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How did a local coin dealer (almost) find my home address, and how did the mailman know to deliver i

LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I got an advertisement in the mail from a coin dealer/coin shop whose office is about 25 miles from my house. Here is the scary thing about what I received:

(1) I've only been to this dealer once in the past year. I never gave my name or other identifying information.
(2) The advertisement was not addressed specifically to me. It was addressed to "Our Friends at...".
(3) The actual street name was wrong, but the house number was correct. For example, say I live on 5 Mockingbird Lane. The advertisement that I received was addressed to "Our Friends at 5 Chauncy Lane."

Obviously the address used was not specific to my name, and the address was not correct. How did I receive this advertisement? Did the mailman determine that there is no 5 Chauncy Lane, but because this was a coin advertisement (the name of the coin shop was on the outside of the envelope), that I should be the one to get it, because I normally get coin stuff in the mail? Should I be worried about that? Or am I just being paranoid?
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)

Comments

  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    I hate to tell you this, but if you buy coins regularly you're on a zillion marketing lists.

    Russ, NCNE
    eBay consignment sales | | Collectibles from Resco CCC
  • 100proof1957100proof1957 Posts: 6,231 ✭
    The coin shop bought a mailing list and your postal carrier knows you buy coins and recognized the name

    dont freak out.
    image
  • TACloughTAClough Posts: 1,598 ✭
    As long as the mailman didn't fill out a request for "address correction", you are probably safe.image

    Tim
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    Be afraid, we know where you live.image

    The next knock on the door will be Mad Marty

    and Russ.
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I hate to tell you this, but if you buy coins regularly you're on a zillion marketing lists.

    Russ, NCNE >>




    I agree, but this advertisement did not have my name (it was addressed "to our friend at....), and the address was wrong. How did it get to me?
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,797 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Be afraid, we know where you live.

    The next knock on the door will be Mad Marty

    and Russ.

    Yeah, no kidding. You think Baltimore is scary? You never met Mad Marty! image
    My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,062 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Que spooky music now;

    1, 2 Marty and Russ are comin' for you...

    3, 4 Better hide your moderns and lock your door...

    5, 6 Get out your photo of Laura and your crucifix...

    7, 8 Better post all night on the fourms and stay up late...

    9, 10 You'll never look at a baldie or hairy head or sleep again...
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ever fill out a coupon for a door prize drawing at a local show?
    Early Dollar Set
  • Coinhusker1Coinhusker1 Posts: 3,560 ✭
    Was it from Sam Sloat Coins?
  • relayerrelayer Posts: 10,570 ✭

    The coin shop, the mailman, EVERYBODY knows where your coins are image
    image
    My posts viewed image times
    since 8/1/6
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Was it from Sam Sloat Coins? >>




    No.
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • streeterstreeter Posts: 4,312 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I vote paranoid then. Be worried if it was an orange postcard

    Those coin promoters can be very devious folks.
    Have a nice day
  • IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
    Did it have any white powder on it?
  • JulianJulian Posts: 3,370 ✭✭✭
    I think that it was mis-delivered to a random household from a mass marketing list that was purchased.

    Similar to the coupons and Pennysaver items that you receive from time to time.

    If it didn't have your name on it, it was just random, IMHO.
    PNG member, numismatic dealer since 1965. Operates a retail store, also has exhibited at over 1000 shows.
    I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.

    eBaystore
  • IndianHeadManIndianHeadMan Posts: 826 ✭
    coincidence.. it was a mass mailing.
  • nolimitznolimitz Posts: 441 ✭
    The mail man had one for each house on his route and didn't give a rats azz who got who's
  • coinnut86coinnut86 Posts: 1,592 ✭✭✭
    the name Chauncy makes me laugh, as does bear and cladiators posts image
    image
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,303 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <It was addressed to "Our Friends at...">

    coincidence.. it was a mass mailing.

