Littleton Founder Passes away..
Bruceswar
Posts: 2,869
I know alot of people have dealt with them at one time or another. Weather you agree with there business model or not they have started alot of collectors off. I just seen the coin world full page ad taken out. Very classy if you ask me. May he rest in peace.
0
Comments
The name is LEE!
<< <i>Better late than never! >>
not sure that he'd think so!...the founder that is.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I began with Littleton, back in '76. Mom ordered me two Indian cents. There was a 1906 and a 1907. I reckon they were decent Fine coins, brown with no problems or distractions. I remember carrying them to school to show my friends.
Now those were downright criminal. No tears shed here.
I've even got a large box of their crappy cardboard and plastic holders with ASEs in them. Only because I took pity and helped someone out several years ago. I basically split their loss with them and have held them as silver has gone up. It will still be awhile before I break even.
There's a lot of Karma in that soul's future.
John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
<< <i>For Christmas a few years ago, my sister (a non-collector) bought me a birthyear set (1947) from Littleton. Every coin was harshly cleaned and a few were polished. Pardon me if I don't shed any tears. >>
I agree. I would feel the same way if Robert Chambers passed on.
Hm. In the limited experience I have had with Littleton material since my childhood (not as a customer but from buying stuff on the aftermarket), what I have seen has been okay on quality... just overpriced.
<< <i>Really? That bad?
Hm. In the limited experience I have had with Littleton material since my childhood (not as a customer but from buying stuff on the aftermarket), what I have seen has been okay on quality... just overpriced. >>
Their business model is to charge 2x to 3x retail to those ill informed about fair market values of coins. Same as Coin Vault.
<< <i>
<< <i>Really? That bad?
Hm. In the limited experience I have had with Littleton material since my childhood (not as a customer but from buying stuff on the aftermarket), what I have seen has been okay on quality... just overpriced. >>
Their business model is to charge 2x to 3x retail to those ill informed about fair market values of coins. Same as Coin Vault. >>
I guess a huge mark-up is necessary to support 300+ employees. I can't really comment on the company though, I have never dealt with them before. On a positive note......a company like this has probably introduced alot of people into our great hobby.
Connor Numismatics Website
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Really? That bad?
Hm. In the limited experience I have had with Littleton material since my childhood (not as a customer but from buying stuff on the aftermarket), what I have seen has been okay on quality... just overpriced. >>
Their business model is to charge 2x to 3x retail to those ill informed about fair market values of coins. Same as Coin Vault. >>
I guess a huge mark-up is necessary to support 300+ employees. I can't really comment on the company though, I have never dealt with them before. On a positive note......a company like this has probably introduced alot of people into our great hobby. >>
I wonder how many people left the hobby after they discovered how much they overpaid for their coins from Littleton.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
And I have met enough people who have done transactions with Littleton that have said they sell common stuff, way over priced, that they bought dirt cheap.
They were set up strictly to buy at the FUN show last year, and had people lined up at their tables selling them stuff. I had some type coins with me, so I showed them to them.... and said they weren't interested, w/o even making any offers or asking my selling price. They must have sensed 'knowledgeable collector/dealer'.
I, for one, overpaid for one of their 1884 Morgan's some years ago, being new to purchasing coins. However, with a little research on these boards and PCGS pricing guides, I realized my mistake, learned from it, and proceeded to buy subsequent coins at market value - although elsewhere. And I've yet to leave the hobby.
To this day I avoid buying from Littleton because of their prices, but, regardless of that, I believe condolences are still in order for the Sundman family due to Maynard's passing, in my opinion only.
Craig
<< <i>I wonder how many people left the hobby after they discovered how much they overpaid for their coins from Littleton. >>
I didn't, but on the other hand, I picked up some useful information from their slick catalogs, and a desire to learn more.
No harm no foul, as I see it.
Show a little respect for the dead please.
The entire spectrum of coins listed in the grey sheet in grades fine and under are soley due to Littleton's buying. They are picky buyers and pay strong money for stuff most dealers don't have a market for. They do create collectors, who hopefully get more involved in collecting. What if these people learned from ebay buying? I believe they'd drop out faster because they bought cleaned, problem and counterfeirt coins. (I don't think Littleton sells problem coins, but I don't buy from them, just sell)
They have a niche, and need that 3X mark-up to make it work.
