Do you think that Heritage gets enough credit...

dan1ecu

... for all that it does for collectors and for the hobby?

Heritage provides a great deal of entertainment with their auctions. Coins are much more liquid because of Heritage. Many collectors are more educated because of their dealings with Heritage (they can buy and sell coins more often than they could in the old, pre-Internet days). Their auction archives are great, etc., etc.

What do you think? Does Heritage get the credit that it deserves?

Dan

Merc

Credit? They don't deserve any credit. They don't have auctions and internet auctions for entertainment or as a free sevrice for collectors. It is just business. They do it for themselves. If you want to be the largest coin company, you must improve and change with technology. If not, someone else will and will take your marketshare.

Clankeye

I think that's a little harsh. Their site is a great resource and it's free. Yes, it certainly helps them in the same way this forum helps PCGS, but again--it's free.

Between this forum and the Heritage site I spend quite a deal of time. Did I mention it's free? Yes, it's business. But, it's good for them and good for us. These things didn't exist a few short years ago, and I am one that believes we are better off for it. If you don't think so, ask yourself how fun it is when the sites aren't working.

Being as large as they are, Heritage comes in for a lot of flak around here. I'm sure some of it is deserved and some probably isn't. My own experience with them has been nothing but positive. And until the day that might change, I will continue to use their site and order the occasional coin.

Clankeye

kranky

I don't remember seeing this discussed here earlier (I may have missed it), but Heritage recently announced they are starting a coin club outreach program. They will provide guest speakers for club meetings and items for door prizes/raffles. They'll also send an email to Heritage mailing list members who are within driving range of the meeting site. David Lisot is directing the program.

I think that's a great idea. It could put many collectors in touch with local clubs.

puff

<< <i>I think that's a little harsh. Their site is a great resource and it's free. Yes, it certainly helps them in the same way this forum helps PCGS, but again--it's free.

Between this forum and the Heritage site I spend quite a deal of time. Did I mention it's free? Yes, it's business. But, it's good for them and good for us. These things didn't exist a few short years ago, and I am one that believes we are better off for it. If you don't think so, ask yourself how fun it is when the sites aren't working.

Being as large as they are, Heritage comes in for a lot of flak around here. I'm sure some of it is deserved and some probably isn't. My own experience with them has been nothing but positive. And until the day that might change, I will continue to use their site and order the occasional coin.

Clankeye >>



Well said Clank!

Shamika

I often get annoyed at Heritage, but I would certainly be upset if they were ever to disappear.

They charge excessive auction fees imo and their auction descriptions are not always "complete", but they have some interesting articles, their auction archives are a great research tool, and "My Collection" is pretty nifty.

All in all I'd have to give Heritage high scores.

291fifth

Heritage is a business. What it does, it does to make money.

Clankeye

<< <i>Heritage is a business. What it does, it does to make money. >>



And all business go about business the same way? There isn't a high and a low on the spectrum? They do it to make money, end of story?

It's all in how you get to that end goal of "making money."

Some places do it better than others. For every Heritage there are 100 truly poorly run outfits that either blow away in the night, or hang on ripping people off for years.

So as far as giving "credit" maybe that's the wrong term. No, we don't have to be beholden to them, but it's easier to fail than to succeed mostly, and maybe a realization that their being in business is a good option for us all isn't a bad thing.

Clankeye

Barry

Even though they are a business, they have taken a lead in technology that the other auction houses should try to equal or surpass. Their auction archives are a wonderful resource I frequently use. On the down side, their server is too slow and their pictures suck. Compare it to Stacks, and you appreciate that Heritage is about 20 years ahead, and the others are somewhere in between. ANR, please add online auction archives. With your excellent pics, you could quickly take the lead. Are you listening?

paigowjohnny

I for one am a big fan of Heritage...and I'll give them credit for mastering a successful business model. They've got vertical integration from buying to selling..they do it smoothly and quickly...and serve a customer need. Sure there are hiccups along the way, as in any successful business...but for what they do, I don't think anybody can argue that they have a stranglehold on the other services...

Pistareen

Just a note:



<< <i>ANR, please add online auction archives. With your excellent pics, you could quickly take the lead. Are you listening? >>



Every lot ANR has sold since its inception is available for viewing on its website, including full description and color photograph.

MFH

I have used My Heritage quite a bit, and its record keeping done correctly for one who normally keeps poor records.

I use their auction archives alot as well. It helps determine the value of what a coin is actually worth.

Their fees are a bit steep if you place a reserve on a coin and it doesn't sell. Then again, remember the good old days when the seller paid a flat 20% and the buyer paid nothing ? They're in a business, and they have excelled
over alot of other auction houses.

ANR's archives are pretty good, as are Goldberg's. There are some really good businesses out there and I think we should be thankful that they are as professional as they are. Consider the "good old days" not everyone was as helpful. The internet has sure changed the way alot of us do business these days.

I give major Kudos to Heritage for its collector assistance.

Coinosaurus

Heritage has done some great things - if they hadn't taken the lead on the Internet front, who else would have? The coin market would probably still be a couple years behind the technology curve if they hadn't paved the way. Yes, someone else would have tried to do the same thing, but could they have really executed? My only complaints about Heritage are zero personal touch, and for some reason they always send my lots really late. It's like they don't trust my checks or something

JoyofCollecting

I think Heritage does a great service to the hobby in terms of education, technology and liquidity.

I am very pleased to see the progress that ANR has made in such a short time. I can easily see them surpassing Heritage in the next two years. I really enjoyed the first issue of their collector magazine...you can definitely see QDB's touch around the place.

It would be a wonderful thing to see Heritage, ANR and Superior (B&M) intensely competing for our business. Intense competition breeds innovation, lower prices, and a high level of customer service.

Barry

<< <i>Just a note:

Every lot ANR has sold since its inception is available for viewing on its website, including full description and color photograph. >>



John,
Thanks for your response. The next step in bringing your web site to a higher level would be a search feature. Unless I'm missing it, to determine a price history for a specific date, one must browse each catalog, one at a time.

JoyofCollecting

<< <i>

<< <i>Just a note:

Every lot ANR has sold since its inception is available for viewing on its website, including full description and color photograph. >>



John,
Thanks for your response. The next step in bringing your web site to a higher level would be a search feature. Unless I'm missing it, to determine a price history for a specific date, one must browse each catalog, one at a time. >>




Exactamundo!!

Trime

I agree with the positive comments about the Heritage site and its value to collectors. Their inovative ideas on on line archives have now been validated by similar approaches by other auction companies. Would it not be fantastic if all the major auction sites and major retail rareties dealers had archives of each coin sold. Eventually they might becpme an integrated Numismatic record that would allow identification and tracing of special coins as they move through the system. We are getting there but not yet .
The fact that the Heritage site is this is part of a business service is irrelevant; it serves my needs and many others on this forum. Same for the PCGS and NGC sponsorship of their respective boards.

dpoole

Heritage should be credited for keeping those marketing and service ideas coming.

Yes, they are big, but if you get a personal relationship going with a person or two over there, it makes things a lot easier. I've had good luck with calling and asking people to look over a coin and review it for me, follow up on some shipment quirk, etc.