Anyone ever use R & I Coins of Encinitas, CA ?

MFH

Just curious, has anyone ever sold anything to R & I Coins ? What has your experience been like ? Did they promptly get back to you or were they nonchalant and noncommital ?

RYK

There was a thread about them several months ago, but I suggest you PM CoinLieutenant for more info.

MFH

ttt

BigD5

They purchased a coin from me via Ebay, took their sweet time paying, decided to return the coin, and then promptly bid on the item the next week when I relisted the coin.

I emailed them concerning this situation, and they let me know that if they won the item, they would pay promptly and not return the coin....again.

They followed through the second time.

bushmaster8

I'd have to go with nonchalant...slow... and indifferent.

And if you do sucessfully sell to them, you'll have to deal with the great feeling elicited when you see your coins priced about 300% of what you sold them for in R&I's retail price list.

Cameonut

LucyBop

When I have sold to R&I, I dealt with Rick T. directly.

I found him to be prompt, very friendly and great communication. Now I understand that my coins that are sold in this venue will be marked up as they should be, a dealer must be profitable.

Russellp23

Lucy that's because he's a guy and you don't have a twig and berries

Russ

They've purchased a few from me on eBay. Paid quickly enough, and haven't returned any (see below).



<< <i>They purchased a coin from me via Ebay, took their sweet time paying, decided to return the coin >>



I was forewarned by another forum member that they do a lot of "approval" shopping on eBay, so when Jackie eMailed me and asked what my return policy was I told her no returns.

Russ, NCNE

Russ

<< <i>you'll have to deal with the great feeling elicited when you see your coins priced about 300% of what you sold them for >>



They won one of my auctions for a 1965 NGC MS68CAM SMS Kennedy at around $700. They had one listed in their newsletter at the time for $2100.

Russ, NCNE

coincollector1989

bushmaster 8 i also

streeter

Living in Encinitas is not cheap. Smoeone has to pay for it.

RYK

bushmaster8

How 'bout the 1963 MS66 Franklin they won on Ebay for $1300 a couple months ago.

Now it's for sale at a measley $3100. Yeah, I guess everyone is entitled to a profit, but not this much!!

jdimmick

I agree with RYK.

these folks like to praise em, and sell em, but they sure as he!! dont want to buy em. if that isnt a oneway market, tell me what is??

jim

segoja

They're entitled to price whereever they think they can sell.

Normally they discount quite a bit from the newsletter price, so it's somewhat deceptive.

I'd had some luck selling them, but on coins I think they had pre-sold.

kranky

I got a 1964 PR69 Roosevelt from them on ebay for $10. I don't think they'd want that one back.

100proof1957

I did buy a Frankie from them on the bay,was fugly,they replaced it no problem.

never tried to sell em anything though !

Budw

Gandyjai

They seem to carry some really nice Ikes.
I've never tried to sell them anything,...but I did just send them an email today.
I just told them that some guy...User ID: Conman4u had stolen their pics of a nice
76-D Type 2 Ike dollar and was using it on eBay.

I never heard back from R & I...but all
of the sudden, all (4) of conman4u's auctions have been pulled.

SIDENOTE:......BEWARE of conman4u.....he also stole my pics of a 71-P NGC MS66 Ike and was
trying to sell it for $125 BIN.

Brian

I LOVE IKES!

Gator5220

.

Curley

Do they have a shop? If so, where...El Camino Real, Encinitas Boulevard, Pacific Coast Highway? I used to live next to Encinitas and never heard of them.

Justhavingfun

They seem to be totally square shooters to me. I've bought several coins from them and they were always as described.

Yes, as some people on this thread have noted, they do have extremely high published prices. So what?

Make 'em an offer.

I've done that several times. I knew what the coin was worth. I took that and added on a 20% vigorish (for high quality on a tough coin) and asked them if they'd sell it to me at that price. Once, when it was a coin that I particularly lusted after, I offered them 40% above what I though it was probably worth, and still got for a fifth below their asking price. They've never haggled with me. It was always a straight up or down, yes or no.

And the coins I've gotten from them have always been the beauts they advertise, and that's worth something, isn't it?

