Buying coins: The good, the bad, and the ugly

I somehow overlooked that one.

 

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I understand what you were posting about.

Disclaimer

It is not ok to be rude to anyone and I'm clearly not saying it is.

Discussion

I get where you are coming from most coin dealers are reasonable guys but there is a significant percentage, higher then seen in other retail sales where you get the dysfunctional comic book guy. Why coins has such a higher minority of those Simpson comic book guys I'll never understand, yet not only are they out there but a significant minority of others in the hobby actually encourage this behavior as you have seen from this thread.

For some inexplicable reason the fact that I say the dealer should rise above as a professional and not sink below to the poor conduct of the rude customer has been twisted to mean that I condone rude behavior and think you can piss on anyone you want and it is acceptable behavior. I do not think that it is ok to be rude for any reason to anyone. But after my decade of work experience of being a professional who deals with the public I definitely know how rude people can be. And trust me they are far less rude with a coin dealer then they are when dealing with me. My colleagues get the same experience as I do (just heading off the expected attacks, they treat all of us equally poorly).

I understand how tempting it must be to snap at someone misbehaving. I do get it. But a professional, an adult, will rise above the insult and end the encounter in a professional way.

And you get more money. The guy that you thought insulted you may not have thought they did and they turn around and buy your coin. And you go home with money in your pocket. Isn't that why you go to work? Isn't that why it is called work not volunteering? When I had a table at a show I never treated people intentionally rudely. If I the amateur can act that way I just don't understand how it can be so hard for someone who wants to be called a professional coin dealer. And as I already said I deal with much worse every day.

 

Now that I think about it, it seems like he is only rude to younger people.

 

Probably thinks they have no money and are a waste of time. I would be wary of causally dismissing anyone as a potential customer as you never really know how much money is at the bottom of someone's pocket.

 

I was in my 20s and trying to sell him some peace and Morgan dollars. I bought error coins there too. He always says 'DEAL DONE' with an overly dramatic hand gesture. Odd.
I'm sorry he had to come out of his office to wait on me. LOL!

 

Wow. A whole decade as a professional. After a few more decades you will understand how silly your post is. I started to reply to several of your statements but decided it's not worth the time. Most all of it is just false information.

 

I love how awesome you are. First you berate me for things I never said but you were too busy to look five posts up and quote.

Then I'm the bad guy because I think professional behavior is important.

Then you refuse to comment further.

Now just taking shots. If you actually had the experience to make your comment the above would never have happened.

Can you back this statement up by quoting things I've said that were false information or is this another pathetic statement without basis in reality as well.(see how easy it is to quote someone)

I must say it is interesting to see you do have the time to read my posts and then respond and even make the time to insult me but you don't have the time to back anything you say up with a quote of mine. Interesting concept of what is and is not worth your time. Maybe you should just put me on ignore seeing as how busy you are.

 

Watch how easy it is to first quote someone then respond.

1. How do you think the large companies got large? Maybe by having their sales staff act professionally?

2. You said quite clearly from my post I feel it is fine for a customer to be rude, childish and insulting. Yet I never actually said that. I understand you might have interpreted this incorrectly by reading too quickly but it is very clear I never said that. My point was the true professional doesn't act like a child just because the customer did. If you are too busy I can just repost all my posts in This thread so you can read them. I understand how you are so busy that making a few mouse clicks is clearly an undue burden on you.

 

Some cranky dealers seem to be okay once they see you have a thick skin and can take a joke. There are two old guys who run a shop by me and just sit there listening to the radio saying things no professional retailer should say. Another younger guy, closer to me, runs a clean professional shop and acts like a gentleman. I kinda prefer the cranky guys, honestly. Maybe you had to have had cranky grandfather to appreciate it.

 

Vegas.
It's clear that you have had problems with coin dealers in the past and hold a low opinion of them. It gets old hearing you post it over and over again and I'm not talking about just this thread.

After working with thousands of dealers over the years, I do not share the same opinion as you. The idea that coin dealers are any different from the rest of the world is just wrong. +

 

The irony here- I haven't had all these problems everyone keeps saying I have had. As I say almost every time the majority of dealers are good. It is the concept of the retail salesman insulting his customers that totally fascinates me. You honestly see it no where else and yet in coins not only do you see it but it is even encouraged by others.

Just because I find a topic fascinating and enjoy talking about it does not mean I have an axe to grind or I hate dealers or even I had a lot of negative experiences. I have had a few negative experiences but only a few. I'm more amazed by the proclamations by dealers on this forum that they will intentionally insult a customer if their feelings are hurt. And even more amazed by others supporting this behavior.

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/are-coin-dealers-irrelevant.246287/

Here the whole topic and posts are about the internet replacing dealers, not dealers are bad yet the op gets sucked into defending hisself against a "why do you hate dealers" argument quite similar to this.

Can't I discuss a topic that totally fascinates me on an internet site where all we do is chat about coins and coin related matters?

On my first post here this is what I said.

I'm not venting about all the times I've been cheated (didn't happen) . I'm not upset about all these people treating me badly (only happened a few times). I'm just fascinated by how in coins people tolerate or even expect behavior you would never see in any other sales position.

 

I don't think coin dealers are any different from anyone else. Most event dealers and turn key store front owners (of every kind) are sole proprietors, sometimes specifically because they don't have the personality for life as a paid employee. They aren't accountable to anyone but themselves, and sometimes feel like they can do whatever they please, including being jerks if they happen to feel annoyed, or have a tummy ache, or are lonely because their spouse died ten years ago. The ability to render good, fair, consistent, friendly customer service is a great asset, and one not every one has or cares to cultivate. Some go out of business as a result, and some don't. My Dad was a store owner and event dealer, and his biggest priority was being independent, not maximizing sales. Although he was always kind to customers and potential customers.

 

So even though your father wasn't interested in maxing sales he was
always kind to customers and potential customers.

 

Yep, sometimes he'd just talk to the customer about some unrelated topic and forget all about selling, then give the person's kid something for free... lol... great dad, so-so "business person".

 

How is that so so? He per your post was always polite to his customers and built relationships. Where is the bad business here? You can sometimes make more money in the long run buy not pushing for the close too much and it appears your dad knows this as well.

 

Well, he was never exactly profitable, at least to a degree sufficient to be comfortable.

 

I agree, I think coin dealers as any other businesses have good and bad representatives of their trade. Some might just have a bad day (even though they shouldn't make their customers feel it). IMO it never hurts to extend a second chance or voice your opinion in a polite manner. Prejudice might make you lose out on some great treasure