Hypothetical: What would you think if....

jayboxx

you saw a coin that you really liked on a dealer's website, and went to a show to view it in person, only to be informed it was probably sold prior to the show. Just to be sure, when you get home you email the dealer with the specifics of the coin on the site, but receive no response.

A month or more goes by, and that same coins still shows on their site as being for sale?

DRUNNER

Sounds like a dealer who just doesn't follow through very well . . . no returned calls . . . no updating on the website. I doubt there is anything else to it.

Of course . . . do you want to do business with a dealer who exhibits these tendencies?

As an aside . . .I find it interesting that in this hobby dealers can pull off actions that would simply not be tolerated anywhere else in the outside world. No other agenda here . . .I just find it interesting.

Case in point . . .every shop I visit, locally (SLC area) and in my travels with work, has piles of inventory (Whitman folders, buckets of semi-classified coins, odds and ends) just loitering about under desks, in cubbies, etc. I guess they get immune to it . . but I would be digging through looking for keys, grades, rarities, etc. or hire someone to do it. It would be like an electronics shop just rat-holing every old TV or stereo that walked through the door, regardless of condition.

Obviously I just am not aware of the inner workings of a brick & mortar.

Drunner

carl

You must be young. Didn't you ever see one of those auto sale programs where they show you a xxxx car for xxx down, xxx monthly payments so hurry on down. Just look at this beauty. Now if you look closely you'll notice he is standing in the sun, regular clothing and you look outside at a foot of snow.
Many stores used to do that. They were called come ons. You'ld see a add, run to the store, be the first one in and were told they already sold that item but if you want one of these--------.
Some coin dealers are like that. You see thier add on their web site and then see them at a coin show and guess what. someone bought it on the way to the show. But I just happen to have-------

Cladiator

I'd be annoyed.

Gator5220

I'd find another dealer. But I also place a premium on customer service as well.

jayboxx

Interesting responses so far. Carl, have you experienced dealers using the bait and switch technique?

RedTiger

I would think that the dealer doesn't update his/her website very often. Doing that with a large inventory can be a full time job and then some. Many dealers include a date on their site saying when their last update was, and that is helpful, however some do not. The dealer might also be confused or may be having problems with their web host, or other technical issues. Dealers that are one-person or mom-and-pop operations that do shows, sell on Ebay, and have a website have plenty on their plate and often something gets over looked. 60 hours weeks are common without having a website. Computer tasks almost always seem to take three times as long as scheduled.

I see no reason to think the dealer is lying. What incentive is there in that? Worst case is that coin got put on hold for a favored customer, and then that customer returned it or passed on the coin. That is common and again, there is no harm no foul.

I wouldn't spend a lot of time on that particular dealer's website, because it doesn't seem like a good use of time.

jayboxx

Redtiger, even if someone didn't update their website regularly, what would be the reason for no response to inquiries?

CarlWohlforth

I overheard a couple at a show complimenting a dealer about his website. He told them he never had time to update his site. He was just too busy doing shows. I checked out his site after I got home; I never figured out why the couple liked it.

I know a great dealer that mainly does shows. They just don't have the time to both photograph coins and keep the inventory up to date. So they choose to keep inventory up to date. If you want to know about a coin you call and they will give you an honest assesment of the coin and a return policy. That is better than a photo if you know them.

If anybody in any business doesn't respond to my attempts at communication I write them off.