Coin not stolen........but lessons were learned!
gsaguy
Posts: 2,425 ✭
Last night, in response to a thread (a good one) started by CharlieB, I posted that I had perhaps been ripped off while setting up at the ANA. Well, I found the coin today so I was not ripped off. However, I learned some valuable lessons.....lessons that I think any collector and even some dealers would want to learn so I'll lay out the details so you guys can see what happened.
In typical fashion for dealer setup day, I waited until about the last 30 minutes to begin putting out my material. I prefer to first walk the floor and see what others are offering for sale and possibly get a shot at the material before my fellow buzzards begin dropping from the skies.
It's also my custom to set my coins out from the outside of the table, in other words from the side that the collectors will be viewing them. It's kind of hard to know what the setup looks like if you're looking at it upside down.
I had laid the lid of my case completely open and had already covered about 50% of the display area with coins, starting from the "bottom" up. I had run out of coins and since my case is at a dead end within the booth, I had to walk around to the other end of the table to get more coins. I left the lid open. As I was returning to the case to add more coins, a dealer I didn't recognize walked up and stood before my case looking at my coins. I glanced at him but didn't recognize him and really didn't attempt to get a good look at him.
As I got up along side the fellow, he leaned way over my case, and since the lid was not on it was able to sick his face right up to my coins. I was standing to his left and pretty much looking at the back of his head as he began picking up coins, looking at them and asking prices. Personally, I NEVER stick my hand in another dealer's case without getting his permission. But that didn't stop this guy.
He'd pick up one coin, look at it, and then ask a price. As I was looking at the coin, he'd pick up another and may not put it back where I had originally placed it. Instead, he'd place it on the top row. He did this a couple of times all the while leaning over my wide open case. I'd then reach in and place the coin back where I had it originally. He never looked me right in the face, and I never saw his name tag. Then, almost like a ghost, he was gone without hardly a word.
About that time, a dealer friend of mine walked up and reminded me of a coin I'd promised to show him. I remembered the exact coin as I'd seen it earlier that day and began looking for it both among the coins already out and those still in their boxes. I couldn't find the piece and began to panic. Then it hit me that the fellow that was leaning over my case could easily have grabbed a coin or two with his right hand (shielded by his body) and placed the coins in his pocket while I was giving him a price on a piece. Since the ANA security staff will literally carry you out of the bourse floor at closing time, I could not finish setting up and locate the coin.
Well, I didn't sleep last night worrying not only about that one coin, but wondering how many others might have been stolen.
In retrospect, I should have politely told the dealer not to reach into my case and to please wait until I was finished setting up before looking at and trying to negotiate prices on my material. Once I was finished and seated BEHIND the table, I could have opened the case and removed the coins one at a time for him to examine. This would have given me a chance to look him in the face and also to see his badge.
Unfortunately, there are many stories of dealers getting ripped off by other dealers. But just as with buying coins, it is the owner's responsibilty to not put himself in a position where others can rip him off. Don't try to do deals while setting up. Don't try to do multiple deals at one time. Don't rush during set up, look at the guy you're dealing with, place coins one at a time for examination, and keep track of which ones are missing from your case.
The missing coin? It was in my case all along but in my rushed panic I didn't see it!!! It was my fault and I feel badly that I suspected this fellow who really hadn't stolen a thing.
A lesson learned.
GSAGUY
In typical fashion for dealer setup day, I waited until about the last 30 minutes to begin putting out my material. I prefer to first walk the floor and see what others are offering for sale and possibly get a shot at the material before my fellow buzzards begin dropping from the skies.
It's also my custom to set my coins out from the outside of the table, in other words from the side that the collectors will be viewing them. It's kind of hard to know what the setup looks like if you're looking at it upside down.
I had laid the lid of my case completely open and had already covered about 50% of the display area with coins, starting from the "bottom" up. I had run out of coins and since my case is at a dead end within the booth, I had to walk around to the other end of the table to get more coins. I left the lid open. As I was returning to the case to add more coins, a dealer I didn't recognize walked up and stood before my case looking at my coins. I glanced at him but didn't recognize him and really didn't attempt to get a good look at him.