Greg
<< <i>They have a niche, and need that 3X mark-up to make it work. >>
That's the standard justification given -- plausible, but I don't buy it. You could defend Coin Vault in the same way as well, their misleading TV hype notwithstanding.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for ignorance when it comes to buying coins. With all the information out there about "real prices" of coins there is no excuse for anybody to whine when someone pays $5.00 for a good common date Barber dime, for example.
May the man rest in peace.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
<< <i>The time to talk negative about someone is when they are alive and have a chance to respond. >>
There have been many past threads concerning Littleton's business practices. Yes, they were mostly negative. I don't ever remember Littleton ever taking the opportunity to respond.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>There have been many past threads concerning Littleton's business practices. Yes, they were mostly negative. I don't ever remember Littleton ever taking the opportunity to respond. >>
At least when he was alive he had an opportunity to respond. What chance does he have to respond now that he is dead?
Jeeze.....let the man rest in peace.
<< <i>(I don't think Littleton sells problem coins, but I don't buy from them, just sell)
They have a niche, and need that 3X mark-up to make it work. >>
I know for a fact they sell problem coins. Cleaned, whizzed, damaged, over dipped, etc.
Never saw any with holes, I suppose it's a matter of what the meaning of "problem" is.
John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
<< <i>
<< <i>(I don't think Littleton sells problem coins, but I don't buy from them, just sell)
They have a niche, and need that 3X mark-up to make it work. >>
I know for a fact they sell problem coins. Cleaned, whizzed, damaged, over dipped, etc.
Never saw any with holes, I suppose it's a matter of what the meaning of "problem" is. >>
Maybe we should get out a Ouija board and settle this question for once and for all.
You're spoken your piece Fivecents, why can't others? It matters very little that the man has passed away; apparently he didn't please some of his customers, they have the right to say whatever they want about him. The same right as people who liked him and say he helped the hobby.
<< <i>
<< <i>There have been many past threads concerning Littleton's business practices. Yes, they were mostly negative. I don't ever remember Littleton ever taking the opportunity to respond. >>
At least when he was alive he had an opportunity to respond. What chance does he have to respond now that he is dead?
Jeeze.....let the man rest in peace. >>
He may be dead but his company is alive and well. Any forum members who are new to coin collecting need to be warned about Littleton's pricing practices.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I've been buying collections for years that have a few of Littleton's sealed plastic (cellophane?) holders. I must have seen hundreds of their coins. Never have I seen a cleaned, wizzed or damaged coins in their holders. Just low, but properly graded coins. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe you are not. Anyway, I can only comment on the ones I saw.
<< <i>I know for a fact they sell problem coins. Cleaned, whizzed, damaged, over dipped, etc.
I've been buying collections for years that have a few of Littleton's sealed plastic (cellophane?) holders. I must have seen hundreds of their coins. Never have I seen a cleaned, wizzed or damaged coins in their holders. Just low, but properly graded coins. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe you are not. Anyway, I can only comment on the ones I saw. >>
I've never claimed to be lucky. It's usually the other way around. I've seen quite a few of those little sealed holders with problem cons in them, though.
John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
Now I am an older and little smarter collector, have available more channels to source coins from, and a much more readily available knowledge base to pull from both the internet and fellow collectors. I doubt I would buy from Littleton now but sure appreciate the items they made available to me as a kid...and I think they were better than the stuff I bought at the flea market!
K
He was personally responsible for not only providing good work to
hundreds of employees but also for promoting coin collecting to hun-
dreds of thousands of people. He built some of these markets and
was instrumental in the resurgence of collecting.
I'm sure he'll be deeply missed by many family and friends.
May he rest in peace.
...so it goes.
<< <i>Well I am late then. >>
You and him
Soon after Dad’s discharge from the U.S. Army in 1945, following service with the Fifth Army in North Africa and Italy during World War II, my parents moved to Littleton, New Hampshire, where they founded our company in a small one-room 2nd floor office on Littleton’s Main Street.
Link