Are egos of coin collectors / dealers too big?

DesertLizard

I find it amusing how some in this hobby are so sensitive to what others say about their inventory or collection. They take it as a personal attack. Let's face it not everyone is going to like blast white crowns from upper Slobvania slabbed in BYOB.

Ironically, I have found new collecting interests from looking at other people's collections or a dealer's inventory. I end collecting something I thought was "ugly".

I guess it is fair to say to each his / her own.

As for dealers they are super sensitive. How dare someone say their coin is cleaned, only an MS64, overpriced, etc. Last week I asked a major dealer about a coin he has up for auction, the coin clearly showed some kind of "spot" yet in the description it claimed no spotted / blemishes. He was local so I called and asked if it was on the coin or the scan. Well, it was on the coin and he said the scan made it look worse [he acknwledge there was a "mark"]. I went down to view it and it did look like on the scan, when I mentioned that he went into a tirade. What he should have done is shown me something else. But his ego was too big and he lost my business.

Now some of the biggest internet dealers are actually backed [bankrolled] by another party and they are merely retailers. A little known fact they would prefer you did not know. To listen to them they are collecting's gift to mankind. Why all the pretense? I feel sometimes our wonderful hobby has gotten too pompous. Dealers / Big time collectors are NOT heroes to be lauded, anyone with a big bankroll or financial backers can make a mark in the business. True heroes [i am sure there are others] are teachers who use their own money to buy supplies for kids, coach kids after school or volunteer their time.

Rotts

YES//////i think you hit the nail on the head with this. Rotts

DrawTwo

Thank you, DesertLizard!! Especially the last two sentences!

nwcs

I think the hobby is no different than any other human endeavor. Pride, arrogance, and greed show up just as much. Thing is, since it is money we collect it, the money involved makes it more prominent. Then add to that the fact that much of our "standards" are essentially collections of opinions over time. How many times have you been successful of convincing someone else their opinion is wrong and yours is correct? Makes for quite a mix.

Still, I collect circulated, uncirculated, slabbed, raw, sets, whatever. Not because it impresses anyone else -- but me.

TheNumish

You can say anything you want about my coins and I'll respect that as long as it doesn't get personal. Your entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. Unfortunately dealers take it the wrong way when you comment on their coins in a negative way. I'll admit I'd much rather you say something nice about one of my coins than somthing bad. Just human nature.

I have no allusions that the coin business is just a hobby and doesn't do anything positive for our society except give people some enjoyment and sometimes that's even in short supply. Sometimes I think my life is a waste dealing in coins but I get over it. All I want to do is make a little, take care of my family and have some fun.

crito

There are two types of people in this world. Those who advance through hard work and those who advance by bashing everyone elses work. I have no use for the latter.

shirohniichan

I feel sometimes our wonderful hobby has gotten too pompous. Dealers / Big time collectors are NOT heroes to be lauded, anyone with a big bankroll or financial backers can make a mark in the business. True heroes [i am sure there are others] are teachers who use their own money to buy supplies for kids, coach kids after school or volunteer their time.

HOW DARE YOU SPREAD VILE LIES ABOUT US!!!!!!!!!!

I talked with my favorite dealer a bit last week and he said the same thing. He said some big dealers and collectors act as rectal cavities whose scats do not stink, and he went on to rhetorically ask why. A big industrialist or tech giant could buy all of them out and have money to spare, so why the inflated perception of self-image? This is a HOBBY, after all. The dealer closed with the remark that, "When you get right down to it, all that really matters is people."

Amen.

shirohniichan

As for dealers they are super sensitive. How dare someone say their coin is cleaned, only an MS64, overpriced, etc.

That reminds me of the first and only time I went to the establishment of a dealer who shall remain anonymous-- I'll just use his initials, JR, Jr.

He asked me what I was interested in, so I told him I was looking for an 1873 silver dollar. He showed me an obviously cleaned 1860-O, and I told him I didn't need that date and don't collect cleaned coins when I can help it. He didn't yell, but he got really bitter and demanded how I could know it was cleaned, claimed he'd been in the business a long time and could tell it hadn't been, etc. I almost want to go back there just to get him worked up.

lincolnSence

Dealers are generally in a difficult spot. You walk in with a pretty good understanding of your series and even having read some article on one of your desired coins. The dealer, usually as knowledgeable about the metal detector hanging on the wall as he/she is in whatever series you specialize in........you get the picture. Bottom line, read as much as you can, spend time on the boards here learning, and then do business with a select few (1 or 2) to put together your series. The quicker you get to the top of that dealers list the better off you will be. There is IMHO no way to "keep the dealer you do business with honest", its up to you to understand what you are paying for. Remember the dealers are in the coin BUSINESS. You are just collecting. They make money, you spend it. A long term plan that the dealer understands is the best approach.

Collector ego's - I don't know enough of them to really comment. Wish I knew more. I do have several good contacts with collectors with collections that are top notch. I find none of them to have ego problems. BUt any conversation with a top level type collector could easily be misread as "ego" to a newby simply because top collectors that know what they are doing just say it like it is. I can see where this could be misread at times. Advice - keep asking questions and say show me as often as you can.

Clankeye

<< <i>There are two types of people in this world. Those who advance through hard work and those who advance by bashing everyone elses work. >>



I'm afraid I have to bash your work here, Crito. There are far more than two types of people in the world. In my travels I have identified as many as six. As you get to know the different types, your understanding of humanity will blossom.

braddick

<< <i>There are two types of people in this world. Those who advance through hard work and those who advance by bashing everyone elses work. I have no use for the latter. >>



I always thought there were two types of people in this world: Those who believe there are two types of people in this world, and those who don't.

littlewicher

I don't really care for people with big egos. I know many, many people with huge egos. I like realistic people.

mdwoods

YES YES YES!!!

crito

sorry if i bruised anyones big ego

LucyBop

Who cares about the dealers! (Except the loveable hepcats that are on our board). Collectors big egos???? I am glad I'm not this way, just cause I am working on the HEP'EST, COOLEST, BESTEST, CRAZYEST OUT OF THIS WORLD MAKE YOUR JAW DROP AND KNEES QUIVER
collection of 50s coins in the world! Naw, Lucy doesn't have this ego problem.

nucklehead

Shiroh, next time you want to go and give J.R.Jr.a hard time let me know and I'll call Mr.Lee and we'll all go together,should be a hoot.