Can We Have Some Positive Dealer Stories?

Longacre

Can we start a thread with some positive experiences with dealers? They seem to be all getting bashed lately, so I think it would be nice to tell some stories of good experiences. Because we are focusing on the positive, maybe it will be best to actually mention the dealers by name because a lot of their business is word of mouth. What do you think?

dorkkarl

jack beymer is a great dealer.

that's my story, & i'm sticking by it.

K S

MacCoin

there use to be this guy on the board Supercoin was his handle. one of the best guys I ever did busness with. he was fast to get your coins to you, his prices were affordable, and they were pretty much all PCGS coins. I kind of miss him

seanq

My all-time favorite coin dealer is Bill Affanato of A&N Enterprises. He got me fired up about error and variety collecting 15 years ago and still gets excited telling stories or playing 'show & crow' when I see him at shows. He also has an encyclopedic mind for variety coins, and can cherrypick a doubled die from across a bourse. Just a great dealer and gerat guy.


Sean Reynolds

JimC

Purchased and have some purchases from wondercoin currently. He has been helping me with my registry sets.

Weiss

My dealer, Gary Dayton at Specialty Stamp and Coin, has tolerated me since I was literally just a little kid (I'm 35 now). Though I don't purchase much locally anymore, I still go in to see him for the occasional gift. I also visit him in January or February of every year, after I've cleaned and cashed in my metal detecting clad for the year. I use the money to buy mint state (slabbed) coins. It's not usually much, as little as $30 or $40 to maybe $150, but he still s t r e t c h e s my clad money as far as possible to get me into the very best slabbed coin he can without taking a bath.

If I had a customer who only came in once a year and always tried to squeeze me for the best possible deal, I'd lock the door. Props to Gary.
Some of the coins he's allowed me to buy at wholesale (or below):

airplanenut

Ok... a good story:

For some reason, Mark Feld has never had any problems with me... and was never bugged by all my pointless PMs In fact, he'd usually even reply thoughtfully to them (occassionally he was just being funny ). Around a year ago or so, I told him one of my goals was to get a proof indian head cent--not just a proof, but one with really nice mirrors, and one with beautiful color, since I knew how well they tone. He always stressed to be patient and wait for the real "right" coin--don't settle (in fact, he told me that about 10 minutes ago... anyhoo...)

Then, in December, he sent a private message to me that said he located three that fit my description. He knew they might have been out of my price range, but that was ok--he had them sent to me (these were his Pinnacle days) to examine in-hand. I happened to fall in love with the cheapest one (lucky me) for its fantastic color. With a little help from someone anonymous who also knew my goal, I was able to purchase the cent, and it's one of the highlights of my collection. So, although I keep having to photograph and rephotograph it, here is one of the nicest coin on so many levels in my collection:



Thank you, Mark

Jeremy

JrGMan2004

Bill Jones is my "Local Contact" around here. I always go to him at every coin show I see him at. He's an awesome guy all around, very nice to sit and chat with, and he's usually got a gorgeous coin or two around with him. I always see something in his case that I like. Last show, he had this nice bronze/golden-brown colored Seated Lib Half Proof. Boy was I drooling over that one!! But he's been a help to me. I've bought a couple coins from him, but his biggest "contribution" to my collecting experience was back in February when he sold me my Icon coin, and showed me a whole crapload of really awesome Bust coins out of his private collection, the one I remember the best, was a 1795 Flowing Hair Half-Dime in PCGS-AU58. It had a little bit of some reds and golds around the bottom of the obv if I remember right, and the reverse was rotated about 35 degrees. But, anyways, that day, and those two coins hooked me on the Half-Dime stint...

Oldnewbie

I've only been here a short time, but I've found Dennis of Jade Rare Coin to be a great dealer. He has helped me with great advice on Colonials, and his return/buyback policies are top notch.

Eric

topstuf

Yep. Bob Auger of Lincoln Coin Shop in Stockton, CA.

A dealer, former Sheriff Lt., family man, actor in local theater, a friend.

Bob's attitude and knowledge STARTED me in coins. Crowns, US, Paper, nick-nacks, you name it. Bob had it and knew it. He had an ART of showing coins. A real hoot. "I got sumpin to show YOU.....No, I ...can't show it.....it's too NICE....oh well......no.....no I can't.......oh .....o-KAY!"

Unfortunately, this picture is from his death notice. A ....needless....one. Really. I was IN his shop the day he FIRST passed out during the day. Then the pea-sized tumor turned WALNUT sized. Too late.

I miss him still. A visit to his shop or home was a pleasure and a memorable occasion. Did we make some stories!

Seeya later, Bob. I hope.

mrearlygold

Several of my customers have sold part of their collections in the past 6 months. One who spent just under 100K with me over a 3 year period sold his coins at an ANR sale where these coins realized $211,000.00 and change. He's given me that money back and we bought into a different area of coins.

