Is there an etiquette for shopping at a coin store? i work 4 minutes from Harlan j berk in Chicago and would love to go and pick up a coin or two. It’ll be cheaper than ordering it online…no shipping charges AND I get it the same day I pay for it. prior to going in, I would know exactly which coin I want and the most I’m willing to pay. I wouldn’t be interested in shopping around. I can’t discuss specifics about coins such as low mintage, high mintage, different minting places or any history of the coin. I can’t look at a coin and guess the grade. And whenever I shop for anything, I want to be able to get in and out of the sotre in under 5 minutes. Anything more is too long, which is why I usually shop online. My concern is being taken advantage of OR not being treated the way a shopper who can discuss specifics about a coin is treated. Any suggestions or should I not worry about any of this and just go in get what I want and get out?
I usually go in for a trial visit. Buy something small or cheap, and just get a feel for the place. Do they have good customer service? Are their prices fair? Is their grading accurate? Answering these questions will help you decide if there will ever be a second visit.
Harlan J. Berk is a well respected dealer. I would reccomend picking two or three items that you like from the website that you feel are in your price range and go in and ask to look at one or two of them. If you like, then buy, if not then no pressure. I wish i had a dealer of his level in my area! Richard
My car needs a tune-up, but I'm new in this town and don't know if I should trust the local mechanic. So, should I just take my car to him and not say what it needs to see if he will rip me off? You wouldn't be helping yourself or the coin dealer very much by keeping the information to yourself. Let him know what you are trying to find, the approximate grade and what you are willing to pay. Let him do his job. You can rate his performance after you've left. 5 minutes? What would you do if he had a dozen specimens close to your requirements? Oops! Time's up! Gotta go! Chris
I did like quartertapper does years ago when I started buying at coin shops. I gave them a trial run to check out their stock , their reaction to me, and just the general look of the place. Fortunately, I found a great dealer about 10 miles from me and have been going to him for nearly 20 years now. He's always been fair with me and looks out for things he knows I like. Not only does he love Half Cents like I do, but he finally got used to me asking if he had any counterstamps for sale... after about 10 years. The bottom line is you have to find a dealer you can trust. It might take awhile, but believe me it's worth the effort. Good luck praetorian. Bruce
As far as etiquette in a coin shop, it should be no different than common courtesy, politeness, manners and etiquette displayed in any kind of store you would shop in. I don't understand why you seem to be in "such a hurry." Developing a buyer/seller relationship with a shop owner will take a little time, but the rewards you could reap are well worth the time and effort put forth. Just go slow and be patient. Like any business or store you are considering doing business with as a customer, you just got to go in and get your feet wet. Don't be afraid to ask questions. No one will think you're an idiot for asking questions and trying to learn. I buy online occasionally, but am much more comfortable buying from a coin shop. If you try one or two out and you're not happy, there are other shops to be found. If you don't own a Red Book, buy one. It will help you out alot. Go slow, be patient, be polite, ask questions......you'll be fine.
Good luck getting in and out in five minutes. That just doesn't happen in coin shops...at least any I've been in.
You guys are so friggen fortunate to have Coin Shops near you! Enjoy them, support them. Eugene is a two hour drive from this little Coin Shop less (unless you count pawn shops) town! Price of living in paradise I guess! Steve
I have bought several coins from Harlan J Berk both at the NYINC and on eBay and they have high quality merchandise. I would love to go to their store one day. This works for most stores... Once you enter the store someone will ask "May I help you?" within a few minutes. Briefly describe what you are interested in and then be patient. Enjoy the atmosphere. This will take longer than 5 minutes. But it beats shopping at the mall with your wife, eh?
Yep - bought online with them and they have been very friendly and nice to me. I have heard they can be a bit standoffish in person, but I can't honestly say. And 5 minutes - yep sounds like me when I go shopping, except for the coin shop. It takes me more than 5 minutes to search all the boxes. Plus - I have got to know most all them in my local shop and I have no problem asking a question. Like - okay the color seems off a little, what was done? They are friendly to me and I am friendly to them.
i tend to do a trial visit as one poster suggested i usually buy something very cheap and common and watch the reaction i get from the prson serving me, one well known UK dealer is right at the bottom of my list for service to joe public, he tends to look down his nose at people buying cheap coins as he must think that they are in some way inferior to the person who spends thousands on one coin. at the york fair last year i went to specifically buy a pontefract civil war siege piece he had on offer, and as i was waiting this dealer made a disparaging remark about a collector who was rooting through the bargain box, i was dressed very casually in rugby shirt and levis and on more than one occasion he walked past me to serve someone else who were better dresed. when he did finally aknowledge my presence i asked him about the siege piece (much to his surprise as it was £1200), he looked me up and down and asked if i was paying cash or did i want credit, i then told him that i thought he was an ignorant twat and as much as i wanted the coin i would rather go without it than buy it from him. in the end i bought the coin from another dealer for £850 in the same condition....needless to say i would never look at his stand again if hell had me.
Dealers in the states aren't quite as standoffish based on attire, but I've noticed at just about any store that higher quality appearance helps get better customer service. I usually run into the same problem due to age - if I walk up to a dealer's table at the same time that someone in their 50's does, I'll almost always be waiting longer. I don't mind though - it gives me a chance to listen in on how they do business (and maybe even root through that bargain bin). It's all about who the dealer perceives as having more money to spend.
that was my main concern. i'm always in a t-shirt and jeans. and if coming from work, i'll be in my dunkin donuts uniform. it's winter so my light winter coat will cover up the shirt and i won't have the DD hat, but i'll be underdressed compared to the guy who "looks like" he/she has a lot of money to spend. not to mention, i'm not looking to spend a lot cause i can't afford a lot. but what i'm getting is that i should simply go in, aim to get what i want, AND if i really like the service and atmosphere, i should consider returning in person as opposed to ordering online. it wouldn't be tacky to bring in a printout from the website to show them exactly what i want, would it? i've done that before when buying expensive stuff like digital cameras, computers, etc. it shows clearly what i want AND the price. OR should i memorize the price or store the info in my cell phone for easy retrieval?