So don't let their high prices scare you. If you're reasonable and make them an attractive offer, my experience is that they'll sell it to you at your price, no haggling.

Enjoy!


Just Having Fun

relayer

I couldn't have said it better


Actually Rick Tomaska has built a quite a niche for himself and has a following of modern buyers who will pay a premium for Tomaska quality that other dealers can't match.

Of course when you are the one selling the coin it no longer has the Tomaska factor, and thus the premium price just isn't there anymore.




<< <i>Do they have a shop? If so, where...El Camino Real, Encinitas Boulevard, Pacific Coast Highway? I used to live next to Encinitas and never heard of them. >>



No, you have to go to Carlsbad Village Coins. R&I does most of their business at shows, Internet and mail order.

ccr

I agree with LucyBop about Rick Tamaska. He can be a shrewed businessman and really knows his Franklin Halves. One of the most knowledgible ones around. Excellent at self marketing too. Also has the reputation of being a painfully shy person. But, he and his business are a legit business as I dealt with them several times without a hitch ( buying but not selling ). I haven`t dealt with them for about a year but, I would consider them if I see something I want or need. Their prices do tend to be on the higher end spectrium.

Barry

<< <i>How 'bout the 1963 MS66 Franklin they won on Ebay for $1300 a couple months ago.

Now it's for sale at a measley $3100. Yeah, I guess everyone is entitled to a profit, but not this much!! >>


Not possible. Dealers tell us all the time their margin is only a few percent...

MFH

I have had good experience buying from them as well; my only concern was selling to them. What experiences you've had.

It seems to me that unless they have a buyer on the line for a particular item, they drag their feet in making offers.

More to follow, I'm sure.

SUPERCARCOINS

I have dealt with R & I for over a decade; Rick can produce some of the finest coins on the planet - but you got to pony up .

On a personal level though , he's about as ethical as a snake . My brother , Bushmaster , loves snakes however ........ so to each their own .
It's a love / hate thing ; I've gotten the most spectaculer coins ever seen from him ; but I could also write a short novel on his totaly outragous behavior .
Come to think of it ; that goes for about EVERY big time Franklin dealer i've known over the past twenty years !
With the exception of John Wooten .

MFH

This is proving to be more interesting than what I thought it would be.

More developments have occoured; am waiting for the final offer before I can pass judgement.

Weiss

Didn't they essentially "invent" the cam/dcam/ucam market? Seems like I remember them touting the cam coins before there was even an established market for them.

segoja

Val Webb started it before Rick. Val published his book maybe 10 years before Rick's book.

Rick did a very nice job with his. Photography is excellent.

Touchdown

Touchdown

2 years ago he had two coins graded in PCGS PF69DC. 1 was priced at $350. the other was listed as PQ for $500. I called and asked for the dealer. Secretary asked what is was concerning. I told her I wanted to buy the PQ coin since in PF70DC it was very rare. But, I asked how do I know he will send me the PQ coin and not the $350. coin. She seemed very nice and said to me he has been in bussiness for many years and wouldn't be if he wasn't honest. So, I paid throught the phone. I received the coin and it had a flaw right under the date visible to the naked eye. I returned it and decided to have the $350. sent to me instead. I received the second coin and it was a beauty. But, I did not receive the $150. difference. I called and asked to speak to him several times. I left him messages with his secretary explaining what happened they never contacted me. I wrote him a letter also and he never replied. I didn't pursue it any further as I was happy with the second coin and thought it was worth the $500. So, I dropped it and decided to be more careful when buying coins through the mail.

LucyBop

<< <i>I have dealt with R & I for over a decade; Rick can produce some of the finest coins on the planet - but you got to pony up .

On a personal level though , he's about as ethical as a snake . My brother , Bushmaster , loves snakes however ........ so to each their own .
It's a love / hate thing ; I've gotten the most spectaculer coins ever seen from him ; but I could also write a short novel on his totaly outragous behavior .
Come to think of it ; that goes for about EVERY big time Franklin dealer i've known over the past twenty years !
With the exception of John Wooten . >>



your brother Bushmaster....

Aha!

I thought it was you......

Unless there are three brothers...?

