Didn't bother to read it did you Billjones? You don't like to be bothered with logic and facts since your mind is made up but there's no one to delete it here.
Dcam, You never answered my question: I'm curious, Do you work for PCGS? Or Collectors Universe?
People are not just let go because they are "under performing", sometimes there is indifference with the direction a company is going in. Sometimes an overzelous new 'ruler' believes that if you do not think the exact way they do, then you are not being a team player and as such, you end up being dispensible. . I'd bet this is more in line with what happened with DB.
There is nothing more dramatic than the new "Ruler" coming in, stating "we have problems" and making it look good by making some tough changes. Sometimes these tough changes do bring around a temporary fix but without certain people who know the business, they soon find themselves lost. Perhaps when the stock price goes over $1, the new "Ruler" will proclaim a fixed company and then state he is moving on to his next venture.... knowing that the price of the stock will go down again... but he left when the going was still good.
This is based on what happened to me. The company was outsourced and the ruler actually wanted to get on with the new company, the new company did not want the "ruler" especially since he fudged some numbers. I do declare that whoever had the guts to report that to the new company probably did a great service to many. WHO DEE ANIMAL?!!?
Having worked at Bowers and Merena for over 7 years, suffice it to say, I find it hard to conceive of a Bowers and Merena exisiting without Dave Bowers.
Welcome. I can't wait for a new Bowers company either. Also, when you next speak with Darrell (from NYC), please tell him that he should stop lurking and just sign up.
I guess I can't be too critical of Darrell since I did a lot of "lurking" myself. This is a great forum to learn how people feel about the hobby and what is happening. I enjoy it. --Liz
Hey Marc: Got any newps I should be reviewing? Will check your website. Hope you idea about Dave is true. Would love to see a new auction house up and running. Keep your fingers crossed. --Liz
We have a few--I invite you to visit our website at www.jjteaparty.com or send a want list--we work with lots of customers and would be happy to assist you as well. --Liz
In reply to your opinion. After working for Mr. Bowers for 14+ years, before and after it becamse collectors universe. I can honestly say he worked harder and longer than anyone at Bowers and Merena or Collectors Universe. He was an inspiration to us all. He was the first in the office and the last to leave, he would help in any department and encouraged everyone to reach for their dreams. He always had a kind word and was a vital part of the team. I feel that without Mr. Bowers there is no Bowers and Merena.
Liz is totally correct, but I wanted someone else to say it first. Bowers & Merena without QDB will cease to exist in NH within the next year or so, and eventually will become far less relevant an auction house than it once was, notwithstanding the highly professional staff that remains (Mark, Frank, John). There is no longer the mystique of QDB!!
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.
<< <i>DCAM, don't quit your day job to go into the business of analyzing companies. You obviously don't know squat about it. Nothing personal, but sometimes when you don't know something you ought to remain silent. >>
I take it you were one of the wise buyers of CLCT at $8.80?? Smart move. I'm sure you are quite happy with the board's execution now that the stock is at the equivalent of 70 cents! If you have been a buyer of the stock, then that says VOLUMNS about your ability to analyze a company. >>
I'll repeat what I said before, you obviously know nothing about running a closely held company, just one time stay off a subject you aren't qualified on or just try once. Learn to let somethings go. IF you want to learn go read the financials as many of us have who have commented on the subject. The red is there not because of Bowers and Merena, the real problems are footnoted. If you need help analyzing them let me know, I've been doing it for 33 years now. I've been a President of a bank and my own company, as well as a business analyst.
Lastly, I would never advise any one to buy stock in a closely held corporation. Especially one run by nonprofessional managers. I don't mean nonprofessional in a deragatory sense, but in the sense that the shareholders had no experience in running a company of this size.
<< <i>We have a few--I invite you to visit our website at www.jjteaparty.com or send a want list--we work with lots of customers and would be happy to assist you as well. --Liz >>
I like her already. Went to the site really quick, it seems like a nicely formatted site. I will check more when I have time.
<< <i>In reply to your opinion. After working for Mr. Bowers for 14+ years, before and after it becamse collectors universe. I can honestly say he worked harder and longer than anyone at Bowers and Merena or Collectors Universe. He was an inspiration to us all. He was the first in the office and the last to leave, he would help in any department and encouraged everyone to reach for their dreams. He always had a kind word and was a vital part of the team. I feel that without Mr. Bowers there is no Bowers and Merena. >>
Sounds like me prior to being forced to resign.... could it be that the hard working guys, the guys who give their life to their job are the ones that get this type of treatment? Hmmm... I'm not sure if you can answer this question but was he the type that was very friendly, loved by all ... and perhaps the *big boss* might not have been well liked? Perhaps people were more apt to listen and respect the words of DB over the *big boss*. If it is anything like what happened to me, I loved my job and the seperation was pretty tough.
