 

I use to enjoy briefly watching the coin vault just to look at some of of the coins and listen to some sales hype. They have always exaggerated the sales pitch angle but lately it seems they have taken it to such a level I can not stand to watch it.

 

Well giving their ability to slither around like snakes on a very hot day I doubt they were ever "real coin people" to begin with. Probably on the fringe of several collectible markets or those "as seen on TV" type markets.
They are just mouthpieces for those shows nothing more - they don't believe one word they say for the most part.

Reminds me of my days with the Govt. on many occasions when we were required to sit across from members of the public and tell them the by-line, or god help us all, (the new buisness process) of the day, month or year. They knew we were lying, I knew I was lying and the boss knew we was lying. For the really smart ones, since I smoke I would often take them outside at some point and tell them this really is a bunch of crap and just to hold on and wait till this thing blows over. I made a lot of good friends that way and had a steller reputation among many for doing this.

On those TV markets even the experts they bring in are folks I've rarily heard of and thier words are so carefully crafted it's pathetic.

The worst thing is this: if you've ever been in a shop or at a show, (I have a hundred times) and these mostly older folks who fall for this stuff bring it in to sell, well that's the real tragedy. They have a pile or box of this stuff they have several hundred dollars or a $1000 in and get an offer of $25 or $30 for. Now that's the real world outcome of these TV hosts lies.
They are lyers, cheats, frauds and wh&^%'s - the last word I cannot use here as it relates to a type of person who sells themselves very cheap very often on the street.
They are even worse than that. They are just about evil because they meet most of the critera. Deception, doing others bidding, corporate based, organnized, half truths, glib, pervasive, spinning ideas of hope that are false and self serving, no, thier not just about evil they are evil.
"That's all I've got to say about that"!

 

Wow! You almost didn't say anything Benjamin.....lol

Have to agree with you though.

 

Sorry, I'm just in one of those moods but I will try not let much spill over here in an bad way. Is it Friday?
It's going to be 70 here today and sunnnnnnnnny, are you feeling it yet?

There are few things that get me going like a lier seeking to swindel older folks out of money they need for food, medicine, heating and cooling.
I've seen their faces, there jaw drops, they are ashamed, they are sad, they are alone and hurt at that very moment - the moment that so many will come to if they live long enough and if they sell this junk.
Nobody, I mean no one has the right to do this to them under any circumstances, anywhere at anytime.
Add this to the fact that these hosts and shows have to know this no matter how much they rationalize it, they know.
I don't mind so much someone telling me lie simply because they fell like lying but when it directly results in this kind of tab it is not excusable.

 

There was a guy named Paul Hollis who used to "side kick" with Robert Chambers on the Coin Vault a few years ago. I always got the impression that he really wasn't all that into what chambers was all about with that show. You got the feeling that he and Chambers were shooting daggers (at times) at each other.

If you google him you find he's selling rare coins...got his own site too. As for reputation in the collecting community I couldn't say. Maybe Ben could shed some light.

 

I don't follow the TV coin shows that much to really know who is on them, but I do know Robert Chambers was a coin dealer, and a rather large dealership, for years before the TV shows Of course even then he was one of the "full page ad" types in the coin magazines.

 

I prey I never am near of them in person!

 

Now hold on a second. I take offence to that. I work at a car dealer and have for a very long time in the finance dept.
I am just kidding, I know what you mean. You are talking about the used car sales people like on the movie Used Cars with Kurt Russell. These guys were slimy and greasy. Not really like that anymore at reputable new car franchises. :hug:

I agree with you 100%. I cant stand it when anyone gets taken advantage of but especaily older people who are in some cases on fixed incomes with limited amounts of "extra" money in reserves.
I almost fell pray to the TV coin guys. I had picked up the phone to call and order something before I came on this forum. This was when I just was wanting to start collecting.
Something told me not to and that is when I joined here and started doing research. I am so glad I did. Not to mention all the knowledge I have learned from all you guys but the friends I have made and continue to make on here are worth there wait in gold. (Even with gold at $1100 per ounce )

 

Heres a google link on Robert Chamers:rolling:
Aawww..I remember him well.
http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/c/robert_e_chambers_jr/index.html

 

Wrong Robert Chambers, but both guilty of something.

 

Yeah of being a scammer and a crook

 

I think I found them:

http://www.laurel-and-hardy.com/

http://www.abbottandcostello.net/


TC

 

A foole & his money,
be soone at debate:
which after with sorow,
repents him to late.

by Thomas Tusser in Five Hundreth Pointes of Good Husbandrie, 1573

Many scams happen every where every day and sadly the crooks have gotten so good that they can stay on the legal side of the law, even be it only by a single hairs width!

 

If I had every foolish dollar spent over the span of even my short 29 year life span placed in a bank account instead of wasting it at the time I would bet I would be at least half way to being a millionaire by now and also I believe most people are probably in the same boat

 

in one word

 

Wondering about these guys numismatic backgrounds is like wondering how good of a fisherman Ron Ronco is, just because he happens to sell the Pocket Fisherman.

 

IF and when you watch those type of TV shows on selling coins or anything, remember that in almost every instance, the people doing the selling are just basically actors. Most have little to no idea of what they are saying at all. They don't have to since the primary reason they are doing the commercials are due to their TV appearances, ability to converse easily, speak authoritively, etc. Colleges such as the old Columbia University now change name, specialized in this type of programs. They had many courses on how to communicate with the public and there is really no necessity to know what your saying is real or not.
This is why so many commercials attempt to have popular individuals do those commercials such as those fony coins that Montel attempted to sell with the stickers on them. I highly doubt he had any idea of what he was selling, just another job that paid him for that service.
I also don't think any of the people that do sell coins are coin collectors or dealers, just advertisers.
I would think people would have really awaken to this when they saw Michael Jordan say I drive a Chevy and then see him drive off in his Ferrari.