Coin Show Etiquette

Last month I attended a small-to-medium sized coin show that I usually attend annually. I was familiar with many of the dealers at the show as they are present in the local coin show circuit. As usual, I briefly went to the tables to see what they had. I very briefly saw this one dealer I knew who has a mixed reputation but he had nothing I was interested in. I went to another table vended by a coin club friend. He had a coin I really liked which I was interested in purchasing. A minute later, the seller from the previous table I was at walked over, asked what I was looking for, dragged me to his table, and I most politely inferred my disinterest. To repeat, here I was at a seller table looking at something, and this guy impolitely walks over trying to get business. Unbelievable rudeness indeed.

If I could do it over again I would have replied to the clown that I am currently looking at something and may get back to him time permitting. Of course I would not get back!

Have any of you had similar stories where poor etiquette occurred? Please feel free to share.

 

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My bad for the spelling of thread title!!!

 

I would have been tempted to tell Mr. Rude that I wouldn't buy a coin from him if he was the last dealer on the planet.

 

Seriously, as I get older and older I am more and more amazed at what people will do with a straight face, totally clueless to common courtesy and boundaries.

 

most dealers should know their role and never disturb a person looking at another dealers table ever. I would have told that dealer what coin show etiquette is. then tell him to leave you now before you get violent. lol

 

At the moment I did not know what to say or do, but now I know.

 

Was this a young or new dealer.

 

Very veteran dealer known in the local coin community

 

That was an example of why he has a mixed reputation.

 

Based on what I've seen at local shows when people try to cut in on a dealer, I'm surprised he wasn't thrown out and barred from future shows. I guess money talks, though.

 

Let me just say I felt very awkward in not creating a scene. I am not a good ole boy in this group and I am sure there are some dealers that would support or defend him.

 

I am relatively new to being on the dealer's side of the table at a coin show. Prior to getting my first table this past February, I looked up an article on coin show etiquette and read what to do and what not to do.

 

you would hope everyone would follow the rules.

 

Perhaps the bourse chairperson just wasn't aware of the breach.

It's hard to be everywhere even at a small show.

 

I think it is unethical to do what that dealer did. It is ok to be excited to sell coins, but what he did is unacceptable.

 

I've got a few stories. Here are the short versions:
1. A dealer at the small local show had 5 U.S. key dates of various types. They were modern counterfeits. He either should've known better, or he was trying to screw someone. I told the venue chairperson and let him deal with it, rather than addressing it myself.

2. I'm working a deal with Rick Snow, discussing my coins, and another patron walks over and interrupts, starting up a his own conversation with Rick. I wanted to tell him to f-off, but I just sat there glaring at him and Rick till he moved on.

3. A pair of big-time dealers were working a table at a major show. The one dealer agreed to buy my coin. His partner cut in and nixed the deal. So essentially I had the coin sold verbally, then I didn't.

 

I've encountered rudeness several times but I don't get worked up over it, I just move on to another table.

1. A dealer chatting with a friend behind the table while I stood directly in front of them, signalling by bending over and looking closely at a coin in his case, that I was interested. I was ignored for three minutes (two minutes too long under the circumstances) before I left.

2. I'm talking to a dealer when another patron walks over and interrupts to begin his own conversation with the dealer.

3. I'm talking to a dealer when another patron walks over and the dealer moves over to him for a new conversation.

4. A patron, interested in selling several items, has them spread out over the dealer's glass-topped case making it impossible to see the dealer's items.

 

Unfortunately rudeness has become part of our society, with each generation it seems to get worse from my own personal experience. Ethics what are those I use to hear about them when I was growing up. But somewhere along the line I think they got lost. Of course these thoughts are only from my own personal perspective.

 

+1

I might have missed something along the way -- like when rudeness became fashionable. Even worse, you call someone on their rudeness (which was once done frequently) you're liable to get a broken jaw.

 

Keep in mind that Dealers are people. Society in general has lowered it standards of politeness and tend to be more rude (except when PC is involved). I'm an older person and tend not to put up with rudeness. If I'm at a dealers table talking to the dealer and someone else walks up and breaks into the conversation I will turn to the person and tell them to wait their turn assuming the Dealer doesn't ask the person to wait until he's done with me first. If the Dealer does talk to that person, I will walk away and buy elsewhere.

Rudeness occurs everywhere, the moderators of this forum try to keep things civil, but they can't be everywhere. I read some remarks that the person would never (I hope) make to someone in person. When I joined this forum I wanted to use my nickname Monty, I was immediately warned by a moderator that there is another person that uses that name who is extremely rude and he didn't want people to think I was that person.

If I'm interested in buying a Dealers coin, I don't want to be interrupted, if I'm just chatting with a Dealer, I will step aside for someone who is attempting to buy a coin from him.