Cherrypicking thread: Is cherrypicking a dealer for CAM/DCAM 50's & 60's coins morally/ethically
SanctionII
Posts: 12,119 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
Prior threads have discussed cherrypicking.
I thought I would toss out a similar thread on cherrypicking 50's & 60's CAM/DCAM coins. Many of us hunt for these coins. The area may be a niche, but it is well publicized through books, articles, etc. and most dealers know of this topic and these coins. Even if they do not have extensive knowledge of the area, they could learn about it in a few hours by reading and doing research.
I have looked for these coins and in doing so have experienced dealers who have different opinions on my efforts. I tell some of them what I am doing and what I am looking for. The response varies from not letting me look at stock at all (I never go back), to letting me look at everything and charging a slight premium if I find something that I want, to letting me look and charging me bid regardless of how nice the coin is simply because they do not care (they view these coins and sets as widgets).
Other dealers I do not tell what I am doing. Some will let me look and then ask why I want to look at all of their stock (I then tell them and I get responses ala above). Some get nervous and try to limit what I can look at. Some let me look and then look long and hard at the set I pick out before quoting a price (some quote a high price and I accept immediately and they look chagrined at not asking for a higher price). Some are clueless (or give the appearance of being clueless and in reality do not care).
A few examples of what I have obtained in my hunts is a 1967 DCAM quarter, a 1951 CAM Cent, a 1959 CAM half, a 1956 CAM nickel, 2 1964 DCAM halves and a CAM 1964 AH half. All of these coins were in proof or SMS sets in OGP. I paid around bid for all of the sets containing these coins. Each of the coins would bring much more than the price I paid for the entire sets.
What do you think of my cherrypicking activities (and the same activities of others who hunt for these coins). Am I morally corrupt/unethical or am I merely reaping (while being able to sleep at night) the benefits of learning about this niche area of the hobby and putting in the time and effort to search for these coins?
Your thoughts please.
P.S. My thread deals with CAM/DCAM coins; however it can be applied to other areas (i.e. southern gold) and the collectors who labor in those other areas.
I thought I would toss out a similar thread on cherrypicking 50's & 60's CAM/DCAM coins. Many of us hunt for these coins. The area may be a niche, but it is well publicized through books, articles, etc. and most dealers know of this topic and these coins. Even if they do not have extensive knowledge of the area, they could learn about it in a few hours by reading and doing research.
I have looked for these coins and in doing so have experienced dealers who have different opinions on my efforts. I tell some of them what I am doing and what I am looking for. The response varies from not letting me look at stock at all (I never go back), to letting me look at everything and charging a slight premium if I find something that I want, to letting me look and charging me bid regardless of how nice the coin is simply because they do not care (they view these coins and sets as widgets).
Other dealers I do not tell what I am doing. Some will let me look and then ask why I want to look at all of their stock (I then tell them and I get responses ala above). Some get nervous and try to limit what I can look at. Some let me look and then look long and hard at the set I pick out before quoting a price (some quote a high price and I accept immediately and they look chagrined at not asking for a higher price). Some are clueless (or give the appearance of being clueless and in reality do not care).
A few examples of what I have obtained in my hunts is a 1967 DCAM quarter, a 1951 CAM Cent, a 1959 CAM half, a 1956 CAM nickel, 2 1964 DCAM halves and a CAM 1964 AH half. All of these coins were in proof or SMS sets in OGP. I paid around bid for all of the sets containing these coins. Each of the coins would bring much more than the price I paid for the entire sets.
What do you think of my cherrypicking activities (and the same activities of others who hunt for these coins). Am I morally corrupt/unethical or am I merely reaping (while being able to sleep at night) the benefits of learning about this niche area of the hobby and putting in the time and effort to search for these coins?
Your thoughts please.
P.S. My thread deals with CAM/DCAM coins; however it can be applied to other areas (i.e. southern gold) and the collectors who labor in those other areas.
0
Comments