    I doubt that very much. What coin dealer has enough "friends" that he can send them a mass mailing?
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • thecointraderthecointrader Posts: 480 ✭✭
    I once got a coin publication addressed only to my city and zip code. No name or address at all on it. Since I live in a small town, I assumed the P.O. figured it appropriate to deliver it to me.

    thecointrader
    "Giving away an MS-65 $20 St. Gaudens to everyone logged in when I make my 10,000th post..."
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I made it a point to meet and let my mailman know that I collect. It has kept him from leaving expensive coins in my mail box.
    They are humans and if you get to know them it protects you. And I found out that mine is a military retired person to. He does the sports card thing.
    And if you are the only collector on your mailmans route then he just knew it was ment for you.
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • MORGANHUNTER2MORGANHUNTER2 Posts: 4,473 ✭
    I recieved a mail bid order book about 3 weeks ago- from a dealer in the Maryland area, it had my brothers name on it- with my address- my brother is dead, I'm not- and now I wonder if he was bidding on stuff thru mail order(he had no computer).

    His mail was stopped when I went to chicago to pick him up.

    they know where you live even when you are dead...


  • dorancoinsdorancoins Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭
    Either a good mailing list or has people dressed in black watching your every move!image
    DORAN COINS - On Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), & www.dorancoins.net - UPCOMING SHOWS (tentative dates)- 10/8/2023 - Fairfield, IL, 11/5/2023 - Urbana, IL., 12/3/2023 - Mattoon, IL.
  • carlcarl Posts: 2,054 ✭
    As already noted if you ever go to coin shows they usually have something to fill out for a free this or that. If you do your now on a list. If you get any coin magazines, your now on a list. If you've bought some coins through the internet and naturally gave a home address, your on a list. If you ever sent in for anything you saw in a coin magazine or paper, your on a list. There are many other ways to get on these lists. People buy these lists. Some organizations only sell the addresses of people that should be interested in product X. Then there is places like this forum where if you entered anything such as your name and state wher you live, the rest can be obtained via People Search on the internet. Recently I've been trying to track down people I used to work with, go to school with, etc. I tried that People Search with a minimum of information such as a name and age and poof, there is the rest. If you pay a fee you an obtain everything about a person that is in a public record such as name, address, phone number, email address, age, property taxes paid, age of house, how long live there, how many children and their names and ages and on and on and on. Be carefull of your mailman unless you have a regular one and know them personally. Around here we get a different one about once a week I think.
    Actually I think that guy just followed you home.
    Carl
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,701 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Que spooky music now;

    1, 2 Marty and Russ are comin' for you...

    3, 4 Better hide your moderns and lock your door...

    5, 6 Get out your photo of Laura and your crucifix...

    7, 8 Better post all night on the fourms and stay up late...

    9, 10 You'll never look at a baldie or hairy head or sleep again... >>




    Your mailman knows everything about you. The specific error in the address might
    give you clues about who sent it.

    Don't worry about it. Worry about Russ, MadMarty and your mailman. If they ever team up you may as well just throw in the towel.
    Tempus fugit.
  • lathmachlathmach Posts: 4,720 ✭
    Did the mail you received have your home zip code on it?
    I just went to Google and typed in my zip code, and my business name popped up.

    Ray
  • BECOKABECOKA Posts: 16,961 ✭✭✭
    Did the coin shop owner walk outside and write down your license plate number when you were driving down the street?

    I only use a PO box to try and avoid knowledge of where I live.
  • CoinResourceCoinResource Posts: 1,113
    Get a PO Box
    >>CoinResource>>Coin Forum
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,361 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <It was addressed to "Our Friends at...">

    coincidence.. it was a mass mailing.

    I doubt that very much. What coin dealer has enough "friends" that he can send them a mass mailing?


    Is this a trick question?

    Seriously.... get a PO Box

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,701 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Did the coin shop owner walk outside and write down your license plate number when you were driving down the street?

    I only use a PO box to try and avoid knowledge of where I live. >>




    This is an excellent idea but ultimately it just gives you a bunch more mailmen. image
    Tempus fugit.
  • nankrautnankraut Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭
    "Que spooky music now;

    1, 2 Marty and Russ are comin' for you...

    3, 4 Better hide your moderns and lock your door...

    5, 6 Get out your photo of Laura and your crucifix...

    7, 8 Better post all night on the fourms and stay up late...

    9, 10 You'll never look at a baldie or hairy head or sleep again... "

    Now that was GOOD!
    image
    I'm the Proud recipient of a genuine "you suck" award dated 1/24/05. I was accepted into the "Circle of Trust" on 3/9/09.

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