Weird coin show experience today.

Today my wife and I went to the TNA Coin Show in Arlington TX. We went early because the convention center is just a block from the Texas Ranger's Stadium and they have a 2:00 pm game today. The show was advertised to have 200 plus tables but being the last day I expected much fewer and a small crowd. I wasn't disappointed.
I was mainly interested in finding a few World proof and mint sets to my collection. I found a table which had a nice selection. I selected about 5 sets. Three of the sets were not priced and I asked the attendant at the table if he could quote me one. he stated that the owner of the table was away and he would find out. I watched him walk across the floor to the owner who I could see was visiting with another dealer. Not working, just visiting. He made no effort to break off the conversation with the other dealer for a long while. I watched and waited for about 10 minutes before the attendant returned with only one of the sets marked with a price. I asked him about the other 2 and he stated he didn't know. I asked him to set the other sets aside while my wife and I looked around and we would stop by later for the quote. We walked the entire show and came back about an hour later. The attendant had a price on one, but not the other. I told him I was interested in buying all of them but I needed a price on the last set. He took it to another dealer and they talked about it for a while. I told my wife that it was incredible that they could not come up with a quote and that I knew the set was worth about $25 to me and the other sets were worth about $10-$25. He took the set again to the owner and he still continued his conversation. I was about ready to walk out when I saw the dealer walking towards the table. Finally I am going to get a quote. No! He never came to me. Totally ignored me! He went behind the table and started having a joking conversation with another customer. I looked at the attendant and held up my hands in question. He approached me and apologized. I assured him it was not his fault and thanked him for his time. I began to walk away when the dealer finally approached me and asked me "what's your problem?" looking at my name badge and calling me by name in a nasty tone. I looked at him and said "my only problem is I wanted to buy some of you product, but can't seem to get a quote".
He restated "what's your problem, I have been busy!". I told him I don't have a problem, I'm leaving. He the called me a "crazy SOB!" I turned around and told him goodbye. He then called me a D-bag. This was all in front of my wife! I walked away with my wife and saw a security guard and asked him who was in charge of the show. The dealer followed me and told the guard to throw me out of the building. The guard pointed out the show manager and followed me. All the while the dealer is following us and telling the guard to throw me out. I met the manager, smiled and shook his hand. I explained that I didn't appreciate the dealer insulting me in front of my wife. All I wanted was to get a quote and buy some coins. The dealer finally walked off. I was told by the show manager that that dealer has a "strange way of doing business". On that we both agreed. He told me he would speak with the dealer. We visited for a while talking about some of the upcoming shows and parted way. He then headed for the dealer's table.

Empty handed, I went home and looked up the proof set in Krause to see what was so hard about getting a price. The set showed to list for $42.50. No big deal. That same year there was a special proof set that retails for $300, but that was not the one he had on the table. The only thing I can come up with was the dealer didn't know what he had and was afraid I was going to cherry pick him. Even if he didn't know the retail, he should know his cost and make me quote. If he didn't want to sell it, just tell me and pull it off the table. Nothing I said or did excuses the dealers behavior. Whatever, he lost a sale on 5 sets I was interested in and was prepared to spend about $75. The sad thing is this dealer had the largest table at the show and just about everything I looked at was overpriced, so he has lots of room to bargain with and still make money. I doubt the show manager will do anything, as I see this dealer at every local show I go to. I am sure I will see him at the next one. Bet I don't go anywhere near his table.

 

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That sucks and you are a gentleman!

 

Aren't you glad that he doesn't have any of your money in his pocket this afternoon, though?

 

Wow He's the D-bag!

 

Yes I am, but then my wife took it and went shopping.

 

Sad thing was, one of the sets that was priced. 1981 Russia Mint set for $18. That would have been the cherry pick.

 

Sorry about that experience - there are loons on both sides of the table and all you can do is vote with your $.

FWIW I really enjoyed the show Fri&Sat, visited with a few friends (and made a new one). My cherry pick was a (previously unknown) Mississippi quarter NGC Sample Slab - for $1.

 

I don't understand why a dealer would go to the trouble of hauling merchandise to a show and not know how much he would sell it for. I've run into several dealers who seem to want the chat with friends more than with potential customers. Go figure!

 

Do you know how much training, schooling, intelligence, and difficult tests there are to pass to become a coin dealer?

None. There's your answer.

Sounds like the type of response you might get from an socially deficient unskilled laborer.

 

Dealers go to shows for many reasons. A lot - maybe most - of the business is dealer to dealer.

"I've got too many Barbers, but X is a specialist and can take them off my hands. Maybe he has some general stuff for my store."

"Y has the coin my customer is asking for."

"I took in this junk to buy the collection - it was all or nothing - somebody needs it. Who?"

So the 'social hour' is often meeting dealers you know and asking "who handles z".


All good. But it IS billed as a retail show and it's inexcusable not to break off the chat for 5m to price a couple of items for a retail buyer. Stupid too... by the time you pay $400 - $500 for a table, a couple of those $20 sales can be the difference between Sirloin and Tube (steak).


Retail customer service is where it's at in a retail environment.


At the PNNA show, I found something I wanted from a dealer who I consider a friend. I run into him all over the country. His wife was manning the booth and pointed at him (literally 12 feet away) and said "I'll call him" "Not necessary, just hold it for me and I'll catch you on the next lap" "No, I'm calling him" and she did.

Second half of the story is that I ran into him again 2 weeks later at the Elk's club (small) show. And picked out a nice 185?O Seated Liberty 25c - and he looks at me and says "no, I sold you one two weeks ago" ... sure enough both our records showed it. I wanted the dime.

Then he says "I have a couple new 3 cent silvers for you to look at."

And when I grabbed the split planchet 1852 he says "oh yes, sweet piece".

That's customer service... and that's why I buy a lot from him. Not big stuff - but he's somebody I know, trust and visit again and again.


So, be like a cat - remember the good dealers and patronize them and remember the bad dealers and skip them "You weren't interested in selling to me last show, I'm not interested in spending money with you"

 

Maybe he's coming off a strength training cycle? ... I mean seriously, that sounds like 'roid rage

 

Sorry for your experience.
I was there for several hours Saturday.
It was a very busy show, but everyone was very friendly.

 

that sucks. if a dealer did that to me I would never buy from them again. all the coin dealers in Las Vegas coin shows are so anxious to business with you. There's always 1 bad dealer at coin shows. do not let that stop you from going to coin shows. if a dealer is to busy talking and not dealing with the customers then I would avoid them like the plague. good luck on your next coin show.

 

Wow! You handled that so well. If that happened to me, the dealer would be missing teeth and I would be in jail. Actually, the dealer would be missing teeth and I would be bailing my wife out of jail...lol.

 

Excellent post and some solid advice........

 

I never would have gave that dealer that much of my time. There are too many nice dealers that want my money. I just say thank you and walk away when a dealer is not friendly.

 

Although I haven't had an experience like that, i have come across tables at coin shows where the dealers just left. Not just for a 5 minute bathroom break, but for a large amount of time. What are they doing? Who knows. Not my problem though, they lost my business.

 

it seems this topic comes up a bit. for some reason coin dealers don't have the same standards applied to them that other retail salesmen have. people sometimes either expect them to be difficult or allow for the possibility.

i'm not speaking about all dealers at all. but my personal experience is about 15-25% or so have strong personality disorders and in general do not follow standard retail sales protocols. this guy look familiar?

 

Bottom line? Apparently these guys don't need our money. Let's not give it to them..........