Many years ago at the Bay State coin show when it was actually held in Boston at the Park Plaza i brought some decent coins to sell or trade. Not even my best stuff, but there were some really nice coins. One of the dealers there that i did not know actually accused me of having stolen coins. i knew 7 or 8 of the dealers that were at the show whom I had purchased from many times. I pointed out the dealer to them. The dealers i knew laughed becausevthey know i was legit and had purchased many of the coins i had with me from them. Being falsely accused like that gives you a really bad feeling almost like you did something wrong.
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@RYK once said he loves this hobby, warts and all.....
That's basically how I see it. There's plenty of incomprehensible behavior on both sides of the table. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the coin community skews slightly to the antisocial, inelegant side of things. Not everyone, but enough that the stereotype is alive and well.
One at a big show, I was trying to sell a coin back to the same dealer I bought it from a couple of years earlier. I usually try to offer coins back to the original dealer before shopping it around. I'm quite certain he didn't remember me. Evidently, the virtues of the coin had diminished considerably between the original sale and the present attempt. After running down the coin, he made a lowball offer - borderline insultingly low. I said something like "I don't think that's going to work, thanks though....." and started to walk away. It was just a transaction - no emotion on my part at all. For reasons that remain mysterious to me, he instantly got his knickers in a twist, stood up, started yelling, almost foaming at the mouth, and told me to never visit his table again. I made one attempt to try to clarify what was happening and the vein started bulging out of his forehead. I turned and left, being watched by dozens of people, completely baffled.
It's a darn shame too because he's one of the biggest dealers in the parts of my type set that I'm still working on. I've seen him at several shows since. I've made eye contact with him a few times - again, no apparent recognition at all. By reputation he's a decent guy. He's one of the two or three dealers I won't visit.
Another time I offered an SLQ to a dealer who passed away shortly after our encounter. He looked at the coin for a bit and sat there talking to me for a while, all the time tapping the edge of his metal loupe case against the viewing portion of the slab. About 5 seconds of that was enough for me to kindly but firmly ask for the coin back.
I've witnessed a few hum-dingers the other direction too. After one goofball left his table I heard the dealer mutter "I hate the public."
Just recalled a scary but fortunately no harm done situation. I was selling a raw $500 note and as the dealer was removing the note from the sleeve to examine it it fell on the ground. Fortunately it didn’t get wet or dirty but it was a very scary moment.
@BryceM said:
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the coin community skews slightly to the antisocial, inelegant side of things. Not everyone, but enough that the stereotype is alive and well.
It is certainly appropriate to ask to see coin knowing you cannot afford to buy it but why all the hub hub in this thread if the dealer who owns the coin states
‘ you can’t afford it ‘ and declines to take the coin out of the case .
Why are peoples feelings so hurt 😭
I manage money. I earn money. I save money . I give away money. I collect money. I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Well I was set up with another dealer at a show. Another dealer I know liked a coin in my case. So, I gave him a price. He said he would like to take it and look it over. So I let him. I knew him and new he would steal it. Well a couple hours had passed then about 6 hours. I went over to his table, and my coin was in his case and he was trying to sell it! I said him, look I need you to pay me for that now or give it back please. He paid me. I'll never do that again...
I once had a dealer tell me I looked like a "f-ing idiot".
Of course I was in costume at the time.
Dunno if that was my worst experience. It was kind of funny, actually.
Ironically, a friend had told me to check a particular dealer's inventory for him while I was at the show, to find something he (the friend) was looking for.
Guess which dealer that turned out to be. LOL
I will also mention that the dealer who decided to sarcastically insult me was fat, with a dirty looking yellow stained beard. Hardly a GQ model himself, if we're discussing looks.
(Granted, he wasn't wearing a coin clown costume like I was, but still...)
His actual question to me was, "You DO know you look like a f-ing idiot, don't you?" (He didn't abbreviate "f-ing").
What I should have said in response:
"Yeah, but at least in MY case, it's deliberate! What's YOUR excuse?"
About 15 years ago. Looking for an AU Heraldic Eagle Bust $. See a dipped AU 55 properly graded coin in a dealer who I will not name, but is known for trying to get every last nickel from the retail customer.
Wanted $11K for a $9,500 coin. I politely asked if he'd take a check for $9,800, so he wouldn't have to pay a 3% credit card fee, and used Heritage as a reference. The guy went off on me as if I had propositioned his grandmother. I was debating whether to tell him what he could do with himself, or just listen, as he was making a complete fool out of himself. I chose the latter, as I found it entertaining to hear him act like a five year old whose mother didn't give him a cookie.
Epilogue. Coin didn't sell. Put in a Heritage auction 6 months later. Figure he got 107% of hammer, which was less than I offered him six months earlier. He could offer me an 1804 Dollar at melt, and from him, I would turn it down.
"Vou invadir o Nordeste, "Seu cabra da peste, "Sou Mangueira......."
Years ago, my Pap went to a Mercedes dealer to purchase a vehicle, had his bib overalls on, no one would talk to him. He left, went to the BMW dealer and a salesperson met him right after entering the dealership. He bought a new BMW that day. The Mercedes dealership found out and called him to apologize all over themselves.
Funny! Once at a Mercedes dealership in a very upscale neighborhood (not all are) the salesman told us they are never impressed with well dressed clients that come in. On the other hand, when someone not so well dressed comes in, they all rush over, thinking this is someone with plenty of money who doesn't need to impress anyone.
