Does a sellers reputation ruin because of dealing with artificially toned coins?

coinguy89

If they say, do what some of us on here, including myself. Doctor up some coins, with some really nice AT, that looks splendid, sell them, telling the customor they're AT, and you still sell NT coins. How does that affect a dealer, do some of you ignore that kind of seller cause it would be quite hard to trust them?

ziggy29

If I trusted their judgment AND I was confident that they always disclosed it when they believed a coin was AT, I don't think it damages their credibility.

DesertRat

I would think that as long as you are up front on every transaction in disclosing that a coin is AT or NT then your reputation is solid. If each and every customer could state soundly that they knew exactly what they were buying before the purchase then the dealer would be very reputable. If a newbie comes in to buy a pretty toner and the dealer took the time to explain the difference in AT and NT and show the buyer how this coin fits which category then you are not only educating but being totally honest. The buyer will leave happy with a sound purchase.

I bought a 1938-D/D Buff at Long Beach from a dealer. I liked the coin because of the error and the toning. Later I was informed by Bryan at TBT that it was AT. I'm not angry over that fact because I really like the coin. However, had the dealer I purchased it from told me what Bryan did I probably would still have purchased it and might buy from them again. Not disclosing it to me at purchase means I will not buy from them again. Sorry if that is convoluted, only one cup of coffee so far this monring.

UncleWiggly

If he had a NT coin I liked I would buy it. Then I would send it to a dealer I trust to check. Then the outcome of that would decide what I want his reputation to be. I have a feeling it would be ok.


Jerry

sliderider

I wouldn't sell AT coins. When all those customers pay their submission fees and get back bodybags, they're going to be awfully mad. It may be too late for them to leave me bad feedback by then, but they probably won't buy from me anymore and will be telling other ebay users not to buy from me as well. It's the Poe effect. One person complains in a public forum, the nobody wants to buy from that seller anymore.

Yousri

FrattLaw

AT coins are a blight on the hobby. If someone is knowingly doctoring coins themselves and then selling them -- no way would I do business with them, EVEN, if they are telling their customers they are AT. Or in the alternative I wouldn't do business with someone who was selling known AT coins that didn't do the doctoring themselves. Either way, it's problematic.

Michael

Coinhusker1

Yeah, my question is why deal in AT coins, even it you disclose such? If you know a coin is AT, most, if not all numismatic value is lost, like the gold plated State Quarters.

Is there really a customer base collecting AT coins, and demanding the market make more AT coins??

FrattLaw

<< <i>Is there really a customer base collecting AT coins, and demanding the market make more AT coins?? >>



The unfortunate answer to this question is -- yes.

Michael

Coinhusker1

<< <i>

<< <i>Is there really a customer base collecting AT coins, and demanding the market make more AT coins?? >>



The unfortunate answer to this question is -- yes.

Michael >>



Just to clarify: There are customers demanding AT coins, and they know they are AT (i.e. not customers buying AT coins thinking they are NT).

Well, if that's the case, I guess you will be able to sell your "experiments" instead of having to donate them to science (or the junk silver bag).

FrattLaw

<< <i>There are customers demanding AT coins, and they know they are AT >>



Yes. And spending LOTS of cash on them.

Michael

LincolnCentMan

If the dealer is straight up about the coins being AT, I feel there is no damage to his reputation. I certainly wouldnt discontinue buisness b/c of it.

David

Dog97

If I was a dealer I would be selling everything I could get my greedy little hands on. Who cares about reputation, just look at tonecoin200, swimmer and those other coin doctors who's cooked up junk sells like hotcakes. They've skanked collectors out of thousands of $$ yet their sales remain brisk & they're laughing all the way to the bank. Coin buyers don't care about reputation, they would deal with the devil himself to get a coin they think they need.

But I'm strictly a collector and no way in L would I sell AT junk, even with a disclosure because the next person that bought it would just shank the next person with it and that would make me as guilty as them.

I've bought plenty of AT coins and knew they were AT when I bought them (for reference sets) and I fully trust the weasels that sell them because they are friendly, they ship fast, that have return policies, and they're not going to rip you off by taking the $$ & runing.

HOWEVER, I don't do business with them, even on their slabbed material. There's a dealer at the local shows that sells AT shiat & I just cruise right on past his table without stopping or looking, even if I do see a toned PCGS holdered Morg out of the corner of my eye in his case amongst all his 2x2 holdered AT junk.
Same thing on sleazeBay, if my search for NGC & PCGS material hits on a AT dealer I don't even click on the auction, even if it's something I need.
When you surf eBay enough you can recognize the AT dealer's auctions simply by the way their title is worded, and not waste 5 seconds of my life by clicking on it then having to backbutton out.

So their reputation is shiate with me & I avoid them like the plague but then again I'm old & grumpy & hate everything.