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numismatic etiquette: a veteran dealer's thoughts
Julian
Posts: 3,370 ✭✭✭
I have not watched the boards much until the CU/BM fiasco started. Having a coin store and displaying at over 1000 shows since 1965, I have some thoughts on this topic that I have seen crop up from time to time. There are at least two groups of coin dealers. One, which I place myself in, cares about the future of the hobby and works towards its growth and health. These professionals exhibit at shows and answer questions to the best of their ability on many aspects of the hobby and business. They do their best to adhere to the hours and length of these events. They understand that the numismatic hobby is a luxury that no one needs to participate in. They also recognize that without collectors, their is no demand for these items and that their inventories are worth the greater of face value or melt. I remember well the late Jerry Cohen of Beverly Hills telling me that there were more coins than there was money to buy them with. Another group does not deal with the public and is primarily interested in today's profits, filling want lists from other dealers, and trying to find material they can instantly profit in. I am sure that they care, somewhat, about the health and future of the hobby, but they do not work publicly to address questions, etc. When a member of this second group attends events, he normally adds to the ill feelings from the public about professionals. If a collector does not receive the service he desires, he should speak up. Not being served properly should instruct them to move on to dealers that will serve them. I believe that this group of dealers should be in another part of the exhibit area, where the public would grow to understand that they would not receive the same level of service. Dealers with stores, for the most part, offer verbal appraisals and consultations to the public rather freely. These dealers depend on repeat business and not on the one time score. Members of the public, both collectors and general, should realize that these courtesies should not be abused if they are not going to support these dealers' businesses. These professionals have chosen to make numismatics their livelyhood. I am sure that many things are left unsaid, but could get addressed by replies to this thread. Direct emails to julian@juliancoin.com will receive the most prompt replies.
PNG member, numismatic dealer since 1965. Operates a retail store, also has exhibited at over 1000 shows.
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
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Comments
Welcome!
I wonder how many dealers and collectors realize the value of Young Numismatists?
Who is going to buy our collections someday in the future. They should always be enthusiastically responded to. I have always donated to, cut price breaks to, and went the extra mile for the YN's.
Cameron Kiefer
Clankeye
dealers perspective is not only welcome it is very much needed. A warmest welcome
to you in joining our warm, but somewhat disfunctional family. Bear
Camelot
<< <i> .... One, which I place myself in, cares about the future of the hobby and works towards its growth and health. These professionals exhibit at shows and answer questions to the best of their ability on many aspects of the hobby and business. >>
Julian, I can vouch for that. You have great enthusiasm for the
hobby and will spend all the time needed to answer any
collector's question. I still maintain that the younger generation
is the lifeblood of this hobby and that there are still dealers
out there who have not learned that yet.
My website
Everbody, let's reply to this thread from time to time to get it to the top!
Camelot
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
<< <i>Most dealers are very good to YN's. The dealers do fall into the two brackets that Julian talked about - the first group is great towards YN's and the second YN's should avoid. >>
I agree 100%... and I don't like the meanie dealers!
Mark
To those who don't know Mr. Leidman, let me say that I am not a major customer of his. Yet, he always seems happy to see me and always tries to make time to have at least a brief conversation with me. I know that I've behaved like a newbie to him at times over the years. Yet, he's never made me feel like my issues weren't worthy of his attention.
Julian, you should get the ``Good Guy'' moniker from Cameron.
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
You are so right. I stop by your table at Long Beach from time to time and you are the most courteous, kind and jovial dealer I have met yet in the coin business. And I have never bought a coin from you! In fact, I remember as a kid of 15 going to many Bowers and Ruddy auctions, how you would make the sale kind of fun with your very vocal bids. Welcome.
TRUTH
Last year, I took my girl along with me to a large show (I forget which one exactly) and she looked around the bourse floor for awhile on her own. She likes to look at all the pretty toned coins in dealers cases as well as Bust dollars which are her favorite.
After meeting up with her again, I asked her how she liked it and if she saw any cool Bust dollars. She tells me that after walking nearly the entire bourse floor and looking at a lot of the various dealers cases of coins, a few people stared at her but only ONE dealer smiled and politely greeted her as she walked up to his table and said "good morning, how are you, is there anything I can show you?",,,,,and I think his name was Julian.
dragon
isn't there a 3d class of "dealers", the "dealer-wannabe's"?
K S
<< <i>Julian, you should get the ``Good Guy'' moniker from Cameron. >>
Cameron Kiefer
Your wisdom is well-received. I hope to meet you at a show in the future.
Yes, I pretty much fall into that second class of dealers that you mention, the wholesale 'dealer to dealer' dealer,
I concur with the others here, you are always friendly and helpful to anyone that passes your table!
Thanks for selling me that toned Liberty Nickel in Houston and for buying that toned trime from me.
adrian
Dan
<< <i>
<< <i>Julian, you should get the ``Good Guy'' moniker from Cameron. >>
Cameron Kiefer >>
Cameron- didn't you say I could be Good Guy #2?
is correctly called "Middle Aged Young Numismatist". Glad we could clear this little problem
up for you. Since I am 64 ,I guess that makes me an Older Numismatist. Not smarter mind you,
just older.
Camelot
The dealer with the calm voice of reason and the ready smile.
More than willing to inform and assist.
Premium inventory too I might add.
A true gentleman.
Welcome.
Got quoins?
Thank you for your well written post. I hope you stick around and share more of your experience with us.
I haven't had the pleasure, but I expect I will. I enjoyed reading your manifesto, and think it is an astute observation that coin purchases are discretionary purchases. I'm sure you are quite sucessful, and it is obvious from the comments left on the thread that you are well thought of.
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
For the benefit of the collectors here that have no idea what the coin is you have in your sig line, why not label it as the "1858 double date half dime" so they'll know what it is.
Ray
In all the years that I have been collecting, I think Julian is in a class by himself. Welcome and please share your thoughts with us.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I've seen you at coin showns. You always have the best stuff.
Welcome to the CU boards. Stick around, we need all the "Good Guys" we can get here.
Ray
Numismatics does have an upper elite, whose reputations, knowledge and integrity are solid. That is what gives numismatics credibility in my opinion.
Tyler