Anybody ever hear of Island Rarities out of Boca Raton?

Russ · October 20, 2002 6:59AM

That name rings a bell in my head, and it's not a pleasant sounding bell, but I can't seem to recall why.

I just sniped off a Kennedy half that was listed by titanproducts (coinguy@adelphia.net), and the automated invoice that arrived is from Island Rarities. What's the scoop on this dealer?

Russ, NCNE

ldhair · October 20, 2002 7:03AM

They have some kind of relationship with NTC I think.

Russ · October 20, 2002 7:07AM

HMM...just happened to be an NTC slab, too...HMM.

Russ, NCNE

cointagious · October 20, 2002 7:08AM

russ,
island rarities is an unregistered ficticoius name that kevin mcnerny - the listed owner of numistrust - uses/used as a coin dealer.

corp filing for numistrust

Russ · October 20, 2002 7:12AM

I wonder why they're trading on eBay as titanproducts. Very fishy goings on here.

Russ, NCNE

FC57Coins · October 20, 2002 7:19AM

I agree Russ - they seem to do a lot of dealing with NTC slabs.

Frank

RegistryCoin · October 20, 2002 7:22AM

"Not-so-good" memories, here.

cointagious · October 20, 2002 7:22AM

<< I wonder why they're trading on eBay as titanproducts. Very fishy goings on here. >>

'cause 'new mistrust' claims they don't sell coins...that's why! they're trying to bury their conflict in a blizzard of aliases.

oreville · October 20, 2002 9:36AM

I will be in Boca Raton with the next 10 weeks and can check them out. The address sounds like a residence.

kranky · October 20, 2002 9:50AM

The administrative contact for the numistrust.com domain is Island Rarities.

cointagious · October 20, 2002 10:05AM

oreville,
don't bother. i live in boca. the address listed is a mail drop. mcnerney does not have a store front.

PhillyJoe · October 20, 2002 10:08AM

This place is amazing for getting information. I wondered why the guy was only selling coins in one slab.

Joe

merz2 · October 20, 2002 10:37AM

It never ceases to amaze me the truely valueable info we share.We have become a watchdog of sorts,as well as a source of info.Let us keep up the good work.Kudos to all that strive to make a difference in our hobby.

Russ · October 20, 2002 11:50AM

<< I wondered why the guy was only selling coins in one slab. >>

Joe,

If one were to believe his auctions, one could be led to think otherwise:

<< The item you are bidding on has been hand selected and checked for proper grading. All coins I offer are solid for the grade and I guarantee your satisfaction or your money back no questions asked. I only deal in PCGS NGC & NTC Graded coins. I also buy the coin not the holder. The coin must be solid for the grade even if graded by a professional grading service or I will not sell it. >>

Yet, in a large group of listings, the only thing he had was NTC. I got a particular kick out of "The coin must be solid for the grade." Uh, okay, right.

Russ, NCNE

DCAMFranklin · October 20, 2002 3:11PM

Island Rarities sends me e-mails, at least on a weekly basis, offering hundreds of classic gold coins in NGC and PCGS holders. All you conspiracy theorists should slow down. There is not much difference from David Hall offering PCGS holdered coins.

RegistryCoin · October 20, 2002 11:14PM

I'm probably wrong, but those gold ads sound more like PQ Rarities' offerings, to me. Anyhoo...

Wasn't there a board member back about a year ago, asking our opinions on a group of large "be a dealer" ebay offerings of high grade slabs, from differing services? There were a number of similar lots marketed together, about 12-13, I think, and the price tag was near five figures, I believe. The member asked for opinions, receiving many. Most suggested to avoid, but then we learned that he had already made the purchase. I don't remember hearing an update from the purchaser following the sale... I believe these were lots sold by Kevin, and consisted mostly of ntc slabs. Ring any bells?
PS. I think Kevin has also had a NC coastal resort address in the past.

kranky · October 20, 2002 11:43PM

RegistryCoin, I think you mean these posts.
Original post (Note the ebay auction linked in the first post is long gone from the ebay system, but the thread replies should make it clear what was being offered)
Specifics of what was being offered.

RegistryCoin · October 20, 2002 11:50PM

Exactly, Kranky. Thank you!

Russ · October 21, 2002 12:20AM

Kranky,

That's definitely the same guy. Titanproducts used to be coinguy66. Changed his handle right after a series of negs, and appears to have left for a while.

Not that we really needed additional confirmation. The fact that Island Rarities is the admin contact for the domain name Numistrust.com cinches it for all but the most obtuse.

Russ, NCNE

RegistryCoin · October 21, 2002 12:35AM

coinguy666, I think.

kranky · October 21, 2002 1:06AM

He got hit with a bunch of negs in August and it looks like he stayed off ebay until none of them would show in the feedback columns for "last 7 days" and "last month".

Russ · October 21, 2002 1:12AM

Called this morning to pay for the coin and got a recorder. Guy sounded like he had a Jersey or NY accent. Just got a call back from a very pleasant gal. She took all the info and said the coin will ship out today.

