Does anyone else hate the term "I'll pass"

Bustman

I think there are better ways to say a coin or the price of the coin is not for me. When someone says "I'll pass", I find it a bit rude. Today I had someone ask me via email about the price of a coin I had for sale, after I qouted him a fair price, his reply was "PASS". Thats it, thats all he wrote. I would have said, thanks, but Its not what I had in mind, or something of that nature.
Is this just a pet peeve of mine, or does "I'll pass" annoy others as well.

airplanenut

On responding to this post, I'll pass

Stuart

Nope. I feel that a polite way of avoiding saying anything critical or negative about the coin or the price of the coin. It doesn't bother me at all.

Russ

Every time I hear it I can't help but think it's missing the rest of the sentence.

Russ, NCNE

FatMan

It seems to be better than "WTF are you outta your mind?"

airplanenut

In all seriousness, I do agree... I try to go a little further than just "I'll pass." A little politeness can go along way

Tonelover

You're lucky, at least you got a response! LOL

nwcs

It doesn't bother me really. Better that than saying, "you suck" or worse. Now, I think people could be a bit more courteous and respond with more than a one word answer.

Russ

<< <i>It seems to be better than "WTF are you outta your mind?" >>



That's my usual response to Marty after he gives me the price on one of his coins.

Russ, NCNE

catfish172

<< <i>You're lucky, at least you got a response! LOL >>




"I'll Pass" or "Pass" is much more polite than no response at all.

ksteelheader

Hell, I must have said it at least a dozen times at today's show. I left the show with nothing for myself!

Ken

coinkat

Bustman:

I agree with you, however, sometimes, it is just easier to say I'll pass. Coming up with some better responses is a novel challenge and a worthy cause...please understand these response are not directed at anyone at it is merely for entertainment purposes...some may be more political correct than others...

I'm sorry but my collection is going in a different direction...

Nice coin... it just would look out of place with the usual crap I own...

Great coin... but its either over priced or graded optimistically...

And exactly how long was this coin accidently submurged in a mixture of water and certain solvents to obtain this look? And please don't tell me it was just in your martini glass...

After a closer look, this may not be an upgrade for me...

I'm sorry, my mistake, I guess I already have this date...

And there are more... others should add some of their favorites.

RickMilauskas

I'm not a fan of "I'll pass" either but as several people have said, we could be told something offensive
(heck, I might get a laugh out of something really offensive).

Any way...one dealer I know who wasn't interested in some coins I was selling simple said, "It's not for me."
I kind of respected his way of turning me down and I didn't feel as rejected.

FrattLaw

<< <i>simply hand the coin back and say "you made that easy for me". >>



I kinda like that one. I'm going to use it from now on in light of this thread -- especially with Feld's coins!



Michael

airplanenut

<< <i>I sometimes say things like "no thanks", "that wont work for me", "I guess not" or even "thank you". None of them seem/feel just right to me, though. >>

Sometimes Mark is really mean... I think I've seen all he's got to offer in the insult department

tjkillian

When buying in person, I always say, "thank you", and that is it.

Tom

CarlWohlforth

Like tjkillian when in person I say something like "thanks for showing me the coin" or "thanks for taking the time to show me the coins". When in a bidding situation "pass" is clear, quick, and discrete. There is no mistaking pass for "maybe" or "hmmm", or "I'll take it'. When trading quickly sometimes one wants to hear "pass" or "play". Anyway if it bugs you just be happy you are getting a response at all.

cladking

I usually say pass. I don't mean it rudely by any stretch but rarely want to comment on
why I don't want something. Many people think it's a curteous response simply because
it is so short and to the point without being judgemental.

It might not come off so well in written communication though.

CarlWohlforth

CladKing is right when he says "It might not come off so well in written communication though.". So many things get lost when writing over the ether.... I always thank people for writing me even when I may not want to hear exactly what they are saying because I really do appreciate that anyone would take the time to talk with me...

tsacch

Its no big deal to me..........I usually say no thanks.

mrearlygold

Pass


Tom

Bear

When a dealer tells me they will pass on buying a coin, it doesnt bother me a bit.

I never bought a coin from a repected dealer that they did not offer a fair price on a buy back.

tradedollarnut

Only in Bridge!

ar18

I am not a coin dealer, but I am a salesman, so If someone said I'll pass, or which I hear all the time, no thanks, no, not interested ect. I always ask WHY??? Usually the buyer will tell you and give you valuable feedback, The price is too high, I can't afford it, I just wanted to look ect. Which you can adjust to(overcome the objection) and close the sale.

Why not ask??

Jeff

sliderider

<< <i>

<< <i>It seems to be better than "WTF are you outta your mind?" >>



That's my usual response to Marty after he gives me the price on one of his coins.

Russ, NCNE >>

Barry

Isn't there an old adage, never argue grade with a dealer? Since that's the case, I think PASS is a reasonable response.

sliderider

How about if you're a dealer saying something like this:

"I'm glad you thought enough of me to bring this to my attention, but I don't have a strong buyer for these at the moment."