Funny! Once at a Mercedes dealership in a very upscale neighborhood (not all are) the salesman told us they are never impressed with well dressed clients that come in. On the other hand, when someone not so well dressed comes in, they all rush over, thinking this is someone with plenty of money who doesn't need to impress anyone.
That's interesting because the normal practice at dealerships is for sales staff to take turns with incoming customers.
@giantsfan20 said:
Santa Clara Coin Show in 1990s I asked to see a Bicentennial half dollar clip and was marked $5.00 it was about 10% clip and BU. Passed as i did not think authentic no blakesley effect (weakness opposite the side of clip). Just handed it back to dealer nothing said ,and the dealer Harlen White of San Diego just throws it back in case.
This is mystifying to me. What was he supposed to do with this coin that you didn't want?
I was looking at Seated Dollars and found a nice XF that looked super nice for the grade. I indicated that I wanted to buy it only to be told "it wasn't for sale".
I was at one of the Baltimore shows years ago and was sitting at JJ Teaparty's table looking at several pieces. I laid my loupe down to check out the far end of the table where they typically keep early copper. I was out of my chair for maybe 2 minutes but when I came back my loupe was gone... I think one of the other patrons at the table lifted it...
Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;
@dcarr said:
When I was about 16 I went to a stamp show with two friends of mine.
I was sitting there looking at stamps when there was a tap on my shoulder from behind.
I turned around and a security guard said "get up !".
He marched the three of us all the way through the bourse area to the front of the show.
Then he demanded that we turn out our pockets, while everyone was watching.
Apparently, someone had accused us of "shoplifting".
Of course, we hadn't taken anything.
Shortly after that the guard and the false-reporter apologized.
I gave them a dirty look and proceeded back into the bourse to resume what I was doing.
Now you could take your experience to the media and cash in for millions! Provided a couple conditions were met...
This was an ebay encounter. I had no previous contact with this PNG dealer and was interested in a $1000 coin. The picture on his website wasn't the greatest as it could not be enlarged to show the details of striking. He also claimed he was a member of FUN. Based on the dealer's offerings on his website I was thinking I should at least put this dealer on my list of tables to visit at a future show and possibly the dealer would offer to send this coin on approval. I asked if he could do better on the price. His response, "If you can buy another PCGS MS64 CAC for less, then go for it."
I realize the dealer must have had a bad week; but, I would not have expected his reaction "You have been added to not only my, but other coin dealers’ Do Not Do Business With list." for not immediately responding within 36 hours to an 8:30 Saturday night followup e-mail asking if I was still interested.
About six months later I found this exact same coin on another dealer's website listed for less money. I bought it. : )
@Elcontador said:
......a dealer who I will not name, but is known for trying to get every last nickel from the retail customer.
Sorry, but that doesn't narrow it down very much.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I had a coin dealer tell me "That coin isn't for you" at a coin show. He was a good friend and we both belonged to the same coin club. I asked him why. He said the coin was on consignment and the owner wants too much for it. LOL.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I’ve had rude remarks made to me by dealers but they’re usually just funny.
One that comes to mind was a Chattanooga show last year. I was standing with someone at a bourse table who was selling. I stood between his and the adjacent dealers table on the bourse floor. The dealer from the adjacent table comes storming back and gets about 6 inches from my face. He was wild eyed and said THIS IS MY TABLE! I looked at him confused and he said “do you want to buy anything or not? If not you need to move!” I politely apologized and moved over. The dealer my buddy was selling too snickered as the dealer stormed off and let me know he was having a rough show.
The time I was standing in the aisle talking to a dealer when somebody behind me and one table over stupidly discharged a .45 automatic he did not know how to handle. Fortunately the weapon was aimed down and not horizontally.
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
I've had several interesting experiences over the years, fortunately not bad enough to turn me off the hobby. In my 20's when I had far more hair I was told more than once "you can't afford that coin". One time it was for a nice raw 1806 cent with no issues that I could spot. When he uttered the above line, I pulled out my wallet and showed him I had way more than enough. Then told him "no longer interested". That cent was nice, I'm sure it would have straight graded.
Some others that come to mind were unsolicited political rants or rants about the cost of a show. If it got too loud, I simply put the coins back and said "no thanks". That was very hard once when I had to put back a beautifully toned graded 1882-S dollar with bowl luster, the loud ranting (laced with spittle) about keeping up with sales tax and overhead just got to be too much. Go spit in someone else's onion rings.
Overall, I've had far more good than bad. The bad are just more memorable, some people just like drama.
@3stars said:
Only went to one, got tired of being ignored by sellers. Online or In shop only now.
Ditto.
Have been to a few shows but got really fed up of being treated as an invisible entity when there was an actual interest to buy. Would rather drive to nearby LCS to give them my money and encourage them to stay in business.
Now I only go to the shows merely to get coins graded to save the headache of mailing them in, see what's on the floor and their pricing just to feel the market.
@edwardjulio said:
skier07-Reminds me of the time I went to a Maserati dealership in an old car and the salesman on the lot told me his cars were too expensive and not for me.
Years ago, my Pap went to a Mercedes dealer to purchase a vehicle, had his bib overalls on, no one would talk to him. He left, went to the BMW dealer and a salesperson met him right after entering the dealership. He bought a new BMW that day. The Mercedes dealership found out and called him to apologize all over themselves.
