Butt in or butt out

Posting for your feedback and opinion.

Background: I was at my regular coin shop today and the owner mentioned she was struggling with a decision on how to act. Seems she'd received a call twice now from a young person asking selling a gold coin.

The first time the owner asked the caller their age; answer: 13. She informed the caller she would need to bring one of her parents or a legal guardian if she intended to sell the coin. The caller never showed.

Today the caller phoned again about selling the same coin but still no show to the shop.

Now for the question: the owner was considering trying to use the caller ID to phone later in the evening to hopefully speak to the parent or legal guardian. Her thinking is she wants to prevent a problem. Whether or not the coin belongs to the young girl, at least someone should know she's planning to sell it. All of the other risk (inviting nonrelated adult into the house when the parents aren't around to show them the coin collection) is concerning too.

So now - your answer or opinion. Should the Coin Shop Dealer butt in or butt out?

 

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I would hope the parents or guardians would appreciate the call.

 

Unless you know of a crime committed, there's not much to do. I wouldn't do anything until someone shows at the shop.

 

Has the owner of the shop asked the kid for her name or anything. She may try that and then just point blank, ask the kid if she could call her parents for verification that it's ok for her to sell the gold coin. Then the owner could tell the parents that she would need parent approval, if it goes that far. That in itself may stop a crime from happening, if in fact that's what's going on here. butt in, but not to the point of entrapment. just my 2 cents

 

Well, you have to figure that every gold coin minted before 1000 AD was stolen by someone along the path of eons. The kid is just keeping the tradtion going, and adding to the hidden history of coins. Traci

 

I think using caller ID to call the parents while noble is an invasion of privacy.

JMHO

 

I agree that the dealer should wait for someone to show up to sell the coin. Then she can assess the situation.

 

Is anyone here thinking what I'm thinking?

That this "gold coin" is a 2000 sac from grandpa? hya:

 

Ripley, you do indeed make me smile....And laugh.

 

I would say make the call and try to talk to a parent, indicating an interest in buying the coin. This is not an invasion of privacy in my opinion since the child called first, and may prevent a theft or other mishap. My grandfather lost most of his morgan dollar collection when one of his grandchildren [a minor] stole and sold the coins.

 

13 and wanting to sell a gold coin? smells bad to me. I would stay clear of this one and wouldn't do anything, and if they show up send them away. You might check with the police to see if someone has reported there coins missing. There's a good chance that maybe someone else took them and is putting her up to it.

 

a definite possibility too...So simple indeed.

 

Well, I was not but I am now.

 

I think a lot of the trouble in todays world is not acting on information , the girl called the shop she could of blocked her caller ID but didn't if it is a gold coin chances are she doesn't have the authority to sell it so call the parents . It just might save the kid a lot of grief in the long run .
rzage

 

Personally I would call to speak with the parents, as my father had a similar experience with my brother as Cloudsweeper described. And, going off Ripley's thoughts, the potential of lost history far outweighs the lightheartedness of a kid playing pirate. Aside from all that, the parents, as well as the kid, will in the long run appreciate avoiding Johhny Law and handling what seems to be a family issue at home. If the kid is indeed a patsy, the parents will know whether or not they have such a thing and they can take over from there. Those are my thoughts.

 

The dealer needs to back off...this is really taking it to the extreme.
In the dealers opinion what is the 'cut off age' in which he feels no phone calls are necessary? 14? 15, 16?
If the kid shows up at the shop with the coin in hand then its time to do someone a favour and make a call.

 

Right or wrong, I say call the number back. Chances are this coin was already stolen or will be stolen from family.

 

Not only could it be a 2000 Sac Dollar, but it might even be that one she got for free with her Cheerios when she was 4 Would just hope the dealer would treat her fairly if something like that came in the door!!!

 

As a parent of three myself 19, 18 and 11 I'd want to know if one of mine was up to something. A 13 year old trying to sell a gold coin without a parent present just doesn't seem right.