It covers all bases. It's polite and contains a plausible excuse for not buying the coin, and doesn't hurt anybodys feelings.

majorbigtime

I don"t beleive it's necessary or appropriate to explain why a coin does not appear attractive for purchase, so "I'll pass" (perhaps with a "thanks") seems just right.

ar18

major,

what harm does it do, selling coins is selling. I always ask is this what you call crisp????

robertpr

Only in Bridge!
Nobody under the age of 900 knows how to play Bridge though.

JRH

It's a bit of an abrupt answer (perhaps), but it's become so commonplace in everyday language that I don't think people mean it to be rude. They just say it kind of "matter of factly" without any negative intent.

sliderider

I'm not saying that my suggested response is perfect, or necessarily truthful. It's just that you don't want a seller to walk away feeling insulted or depressed because you wouldn't do business with him/her. Todays sellers may be tomorrows buyers, and this person is going to equate you with the bad feelings he/she had when they tried to sell to you and pass by your table at the next show. A terse or rude response to an offer to sell could come back to bite you later.

RBinTex

Why not just respond with what you WOULD be willing to pay for it?

coinbuf

I do not belive that it is rude at all. The customer is avoiding telling the dealer why he is'nt happywith the item without getting into an argument with the dealer. I was at a coin show once and told the dealer that it had too many hits for the grade he had assigned. His response was "what the he double chopsticks did I know anyway. I now say I'll pass to avoid this.

Chris

ms70

I can't believe this could possibly ever be an issue. We must be bored tonight. What more does anyone need than "I'll pass"? Geeesh.

ER

I see no problem with it at all.
You know what 's annoying is when the guy says " I 'll call you back ",
but you never heard from him again.

Strat

Yeah, I'll call you back, or I'll be back, then you never see the person again. That really leaves you wondering. I now just take a "be back" reply to mean probably not. But hey, it never hurts to ask why someone isn't particularly interested in a coin. The response, I'll pass, is one I prefer hearing, because it's more definite. I have heard much worse from being in retail for 10 years, believe me!

Come to think of it, I've probably been called every rotten name imaginable, have had people screaming in my face, have had others threaten to do bodily harm, and you're put off by a simple phrase!

Just for the sake of clarification, these negative experiences were while selling computer software and video games. Selling coins is tame by comparison.

Bustman

<< <i>John, in all seriousness, how about providing us with some suggestions regarding what you think would be better alternatives? Help make a negative into a positive.

I sometimes say things like "no thanks", "that wont work for me", "I guess not" or even "thank you". None of them seem/feel just right to me, though.

Mark,

Like I said, it might just be a pet peeve of mine, but I find it to be abrasive.
I usually say "no thanks". In person, I find a simple" thanks" while handing the coin back always does the trick.
I reserve the trem "pass" for the truly over priced pieces of crap.

joeyuk

While handing it back I either say "thanks" or "I don't think it will match the rest of my set". White lies save feelings and avoid debates.

matteproof

<< <i>I think there are better ways to say a coin or the price of the coin is not for me. When someone says "I'll pass", I find it a bit rude.... >>



Hi bustman. I also feel that it is rude to just say; “pass.” It’s too dismissive of the “person" rather than the price. A few nice words mixed in with the "pass" are far more dignified. matteproof

khayse

Ah where to start...

> It’s too dismissive of the “person" rather than the price.
I agree.

I'm with several people here. I always say "Thanks" and hand the coin back (maybe even "no thanks"). If the dealer wants to
discuss the matter more he can always ask me what I don't like about the coin/price. Also if I like the coin I can always tell him
what I would be willing to pay.

> but it's become so commonplace in everyday language that I don't think people mean it to be rude
It is NOT commonplace in everyday language to respond to a polite offer with "Pass!". Something this quick and rude could
only be invented by a business person who needs to execute this transaction many times a day with no room for error, in short,
on a dealer could have come up with this. To compare let's look at some real life examples:
Tommy, I'm making grilled cheese for dinner. Want one? PASS!
Jason, want to go hit that new Thai place for lunch? PASS!
Susan, do you want to go out with me this Friday? PASS!
Could you tell me how much these shirts cost? 75 bucks? PASS!

In each case the person passing comes off like kind of an a-hole. The people who don't see this have probably been in
the coin business for a long time. Try that response the next time your wife makes a suggestion.

>Nobody under the age of 900 knows how to play Bridge though.
Hey, I'm 35 and I play bridge.

-KHayse

Bustman

khayse,
A good post that really illustrates my point. I'll put in context of my work. I am a photographer. If one of my clients called with an assignment I did not want to take, for whatever reason......not enough money, crappy travel, etc.....I would tell my client I am unable to fit the shoot into my schedule, or something to that order. If I told my client "Pass", or even the marginally better "I'll pass", I would never hear from that client again.

LincolnCentMan

I dont have a problem with the term. I get more annoyed when a dealer asks me if I have anything for sale, I show them, they ask me for a price, I quote them just below average market (which is usually over greysheet), and they get all insulted and start telling me how they have to make money also. I have no problem with them making money, but greysheets are pretty much worthless for most of the stuff I carry.

David