LOL.
Same story with me but got no apology or anything like your dad did.
I had a 1993 model Mercedes that was taken in 2004 to the local dealer and they gave so much of attitude that the vehicle got sold for a dollar to the person who was buying my house (threw it in to sweeten the deal and not have them bargain and it made me happy to have bragging rights of selling it for a buck).
My late spouse used to work for a Merceded dealer in the nineties and hence had bought the vehicle, but back then itself their quality had begun to have the downward spiral.
Similar story at Harley Davidson when I actually went to buy a bike.
The ONLY exception was the local Porsche dealer who really treated us like royalty and we signed up right away for a brand new one on the lot.
I've only been to a couple big coin shows. One was an annual big city show. I made the mistake of going later on in the weekend when things were winding down already for many dealers.
I also went to an ANA World's Fair of Money. That was pretty good. Had some good interactions but on the second visit on the Sunday there were a lot of empty tables. I was a small-time buyer but all interactions were good. My only remotely "cold" dealer response was from a well-known member here. She wasn't really rude, just a little dismissive in a friendly way, no doubt because some bigger fish were nearby.
As a dealer, one thing that drove me crazy as a dealer where vest pocket dealers who as to take your coins to shop around the floor and took them for the entire day. That means it's not in your case so that you don't have a chance to sell it for the entire day. You don't get a table for free at a regional show.
One guy did this to me at the old Bay State Show when it was in Boston. I got my coin back and told him never to bother me again.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
Upon arriving at a big show in Chicago after driving a little over 2 hours to get there, a dealer immediately started heckling me as I approached his table. He was saying things like, I know your kind, you rip us off, you can't look at my coins. I was just totally lost with where this guy was coming from. I started opening a Whitman coin folder he had laid out and in a threatening way, he yells at me to close the folder. I got in his face and asked for his name, Mercon or something and left, went to the next table. Interestingly, a dealer/table just behind that clown in the next aisle had a nice selection of nickels. I'd glance over at the guy to see what he's doing, the guy was just sitting there, a total wreck with worry all over his face. Was going to report him to someone but never did.
At a local show, there was always this one dealer there who was basically selling pocket change, his material was alway such poor quality. I'd take some time and tried educating the old guy his coins were not mint state, he didn't care he was ripping off people with his junk. I think the guy eventually met his awful fate in Indiana somewhere. Sad story.
Another show I attended up north a ways at a shopping mall with a buddy of mine, most of the dealers there were very old. After spotting a couple of oxygen tanks, it was like being in a nursing home cause when we got to the 3rd aisle you could really smell the pooh.....that's when we realized they were likely wearing depends and I couldn't stand it and had to exit the show, it was that bad.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My experience is when I'm looking at a coin and/or want to get a closer look and ask questions, the dealer will talk to someone else that that they probably know who just walked up and talk to them. If I'm getting ready to buy, I will get is attention and say no thanks, not today.
I've been going to coin shows in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for over 40 years. I've seen the same dealers over and over again and they have never recognized me as a return customer. It's always "move along, you're bothering me" look and tone of voice. I just go the the 2 large shows each year.
Interesting thread. I don't experience most of this, but occasionally I would get ignored... That's fine, I just go on, there are plenty of other tables to see...
I have not had any bad bourse experiences, with one type of exception.
Most dealings I have at shows are positive, including my interactions with dealers. For those dealers that I encounter for the first time that are not friendly, I just move on.
I have had multiple bad experiences visiting coin shops (including dealers/employees who size me up as long time collector with a some knowledge of the hobby) where I am ignored or told that the shop has nothing that would be of interest to me.
As for my bourse experiences that were bad, those total about 10. Each of them are solely my own fault.
I found some very desirable coins that I could have purchased but did not. My reasons for not purchasing these coins seemed to make sense at the time; however a few hours later or the next day I realized that my reasons for not purchasing made no sense at all.
I still get upset at me when I think of these lost opportunities and mutter to myself "IDIOT!!!!!!!"
At a show I greeted a dealer with a How are you doing " John Q"?
His response was "F-you" you bottom feeder. Mind you I only bought coins from him once several years ago in a congeal deal. I don't talk to him anymore. Do some dealers maybe get confused, have mental problems alienating customers?? I knew a dealer once who was ostracized by other dealers for bouncing checks and doing drugs. There were no more shows for him. Another show many years ago in downtown LA a dealer had a gun in his case and sometime in the show what ever happened it went off. Very well known dealer/ author. Yikes. 45 years of doing shows I have more horror stories, but some are politically sensitive.
Some of these a really bad, which surprises me. Sure, some dealers are less friendly than others, but I've never seen any screaming or anger. I have experienced a bit of rudeness and people being inconsiderate.
At last month's MNS show, late in the day I found a table with a lot of Walking Lib dates that were on my list in the condition I was looking for. There were 2 guys crowded right up against the table, barely looking at the coins and barely making conversation. They weren't doing much productive at all. On the corner I saw a chair and figured I'd squeeze in there and get a closer look... Nope. One of the guys' briefcase was laying on the chair. I was trying to make it obvious that I was attempting to lean past him and get a closer look at the coins the the case. He didn't budge and neither did his briefcase. Oh, and his name was on the briefcase and I realized I had done business with him years ago. Finally I managed to ask the dealer running the table to look at 3 different coins. He actually looked a little annoyed AT the dealers who were crowding his table for no apparent reason.