Russ, NCNE

RegistryCoin · October 21, 2002 1:18AM

More obtuse info.: A cute sounding gal is his daughter, I think.

thebestMAX · October 21, 2002 1:18AM

Since moving to Floriduh from KC,MO where I was very active, I have lost a lot of my interest in collecting. Just starting to get it back.

I live just north of Boca Raton and while I am sure a lot of reputable people are around, I just havent found any. I have to admit I havent looked very hard though.

Scams and Cons abound in S. Floriduh in many shapes and forms.

COINTAGIOUS
Can you recommend any good local shops or people???

DesertLizard · October 21, 2002 1:24AM

South FL does not have the scam and con game market cornered!

Southern CA is a hotbed as well, particularly Orange County [home of you know who!] and the San Diego area.

One other scam area is Las Vegas, home of boiler rooms calling you at dinner time...wanna buy some land? COins? Stamps? Payphones? Yada yada.

RegistryCoin · October 21, 2002 1:44AM

This gives some creedence to the thought, that within this slab-crazy market, there are areas in the country that have higher concentrations of raw coins, retirement areas, perhaps. Stores in these areas would be more likely used to attract sellers of raw coins purchased long ago, with the view to slab 'em at higher grades than discussed when purchased. In all fairness to Kevin, however, I would think that having a storefront would be a preference, in this case.

quarterjack · October 21, 2002 2:20AM

Island Rarities used to run ads in Coinworld a couple years back, about every two - three months, not on a monthly basis. Anyway, i called them several years ago to order some Cameo proof quarters they had in an ad.( Living in Ohio i usually get my Coinworld about a day before a lot of others do.) They confirmed they had what i ordered in stock and also confirmed the prices, FUPA!!!!, they really blew it on some of the prices!
Three days later they phoned me to say they made a mistake on their inventory sheet and a couple of the (Steals) i had ordered had previously had been sold , even after confirming pricing and availability with me on the phone.
They credited my card and upgraded a couple of the other pieces i had order for free. It was nice of them to do that but why did it take three days to discover they didn't have the pieces i had ordered by phone even after telling me he had to personally check the physical inventory before confirming the order while i was talking to them?
Seemed funny then and it still seems a little odd.

Dave

DesertLizard · October 21, 2002 3:15AM

Registrycoin,

You are absolutely correct.

There is a well known coin dealer / jewlery dealer in Orange County, CA situated with minutes of Leisure World [home of thousands of seniors]. One afternoon I sat there looking at some coins and the place was hoping. ALL SENIORS ALL WOMEN. All were 70+, selling jewlery and raw gold. The coin guy there doing the buying was a total sleeze. He knocked every coin one lady had including a rare Gaudens which looked MS to me but had a light tint. Again, another reason to always buy and sell slabbed!!

Anyway, after watching this for about 20 min. I left never to return.

Some people prey other are preyed upon!

DCAMFranklin · October 21, 2002 3:33AM

RegistryCoin-
Well, you're right. You ARE probably wrong! I have bought PCGS graded coins from Island Rarities in the past. The e-mails I have been receiving for the past year are from Island Rarities. I'm just amazed at the brass on some people. How can you try to tell me the source of MY e-mails??

Russ- Morris has 2 different ID's on Ebay. R&I Coins sells under 3 different ID's on Ebay. I'm trying to determine why you make an issue of titanproducts?? I really don't care. Yet, it seems rather inconsistent.

Why is it different for Island Rarities to sell their NTC holders than it is for David Hall Rare Coins (DHRC) to sell PCGS graded coins when David Hall is the single largest individual stock holder of PCGS' holding company??? Again, why make an issue of this if you staunchly defend the David Hall/PCGS/Collectors' Universe situation?

RegistryCoin · October 21, 2002 4:34AM

My mistake. I thought it may have just been a COINcidence.

PS. Check out another Kevin, Kevin Harris, owner of PQ Rarities for pcgs/ngc gold.

DCAMFranklin · October 22, 2002 4:10AM

Seems like they were very responsive, returning your call the very same morning. They processed your payment quickly and shipped the very same day.

'64 DCAM Kennedy

They provide a "no questions asked" return privilege. I'm not sure what more you want from them?

It doesn't appear the coin will make DCAM with most graders. However, if it makes the numerical grade as a Cameo, then you can cross the coin to PCGS and have a nice coin at a great price. Or, if you don't like the coin, then they will give you a full refund with no questions asked.

MAULUMALL · October 22, 2002 4:19AM

No it won't make the DCAM but it will make the ACCENT HAIR variety.
GEEZ RUSS what up wi dat??
Eddited to Add......Sweet Reverse!!

Russ · October 25, 2002 2:34AM

Bwuahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!! Somebody eMailed this thread to Kevin. I just got off the phone with him and he assures me that he has no day-to-day involvement with NTC. Should I believe him?

Russ, NCNE

Russ · October 28, 2002 5:51AM

Well, I got the coin in today and, gee, they tried to slip me a different coin than the one listed in the auction. I eMailed this Kevin guy, awaiting his response.