As I got up along side the fellow, he leaned way over my case, and since the lid was not on it was able to sick his face right up to my coins. I was standing to his left and pretty much looking at the back of his head as he began picking up coins, looking at them and asking prices. Personally, I NEVER stick my hand in another dealer's case without getting his permission. But that didn't stop this guy.
He'd pick up one coin, look at it, and then ask a price. As I was looking at the coin, he'd pick up another and may not put it back where I had originally placed it. Instead, he'd place it on the top row. He did this a couple of times all the while leaning over my wide open case. I'd then reach in and place the coin back where I had it originally. He never looked me right in the face, and I never saw his name tag. Then, almost like a ghost, he was gone without hardly a word.
About that time, a dealer friend of mine walked up and reminded me of a coin I'd promised to show him. I remembered the exact coin as I'd seen it earlier that day and began looking for it both among the coins already out and those still in their boxes. I couldn't find the piece and began to panic. Then it hit me that the fellow that was leaning over my case could easily have grabbed a coin or two with his right hand (shielded by his body) and placed the coins in his pocket while I was giving him a price on a piece. Since the ANA security staff will literally carry you out of the bourse floor at closing time, I could not finish setting up and locate the coin.
Well, I didn't sleep last night worrying not only about that one coin, but wondering how many others might have been stolen.
In retrospect, I should have politely told the dealer not to reach into my case and to please wait until I was finished setting up before looking at and trying to negotiate prices on my material. Once I was finished and seated BEHIND the table, I could have opened the case and removed the coins one at a time for him to examine. This would have given me a chance to look him in the face and also to see his badge.
Unfortunately, there are many stories of dealers getting ripped off by other dealers. But just as with buying coins, it is the owner's responsibilty to not put himself in a position where others can rip him off. Don't try to do deals while setting up. Don't try to do multiple deals at one time. Don't rush during set up, look at the guy you're dealing with, place coins one at a time for examination, and keep track of which ones are missing from your case.
The missing coin? It was in my case all along but in my rushed panic I didn't see it!!! It was my fault and I feel badly that I suspected this fellow who really hadn't stolen a thing.
A lesson learned.
GSAGUY
6
Comments
TBT
Thanks for sharing it with us.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
coin. What you said is a golden rule:
"Personally, I NEVER stick my hand in another's case without
asking permission".
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It's ashamed. It's hard enough for some of these guys to earn a living without others stealing their profits. And if you think about it, one decent missing coin can mean the difference between a profitable show and a miserable memory!
GSAGUY
peacockcoins
That happens at our garage sale quite often. Someone asked about something and you know that you haven’t sold it. Someone just moved it around. As the saying goes… So if coin you were looking for was a snake it would have bitten you.
Lafayette Grading Set
Zombie thread warning...
I have never considered dealer to dealer theft at coin shows.
I always view coin show theft as a member of the public (collector or non collector) who attends a coin show being the one who steals coins from dealers or other members of the public while at a show; or as a person who robs a dealer as the dealer leaves a show for the trip home after following him.
However, after reading this thread it does not surprise me that dealer to dealer theft takes place (human nature being what it is).
Wisdom comes sometimes at a cost.
Very happy you did not have to pay a price.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Thanks for sharing. There is a lesson here for all of us.
Pretty sure GSAGUY is no longer with us, this thread is 20 years old
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I was proud of the fact he found one of my color GSA’s worthy for his collection.
rip
agreed: Last Active June 22, 2013 2:35PM
BHNC #203
That’s correct and he was a great guy.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Dealers can always decline to open their case for potential customers, access to show coins is a privilege not a right.
GSAGUY was a knowledgeable and very nice guy. I bought several of my CC Morgans from him many years ago. Cheers, RickO
+1
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
My mentor , my friend. RIP
Rainbow Stars
Never had the pleasure, but I'm sure I missed out on a great opportunity to learn some things.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Did GSAGUY pass away? I had not heard of that here or on the OFR.
Yes, quite some time ago of cancer I believe. He lived life to the fullest before he passed though.