Do those coin videos on the Finest Known site influence your purchases in any way?

Longacre

On the Finest Known site, there are videos where certain coins for sale are described and discussed. I think this might be a new concept. Do you think the videos influence your purchases? Would it matter if you never dealt with the dealer before? What if your favorite dealer started videotaping descriptions of the coins? Other than the dealer's paisley or Hawaiian shirt clashing with the color of the coin, do you see any downside to this approach to sales?

WTCG

Bowers and Merena Galleries tried the video descriptions thing for their ANA Rarities Sale in Baltimore 2003. Most of us agreed that it was one of the most corniest things we'd ever seen in numismatics. It's pretty safe to say that the videos were absolutely embarrassing for Paul Montgomery, one of the "stars" of the video shorts.

RYK

They did this at ? B&M or Heritage for one of the auctions a few years ago. I viewed a few of the lots, and I thought it was a tremendous waste of my time (and probably theirs). As my hero stman says, "save the stories..."

Edit: Wei beat me to it!

JSsson

Video descriptions of coins? WTCG said they looked corny, but I would have loved to have seen those video bits. I actually believe that video descriptions sound like a good idea, but I guess that idea didn't work out since I haven't seen the same idea used before, or at least since the Bowers and Merena auction a few years ago.

Coinosaurus

Yeah, I remember what WTCG mentioned. It totally didn't work for me either. It was a good idea though. Tell me it wouldn't be cool to see video of QDB and JJK chewing the fat about certain upcoming auction lots.

Heywood

They remined me too much of coin vault shows. prices weren't as ridiculous, but still got that "carney" feeling.

ColonialCoinUnion

Like most things, I could imagine it being done very well or very poorly.

An interesting presentation by a credible person might be neat, while a 'Coin-Vaultian' pitch by Joe Announcer who has no idea what hes talking about but belts it out over-enthusiastically would look like a hackneyed PT Barnum routine.

19Lyds

<< <i>They remined me too much of coin vault shows. prices weren't as ridiculous, but still got that "carney" feeling. >>



I agree with this statement as that is exactly how the video made me feel. Imagine, if you will, walking in to a local coin dealer and getting the same kind of pitch!

I think I'd turn around and walk out.