Russ, NCNE

Russ · October 28, 2002 6:39AM

Man, apparently this guy thinks I'm a complete idiot. Check out his response:

<< From: "Kevin McNerney" <coinguy@adelphia.net>
To: "'Russ'" <russ@compucheap.com>
Subject: RE: You Won! Item #1390705780 -- 1964 KENNEDY NTC PR69DC
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 17:27:37 -0500
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.3416
Importance: Normal
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000

Dear Russ,

The coin pictured is the same coin. I had the coin put in a new holder
due to a crack on the old holder. I did not want you to have to send the
coin back to be re-holder.

Kevin >>

It looks like he's earned his reputation for sleaziness.

Russ, NCNE

kranky · October 28, 2002 7:13AM

He's just trying to take care of you, Russ! You ingrate!

ClarkOfKent · October 28, 2002 7:28AM

Russ,

What a freakin' WHINER!!!! Didn't you see that W-shaped crack in the slab right over the ear?
Do you really want something like that in your collection when you could have a brand new slab?

Clark

gemseeker · October 28, 2002 9:23AM

It's a picture of the same coin but in a different holder? Why for heaven's sake didn't you post you "new" photo then? Are you that lazy that you can't put up another more "correct" photo? Sheesh, very lame excuse IMHO.

Russ · October 28, 2002 9:27AM

<< It's a picture of the same coin but in a different holder? >>

Gemseeker,

It's a completely different coin. The coin pictured in the auction is the Accented Hair variety, the coin he shipped me is not. When I nailed him on it, he tried to cover his tracks by lying and saying he had it reholdered. Apparently, when he barfed up that BS, he didn't realize that I knew the difference between an Accented Hair and a non Accented Hair.

Russ, NCNE

gemseeker · October 28, 2002 9:44AM

Russ- I am sure there are a few sellers who will try to pull the wool over the buyer's eyes. I read in an earlier message topic on NTC and Island Rarities and the supposed link between them. When the guy proclaimed there was no link between the two entities to you, I knew he was trying to pull a fast one. Wonder how he would reply if you pointed out the coin differences?

Russ · October 28, 2002 9:48AM

<< Wonder how he would reply if you pointed out the coin differences? >>

I did that immediately in response to his BS eMail. He has not responded since.

Russ, NCNE

kranky · October 28, 2002 9:58AM

Oh, that's easy. He'll just tell you one of the new fulfillment clerks accidentally sent you the wrong coin, the responsible party has been chastised severely, the coin you bought cannot be located at this time, and please return the coin for a full and fast refund. Thank you, come again.

Russ · October 28, 2002 10:09AM

Kranky,

That line of crap might almost (in a parallel universe) have cut it were it not for the fact that he made the mistake of trying to cover his ass by claiming that HE had the coin reholdered. Nope, he's nailed and has zero wiggle room on this one. He tried to pull a classic bait and switch and got caught.

Russ, NCNE

DCAMFranklin · October 28, 2002 11:31AM

The auction states there is a no questions asked return policy. If you don't like the coin, shouldn't you just return it for a full refund?

Titanproducts · October 29, 2002 5:49AM

Russ,

You cant be pleased. I went out of my way to give you a better coin then the coin you got on ebay
because i was told by others you are a person who likes to cause trouble and you wine like a baby. You must have been the kind of kid who had his lunch money takin from you from the big kids :-)

Titanproducts · October 29, 2002 5:57AM

Russ you are a complete idiot. You have no idea what a accented hair is.
If you think the coin i had on ebay is a accented hair and seen from a photo i will sell 1000 same coins for $10 ea. Get a real life and leave coins to the experts.

kranky · October 29, 2002 6:03AM

Just in case, perhaps Carol or Charlie could confirm the above poster is actually a representative of titanproducts (and not just someone misrepresenting himself) before any flamefest breaks out.

Russ · October 29, 2002 6:06AM

<< Russ you are a complete idiot. You have no idea what a accented hair is.
If you think the coin i had on ebay is a accented hair and seen from a photo i will sell 1000 same coins for $10 ea. Get a real life and leave coins to the experts. >>

Nice try, slick. I see you pulled the scan. Surprise! I saved it:

And here's the one you shipped:

And, here's a screenshot of the auction before you pulled the scans.

Now, do you REALLY want to keep embarassing yourself?

Russ, NCNE

grip · October 29, 2002 7:43AM

No Sh--

What a bummer.Al

gemseeker · October 29, 2002 9:19AM

Very interesting. Seller had a pause back in late August after getting 6 negative feedbacks. Then returned and got another negative feedback recently. So far no new auctions at the moment.

roadrunner · October 29, 2002 10:28AM

Russ, did you have your lunch money taken by the big kids back in school too? Me too. I wonder if Titanproducts cheats at Bingo too? The big boys hate to admit it when they get proved wrong.
Russ, you can be my "wing man" any day.

roadrunner

Anybody ever hear of Island Rarities out of Boca Raton?

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