What Dealers do that you dislike

the other side of this is the dealer's side. When I was selling at local coin shows about 9 out of 10 people would ask if I could do any better on the price. The first show or two I had things priced so tight that I didn't really have much room to move on the price. If I couldn't give them a break on the price they weren't interested and viewed me as trying to rip them off. When I learned and started adding a little wiggle room to the price those that asked for a break in the price felt they had gotten a bargain, those that didn't ask I gave them the same discount and they felt they had received special treatment. happy customers, happy dealer....

 

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Yeah, that's rough at coin shows where haggling is pretty much the norm. It might be good to market your table as being "No Haggle - Lowest Price Marked!" or something like that.

 

One thing I don't like is when the dealer has to let me know how much work(such as grumbling or mumbling) it is to get the coin out of the case I want to look at, which makes me feel guilty that I should buy it if he had to work hard to take it out. (maybe that's a selling secret, guilt buying)

 

I think that an appropriate response in that situation is " Sorry, I didn't realize it would be so difficult. I'm sure dealer XXX can get his out with little effort." and walk away........

 

Another buyer I went to last week had a roll of 1961 Proof Lincolns . I could tell from the side of the clear tube that there was some purple and blue in there.

But he wouldn't allow me (or himself) to open the roll and inspect any of them, so he didn't make any money.

 

Since they're low price coins , he was probably trying to sell them as a lot .

 

ditto.

If it is too much work, then walk.

 

I like your responses.

 

Thank you, I try to be honest, and blunt.

 

There's one shop I go to and the lady does this every single time and it drives me crazy. I just want to scream at her "you've had days or weeks to look at that coin BEFORE you put it in the case! Hand it over and if I'm not interested after I look at it, you won't need to." But I bite my tongue and just wait as she puts fingerprints on it.

There are 6 "dealers" in my area, 2-3 more that handle coins but are mostly bullion brokers and I go to all of them looking for hidden treasure. I understand they all have different personalities and adjust my tactics as necessary. I also understand that I'm dealing with 1 true numismatic dealer and a handful of coin shops.

 

The first time I bought a coin from R. Beale (900 fine) at a coin show, when I approached his table he was engaged in a lively discussion of early coppers with another gentleman, I was hovering around the table, eavesdropping on the conversation, he noticed me, told me to interrupt him if I saw anything I wanted a closer look at, then continued his conversation, I waited until he and his conversant were finished, I really liked hearing the discussion, and I appreciated his noticing me.

At one of the ana shows, my brother went with me, he was looking for a Flying eagle cent for type, and we went to the penny ladies table, he asked her the distinction between the small and large letters, and she explained it to him, and showed him side by side examples of each type, a really good dealer to give an abc type lesson without being condescending or abrupt. I liked that style.

At another show, I was looking for a 28 red seal ace, Scott Lindquist showed me some in various grades, raw and certified, gave me a short history of the notes distribution and was so obviously enjoying talking about it that it was contagious and was enjoyable listening to him talk about something that he enjoyed so much.

I try not to let things that could be unpleasant kill the hobby for me. I want my hobby to be relaxing and enjoyable, to make it stressful I might as well find another hobby in that case.

 

If it's slabbed, must be Moses work.

 

I like it when dealers and collectors are patient, courteous, polite, friendly, willing to share knowledge, willing to learn and just plain good to be around. I dislike it when dealers and collectors have none of those qualities.

 

I hate the kind that stands right behind you breathing down your neck, and saying things such as "You like that coin don't you", "I see you've been looking at that for a few minutes"

I only picked up the coins for 3 seconds, I didn't look at it for a few minutes.

 

I've never had that experience, but if I EVER do, I'll hand that dealer back his coin, say thank you and walk away.

 

I went there in person one day...it felt like going to a used car lot
do I dislike them no I just won't do any business with them and we'll both be better off

 

I like a dealer that is personable and knows what I am normally looking for or what I buy. If you pay attention to your customers buying habits and patterns you can offer them a better experience and maybe a coin they are looking for.

There is two dealers at my coin shop one very personable and the other a complete grouch and that always acts put out. I don't like doing business with the later and love doing business with the former. I'll give an example when I go into buy a coin I am going to do it one of two ways, one with a idea of exactly what I am going to buy from previous visits or to browse and choose 1-2 coins from maybe 8-10 I am looking for.

Since I am working on multiple sets and all times I might be trying to get a coin for my 7070 or my little boys 20th century type sets or I might be looking to grab a few commemorative dollars or maybe something from my crowns of the world set I am doing. I go in with a budget I got $100 to spend do I get a nice capped bust half for my 7070 or do I maybe grab a morgan for my little boys set and a commemorative dollar or two. So I might want to mix and match and I'll have the dealer pull out a dozen coins from and I will decide what I want to do when I have my dozen selections set out. If I do this I always give myself an hour to browse go through the coins and decide. The one dealer never has a problem doing this for me the other acts like its the biggest hassle in the world and I normally spend way under budget when I have to deal with that dealer where as the other dealer might get me to go over budget.

Now if I am just running in to grab a coin from a previous business I might just give myself 5 minutes on my lunch or at the end of the day to do so. I know what I want and I am just going to grab it I already made the decision. So I did this recently I ran in 5 minutes before they closed and was just going to grab the one coin and be in and out. Problem was my favorite dealer had got a bunch of new coins in they knew I would be interested in. It completely through my game plan out the window so now I am there 15 minutes after close still going through the new coins and the second dealer acted like they wanted to shoot me for being there so late.

 

Grumpy dealer smurf? "Get your stuff and get out, we're closing now!" LOL

 

I don't like it when dealers tell me what to collect... e.g. slabbed coins? high AU/MS? you need to lower your standards. Just because they only have random junk silver for sale.