Dealer question: getting buzzed into the coin shop
csdot
Posts: 693 ✭✭✭✭
I worked in a liquor store during college, so I understand working in an industry where the guy on the other side of the counter might be up to no good.
For dealers (or even people who spend a good amount of time in your local shop), how often do you (or the owner) decide NOT to buzz a person into the store? Is it because they look sketchy, homeless, drunk, or you already know them by reputation?
How do they people react when you don't buzz them in, and how do you deescalate the situation so they go away peacefully?
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Comments
that is an interesting question. one lcs in md i frequented buzzed people into a 1 person lobby that had a non-buzzed door. it definitely slows people down, but is the buzzer just psychological warfare?
This is an answer to your second question as I have never worked the other side of the buzzer.
Thirty or so years ago, I was not buzzed in when visiting JJ Teaparty in Boston. When I left after not being buzzed in, I was really mad. I did not punch or kick the door, but I really wanted to. In retrospect and after speaking with my wife when I got home, she told me that they were right in not buzzing me in. She was referring to the way I was dressed. I looked like a motorcycle gang member wearing a wifebeater t-shirt in the winter and an unzipped leather jacket and leather Scally cap, and sporting unkept beard. I went back the following weekend (properly dressed), and I also took my wife along, and they buzzed me in. That's when I learned to dress according to the situation.
Donato
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I can’t answer your question, but I really hate those buzzer systems. Most of the BMs around me have all gone to them, most likely for good reasons.
Usually the door is buzzed open by the time I get out of my car, so I’ve never had an issue myself. My assumption is they don’t automatically open it if three men wearing ski masks charge toward the door. Other than that, the BMs I frequent seem to buzz in everyone else, even semi-shady characters like me.
Dave
Once inside, they may not buzz you out. So you will stay and buy more coins until the wallet is drained.
I've never seen anyone not buzzed in. They do however use it to control the number of people in the shop at any one time.
I don't think that term is allowed any more.
I believe the politically correct term is "spouse-beater".
We had a buzzer on our coin shop door. No one was refused entry. If someone was brandishing a weapon or wearing a ski mask, we would not have let them in, but that never happened.
The buzzer mostly meant that no one just sauntered in without our seeing them, and them knowing that. And we would then approach and greet them immediately.
Also, anyone who might be casing the shop for future mischief would realize that, yes, they would be locked in.
We never opened without three employees present, and were lucky never to have any trouble.
30+ years coin shop experience (ret.) Coins, bullion, currency, scrap & interesting folks. Loved every minute!
Or "spouse abuser"
Or they're on the phone calling LE on you coz they saw your mug shot in the PO shipping coins earlier ;D
Apparently not if you've never seen anyone not buzzed in.
It seems that more stores need buzzers lately.
Got locked in one of those buzzer vestibules in the diamond district once. Do not recommend.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
In 43 years with a store I have never had a buzzer. Who am I not going to let in? Early on one of my best customers cleaned oil burners for a living , when he showed uo after work he looked pretty ragged. Also locally a jewelry store buzzed in a very attractive women , when the door opened 2 guys with shotguns were at either side , situation ended with a cop killed!
Another point. If robbers do get in and have to be buzzed out, that's when panic happens. Know of a coin dealer killed because the robbers could not get out
I have to be buzzed in by my wife to enter our house. Wants to make sure I did not buy any more coins.😀
Safety first. Many dealers have moved to appointment only. I don’t blame them.
Every dealer must decide how best to protect themselves, their employees and their customers.
Security should be multilayered and well thought out.
They weren't always immediately buzzed in. Do I need more words? People were asked to wait, but never completely refused entry.
I was just playing devil's advocate.
I have spent time in a B&M in the heart of a downtown area. I have never seen the owner not buzz someone in even when it is the disheveled of homeless looking for him to value some random token put into their cup. That said I am sure it has happen either for crowd control or maybe due to size of a group. I might ask next time I see him
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
First, I'm thinking that no buzzer system is really a buzzer system unless there's two buzzers and a no-man's-gate in between them. Of course, under this section, you need a buzzer trap door that's a little too deep to climb out of and that has debilitating spikes at the bottom. Maybe tie that into an incinerator? Then you need lots of friendly but vicious dogs, and some kind of AI autocannon that can operate autonomously even if everyone in the shop is taken out.
I am your protégé
Or maybe it's time to transition to a mail-order business.
We've never had a buzzer or bars on the windows because we don't want our customers to feel like they're in jail. I'm all for security; believe that- and I realize that some locations necessitate such measures...but that's what we chose to (not) do. The way we view it, if we get to a point where we feel we need buzzers and bars then we're in the wrong area and should relocate, which is actually what we did about 10 years ago. We have a higher end security system, multiple cameras that cover and record every square inch from the front to the back, and we also have a few helpers of varying calibers (and varying lethality) that can be called upon by well-trained users.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
...and let THEM win? never!
Buzzers are good. Buzzards, not so much. Mine is a bell and only bell ringers enter.