Dealer attitude at coin show

marmac

I went to a show this weekend and happened to be at a dealer table looking in the cases when an elderly couple approached the table. We exchanged greetings and smiles.Elderly couple asked me a couple of questions reguarding some of the coins in the display cases while the dealer was helping another customer.The couple then showed the dealer a single item and asked for its value.The dealer gave them his buy price(very low for item in question,imho).
The couple stated "they had a bag of coins at home they wished to get appraised and sell".
Dealer suggested "go home and get them and bring them back or buy a "Redbook".

At this point , I was moving on to the next table and browsing (minding my own business).
This couple then approached me and asked why I was there. I told them I was a collector and we made small talk.Then came The Question-" what did I think they should do as far as their coins were concerned?

We strolled over to another table and I showed them a REDBOOK a dealer was selling and explained to them how to use it and suggested that they consider buying another book as well and do their own homework before they consider selling their coins.Evidently the dealer was listening in to our conversation because he reached over and yanked the remaining Redbook's off his table and gave me a serious "snarl". I put the Redbook down and we all walked away commenting on how "Ticked off" the guy got.
At this point we all parted ways and I wished them luck and hoped they did their research because it could be a lot of fun
and worthwile.
Well for the remainder of my time their, this dealer gave me the evil stare and some really unfriendly body language.
It bothered me that he was acting like that and I eventually left the show with all the money I came with.

This whole experience made for a real bummer of a day! Well that is how I spent my saturday.............

Dennis88

Very nice!!!

Chrysta

It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong, and actually like you gave some of the same advice he just gave them. Sounds like a cranky guy. It's a shame you didn't find something nice to buy (at another table) to make your day a little better!

JoyofCollecting

Like every part of life....there are some great dealers both large and small that are really wonderful human beings that you want to do business with.

And...there are some unpleasant and rude dealers both large and small that are not wonderful human being that you do not want to do busines with.

I know you were not implying this......but it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they are a coin dealer. More than likely the problem stems from childhood.

g097103

Sounds like the dealer didn't want an informed seller. Did you direct them to Barnes & Noble to buy a redbook?

stman

Sounds like the old grump needs to take a ride out to the Bunny Ranch. This show was in Reno correct?

mgoodm3

I have no problem with what you did, if that's all you did. I presume that the dealer thought you were doing a whole lot more, and if he was trying to get a cheap deal out of it, well that's his problem.

darktone

I think you handled everything the right way- it's sounds like the dealer suspected you of getting in between his deal. As most here know I have had some problems at smaller shows as well. I find the larger dealers at the major shows are noticably friendlier than many of the small dealers at the little shows- maybe this friendliness is what makes the difference in making it big in the coin industry? Don't get me wrong most of the small dealers at little shows are great! but thier seems to be a lack of @$$H@le dealers when I go to the very large shows. mike

marmac

Yes I did direct them to Barnes and Noble for a Redbook and a Scott Travers book

Coinosaurus

Let's see if we can go with Feldoni's version--

"Well, I had hauled 6 tons of books from my van onto the show floor, floor traffic was crappy and the show organizers put me at the far end of the hall like they always do.......anyway, this collector who was trying ripoff some old couple grabs a Redbook from the pile and tries to convince these people that their raw gems should be valued from the "MS60" column......all this time they are in everyone's way with their coins all over the place......then he tells them to go buy the Redbook at Barnes & Noble since 'book dealers always try to rip you off'. At that point I gave him the evil eye and moved all the Redbooks off the table. After that he kept wallking by my table and sneering at me."

marmac

Coinasuarus,
There were no coins layed out anywhere, there were no people at his table,we were in know way blocking any potential customers.I guess I should not have suggested Barnes and Noble for the book since the dealer had the book there.The suggestion to go to Barnes and Noble was more to get a Scott Travers book rather than a Redbook.

And as far as sympathy for someone who had to lug a bunch of stuff in to the hall and recieved a lousy table? I don't know
that's the business a person choose's.I am in a different line of work, we all are, and we all have gripes about one thing or another in our work life.If one feels like they have it "so hard" at their particular job, find a new line of work.

But yes I can see where I should have suggested they buy the Redbook at that table.......

stman

Marmac says... "And as far as sympathy for someone who had to lug a bunch of stuff in to the hall and recieved a lousy table? I don't know
that's the business a person choose's.I am in a different line of work, we all are, and we all have gripes about one thing or another in our work life.If one feels like they have it "so hard" at their particular job, find a new line of work."

