Wholy crab! Littleton sent coins on approval and wants 19.50 for an average circ. 64 silver quarter! Am I missing something leading to why they charge so much? Also for a mt hood atb prof, clad 5.50 each!
Scouring the junk yards for a plastic dust shield for his late 80s early 90s Ford Tempo. He found one for $20 but then he'd have to spend $20 in gas to go get it, and he really only wants to spend $10 for it, and.........oh I'll just give you the link you can read for yourself: http://www.cointalk.com/t214710/
Littleton is no different than any other Mail Order firm. Most folks that do purchase their products no nothing about coins (or their prices) and don't really want to know other than filling some hole in some album. I've seen these folks at literally EVERY coin show I've ever attended. Buyer: Got any 2002 Proof Sets? Dealer: Sure do. How many do you want? Buyer: Just one to complete my collection. How much? (without even looking at the set which was dropped in front of them) Dealer: $15.95 Buyer: Fine. I'll take it! A LOT of folks that collect coins don't really look at what they are collecting. They're just filling some void and at some point in time, when it comes time to sell, they'll never remember what they paid for what they have because they don't keep records and don't care to. They are simply casual coin collectors that amass small hoards of coins at outrageous prices. Do I fault Littleton for their business model? Not at all. They've been in business for a very long time and have many happy, satisfied customers. Would I buy from Littleton? No. Simply because I know that with a little bit of effort, I can buy what they are selling and get it at a fairly steep discount from their asking prices. It's all about what you know and where you go.
I have ZERO respect for pushy salespeople. Littleton is the mail order equivalent of a pushy salesperson. Traditional pushy salesperson: "This is the one you want, trust me. I'll just bring it on over here to the cashier for you to pay." Mail order pushy salesperson: "This is the one you want, trust me. I'll just send it to you in the mail and you can pay within 30 days. If you don't want it, you'll have to return it straight away and you pay for return shipping."
I bought a coin from them and just received it this week. got a good deal on the coin I ordered but they sent me a packet of coins on approval for an amazingly high price. They were sent back.
I saw an ad for them in the paper not too long ago. You get one deal and then they send you overpriced stuff every month that you have to remember to cancel. Kind of like BMG or Columbia CD thing from back in the day.
^This. Listen, what we consider the "market" price for coins is more like a modified wholesale price. Its not real retail. Real retail is HSN, Littleton, etc. They have a LOT of expenses, much more than a vest pocket or small show dealer, that they have to cover. Do you think its cheap to be on tv or run all of those ads in newspapers? I don't throw stones at those higher priced outlets simply because they are incurring high costs, and bringing the joys of coin collecting to those who never took the effort to find the hobby themselves. Knowledge and work is what is required to get cheaper prices, and if people are unwilling to do either they still have a way to acquire coins. Lets think of a head of lettuce. You can go to an expensive, carpeted grocery store and buy it for say $3. Go to a Walmart or Cub Foods and maybe its $1.50. Go to a wholesale grocer and buy a case for $.80 a head. Go to the grower in CA and maybe its $.40 a head. None of these sellers are EVIL, they all provide different time and place utility, and if someone is unhappy with the price they are free to try to find a cheaper source. Just like Littleton. If you do not wish to go to the effort of finding a regular dealer, Cointalk, a coin show, etc. then their price is not out of line. They have high costs to reach you as a customer, they deserve to be compensated in their business model for those too lazy to buy elsewhere. I simply believe all of us here are so used to paying a form of wholesale pricing, (just like the restaurant is used to buying lettuce for $.80 a head), that the "retail" pricing of Littleton seems outrageous to us. Its not, its called different time and place utility. Chris P.S. Btw OP, now that you know better, I agree educate yourself here and get a better deal. I am not saying you should buy from them if you know better, but you have gotten off your rear and educated yourself, something many people don't want to do apparently.
