My trip to Long Beach

Bikingnut

I spent about 4 hours there today looking mostly at raw Washington's. I picked up a nice white 42D solid MS65, 52P AND 52S both with a hint of rim toning. The 52P looks like it has a decent shot at 66, the 52S is a solid 65. All are for my raw set. Unfortunately I don't have a camera so I can't share.

Most of the dealers were very friendly, didn't mind haggling a little. I did run into one very rude dealer though. His assistant who might have been his wife was very pleasant, but had no knowledge of coins at all. Someone next to me paid for a coin using Sacagewa dollars and she had no idea that they were real money. I picked out a 50S and 52S Washington that were okay. They were marked as MS65, but IMO, they had a few too many contact marks for 65's. I asked for a price, and he said 20 for the 50S and 30 for the 52S. After thinking about it and looking at the coins a little more, I very politely asked if he would take 40 cash for both. His reply was "There's no bidding going on here, I said 20 for this one and 30 for this one". I moved on. Got a better deal on the three that I bought at different table.

I also picked up two NGC storage boxes for free! They were giving them aaway at the NGC table.

I'll probably be going back in June.

clw54

Did the rude dealer have a price written down?

Bikingnut

No. The price was not on the coins. I wonder what would have happened if I had offer 40 for the pair before asking his price.

gmarguli

What was the dealers name?

clw54

I thought they left the price off so they could dicker. Guess not.

Bikingnut

After I started to walk away I turned around to check the name, but I don't remember now. I'm terrible with names, but I'll know him if I see him again at the next show.

gmarguli

The attitude sounds like a dealer that I know (Coin and Stamp World in Granada Hills, CA). He does the show. He doesn't want you looking thru his coins to pick the nice one. Tell him what you want and he'll pick it for you.

Bikingnut

What's the name? His assistant did let me look through the 52'S, 51's and 50'S that were in the display case. about ten in all. I pcked the best two. I do recall seeing a dealer from Granada Hills, but I'm not sure if he was the one. He really caught me by surprise.

gmarguli

Louis Reback. He was there with I believe his wife. Lots of collector coins in the cases. Usually has a corner table.

Bikingnut

Thats the one. He was at a corner table.

mnmcoin

Not really an excuse for grumpy dealers, just a little light or explanation if you will...

My father has been a coin dealer for 40+ years, has had several stores, done thousand upon thousand shows, of course dealing with the public...and I just think it wore him down, as with most other older dealers. Some time its ego, with other younger dealers, but with the older ones, I just think that is the nature of the business of hagling over your daily bread.

With me, I love dealing with people and talking about my newest love...coins, so dealing with the public, whether it is at the few shows I set up for or one phone/email, it part of my reason for being in this business. Also I am a business purist, marketing at heart, so I truly believe that without collectors I would not be afforded the blessed life that I have...I just think most dealers either don't think that way, or simple have forgotten.

morris <><