Stman says.... this guy is alright.

marmac

Cherwood- this was suppose to be in fun and an impersonation of this dealer from the impression he gave be with his body language and snarls........


Coinasuarus- I did not claim any grades, nor did I claim they were sitting on a gold mine.

DHeath

Giving everybody involved the benefit of the doubt, what we don't know is if the dealer was a market maker for what the customer had for sale. If he told them he'd have to look to establish a price, and offered to sell them a redbook to get them started, that sounds pretty reasonable. Then they went to another table to buy the book. It's difficult to price an amateur's collection from a description. Once they had the coins at the show, they would have been in a good postition to get several offers. Still, it's a shame you got the stink-eye. Sounds pretty innocent to me. JMO

Coinosaurus

Marmac-

If the facts were as you presented them, then obviously said dealer is not a pleasant person. Is it our fault if a dealer has to haul a bunch of stuff into a show? No. But, it may affect their attitude

marmac

You know, I went there to watch a basketball game,throw back a few cold ones,go to a coin show.
I was in the market for a couple of better date morgans.I stumbled into a conversation with a couple of old folks
and suggested they might have some fun researching their stuff themselves and be in their best interest.

Well, I am home now, my team lost and I am still in the market for a couple of better date morgans........
but I did meet a neet old couple!

EVillageProwler

For collectors, there is little greater pleasure than to meet others. Coming close perhaps is helping out a newb from getting slammed. I hope that elderly couple gets fair value for their stuff.

EVP

Russ

A coin show wouldn't be a coin show without one or two grumpy dealers. There's one on the local circuit in my area that's a real jerk. At first I thought it was just me, but after further observation and confirmation from another forum member, I find that he treats everyone like crap. It's just the nature of things. There are plenty of nice dealers to offset the few that don't really seem to like what they're doing.

Russ, NCNE

DaveG

Do I understand this correctly?

You were at a dealer's table (not the dealer the old couple approached before, but another dealer); he had Red Books for sale and you were explaining what a Red Book was and telling the couple that they should buy one and then the dealer grabbed the books away from you?

So he lost a potential sale of a Red Book and alienated both the couple and you (plus everyone you tell the story to)?

What an A-hole!

Geez, at the shows I go to I know several dealers who I would introduce such a couple to who would take the time to educate them and make them a fair offer.

I'm really glad I've never met the dealers you guys talk about!

BAJJERFAN

From your description you imply that there are two different dealers since you moved on to another table. Its not obvious that the dealer who got huffy was the same one who told them to bring them in or get a Redbook unless your subsequent conversation took place within earshot of the first dealer.

marmac

Correct this was not at the first dealers table. This was next to a second dealers table. Tiny hall, in earshot of half a dozen dealers at any given time.

airplanenut

If I get it right, the dealer who was selling the Red Book got mad... that was dumb, since you were trying to get him a sale...

fcloud

Interesting thread.

ealandg

This always cracks me up. Some of these dealers should really go into another line of work, rather than dealing with the public. Not only they alienate the old couple and Marmac, but since other people were probably in earshot, they alienated them as well.

Not only that, but you never know when your "small potato" client will decide to buy that investment quality coin. Customer service is everything...

Neptune

He probably didn't want you fingering his new merchandise/pristine pages - maybe he thought your hands were greasy. Or maybe he didn't like something that he heard you oversay to the elderly folks - think ....... was there anything else that you may have said that he could have been offended about (from a dealer's standpoint) - besides don't buy THIS book - go to B&N.) ie. Look at this one - get your grubby paws all over it, then go elsewhere to buy.

Did the guy have any other customers? Did you see him converse with the first dealer? I'm confused!

100proof1957

Just my .02
The Moonlight Bunny Ranch is south on 395 then east on 50 about 8 miles,bout 45 minutes !
Oh never mind !

Proof

Conder101

I can't quite tell which dealer did the book grabbing. If it was the dealer selling the books that seems a little odd since you were discussing having them buy one. If it was the first dealer that is even stranger. A dealer comng over and pulling all the redbooks off ANOTHER dealers table?

Frankly you did things just the way you should. You didn't approach the sellers they approached you and aske YOU for advice. You recommended buying a redbook just like the first dealer did. You did not make any offeres on their coins or give an opinion on the first dealers offer. If the dealer has a problem with you telling people basicly to follow his advice, he has a real problem.