Dealers, describe your ideal customer

RYK

There are plenty of dealer bashing threads out there. I thought we could turn the tables in a positive direction. I would like to know what attributes dealers like to see in their customers, and if so inclined, what attributes you would rather not see. Help us become better collectors and customers.

Robert

nwcs

Ideal... a customer who buys without negotiating price.

Aethelred

A 23 year old brunette swimsuit model who thinks "coin geeks" are hot!

nwcs

And who wants to buy a lot of coins. What's more... your coins!

LucyBop

<< <i>1) Communicate his likes and dislikes clearly >>



Leaving out the women eh?

Bear

Lucy is very partial to cuddily, sweet, bears.

barberlover

Lucy,

I always try to communicate my likes and dislikes to the ladies!!!

Les

RGL

Dumb and rich?

LucyBop

<< <i>Lucy,

I always try to communicate my likes and dislikes to the ladies!!!

Les >>

LucyBop

<< <i>Dumb and rich? >>



ok, i'm in!

elwood

I vouch for Jim. He's toooo D#m fussy though. Right Jim?

So am I!!!!

elwood

My ideal customer would be someone who appreciates quality and rarity as much as I do.

Someone who has the patience to wait for the right coin to come along.

Realizes how long it can take to find the right coin and them is not affraid to spend the extra to buy it when it does appear.

Is knowledgeable enough to know that perfection in a coin is not always possible when buying true rarities. Some dates just don't come nice.

jdimmick

I hear ya Steve,

Actually thats true. Over time I have become more selective in the purchases I make. Never minded paying the stronger money for the right coins, I just want to have the quality coins for my personal collection.

RYK

Ideal... a customer who buys without negotiating price.

If that is so, I am an ideal customer. I purchase coins primarily from two sources, Doug Winter/Pinnacle and Gold Rush Gallery. Pinnacle's prices are listed. If there is a coin that I want, I call, I hear about the coin, it gets sent to me on approval, if I want it I buy it. It may be listed price, sometimes it's a bit less. With Gold Rush Gallery, my trusty rep usually contacts me when he has something he thinks I might like. I agree to have it sent on approval, the coin comes, if I like it, I buy it at whatever the invoiced price. I would hate to let price get in the way of me getting a coin that I like.

In all seriousness, I suspect that dealers dislike negotiating as much as I do. Once the relationship is there, I think that the dealer will give the loyal customer the "best price" and probably the "first shot." Maybe I am idealistic and wrong. I think that too many people focus on squeezing the last dollar out of the deal and end up annoying the dealer in the process. This hurts the collector when it is time to sell or to buy another coin. When you think about it, if Joe (of Joe's Coins) gets in a rare coin that is on ten wantlists, to whom is he going to sell it ? The guy/gal who beat him down on the last purchase or the one who does not hassle him on the price?

JrGMan2004

I do not enjoy haggling on the price with a dealer... if the price is acceptable to me, I'll buy it, otherwise, I'll pass... and I like dealer's who put a sticker on the holder with the price... makes it much easier and quicker for me to find what I can afford...

oldcameoproofsguy

I think the only time that haggling prices is acceptable is buying switchblades at the Tienda Grande in Juarez, Mexico or buying fruit from a street vender. If the price is right buy the coin if you don't like it let someone else.

Elcontador

If I like a coin, I always ask what is the dealer's best price (if I don't like the coin, the price is not important). If I like the coin & the best price, I buy it.

smprfi

I'm not a dealer but I am the ideal customer.

Good communication is needed in all phases of a puchase,from a detailed description of what you want,telling the dealer payment was sent,when your coin was recieved and whether or not you are happy.
These are key along with quick payment
Your transaction isn't complete until you send a note saying thank you.

I have found that these are the things that help the dealer remember you.

fishcooker

I would think that "Comes back a second time" would be somewhere on that list.......

RYK

ttt for the weekday participants

oreville

As an ex-vest pocket dealer (of 30 years ago) and now pure collector I would like to speculate on some attributes of an ideal collector.

Believe it or not (!!!!) I believe many dealers prefer a smaller but more frequent buying collector who likes to buy 1 coin every month for $25 to $300 or so budget than one coin per year for 12 times that amount ($300 to $3600 or so)!! No prejudice but a dealer likes turnover which is normal.

I am a very tough customer who likes to buy only what I like which makes me a less than ideal customer.

For example, I will not buy from a dealer for 7 years at a time then buy three coins in a year. Dealers cannot survive and plan their business around customers like me unless we all pick a different month to buy in a 10 year span which DOES NOT HAPPEN!

So for those collectors on a modest budget, just keep in mind that small but more frequent purchases than the big shot collector who has that big budget will keep your dealer(s) working hard for you!!!!

Never be "defensive" about your modest budget as you often put the food on the dealers table and keep them alive while the big time collectors fiddle!