Question for you dealers...

oldshep

or experienced collectors. I was looking at a coin in a shop the other day, it was a proof and one that I wanted, however I did not like that particular coin (there was a small white spot in the obverse field) - I knew the dealer had more of these but not on display. I asked if I could see other examples, he did not seem happy that I wanted him to bring out more stock. The question is.. Is it acceptable to ask to see more examples of the same coin if it is a proof or a slabbed coin or do dealers call this "cherrypicking"?
As a novice I would like to know the protocol.

Shep

kieferscoins

You can definately ask. If he is a good dealer, he would let you pick through the ones he has for sale.

Cameron Kiefer

MadMarty

Yes ask, that's what a dealer has all those coins for. He want's to sell them, if he won't let you pick through them time to find another dealer!!!

mnmcoin

Totally should not be a problem. If the coin in question is not something that appeals to you then you should most definitely ask for one that does. Give him the benefit of a doubt (all dealers sometimes have bad days) and try him again, if he is like that again, I would not visit him again. After all this should be a service industry. And by golly, you are spending your hard earned dollars with them, so they should find you something that you will enjoy looking at...not something that you regreted purchasing.

morris <><

BillJones

Sure! You have every right to ask to look at another set. If the dealer does not want to show another set, he or she might not be a good person from whom to buy coins. Of course sometimes that might be the only piece or set that is available.

One thing that is not acceptable is if you ask to pick and choose coins from several opened sets. That is cherry picking, and unless you can make financial arrangements to do that, don't be surprised if the dealer says, "No."

mdwoods

Of course you can ask. A good dealer will show you several examples and let you choose. Good dealers want you to go home happy. Word of mouth still counts. mdwoods

Outhaul

YOU are the customer...it's YOUR money. I see no problem with asking to view other coins in order to find the one that appeals to you. The dealer, in this case, either does not need the business or is a total ass. I don't do business with dealers that have attitudes. Just my ever so humble opinion.

Cheers,

Bob

paigowjohnny

I agree with all that has been said. When I've visited bigger dealers (i.e. quite a bit of stock) I've rarely bought the coin "on display"...have always found a better example in his other boxes.

This guy obviously wanted to unload his "problem", and was annoyed that you saw thru it....

mact

I agree with all posts and paigowjohnny summed it up pretty well. I have been to many dealers in my area and only frequent the one or two who let me pick through their stick, ie. boxes of 2x2's.

matt

jadecoin

Howdy! Always ask to see more coins! In fact, if I don't have a nicer coin in stock, but I know another dealer (competition) who does, I will gladly direct the customer to that other dealer! For us, the real satisfaction comes from putting a collector together with the coin he wants, whether we own the coin or not.

- jadecoin