Finally, when he opened case and told me to go ahead and pull out the ones I wanted to see, the other dealer moved his briefcase out of the chair I'd been wanting. I sat down and looked at the coins with my loupe, and these guys were STILL hovering over my shoulders uncomfortably close. Their demeanor seemed to SLIGHTLY change when I got out 2 envelopes full of 100's and started counting. So maybe it was one of those "He can't afford it" scenarios in their minds. I can't believe dealers think that way though. It's crazy. I know multi millionaires who you would never guess it based on their appearance. The person who I think is the richest person I know used to play pro sports, but he looks like a typical country boy.
There was another dealer who only had one case and it was all gold. A guy (Collector, I presume) was sitting there with a bag covering the whole case and conversing with the dealer. Every time I checked he was still there. On one hand, it's kind of cool that the dealer was willing to talk to him for so long. But darnit, the guy was obscuring the whole inventory. He eventually left after quite a long time and I ended up buying 1908 Half Eagle NGC MS63 CAC from the dealer, who was a very nice guy.
Edit: I meant to mention that I overheard the dealer I got the gold from telling the guy who sat at his table all day, "The only checks I've ever had bounce were from other dealers.
@krueger said:
I knew a dealer once who was ostracized by other dealers for bouncing checks and doing drugs.
I remember many years ago, a dealer who I knew well got a check from another dealer which bounced. At the next major coin show, he put the check in his display case with a large "BAD" printed in red magic marker across the front of the check. Of course, everyone who visited his table had to see which dealer was writing bad checks. It didn't take long before word got back to the other dealer who then ran up to his table with a fist full of cash to buy back his check. LOL.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
One of my last raw walkers to be sold was a 1934 S that I had gotten from my mentor dealer. I had purchased many, many key date raw coins from him and sold most of them back to him, when I started to transition to certified only coins. He was very above board with me and I actually had made money on all of the coins that I sold back to him, because I had held them for about 10 years.
By this time he was sick with Parkinson's and had his son (who was about my age) helping him out at his table. I tried to sell him the coin but he wasn't interested. Graysheet bid was about $650, at the time. I told him that I would let it go really cheap and that I just wanted him to have it. He asked me 'how much?' and I told him just to make me an offer. Then he told me again that he really wasn't interested, so I let it go and I ended up selling it to a lowball dealer for only about $350. You know how it is with some dealers and raw coins...they try to tell you that they're actually AU, when in fact they're mint state. That's a dirty Ploy that some use. I didn’t care and I just wanted to liquidate it. Besides, the coin was raw, so the dealer who bought it was assuming all the risk if, in fact, he sent it off to be graded.
When I went back to his table and told him that I had sold it for $350 his whole face turned white and he started to tremble and told me 'do you realize that you sold that for $300 below bid?' And then it was my turn to get upset and I told him "I told you that I was willing to let it go really cheap and I just wanted YOU to have it!" He died not long after that and that was the last time that I had ever seen him... He didn't live long enough to see my registry set excel. Very sad....😣😥
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
@rays said:
This story goes back quite awhile. Circa 1998 I was working on a US type set, 1793-current. I changed my preferences to mint state only coins, and I had bought one or two proofs, including a Mercury dime in PF64, worth about $200 at the time.
I traveled to Santa Clara, CA for a coin show and I found a dealer with many mint state Mercury dimes for sale (Larry Whitlow). He wasn't busy, and I examined five or six and picked one I liked (I think it was about $200 as well). I asked him if he would consider a trade of my proof mercury (which I had with me). This dealer became irate and told me I was treating him rudely and to never visit his table again, which I did not. I saw him for many years at Long Beach.
That is such a strange story. As a dealer, I would love it if a customer pulled out a proof Merc and asked me if I wanted to do a trade for something they liked in my inventory. Perhaps we would not come to an agreement, but having the opportunity doesn't hurt anything.
@2windy2fish said:
Just a comment about buyers….i always give the same attention and kindness to anyone who wants to look at my inventory no matter what their appearance is…i have a few regulars now that have very deep pockets, and are willing buyers
When a YN comes to my table, I will show them any coin they want to see. Even if they tell me right out of the gate that they cannot afford it, I want to encourage YNs. BTW - I am also surprised how much disposable income some YNs have.
@2windy2fish said:
Just a comment about buyers….i always give the same attention and kindness to anyone who wants to look at my inventory no matter what their appearance is…i have a few regulars now that have very deep pockets, and are willing buyers
When a YN comes to my table, I will show them any coin they want to see. Even if they tell me right out of the gate that they cannot afford it, I want to encourage YNs. BTW - I am also surprised how much disposable income some YNs have.
I agree 100% with how you treat YN. I'm not surprised they have disposable income though. They make $14 an hour flipping burgers and have free room and board. Congrats to you for treating everyone as a customer.
Another bad experience pertaining to coins... but not at a coin show. I was actually at a gun show and happened upon a vendor with a bunch of coins. I've seen silver Dollars at a few gun shows, but this seller had books of most denominations. I was attempting to complete an IHC set at the time and asked about an 1877. Low and behold... he had one! The obverse was pretty mangled with some deep scratches... the reverse did NOT have the shallow N. I commented that it MUST be a circulated proof since the diagnostic for a business strike wasn't there. He just looked at me and brought the price down to $700... I handed it back to him and just said "good luck with that". He became a bit agitated and I just told he that it really wouldn't behoove him to press the issue. I walked away...
Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;
I had dealt with a certain dealer at a local bi-monthly coin show for years [at least 10+ years.]
And I had spend many thousands with him over the years.
In particular I had purchased many Barber coins that, at the time no one in the area wanted except for me.
Anyway, one day, my bag, as always was on the chair in front of his table.
That is where I keep all of my logs, reference books, loupe, pens, etc.
He was frantically looking for some proof set, probably worth about $10 or so.
Suddenly he walks around the table and starts looking thru my bag. And, no, he did not ask for my permission.
He found nothing and simply laughed and went back behind the table, where he found the proof set on the floor.
I can't repeat what I said to him, because this is a family forum, but I never dealt with him again.
[PS: Nope, I did not hit him.]
And, yes, As I walk by at the show I calmly say out loud that the customers should keep their hands on their wallets.
Who was it? A frequent weekly advertiser in Coin World as a buyer.
Comments
Many years ago at the Bay State coin show when it was actually held in Boston at the Park Plaza i brought some decent coins to sell or trade. Not even my best stuff, but there were some really nice coins. One of the dealers there that i did not know actually accused me of having stolen coins. i knew 7 or 8 of the dealers that were at the show whom I had purchased from many times. I pointed out the dealer to them. The dealers i knew laughed becausevthey know i was legit and had purchased many of the coins i had with me from them. Being falsely accused like that gives you a really bad feeling almost like you did something wrong.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
@RYK once said he loves this hobby, warts and all.....
That's basically how I see it. There's plenty of incomprehensible behavior on both sides of the table. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the coin community skews slightly to the antisocial, inelegant side of things. Not everyone, but enough that the stereotype is alive and well.
One at a big show, I was trying to sell a coin back to the same dealer I bought it from a couple of years earlier. I usually try to offer coins back to the original dealer before shopping it around. I'm quite certain he didn't remember me. Evidently, the virtues of the coin had diminished considerably between the original sale and the present attempt. After running down the coin, he made a lowball offer - borderline insultingly low. I said something like "I don't think that's going to work, thanks though....." and started to walk away. It was just a transaction - no emotion on my part at all. For reasons that remain mysterious to me, he instantly got his knickers in a twist, stood up, started yelling, almost foaming at the mouth, and told me to never visit his table again. I made one attempt to try to clarify what was happening and the vein started bulging out of his forehead. I turned and left, being watched by dozens of people, completely baffled.
It's a darn shame too because he's one of the biggest dealers in the parts of my type set that I'm still working on. I've seen him at several shows since. I've made eye contact with him a few times - again, no apparent recognition at all. By reputation he's a decent guy. He's one of the two or three dealers I won't visit.
Another time I offered an SLQ to a dealer who passed away shortly after our encounter. He looked at the coin for a bit and sat there talking to me for a while, all the time tapping the edge of his metal loupe case against the viewing portion of the slab. About 5 seconds of that was enough for me to kindly but firmly ask for the coin back.
I've witnessed a few hum-dingers the other direction too. After one goofball left his table I heard the dealer mutter "I hate the public."
Just recalled a scary but fortunately no harm done situation. I was selling a raw $500 note and as the dealer was removing the note from the sleeve to examine it it fell on the ground. Fortunately it didn’t get wet or dirty but it was a very scary moment.
>
An understatement if I ever saw one.
It is certainly appropriate to ask to see coin knowing you cannot afford to buy it but why all the hub hub in this thread if the dealer who owns the coin states
‘ you can’t afford it ‘ and declines to take the coin out of the case .
Why are peoples feelings so hurt 😭
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Well I was set up with another dealer at a show. Another dealer I know liked a coin in my case. So, I gave him a price. He said he would like to take it and look it over. So I let him. I knew him and new he would steal it. Well a couple hours had passed then about 6 hours. I went over to his table, and my coin was in his case and he was trying to sell it! I said him, look I need you to pay me for that now or give it back please. He paid me. I'll never do that again...
I once had a dealer tell me I looked like a "f-ing idiot".
Of course I was in costume at the time.
Dunno if that was my worst experience. It was kind of funny, actually.
Ironically, a friend had told me to check a particular dealer's inventory for him while I was at the show, to find something he (the friend) was looking for.
Guess which dealer that turned out to be. LOL
I will also mention that the dealer who decided to sarcastically insult me was fat, with a dirty looking yellow stained beard. Hardly a GQ model himself, if we're discussing looks.
(Granted, he wasn't wearing a coin clown costume like I was, but still...)
His actual question to me was, "You DO know you look like a f-ing idiot, don't you?" (He didn't abbreviate "f-ing").
What I should have said in response:
"Yeah, but at least in MY case, it's deliberate! What's YOUR excuse?"
About 15 years ago. Looking for an AU Heraldic Eagle Bust $. See a dipped AU 55 properly graded coin in a dealer who I will not name, but is known for trying to get every last nickel from the retail customer.
Wanted $11K for a $9,500 coin. I politely asked if he'd take a check for $9,800, so he wouldn't have to pay a 3% credit card fee, and used Heritage as a reference. The guy went off on me as if I had propositioned his grandmother. I was debating whether to tell him what he could do with himself, or just listen, as he was making a complete fool out of himself. I chose the latter, as I found it entertaining to hear him act like a five year old whose mother didn't give him a cookie.