My father is very overwhelmed and very thankful for all the support that he has received. He has been reading this forum and appreciates all the nice things that have been said. -Andrew Bowers
Please tell your father that we'd love to have his occasional (or more!) participation here and across the street. We'd love to have him share his stories; his knowledge and experience is encyclopedic, and his stories would be very exciting for a great number of us to read.
Regards,
EVP
PS BTW, Andy, I'm the guy (in the room) whose friend botched that 3-way telephone bidding in Baltimore.
Welcome Andrew and Liz! Andrew, tell your dad I'm awaiting his next books and articles... But, I have a few to catch up with until then at least...I always have to wait a year or two until I can afford them, or use the ANA library to get a hold of one or two. Anyhow, thanks and we hope to see your dad back again! And I hope you enjoy this place Liz! John
It is a sad day when "legends" and the companies they create separate.
However, it is not unique. look at Ted Turner and his CNN which has been part of AOL/Time Warner. Very similar situation except that AOL/Time Warner is not a closely held Corporation.
I happen to have a incredible emotional bond (from afar) to Dave Bowers second to only that of the Norwebs since it was Dave Bowers, the "Boy Wonder of Numismatics" in the 1950's that got me started in coin collecting back in 1960 when I was 7 years old. Gosh, I idolized that guy in the area of coins. I always will.
I even went to Penn State University this past fall (note that Dave Bowers never calls his alma mater Penn State by that name but by the proper Pennsylvania State ) and went to the Joe Paterno library to see if Dave Bowers had a wing or something in that library )
Now how many numismatists do I look up in the library of where they attended school?
But even friends do sometimes separate due to business reasons. It is the unfortunate nature of the beast.
I have a childhood friend I feel very close to and yet for the first time due to business reasons it pains me that I will have to take him to small claims court to collect a lousy $450.00 that he doen't feel like paying me for work I did for him. My wife and his wife are besides themselves. We are weaker friends because we tried to mix friendship and business.
Obviously, I am trying to make a point here. I hope all understand that point. I am still trying to understand it myself.
<< <i>My father is very overwhelmed and very thankful for all the support that he has received. He has been reading this forum and appreciates all the nice things that have been said. -Andrew Bowers >>
Sorry, but this is awesome! A great show of support, even his son is here!
Tell you dad if he needs a protege, an apprentice or a worker bee in the New York area, I'm his man. (Just have him PM me)
When the history of American numismatics is written QDB will command a full chapter and then some. You'll be lucky to find anyone else from CU even in the index.
oreville, That's okay, no ones perfect Actually my best friend is a Mets fan and he gives me the business for it from April to October, even if the Yankees have a better record or are in the playoffs. I go to Mets games with him but I don't recall the last time he went to a Yankee game, something about being communist??!!?!
My father is very overwhelmed and very thankful for all the support that he has received. He has been reading this forum and appreciates all the nice things that have been said.
Andy, wow it is great that you are here. You can see that the entire collecting community supports your father 100 percent !!! As I wrote to your father several days ago, he has always been an inspiring beacon in the numismatic world, and a paradigm of academic scholarship. Bowers & Merena has always been the auction house most highly regarded by collectors large and small, even though there are some other fine companies out there. With his hard work and dedication, your father has become a legend of great stature whose legacy will remain for many decades to come.
Contrast those thoughts with the puny and disgraceful way in which CU has behaved. I suppose we should not be surprised at their terrible business judgment. Mr. Haynes and the Board of CU have seriously underestimated the importance and standing of Dave Bowers among coin lovers. To have subjected QDB to an unceremonious termination of employment was inappropriate at best.
I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding staff at Bowers & Merena. Some have already been helped out the door (Chris Karstedt and her father John Babalis), and the rest are undoubtedly concerned about their future. Of course, some of this was inevitable once QDB and Ray Merena sold the company to CU in the first place. We collectors were all concerned about the future of Bowers & Merena when the acquisition was first announced. But I would not be surprised if another auction house sprang up in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and provided employment to those whom CU does not appreciate. Certainly, whatever Dave decides to do, the coin collecting community will be behind him all the way !!!
