Coinshop owners fear customers stealing?

I go into my local coin shop and the guys showing me the coin trays I look at, seem to hover really close and don't seem to be very trusting. I today heard one guy say to the other"watch him" almost under his breath. I don't guess I blame them for tha attitude these days but it kinda PO's me, especially since I've been spending a good amount there lately, and many trips over the past few months. Is that a big problem for coinshop owners? Kinda bums me out cause they seem like nice friendly guys, or so I thought.

 

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I've had owners hand me a box of 2x2's to look through and then go about their business while I'm looking and I've also had them hand me a box and stand there talking to me but looking at my hands. It just may be a case of once bitten , twice shy...........................................................John

 

I guess I don't really blame them, but of course, they should be polite about how they watch you.

 

They should not have let you hear this. Security can be really tough for a shop owner. The larger the shop the harder it gets. When items come up missing he has to watch the help behind the counter, the regular customers and the folks they don't know. I would guess the shop in question is having a problem.

 

Of course they arent customers if they are in there to steal and not buy There have always been thieves and shop owners of every kind have always been aware of this...it is simply an aspect of human nature and always has been that people might steal from you so you must be on guard...but like said before...one should be discrete. ALL shop owners of any type fear those who might try to steal what they are selling...

 

It's unfortunate but true things get stolen so dealers have to watch. Now letting a customer overhear "watch him" is not to swift but believe me I watch the vast majority of customers that come in.
Years ago my boss had a "regular" that bought a lot of stuff from him and caught him helping himself to a bonus one day. Makes it bad for everyone else but puts one on guard real fast.
I wouldn't take it personally. If I go to a shop out of town or a show and they watch me like a hawk I expect it.

Eventually they'll figure out that you can be totally trusted. I hope.

 

In business there is no such thing if you ask me...hell...even in life in general I dont totally trust anyone but maybe 2 people.

 

I would have to believe that almost every coin shop loses a lot to "inventory shrinkage." It might be more professional if the owner and employees had some sort of signal to watch a customer [such as pulling on your ear or something similar] rather than embarass the customer verbally.

 

The sad thing is that in you larger shops you will find that a lot of the loss comes from with in. (employee theft.) I use to work security and we would find a rate of 5 to 1 was employee theft. Family ran business are the worst.

 

I am thankful that very early in my collecting days, and then into becoming a teenage collector, I earned the trust of dealers. They let me examine coins worth thousands of dollars for my opinions of the pieces. I learned a lot because of that earned trust, for one, I got to check out stuff that back then I didn't have a prayer of affording, but would be able to later on.

 

Watching customers may be important in such line of business, but not as important as not being so rude or tacky to them.

 

Theft is always a problem at any retail establishment... Some previous posts have made good points about coins being small and easy to pocket. This is very true. I have had several shoplifters here that I have personally caught in the act. It's an inevitable part of any retail establishment. You can only be watchful and observant. As for the dealers that say "watch him" or something along those lines that is silly, we watch EVERYONE. If its a first time customer or a 20 year regular we have rules that apply to everyone. We only allow one tray of coins out at any time. If someone else is looking at a tray of coins and you want to see something I politely inform them that it is our policy to not have more then one tray out at a time and I'll be right with them. It's when you start treating one person differently from another that you run into things like that.

Times are tough, people are getting desperate. In times like these you can do nothing but be vigilant and on your guard. I for one will not compromise my safety or my inventory not to offend someone, tho I try hard as I can to be polite.

 

I would've taken this personally, if I were in your shoes. I understand security is important, but that's just insulting. I wouldn't have made a scene, but I would have made it perfectly clear to the dealer why I wasn't buying anything from him.

 

I completely agree...

 

I had a similar situation happen a few years ago. I quietly let the owner know that I had overheard what he said and that I wasn't offended, but others might be. He was a little embaressed about the situation but thanked me for the heads up and has treated me very nicely ever since.

 

I guess I would not be offended. I don't blame dealers for watching and keeping an eye on things - I would expect it.

 

I try not to take such things personally but sometimes it is difficult, especially if the guy is breating down your neck.

 

I remember one time when I was looking through some boxes of coins at my favorite coin shop, one of the other employees kept looking over nervously, as I'm sure I had half a million dollars in merchandise just sitting in the open for me to pick through. Finally the owner looked at her and explained that it wasn't so much as absolute trust that he's doing that without worry, but he pointed to the other employee in the shop and explained that he was my best friend and that if anything came up missing, he knew where he lived and he'd deduct it from his check. Gotta love having connections that ensure trust!
Guy~