Epilogue. Coin didn't sell. Put in a Heritage auction 6 months later. Figure he got 107% of hammer, which was less than I offered him six months earlier. He could offer me an 1804 Dollar at melt, and from him, I would turn it down.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Funny! Once at a Mercedes dealership in a very upscale neighborhood (not all are) the salesman told us they are never impressed with well dressed clients that come in. On the other hand, when someone not so well dressed comes in, they all rush over, thinking this is someone with plenty of money who doesn't need to impress anyone.
That's interesting because the normal practice at dealerships is for sales staff to take turns with incoming customers.
This is mystifying to me. What was he supposed to do with this coin that you didn't want?
I was looking at Seated Dollars and found a nice XF that looked super nice for the grade. I indicated that I wanted to buy it only to be told "it wasn't for sale".
I was at one of the Baltimore shows years ago and was sitting at JJ Teaparty's table looking at several pieces. I laid my loupe down to check out the far end of the table where they typically keep early copper. I was out of my chair for maybe 2 minutes but when I came back my loupe was gone... I think one of the other patrons at the table lifted it...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
Now you could take your experience to the media and cash in for millions! Provided a couple conditions were met...
This was an ebay encounter. I had no previous contact with this PNG dealer and was interested in a $1000 coin. The picture on his website wasn't the greatest as it could not be enlarged to show the details of striking. He also claimed he was a member of FUN. Based on the dealer's offerings on his website I was thinking I should at least put this dealer on my list of tables to visit at a future show and possibly the dealer would offer to send this coin on approval. I asked if he could do better on the price. His response, "If you can buy another PCGS MS64 CAC for less, then go for it."
I realize the dealer must have had a bad week; but, I would not have expected his reaction "You have been added to not only my, but other coin dealers’ Do Not Do Business With list." for not immediately responding within 36 hours to an 8:30 Saturday night followup e-mail asking if I was still interested.
About six months later I found this exact same coin on another dealer's website listed for less money. I bought it. : )
Cool! You're the second guy I've known to do that.
Sales can be cut throat.
Perhaps affect a snooty air and sniff, "I buy the coin, not the slab. Or the sticker!" And then saunter off.
Seriously, though, congrats on the pickup.
Good God man! Remind me never to negotiate with you!
Sorry, but that doesn't narrow it down very much.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I've had that happen several real times. One of the attendees was told never come back
Perhaps they are trying to use reverse phycology on the customer.
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I had a coin dealer tell me "That coin isn't for you" at a coin show. He was a good friend and we both belonged to the same coin club. I asked him why. He said the coin was on consignment and the owner wants too much for it. LOL.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I’ve had rude remarks made to me by dealers but they’re usually just funny.
One that comes to mind was a Chattanooga show last year. I was standing with someone at a bourse table who was selling. I stood between his and the adjacent dealers table on the bourse floor. The dealer from the adjacent table comes storming back and gets about 6 inches from my face. He was wild eyed and said THIS IS MY TABLE! I looked at him confused and he said “do you want to buy anything or not? If not you need to move!” I politely apologized and moved over. The dealer my buddy was selling too snickered as the dealer stormed off and let me know he was having a rough show.
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
The time I was standing in the aisle talking to a dealer when somebody behind me and one table over stupidly discharged a .45 automatic he did not know how to handle. Fortunately the weapon was aimed down and not horizontally.
I've had several interesting experiences over the years, fortunately not bad enough to turn me off the hobby. In my 20's when I had far more hair I was told more than once "you can't afford that coin". One time it was for a nice raw 1806 cent with no issues that I could spot. When he uttered the above line, I pulled out my wallet and showed him I had way more than enough. Then told him "no longer interested". That cent was nice, I'm sure it would have straight graded.
Some others that come to mind were unsolicited political rants or rants about the cost of a show. If it got too loud, I simply put the coins back and said "no thanks". That was very hard once when I had to put back a beautifully toned graded 1882-S dollar with bowl luster, the loud ranting (laced with spittle) about keeping up with sales tax and overhead just got to be too much. Go spit in someone else's onion rings.
Overall, I've had far more good than bad. The bad are just more memorable, some people just like drama.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
Ditto.
Have been to a few shows but got really fed up of being treated as an invisible entity when there was an actual interest to buy. Would rather drive to nearby LCS to give them my money and encourage them to stay in business.
Now I only go to the shows merely to get coins graded to save the headache of mailing them in, see what's on the floor and their pricing just to feel the market.
LOL.
Same story with me but got no apology or anything like your dad did.
I had a 1993 model Mercedes that was taken in 2004 to the local dealer and they gave so much of attitude that the vehicle got sold for a dollar to the person who was buying my house (threw it in to sweeten the deal and not have them bargain and it made me happy to have bragging rights of selling it for a buck).
My late spouse used to work for a Merceded dealer in the nineties and hence had bought the vehicle, but back then itself their quality had begun to have the downward spiral.
Similar story at Harley Davidson when I actually went to buy a bike.
The ONLY exception was the local Porsche dealer who really treated us like royalty and we signed up right away for a brand new one on the lot.