I sent Bowers And Merena some questions a few years ago and I appreciated it very much that Mr. Bowers took the time to answer them. I bet the new management there won't do something like that!
All too often a person gets fired because either: he's doing a good job but doesn't get along with the management higher up (how often have we seen this in pro sports when a coach or manager gets fired even though he's winning because he doesn't get along with the team owner?); or he's fired because he's making money, but not "enough" money (what if his replacement starts losing money?); or he's fired because higher management wants a scapegoat to blame for the company's losing money (often it's really the fault of those same upper-level managers).
Perhaps CU should have kept Mr. Bowers and got rid of someone else. Any suggesstions for who should have been fired?
Mr. Haynes is from TAGZ; I know some of you do not like that company too well.
Somebody suggested that Dave give academia a try - in the past he has given guest lectures (I believe at Harvard), on exactly what I can't remember. He always invited his readers to attend as well. I never got the full scoop but assumed he had a bud over there that invited him over from time to time.
There was also a question about his "library wing" at PSU. Actually, he doesn't have one, but he did get a big alumni award from PSU one year. Dave has an amusing story about using the PSU library as an undergrad. It seems that a particularly thick book he wanted to borrow was in the "reference" collection and couldn't be checked out for an extended period of time. But the checkout card in the back of the book showed that this closely guarded volume hadn't been used in about a 100 years! Apparently there are librarians in this world whose only joy in life is thwarting the patrons. Fortunately the Internet, the great equalizer, has subverted a lot of this nonsense (I digress).
Anyway, I am sure Dave is gonna land on his feet and I wish him nothing but the best.
He was the president at Gavelnet prior to them folding. I wonder if This Artist ever got her money. (Left Side, Scroll down) and I wonder what ever became of that situation.
TAGZ was going to acquire Gavelnet but the deal fell through. Despite that fact, Michael Haynes was hired by TAGZ. TAGZ currently trades on the pink sheets.
I love Michael Haynes press release: "David Bowers has been a great resource to Bowers and Merena during the growth and development of that business," stated Michael Haynes, Chief Executive Officer of Collectors Universe.
While Mr. Haynes seems to have declined to provide his age in his CU bio, my guess is that at best he was not far out of potty training when QDB was routinely doing 6 figure coin deals. It ain't hard to see where this train is headed.
It's funny you should mention Ted Turner -- he made himself filthy rich when he sold CNN to Time Warner, only to lose a big chunk of that cash when AOL absorbed his former empire, elbowed him out of the picture and then their stock price tanked. Now CNN is floundering under the control of self-described journalist wannabes who couldn't recognize a news story to save their lives and Turner reportedly wants to buy the company back.
David knows that lesson, thats what he did with General Mills. He sold the firm to General Mills at a nice profit and then a couple years later when GM was faltering and decided to divest hemselves of their non-food holdings he bought it back for less than they had paid him for it. I think QDB will do just fine and he will probably use the next year or two as a sabatical for even more research and writing.
The heck with a new auction house, I think we're going to need a new grading co.
Now there is an idea whose time has come - the Dave Bowers Grading Service "DBGS". If he would stay out of the coin selling business and stick to grading and writing, with his reputation and knowledge, he'd put all the other grading services out of business.
Probably has a non-compete agreement with CU, though.
Hey, his column in Coin World a few weeks ago was titled "Big Changes in the Wind for Coin Grading" (or something close to that). Maybe he was giving us a hint.
<< <i>I do enjoy and own many DB books BUT does one man make a company? A business? An industry?
If this is the case then the hobby would have been down the drain long ago. It is not the end of the "Coin World" [pun intended!] >>
One man can definitely make a company or a business. When you name a company, often one man or woman pops immediately to mind. He is probably its founder, and the driving force behind it, and the public's perception of it and of him as an inventor, creative thinker, genius, artist, business wizard, etc. etc. or combinations of all of those..
One making making an industry is quite a big tougher.. but, some examples of company name = one guy whose name immediately pops to mind..
- If I say "Disneyland" do you think Walt Disney, or do you think Michael Eisner. - If I say "Kentucky Fried Chicken" do you think of Col. Harlan Sanders, or do you think of whoever the current Chairman of PepsiCo is (if you even know his name, who has defiled the memory of Col. Sanders by turning him into a cartoon..).. - If I say "CNN" do you think Ted Turner, or whoever the CEO/Chairman of AOL-Time Warner is this week?