One fellow spent about the same in 1 months with me a year ago on early eagles. I charged him just under 10K each for many of the more "common" ones. We've now re- sold all but 1 of them and have redirected the money into a different area as well. He's netted approximately 40% gains.

Many of my customers have become my best source of inventory. It's a win-win scenario.

Rgrds
Tom

JrGMan2004

<< <i>I've only been here a short time, but I've found Dennis of Jade Rare Coin to be a great dealer. He has helped me with great advice on Colonials, and his return/buyback policies are top notch.

Eric >>

I doubly agree. Dennis has been a great help to me!!

RYK

I have had only positive experiences with dealers who post here.

granddad

I have dealt with Jim Fairfield, of Fairfield Coins for many years. Both buying and selling. They dont come any more honest or fair than Jim in my opinion.

Louis

Conder101

Granddad, where do you run into Jim Fairfield at?

MSD61

North Country coins in Plymouth, NH gets my vote! Very friendly and helpful folks there you never feel like you are being a burden to them.

cdwegner

Kaye Dethridge / Alaska Tokens is a great dealer that I have bought from numerous times.

He's very knowledgeable in his field. Wrote a book about it, too.

Recently, he tracked down an Alaska token for a bar that my Dad went to in the early 70s out in the bush of Alaska. This one will be a birthday present for my Dad here in a month.

As the story is told... My dad went to this rough, seedy bar in Galena, Alaska. He went in and the owner's Native wife said, "What would you like?" My Dad said, "What kind of beer do you have?" She responded with a list of 25+ different import and domestic beers. My Dad said, "Wow! I'll have a Heiniken." The woman opened the refridgerator and it was completely filled with Lucky Lager. She pulled one out and handed it to my Dad.

www.alaskatokens.com

291fifth

When I was first starting collecting in the early 60's I joined the Club of Illinois Numismatists (C.O.I.N.S.) as a junior member. Chester Powderski always set up at the meetings and treated the junior members very fairly. I was recently back in the Chicago area and saw a notice in the local Star newspaper that the club was honoring charter member Chester Powderski on his 90th birthday. Happy Birthday, Chester!

relayer

Richard from The Reeded Edge worked a deal with me on a coin I wanted, taking some cash and coins in trade. I thought that was cool

nwcs

Hey, Steve (pqpeace) is a great guy. I've enjoyed our interactions when I've bought and sold from him (Steve, check's in the mail, bud )

earlwbollinger

There was a dealer that showed up at some of the Grapevine Coin Shows, and he was great with my son.
He would take the time and help answer my son's thousands of questions. He bought a number of coins from him too.
You know come to think of it, most of the dealers were most helpful with my son then too.
Some gave him some used Whittman folders, a old Redbook, and other stuff to help him get going.
He'd get side tracked with the boxes of loose foreign coins too, and even then the dealers were nice.
Can't complain at all, they all were great.
It is a great way to get a kid going in coin collecting.

bullseye

George at Legend just worked with me on two gem proof Indians for my collection. He is great and they have some top quality stuff. I trust him totally, he represents me at auctions too.

The folks at ANR are wonderful too.

tradedollarnut

I know of an instance where a collector consigned a 1795 bust dollar to a dealer for sale. A while later, the dealer noticed the coin was a 'silver plug' and worth much, much more than the asking price. Rather than buy the coin at that price [or park it someplace], the dealer informed the collector, had it reholdered and sold the coin for 5 figures more into the collector's pocket.

ziggy29

I've purchased several better date XF/AU Indians from Rick at Eagle Eye and I've always been pleased. As far as strictly online dealers go, I've had nothing but good experiences with Chuck D'Ambra. I bought four raw Morgan and Peace Dollars from him maybe 3-4 years ago, three graded MS-64 and one graded MS-65. A couple months later, I got around to submitting them to PCGS, and they sent them back as...three MS-64s and one MS-65, exactly as Chuck listed them.

coynclecter

Yeah!

I took some coins to the show and I'm POSITIVE the dealers were trying to rip me off!!!!!!!

LOL

TONEDDOLLARS

I've always had good dealings with Bryan Sonnier and Mike Defalco. I also agree that Bill Jones is a great guy with a wealth of infomation, even if he thinks this toning thing is a fad

TD

charley

Paul Battaglia, Rare Coins of New Hampshire-a true GENTLEMAN, superior numismatic/academic knowledge, and without a doubt an outstanding long term advisor. No B.S. , and grading ability, especially in area of original condition, is unquestioned.

TONEDDOLLARS

I like Paul too

lablover

Mike DeFalco (Coingame2000) is TOP NOTCH!!! It's always a pleasure to do business with Mike and he's got to be the most knowledgeable dealer I've had the opportunity he know. I also commend Brian Sonnier, Craig Harries, Mark Feld. I hope I don't offend anyone not listed. In fact, come to think of it...I've not had a bad experience with any dealer that posts here.
Jim