Edited to add quote.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/quarters/PCGS-2020-quarter-quest/album/247091
Www.killermarbles.com
Www.suncitycoin.com
I've only been to a couple big coin shows. One was an annual big city show. I made the mistake of going later on in the weekend when things were winding down already for many dealers.
I also went to an ANA World's Fair of Money. That was pretty good. Had some good interactions but on the second visit on the Sunday there were a lot of empty tables. I was a small-time buyer but all interactions were good. My only remotely "cold" dealer response was from a well-known member here.
She wasn't really rude, just a little dismissive in a friendly way, no doubt because some bigger fish were nearby. 
There's something that gets my blood pressure up at just about every show I go to. I really should stop going.
I still feel like it's really weird how uncomfortable many dealers are with people wanting to look at coins in their cases.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
As a dealer, one thing that drove me crazy as a dealer where vest pocket dealers who as to take your coins to shop around the floor and took them for the entire day. That means it's not in your case so that you don't have a chance to sell it for the entire day. You don't get a table for free at a regional show.
One guy did this to me at the old Bay State Show when it was in Boston. I got my coin back and told him never to bother me again.
Upon arriving at a big show in Chicago after driving a little over 2 hours to get there, a dealer immediately started heckling me as I approached his table. He was saying things like, I know your kind, you rip us off, you can't look at my coins. I was just totally lost with where this guy was coming from. I started opening a Whitman coin folder he had laid out and in a threatening way, he yells at me to close the folder. I got in his face and asked for his name, Mercon or something and left, went to the next table. Interestingly, a dealer/table just behind that clown in the next aisle had a nice selection of nickels. I'd glance over at the guy to see what he's doing, the guy was just sitting there, a total wreck with worry all over his face. Was going to report him to someone but never did.
At a local show, there was always this one dealer there who was basically selling pocket change, his material was alway such poor quality. I'd take some time and tried educating the old guy his coins were not mint state, he didn't care he was ripping off people with his junk. I think the guy eventually met his awful fate in Indiana somewhere. Sad story.
Another show I attended up north a ways at a shopping mall with a buddy of mine, most of the dealers there were very old. After spotting a couple of oxygen tanks, it was like being in a nursing home cause when we got to the 3rd aisle you could really smell the pooh.....that's when we realized they were likely wearing depends and I couldn't stand it and had to exit the show, it was that bad.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
My experience is when I'm looking at a coin and/or want to get a closer look and ask questions, the dealer will talk to someone else that that they probably know who just walked up and talk to them. If I'm getting ready to buy, I will get is attention and say no thanks, not today.
I've been going to coin shows in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for over 40 years. I've seen the same dealers over and over again and they have never recognized me as a return customer. It's always "move along, you're bothering me" look and tone of voice. I just go the the 2 large shows each year.
Everything is all right!
Interesting thread. I don't experience most of this, but occasionally I would get ignored... That's fine, I just go on, there are plenty of other tables to see...
My YouTube Channel
Seems like there are many more bad bourse experiences than good ones. see the Good bourse experience thread also currently going.
Lots of people aren't happy unless they're not happy.
I have not had any bad bourse experiences, with one type of exception.
Most dealings I have at shows are positive, including my interactions with dealers. For those dealers that I encounter for the first time that are not friendly, I just move on.
I have had multiple bad experiences visiting coin shops (including dealers/employees who size me up as long time collector with a some knowledge of the hobby) where I am ignored or told that the shop has nothing that would be of interest to me.
As for my bourse experiences that were bad, those total about 10. Each of them are solely my own fault.
I found some very desirable coins that I could have purchased but did not. My reasons for not purchasing these coins seemed to make sense at the time; however a few hours later or the next day I realized that my reasons for not purchasing made no sense at all.
I still get upset at me when I think of these lost opportunities and mutter to myself "IDIOT!!!!!!!"
@conrad99
So you knew Slim Pickens?
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
At a show I greeted a dealer with a How are you doing " John Q"?
His response was "F-you" you bottom feeder. Mind you I only bought coins from him once several years ago in a congeal deal. I don't talk to him anymore. Do some dealers maybe get confused, have mental problems alienating customers?? I knew a dealer once who was ostracized by other dealers for bouncing checks and doing drugs. There were no more shows for him. Another show many years ago in downtown LA a dealer had a gun in his case and sometime in the show what ever happened it went off. Very well known dealer/ author. Yikes. 45 years of doing shows I have more horror stories, but some are politically sensitive.
Some of these a really bad, which surprises me. Sure, some dealers are less friendly than others, but I've never seen any screaming or anger. I have experienced a bit of rudeness and people being inconsiderate.
At last month's MNS show, late in the day I found a table with a lot of Walking Lib dates that were on my list in the condition I was looking for. There were 2 guys crowded right up against the table, barely looking at the coins and barely making conversation. They weren't doing much productive at all. On the corner I saw a chair and figured I'd squeeze in there and get a closer look... Nope. One of the guys' briefcase was laying on the chair. I was trying to make it obvious that I was attempting to lean past him and get a closer look at the coins the the case. He didn't budge and neither did his briefcase. Oh, and his name was on the briefcase and I realized I had done business with him years ago. Finally I managed to ask the dealer running the table to look at 3 different coins. He actually looked a little annoyed AT the dealers who were crowding his table for no apparent reason.