There are plenty of other obvious examples..
As a subscriber to Bowers and Merena's "Rare Coin Review" and "The Coin Collector" magazines, I have to wonder if those publications will continue, and if they do, what they will look like with QDB no longer involved.. He's one of the few people in numismatics who I would pin the label "Living Legend" on, and I'm sure whatever he ends up doing, he'll maintain a loyal following and do it with class..
Harv
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on.. I don't do these things to other people.. I require the same of them.." - John Wayne, "The Shootist" (1976.. his final film)..
EVP, I thought Hallmark was run by Heritage or Jim Halperin more specifically? I guess I'm incorrect...Does anyone know the grading company Halperin/Heritage once ran? John
I thought that Hallmark grading service became PCI. If you look at the holders they are basically the same.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
Comments
and facts since your mind is made up but there's no one to delete it here.
You never answered my question:
I'm curious, Do you work for PCGS? Or Collectors Universe?
People are not just let go because they are "under performing", sometimes there is indifference with the direction a company is going in. Sometimes an overzelous new 'ruler' believes that if you do not think the exact way they do, then you are not being a team player and as such, you end up being dispensible. . I'd bet this is more in line with what happened with DB.
There is nothing more dramatic than the new "Ruler" coming in, stating "we have problems" and making it look good by making some tough changes. Sometimes these tough changes do bring around a temporary fix but without certain people who know the business, they soon find themselves lost. Perhaps when the stock price goes over $1, the new "Ruler" will proclaim a fixed company and then state he is moving on to his next venture.... knowing that the price of the stock will go down again... but he left when the going was still good.
This is based on what happened to me. The company was outsourced and the ruler actually wanted to get on with the new company, the new company did not want the "ruler" especially since he fudged some numbers. I do declare that whoever had the guts to report that to the new company probably did a great service to many. WHO DEE ANIMAL?!!?
Sorry...but that felt good to get off my chest
-Dave
Having worked at Bowers and Merena for over 7 years, suffice it to say, I find it hard to conceive of a Bowers and Merena exisiting without Dave Bowers.
Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have a lot of good things you can contribute here.
Clankeye
Welcome. I can't wait for a new Bowers company either. Also, when you next speak with Darrell (from NYC), please tell him that he should stop lurking and just sign up.
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
looking forward to interacting with everyone!
--Liz
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
1 of the truly classy ladies in numismatics.
K S
Welcome! I'm stealing this line from Russ...but...
Have any Peace Dollars?
-Dave
Bill
Cameron Kiefer
Let's invite Dave down for some Chowdaw!!
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>
<< <i>DCAM, don't quit your day job to go into the business of analyzing companies. You obviously don't know squat about it. Nothing personal, but sometimes when you don't know something you ought to remain silent. >>
I take it you were one of the wise buyers of CLCT at $8.80?? Smart move. I'm sure you are quite happy with the board's execution now that the stock is at the equivalent of 70 cents! If you have been a buyer of the stock, then that says VOLUMNS about your ability to analyze a company. >>
I'll repeat what I said before, you obviously know nothing about running a closely held company, just one time stay off a subject you aren't qualified on or just try once. Learn to let somethings go. IF you want to learn go read the financials as many of us have who have commented on the subject. The red is there not because of Bowers and Merena, the real problems are footnoted. If you need help analyzing them let me know, I've been doing it for 33 years now. I've been a President of a bank and my own company, as well as a business analyst.
Lastly, I would never advise any one to buy stock in a closely held corporation. Especially one run by nonprofessional managers. I don't mean nonprofessional in a deragatory sense, but in the sense that the shareholders had no experience in running a company of this size.
<< <i>We have a few--I invite you to visit our website at www.jjteaparty.com or send a want list--we work with lots of customers and would be happy to assist you as well. --Liz >>
I like her already. Went to the site really quick, it seems like a nicely formatted site. I will check more when I have time.