Myqqy

It's a love / hate thing ; I've gotten the most spectaculer coins ever seen from him ; but I could also write a short novel on his totaly outragous behavior

Outrageous behavior? What kind of outrageous behavior??

Craton

All i can say is that i dig Ricks book on Franklins.

ElmerFusterpuck

"Of course when you are the one selling the coin it no longer has the Tomaska factor, and thus the premium price just isn't there anymore"

Sounds like no one I want to do business with. If he can't honor his 'wonder' coins in their original slabs (assuming he needed the coin), then it sure reeks of piggie-poo.

No thanks...

Strat

<< <i>Anyone ever use R & I Coins of Encinitas, CA ? >>



Yes, great to buy from and impossible to sell to.

MadMonk

<< <i>With the exception of John Wooten . >> >>



That is the absolute truth. John is a class act.

I tried R&I once a long time ago. Just be wise in your dealing with any coin retailer. Everybody will have a differant perception. You know the old saying, screw me once, shame on you...screw me twice, shame on me.

Mintstate

<< <i>Just curious, has anyone ever sold anything to R & I Coins ? What has your experience been like ? Did they promptly get back to you or were they nonchalant and noncommital ? >>



It's been about 8 years now, but my experience with them is that they are not interested in buying back the coins they sell, or even take them on consignment. Took months just to get my coins back. I don't think he even looked at them. They were still in the same packaging.

RYK

We had a long thread on this a while back. Unfortunately, I cannot find it.

SUPERCARCOINS

yes , although he say's how much he loves to buy coins back from his clients - he buy's very, very few coins offered back to him .
So we can agree selling to him is a bad dream ; but he sure as heck can sell ' um !!!

Russ

<< <i>Val Webb started it before Rick. Val published his book maybe 10 years before Rick's book. >>



Yep, Val was even ahead of Rick. Val's book was published in 1984.

Russ, NCNE

braddick

<< <i>I couldn't have said it better Actually Rick Tomaska has built a quite a niche for himself and has a following of modern buyers who will pay a premium for Tomaska quality that other dealers can't match. Of course when you are the one selling the coin it no longer has the Tomaska factor, and thus the premium price just isn't there anymore.

<< <i>Do they have a shop? If so, where...El Camino Real, Encinitas Boulevard, Pacific Coast Highway? I used to live next to Encinitas and never heard of them. >>

No, you have to go to Carlsbad Village Coins. R&I does most of their business at shows, Internet and mail order. >>

Relayer: Don't be shy! What about that large colonial coin shop centered right in your neck of the woods there in Vista?

I've sold to Rick and purchased from him over the years. Wow- about the last 12 years now that I think about it. We joke because everything is handled via the mail (including paying full boat on the postage) although our mail boxes in Encinitas are about 15 feet apart. I'm never surprised to pull into the post office parking lot and see his Viper. I know then that the window he's in will be slow what with all the Registered packages he's sending out to clients and the grading services!

RYK

Braddick,

I guess that R&I has to buy back from you. After all, you could let the air out of his tires.

cladking

Tomaska has been around a long time. I believe it was around 1981 that he started
trying to make a market in the high grade proofs.

They used to do most of their buying wholesale and from dealers and this is probably
still the case. In the early '80's he was fairly active in chasing raw coins but this has
probably slowed greatly.

At the risk of stating the obvious, RI Coins does extensive advertising in many venues.

bushmaster8

<< <i>... Took months just to get my coins back. I don't think he even looked at them. They were still in the same packaging. >>



Very, very typical story!

I think he does so few shows not because he is so painfully shy, but rather so many people would like to administer some real pain to him for inexcusably tying up their coins like that!

Oh, and for the record: I am an only child- no siblings!

MadMonk

<< <i>

<< <i>Val Webb started it before Rick. Val published his book maybe 10 years before Rick's book. >>



Yep, Val was even ahead of Rick. Val's book was published in 1984.

Russ, NCNE >>



The Coin dealer newsletter published some article by Val years ago. They are still available as past issuew offerings. I've sold to Val before. I always wonder if I'm getting enough money when I sell to such an expert!

Russ

The best thing about Val is that he frequently snatches stuff away from Marty.

Russ, NCNE