The newbie and the mean coin dealer

emcat

Hi everybody...I'm pretty new at this but have been doing alot of research and I think I have a bunch of variety coins (have other stuff, too - but that's not my point now).

Anyway, I took them to an authorized PCGS dealer in my neighborhood to get appraised. He wasn't very nice - seemed very impatient with me and several times told me to read the sign on his wall that said no coins after (I'm not sure of the exact date - this is a guess) 1930 were worth anything.

I tried to explain the idea of a variety coin to him and how according to some of the websites I've visited, there is a market for them - but since I'm pretty sure he has never seen a computer - he again told me to read the sign.

Any advice would be appreciated. Should I go through one of the sites that specialize in variety coins?? (for grading)

And he didn't have to be so rude just because he's an expert and I'm not - how else can people learn?

Thanks for letting me vent...

stman

Just blow him off and find someone not burned out with the way they make a living. I kind of thought your story was funny... because I pictured and old fat guy sitting there, that didn't want to move off his perch pointing to the sign smoking a cigar, am I close?

foodude

If you can scan a few of your coins (preferably while they are in a protective holder) and post the pics with a description of waht you think you have, you are likely to get some comments that may help you.

jd4science

No coins after the 30's worth anything?! That would make my collection be about 55c.

ElectricEye

I once mentioned the internet to one old timer and he almost keeled over. Some dealers don't consider the coin important unless it was made before they were born. Try a different dealer.

ursabear

emcat,

Welcome to the forums! (The pod grows some more! )

If your encounter with a professional was not a good one, then don't spend time with that person. There is always someone who is interested in you and your things. Don't let them get you down... There are lots of good folks out there if you look.

Best of luck on these! I'd like to see some pictures if you can get them up on the thread.

cosmicdebris

Welcome aboard!

As far as that dealer, he didn't think you were worth his time. I think he is not worth yours.

Coulport

I think Cosmic has it pinned down exactly.

Now, since you don't have your Private Message turned on, let me pose some questions and thoughts.

Was this your first time in the shop?
If not, have you bought anything there?
Did you see any items on display like you collect?
Were other people in the shop being helped?
Did you indicate that you wanted to submit some coins for certification anyway?

Maybe he feels he does not want to offer a free library.
Maybe he feels he does not want to give free information.
Maybe he feels he does not want to give free appraisals.
Maybe he does feel that he will never sell a coin to someone who searches for modern errors and varieties.
Maybe he just had a bad day.

ldhair

I love dealers like him. I would bet you could cherrypick the heck out of his inventory. He won't know what he is selling you.

ksteelheader

Welcome to the boards. Lots to be learned here...........Ken

emcat

Hey everyone, thanks for all your replies!!
Stman, he was a little overweight, - and he was standing up. So your mental picture was close but no cigar!!
Fudude - they're not in holders yet - they're circulated and I want to get them graded to see if they're worth it...but I'll get a list together and ask for opinions.
JD, according to the mean coin man, I guess that appraisal of your collection is about right! But what does he know..
Electric, that's a good point, ...- and what an adorable cat!
Thanks for the warm welcomes, Ursabear, Cosmic, Larry and kssteel - I'll work on the pics!
And last, but not least - thanks for your thoughts, Coulport.
I now have my private messages turned on.
Yes, it was my first time in the shop - so no, I've never bought anything there.
The only type of displays he had were examples of every coin.
There was someone who came in the same time as I did, and asked if he could purchase a book on stamp values. The coin dealer said (quite haughtily, I might add) that he hadn't carried stamp supply stuff or dealt with stamps for over 20 years. Then he told the man to bring his stamps in. (Just an FYI, the name of the place is *** Coin & Stamp Company - I didn't want to reveal the real name, but you get the idea)
I didn't mention submitting coins for cert. because I didn't think he was very nice, as I'm sure you've noticed.
And, as for your ideas that maybe he didn't want to supply free info, etc. - I spoke to him on the phone before I went there. So maybe he was just having a bad day.
But I don't think so...

FatMan

Here's a big fat welcome to ya!



<< <i>the sign on his wall that said no coins after (I'm not sure of the exact date - this is a guess) 1930 were worth anything >>



Oh crap, do I feel stupid for buying so many post 1930 coins but I'm not nearly as stupid as the guy that bought that 1933 Double Eagle for $7.5 million.