-Dave
<< <i>In reply to your opinion. After working for Mr. Bowers for 14+ years, before and after it becamse collectors universe. I can honestly say he worked harder and longer than anyone at Bowers and Merena or Collectors Universe. He was an inspiration to us all. He was the first in the office and the last to leave, he would help in any department and encouraged everyone to reach for their dreams. He always had a kind word and was a vital part of the team. I feel that without Mr. Bowers there is no Bowers and Merena. >>
Sounds like me prior to being forced to resign.... could it be that the hard working guys, the guys who give their life to their job are the ones that get this type of treatment? Hmmm... I'm not sure if you can answer this question but was he the type that was very friendly, loved by all ... and perhaps the *big boss* might not have been well liked? Perhaps people were more apt to listen and respect the words of DB over the *big boss*. If it is anything like what happened to me, I loved my job and the seperation was pretty tough.
-Dave
"I can hire any one of 500 coaches to win a Superbowl."
I guess the folks at B&M think any one of 500 professional numimatists can build a company like B&M.
I guess only time will tell. I suspect Jerry may have a different perspective now that time has told him a few things.
-Andrew Bowers
Please tell your father that we'd love to have his occasional (or more!) participation here and across the street. We'd love to have him share his stories; his knowledge and experience is encyclopedic, and his stories would be very exciting for a great number of us to read.
Regards,
EVP
PS BTW, Andy, I'm the guy (in the room) whose friend botched that 3-way telephone bidding in Baltimore.
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Please tell your dad I send him my very best. He introduced me to you in Baltimore about a year ago. I hope to see him there in March.
Arnold
Andrew, tell your dad I'm awaiting his next books and articles...
But, I have a few to catch up with until then at least...I always have to wait a year or two until I can afford them, or use the ANA library to get a hold of one or two. Anyhow, thanks and we hope to see your dad back again!
And I hope you enjoy this place Liz!
John
However, it is not unique. look at Ted Turner and his CNN which has been part of AOL/Time Warner. Very similar situation except that AOL/Time Warner is not a closely held Corporation.
I happen to have a incredible emotional bond (from afar) to Dave Bowers second to only that of the Norwebs since it was Dave Bowers, the "Boy Wonder of Numismatics" in the 1950's that got me started in coin collecting back in 1960 when I was 7 years old. Gosh, I idolized that guy in the area of coins. I always will.
I even went to Penn State University this past fall (note that Dave Bowers never calls his alma mater Penn State by that name but by the proper Pennsylvania State
Now how many numismatists do I look up in the library of where they attended school?
But even friends do sometimes separate due to business reasons. It is the unfortunate nature of the beast.
I have a childhood friend I feel very close to and yet for the first time due to business reasons it pains me that I will have to take him to small claims court to collect a lousy $450.00 that he doen't feel like paying me for work I did for him. My wife and his wife are besides themselves. We are weaker friends because we tried to mix friendship and business.
Obviously, I am trying to make a point here. I hope all understand that point. I am still trying to understand it myself.
<< <i>My father is very overwhelmed and very thankful for all the support that he has received. He has been reading this forum and appreciates all the nice things that have been said.
-Andrew Bowers >>
Sorry, but this is awesome! A great show of support, even his son is here!
Tell you dad if he needs a protege, an apprentice or a worker bee in the New York area, I'm his man. (Just have him PM me)
-Dave
But no Yankee fan in this quarter.
That's okay, no ones perfect
-Dave
Andy, wow it is great that you are here. You can see that the entire collecting community supports your father 100 percent !!! As I wrote to your father several days ago, he has always been an inspiring beacon in the numismatic world, and a paradigm of academic scholarship. Bowers & Merena has always been the auction house most highly regarded by collectors large and small, even though there are some other fine companies out there. With his hard work and dedication, your father has become a legend of great stature whose legacy will remain for many decades to come.
Contrast those thoughts with the puny and disgraceful way in which CU has behaved. I suppose we should not be surprised at their terrible business judgment. Mr. Haynes and the Board of CU have seriously underestimated the importance and standing of Dave Bowers among coin lovers. To have subjected QDB to an unceremonious termination of employment was inappropriate at best.
I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding staff at Bowers & Merena. Some have already been helped out the door (Chris Karstedt and her father John Babalis), and the rest are undoubtedly concerned about their future. Of course, some of this was inevitable once QDB and Ray Merena sold the company to CU in the first place. We collectors were all concerned about the future of Bowers & Merena when the acquisition was first announced. But I would not be surprised if another auction house sprang up in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and provided employment to those whom CU does not appreciate. Certainly, whatever Dave decides to do, the coin collecting community will be behind him all the way !!!
Sunnywood
Sunnywood's Rainbow-Toned Morgans (Retired)
Sunnywood's Barber Quarters (Retired)
I sent Bowers And Merena some questions a few years ago and I appreciated it very much that Mr. Bowers took the time to answer them. I bet the new management there won't do something like that!