Finally, when he opened case and told me to go ahead and pull out the ones I wanted to see, the other dealer moved his briefcase out of the chair I'd been wanting. I sat down and looked at the coins with my loupe, and these guys were STILL hovering over my shoulders uncomfortably close. Their demeanor seemed to SLIGHTLY change when I got out 2 envelopes full of 100's and started counting. So maybe it was one of those "He can't afford it" scenarios in their minds. I can't believe dealers think that way though. It's crazy. I know multi millionaires who you would never guess it based on their appearance. The person who I think is the richest person I know used to play pro sports, but he looks like a typical country boy.
There was another dealer who only had one case and it was all gold. A guy (Collector, I presume) was sitting there with a bag covering the whole case and conversing with the dealer. Every time I checked he was still there. On one hand, it's kind of cool that the dealer was willing to talk to him for so long. But darnit, the guy was obscuring the whole inventory. He eventually left after quite a long time and I ended up buying 1908 Half Eagle NGC MS63 CAC from the dealer, who was a very nice guy.
Edit: I meant to mention that I overheard the dealer I got the gold from telling the guy who sat at his table all day, "The only checks I've ever had bounce were from other dealers.
I remember many years ago, a dealer who I knew well got a check from another dealer which bounced. At the next major coin show, he put the check in his display case with a large "BAD" printed in red magic marker across the front of the check. Of course, everyone who visited his table had to see which dealer was writing bad checks. It didn't take long before word got back to the other dealer who then ran up to his table with a fist full of cash to buy back his check. LOL.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
One of my last raw walkers to be sold was a 1934 S that I had gotten from my mentor dealer. I had purchased many, many key date raw coins from him and sold most of them back to him, when I started to transition to certified only coins. He was very above board with me and I actually had made money on all of the coins that I sold back to him, because I had held them for about 10 years.
By this time he was sick with Parkinson's and had his son (who was about my age) helping him out at his table. I tried to sell him the coin but he wasn't interested. Graysheet bid was about $650, at the time. I told him that I would let it go really cheap and that I just wanted him to have it. He asked me 'how much?' and I told him just to make me an offer. Then he told me again that he really wasn't interested, so I let it go and I ended up selling it to a lowball dealer for only about $350. You know how it is with some dealers and raw coins...they try to tell you that they're actually AU, when in fact they're mint state. That's a dirty Ploy that some use. I didn’t care and I just wanted to liquidate it. Besides, the coin was raw, so the dealer who bought it was assuming all the risk if, in fact, he sent it off to be graded.
When I went back to his table and told him that I had sold it for $350 his whole face turned white and he started to tremble and told me 'do you realize that you sold that for $300 below bid?' And then it was my turn to get upset and I told him "I told you that I was willing to let it go really cheap and I just wanted YOU to have it!" He died not long after that and that was the last time that I had ever seen him... He didn't live long enough to see my registry set excel. Very sad....😣😥
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I think that it's because bad experiences are easier to remember than good experiences which is unfortunate.
Collector
75 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 45 members and counting!
instagram.com/klnumismatics
That is such a strange story. As a dealer, I would love it if a customer pulled out a proof Merc and asked me if I wanted to do a trade for something they liked in my inventory. Perhaps we would not come to an agreement, but having the opportunity doesn't hurt anything.
Join the fight against Minnesota's unjust coin dealer tax law.
When a YN comes to my table, I will show them any coin they want to see. Even if they tell me right out of the gate that they cannot afford it, I want to encourage YNs. BTW - I am also surprised how much disposable income some YNs have.
Join the fight against Minnesota's unjust coin dealer tax law.
Bites tongue.
True, but that’s because memory is tied to emotion and the stronger the emotion, the stronger the memory.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I agree 100% with how you treat YN. I'm not surprised they have disposable income though. They make $14 an hour flipping burgers and have free room and board. Congrats to you for treating everyone as a customer.
I don’t let stuff not paid for leave my table. If they can’t make a decision to purchase at my table no go for me.
Another bad experience pertaining to coins... but not at a coin show. I was actually at a gun show and happened upon a vendor with a bunch of coins. I've seen silver Dollars at a few gun shows, but this seller had books of most denominations. I was attempting to complete an IHC set at the time and asked about an 1877. Low and behold... he had one! The obverse was pretty mangled with some deep scratches... the reverse did NOT have the shallow N. I commented that it MUST be a circulated proof since the diagnostic for a business strike wasn't there. He just looked at me and brought the price down to $700... I handed it back to him and just said "good luck with that". He became a bit agitated and I just told he that it really wouldn't behoove him to press the issue. I walked away...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I had dealt with a certain dealer at a local bi-monthly coin show for years [at least 10+ years.]
And I had spend many thousands with him over the years.
In particular I had purchased many Barber coins that, at the time no one in the area wanted except for me.
Anyway, one day, my bag, as always was on the chair in front of his table.
That is where I keep all of my logs, reference books, loupe, pens, etc.
He was frantically looking for some proof set, probably worth about $10 or so.
Suddenly he walks around the table and starts looking thru my bag. And, no, he did not ask for my permission.
He found nothing and simply laughed and went back behind the table, where he found the proof set on the floor.
I can't repeat what I said to him, because this is a family forum, but I never dealt with him again.
[PS: Nope, I did not hit him.]
And, yes, As I walk by at the show I calmly say out loud that the customers should keep their hands on their wallets.
Who was it? A frequent weekly advertiser in Coin World as a buyer.
BHNC #203