R.M. Smythe - Your opinions, please...

MrEureka

As some of you know, I represented the numismatic firm R.M. Smythe & Co for a couple of years, until early this year. I still have a very cordial relationship with the firm, and something of a minor business relationship. Therefore, please understand that the following question is not especially looking for praise or flaming. I'm just looking for honest answers.

The question: What is your impression of the firm?

AUandAG

Sorry, don't know the folks.

bob

CarlWohlforth

Smythe? Do you mean the local European auto dealer?

I know you don't... just kidding. From my West Coast perspective they are a non-entity.

TomB

The homepage for RM Smythe (www.smytheonlin.com) will employ a rover.ebay.com redirect if you click on a link for a subset of certain coins and I find this displeasing enough that I have removed the RM Smythe homepage from my favorites list. In my opinion, that is a tacky method of handling folks and I can spend my money elsewhere.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

I've always greatly respected them, and I enjoy the way they conduct business. I purchase from Nirat at every WESPNEX show, and at the national shows too.

Never used their website though

airplanenut

Most of my experience with Smythe is with you. So it's understandable that I can't stand them

Actually, although the first sentence is true, my dealings with everyone else behind the Smythe tables has been very pleasant, and usually results in me learning something new.

mrearlygold

droopyd

I went to see them once, they sorta gave me the brush off because I'm a small-time collector and not an "investor" -- Nirat was supposed to get in touch with me re some fairly easily obtainable want list material but I never heard back from him. Too busy to work with someone wanting to buy coins that cost only $300 I guess.

RYK

Other than friendly interactions with you, I have had no business with Smythe in the past, and the firm is completely off my radar screen.

JrGMan2004

I only noticed R.M. Smythe, because you were there, and passing by their table at shows occasionally. Never seemed to be the type of dealer that would carry my kind of stuff...

FPCoins

Stuffy.

cladking

Professional, courteous, and mostly higher end.

I haven't actually done business with them so would still start slow.

Lakesammman

My interest in them began when you joined and ended when you left.

ArgentumRex

I've bought two books(via internet) and one coin(at show) from them, and really have no impression whatsoever. I guess I trusted them enough to give my CC#, but that's about it. They seem to me to have a rather bland corporate personality.

firstmint

When I purchased several stocks from them about 6-7 years ago, it reminded me of a boiler room operation with a great deal of pressure put on the CSR to sell as much as possible, as fast as possible.

seemyauction

Don't know them...sorry.


Al

mgoodm3

DOn't have one.

tightbudget

They're pretty informative, but I think the company could be organized a bit better.

Amigo

A very professional demeanor from my experience on the currency side. I dropped in unannounced and wasn't welcomed at first, but Scott and his team warmed up in a bit.

I have always found them to be over priced on Currency. I've tried negotiating on several items to get them down to market, all to no avail. I guess they have a big nut to crack every month between salaries. I'm assuming since their prices are so high, the Billionair owner must own the building and doesnt pay rent. I think they'd do better moving more material at market prices. But, what do I know. It sure was a fun place to visit though for a Westerner.

smytheit

<< <i>The homepage for RM Smythe (www.smytheonlin.com) will employ a rover.ebay.com redirect if you click on a link for a subset of certain coins and I find this displeasing enough that I have removed the RM Smythe homepage from my favorites list. In my opinion, that is a tacky method of handling folks and I can spend my money elsewhere. >>



From my perspective as a dealer, listing on eBay as we do allows us to get fresher material online and available for sale at an earlier date. We don't want to exclude customers visiting our site from that material, so we provide a link.

From my perspective as a collector, I prefer the security and simplicity of eBay, as well as the enhanced image quality of Smythe's listings there.

If you simply find all of eBay to be "tacky", please note that we sell the same material (at the same price) in our offices, via telephone, email, fax, or at most major shows.

We look forward to returning to your favorites list when www.SmytheOnline.com is able to offer a comparable (or better) experience than eBay, with similar security and simplicity for our customers.

TomB

The link to ebay does not bother me, it is the rover.ebay.com affiliation link that is in incredibly poor form, in my opinion.

wondercoin

What lakesammman said.

Wondercoin

BlindedByEgo

<< <i>

<< <i>The homepage for RM Smythe (www.smytheonlin.com) will employ a rover.ebay.com redirect if you click on a link for a subset of certain coins and I find this displeasing enough that I have removed the RM Smythe homepage from my favorites list. In my opinion, that is a tacky method of handling folks and I can spend my money elsewhere. >>



From my perspective as a dealer, listing on eBay as we do allows us to get fresher material online and available for sale at an earlier date. We don't want to exclude customers visiting our site from that material, so we provide a link.

From my perspective as a collector, I prefer the security and simplicity of eBay, as well as the enhanced image quality of Smythe's listings there.