All too often a person gets fired because either: he's doing a good job but doesn't get along with the management higher up (how often have we seen this in pro sports when a coach or manager gets fired even though he's winning because he doesn't get along with the team owner?); or he's fired because he's making money, but not "enough" money (what if his replacement starts losing money?); or he's fired because higher management wants a scapegoat to blame for the company's losing money (often it's really the fault of those same upper-level managers).
Perhaps CU should have kept Mr. Bowers and got rid of someone else. Any suggesstions for who should have been fired?
Mr. Haynes is from TAGZ; I know some of you do not like that company too well.
There was also a question about his "library wing" at PSU. Actually, he doesn't have one, but he did get a big alumni award from PSU one year. Dave has an amusing story about using the PSU library as an undergrad. It seems that a particularly thick book he wanted to borrow was in the "reference" collection and couldn't be checked out for an extended period of time. But the checkout card in the back of the book showed that this closely guarded volume hadn't been used in about a 100 years! Apparently there are librarians in this world whose only joy in life is thwarting the patrons. Fortunately the Internet, the great equalizer, has subverted a lot of this nonsense (I digress).
Anyway, I am sure Dave is gonna land on his feet and I wish him nothing but the best.
He was the president at Gavelnet prior to them folding.
I wonder if This Artist ever got her money. (Left Side, Scroll down) and I wonder what ever became of that situation.
TAGZ was going to acquire Gavelnet but the deal fell through. Despite that fact, Michael Haynes was hired by TAGZ. TAGZ currently trades on the pink sheets.
I really think he can turn PCGS around... I really do! I have faith in him.... I love TAGZ and in fact, I often go back and revisit the GavelNet.Com Website again and again and again and again whoa, I feel woozy! You Little Mutants!
Dave
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
While Mr. Haynes seems to have declined to provide his age in his CU bio, my guess is that at best he was not far out of potty training when QDB was routinely doing 6 figure coin deals. It ain't hard to see where this train is headed.
It's funny you should mention Ted Turner -- he made himself filthy rich when he sold CNN to Time Warner, only to lose a big chunk of that cash when AOL absorbed his former empire, elbowed him out of the picture and then their stock price tanked. Now CNN is floundering under the control of self-described journalist wannabes who couldn't recognize a news story to save their lives and Turner reportedly wants to buy the company back.
Maybe there's a lesson here for QDB.
Chuck
Now there is an idea whose time has come - the Dave Bowers Grading Service "DBGS". If he would stay out of the coin selling business and stick to grading and writing, with his reputation and knowledge, he'd put all the other grading services out of business.
Probably has a non-compete agreement with CU, though.
Hey, his column in Coin World a few weeks ago was titled "Big Changes in the Wind for Coin Grading" (or something close to that). Maybe he was giving us a hint.
Mike
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
<< <i>I do enjoy and own many DB books BUT does one man make a company? A business? An industry?
If this is the case then the hobby would have been down the drain long ago. It is not the end of the "Coin World" [pun intended!] >>
One man can definitely make a company or a business. When you name a company, often one man or woman pops immediately to mind. He is probably its founder, and the driving force behind it, and the public's perception of it and of him as an inventor, creative thinker, genius, artist, business wizard, etc. etc. or combinations of all of those..
One making making an industry is quite a big tougher.. but, some examples of company name = one guy whose name immediately pops to mind..
- If I say "Disneyland" do you think Walt Disney, or do you think Michael Eisner.
- If I say "Kentucky Fried Chicken" do you think of Col. Harlan Sanders, or do you think of whoever the current Chairman of PepsiCo is (if you even know his name, who has defiled the memory of Col. Sanders by turning him into a cartoon..)..
- If I say "CNN" do you think Ted Turner, or whoever the CEO/Chairman of AOL-Time Warner is this week?
There are plenty of other obvious examples..
As a subscriber to Bowers and Merena's "Rare Coin Review" and "The Coin Collector" magazines, I have to wonder if those publications will continue, and if they do, what they will look like with QDB no longer involved.. He's one of the few people in numismatics who I would pin the label "Living Legend" on, and I'm sure whatever he ends up doing, he'll maintain a loyal following and do it with class..
Harv
- John Wayne, "The Shootist" (1976.. his final film)..
John
I think that was NCI
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com