Endocrinologist

Bay Coin and Stamp Company or
Omega Coin and Stamp Company.

I'm I close?

baccaruda

<< the sign on his wall that said no coins after (I'm not sure of the exact date - this is a guess) 1930 were worth anything >>

emcat welcome to the boards and i like you already. so it's safe to assume he didn't carry any coins after 1930 - or at least had them in a big box priced at face value? are you saying he's a coin dealer and NOT cashing in on the state quarters? maybe you should explain to him the business he's losing. at my coin shops i would say 9 out of 10 customers are looking for post-1930 coins.

on second thought just find someone else.

Russ

<< <i>sign on his wall that said no coins after (I'm not sure of the exact date - this is a guess) 1930 were worth anything. >>



Can I have his phone number? The poor guy probably gets stuck with a lot of junk that comes in as part of collections. I'd like to help him out.

Russ, NCNE

airplanenut

Welcome aboard!

Geoman

Welcome also!!

keets

hey emcat

tell us the dealers name and address and the forum will visit him en-masse with our valuable post-1930 issues. all shown to him while he is beat silly with a fungo bat about the head and shoulders!!! that should bring him to his "collective" senses.

al h.

jonesy

EmCat, Welcome to the Forums!!
Glenn

relayer

Just as collectors debate about modern vs. classics, dealers do the same.

ARCO

Welcome. Dealers get a lot of people bugging them to appraise their junk silver and 1958 wheat cents because they look different. He was rude, but perhaps he was having a bad day.

Anyway, you have the internet at your fingertips, so you can do a lot of the research yourself. Remember also that many of the varieties people are finding are new and little is known about them. The biggest and most popular varieties are sometimes worth a premium and those coins are more documented and dramatic.

Have fun

Tyler

jonesy

Remember, You don't have to spend much change to buy a coin collection. Just keep the change.
Glenn

rd5425

Don't listen to the dealer, sometimes I think that it is a dealers job to break your self-esteem and make you feel low. Every time I have a great purchase and take it in to a dealer they make it seem like it was worthless, I once had a super toned 1964 proof penny and took it to several dealers at a coin show, all of them offered less then a dollar for it, one dealer told me its worth 45 cents but just to be nice he would pay me a full dollar for it , I left that show feeling really depressed as I had payed close to 25 bucks for it, anyways I got it slabbed by pcgs and sold it for close to $200, so don't let dealers tell you that your coins aren't worth anything, often times they say that for personal gain so you can sell it to them for cheap.

Merc

I was surprised to read the guy had a sign on the wall telling people post 1934 coins are not worth anything. I've never seen anything like that in any coin shop or show. It is basically true. Most post 1934 circulated coins say in fine or VF are not worth much except for the double dies, D/S mint marks and the 1938-D walker.

jonesy

rd5425 is right on the button. Alot of dealers try to talk down to you when you sell or buy. If they can make you feel inferior you may sell short. At the same time, They will call what you want to buy junk to try to get you to buy more expensive coins.
Glenn

coindaughter

Welcome! Sorry you had a lousy experience, but you came to the right place to learn a lot and find some really great people to help you with your coins.

Add my voice to the chorus of "Welcome!"

cladking

Welcome aboard. If a dealer doesn't handle your niche, just find a new dealer. They're
not always rude, but they get busy sometimes and might get a little impatient after the
tenth or twelfth inquiry about stamps, or later date coins. Someone here (or at another
shop) will be happy to help.

I've been kicked out of shops when the dealer learned my interest was clads, so there is
some improvement!

njcoincrank

emcat,

Welcome to the boards! As a coin dealer, please don't let one experience influence your opinion of the hobby.

When I was young (15 or so) my father drove me 50 miles to Kansas City to a coin shop. I went in, while he and my mother waited in the car, only to be driven out by an old SOB. When I returned (in less than 3 minutes) my father could see that I was upset. I told him what happened. My father said "wait here" as he exited the car. A few minutes later he returned and said "let's go". I don't know what he said to the shop owner, but knowing my father, the next kid who came in was treated different.

It is now 25 years later, and I am a full-time coin dealer.

Moral of the story? Don't let one, two, or a thousand a**holes keep you from enjoying the best hobby there is.

njcoincrank

MacCoin

ask Him if he had any coins after 1930 and tell him you will take them all at that price.