If you simply find all of eBay to be "tacky", please note that we sell the same material (at the same price) in our offices, via telephone, email, fax, or at most major shows.

We look forward to returning to your favorites list when www.SmytheOnline.com is able to offer a comparable (or better) experience than eBay, with similar security and simplicity for our customers. >>



Hmmmm.

Nice to have you here. Honest bunch, eh?

oildvr

I have never heard of them. Are they east or west coast? It really does't matter either way, just curious

Preussen

Other than having seen them mentioned in your signature line here (I think that's where I saw it) I never heard of them. -Preussen

TwoKopeiki

I like the "look and feel" of their on-line store. Very user-friendly. Haven't bought anything from them, but that Chilean "Volcano" peso has been calling my name for a few months, now...

Mark

Andy:

I have them on my IE favorites list only because of you. Unfortunately your stay there coincided with a period when I have been unable to buy many coins. (Stupid kids want a college education. ) Since you departed, I think I have perhaps looked at their website once. If you were to return, I'd almost surely go back to looking more frequently.

For what it's worth, I had heard of them prior to knowing that you were but that was the extent of my knowledge.

Hyperion

bought a couple books from them, neutral-positive experience...

Longacre

I bought a book from them in the past, and that was about it. I have a positive impression of the firm because of my dealings with you here on the forum and in person, but the firm is sort of "off my radar screen". They are not the first firm that pops into my head when I think of coins.

Dabigkahuna

I know and respect John Herzog. But outside of you I've never spoken to anyone else there.



Larry
Dabigkahuna

291fifth

I auctioned some notes through them about ten years ago. The auction was handled well.

Recently, I have heard very little about them.

Michigan

Have bid in their auctions for many years (paper money and stocks only). Overall a good experience with a few bumps along the
way like forgetting to send an invoice and then calling me on the phone wondering where the money is and missing a few bids here and
there.
Just normal stuff that happens to every auction company from time to time, not a big deal to get upset about.

MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>...the firm is sort of "off my radar screen". They are not the first firm that pops into my head when I think of coins. >>


Ditto...I've heard of them but never done any business with them.

UtahCoin

About 2 years ago I emailed them looking to purchase a 1602 English Crown for about $4,500. No answer to my email. Called and left voice message, no reply.
So I bought one elsewhere.

ziggy29

Never dealt with them, though I would certainly consider them if I were in the market for items that are in their sweet spot.

covers

I have been very pleased with my dealings with Smythe. My first experience was selling Mr. Herzog a group of Albert Gallatin letters that dealt with property in NYC. Easy to deal with. Later I bought some material on the phone from their sales - no problems.

Lastly, as agent, I consigned a very large group of CSA currency and bonds ($1m ish). I dealt with Stephen Goldsmith at that time. He gave me a correct / conservative pre-estimate and the material sold for slightly more than the pre-sale estimate. That is exactly what I expected from a pro. Prompt settlement and no problems.

Julian

My primary purchases have been in the obsolete currency field; my consignments have all been handled professionally.

I have known Smythe for many years and wouldn't hesitate to proceed with any dealings in the future and would have no hesitation in recommending them.

FinallyHere

Huh? Who?

MrEureka

Thanks for all the answers! It's pretty cool that "we" can get this much customer feedback so quickly and with so little effort. More dealers should try this. It's a great reality check.

BTW, Smythe didn't put me up to posting this thread. I was simply interested to see if anything useful might come out of it.

smytheit

<< <i>The link to ebay does not bother me, it is the rover.ebay.com affiliation link that is in incredibly poor form, in my opinion. >>



At the risk of hijacking the thread (a tacky move that I've been guilty of in the past)...

You make a fair point, but we have to balance offering the best experience to our customers with a continually shrinking profit margin.

We tried offering items on eBay at different asking prices than those in our other sales channels, but decided that passing the fees on to the customer is a greater offense.

The affiliate program can only reduce our costs of selling on eBay; it cannot eliminate them unless we stop selling our items and instead only advertise those of other sellers.

As we do not wish to pay commissions to eBay for the sale of our material to our web-site visitors, we'll cease this practice when we're able to offer a competitive e-commerce product.

The feedback, while negative, is appreciated. :-)

Trime

Not sure at all why Andy is asking this question. My interactions with Smythe are not as great as with some other firms but when occurred by phone, e-Mail, bourse floor and direct vist to the offices of Smythe have been via Andy Lustig. I have had positive experiences.

ebaytrader

I put them in the same class with Stack's in terms of bidding and their web site sux.

TwoKopeiki

<< <i>I put them in the same class with Stack's in terms of bidding and their web site sux. >>



That's not very constructive, ebaytrader. What exactly "sux" about their website, in your opinion?

SmallSizedGuy

I have had no issues with them. Very professional and reputable.