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Bad Coin shop experience

AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
I went to a local antique store and on my way there, saw a coin shop. After visiting the antique shop, I walked the few blocks to the coin store. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how messy the place was. Books, magazines, coins etc all over the place. The place also a gold buying center like many stores today are. I asked to see some older coins, and was shown a few. While the dealer was pricing out the coins, I was leaning over to look at coins in a case which were hidden by the debris above the counter. I put my hand on the counter, and something fell. The dealer very angrily said, Dont touch anything on the table, you're just going to knock it over. I apologized immediately even though I did not cause the items to fall. At this point, the dealer in a very nasty way told me to come back later for the coins.

I was very ticked at this point, and walked out never to go back again. If he didn't value my business, then I will take my money elsewhere. Whats funny is that I have seen MANY coin shops like this. An unorganized jumble of stuff, and the dealer unable to find anything in the mess. Why is it that there are so many shops like this, and far and few organized dealers who value their customers?

Just had to vent, thanks for reading.

AJ
All coins kept in bank vaults.
PCGS Registries
Box of 20
SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!

Comments



  • << <i>Whats funny is that I have seen MANY coin shops like this. An unorganized jumble of stuff, and the dealer unable to find anything in the mess. Why is it that there are so many shops like this, and far and few organized dealers who value their customers?


    AJ >>



    I don't know why---all the shops I've ever been to have been well organized with curteous staff.
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    Maybe its just Jersey!
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
  • tightbudgettightbudget Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Maybe its just Jersey! >>



    Like GEN, pretty much all of the shops I've been to are neat and organized and I'm from Jersey as well.

    GEN: Your misspelling of courteous happens to be a bit ironic. To be courteous is to be polite; to be curt is to be rude. image
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    Which shops do you go to?
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
  • tightbudgettightbudget Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Which shops do you go to? >>



    I mostly stick to Central Jersey Rare Coins as it is the only decent B&M shop around me. Still, other shops that I've gone to have not been messy. I have definitely heard of messy dealers though in Jersey but never gone to their shops (nor do I remember their names).
  • atarianatarian Posts: 3,116
    Ill name drop a nice little store that Ive grown fond of lately for my Jersey crew. "Bergen Coin" in saddle brook. They are a dad and son store from what ive gathered. Nice group of people the father is mad cool. Been in business for many years. This is by far the best coin shop in bergen county that ive been to. If anyone by me wants their info they can PM me but very pleased by how they treat me
    Founder of the NDCCA. *WAM Count : 025. *NDCCA Database Count : 2,610. *You suck 6/24/10. <3 In memory of Tiggar 5/21/1994 - 5/28/2010 <3
    image
  • astroratastrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I don't know why---all the shops I've ever been to have been well organized with curteous staff. >>



    Will...you need to get out more often! image

    Lane
    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 4,060 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You should ask to look at their Lincoln pennies, fake like your tripped, and toss a handful of pennies in the air to scatter everywhere. Then run.
    3 rim nicks away from Good
  • robkoolrobkool Posts: 5,934 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I went to a local antique store and on my way there, saw a coin shop. After visiting the antique shop, I walked the few blocks to the coin store. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how messy the place was. Books, magazines, coins etc all over the place. The place also a gold buying center like many stores today are. I asked to see some older coins, and was shown a few. While the dealer was pricing out the coins, I was leaning over to look at coins in a case which were hidden by the debris above the counter. I put my hand on the counter, and something fell. The dealer very angrily said, Dont touch anything on the table, you're just going to knock it over. I apologized immediately even though I did not cause the items to fall. At this point, the dealer in a very nasty way told me to come back later for the coins.

    I was very ticked at this point, and walked out never to go back again. If he didn't value my business, then I will take my money elsewhere. Whats funny is that I have seen MANY coin shops like this. An unorganized jumble of stuff, and the dealer unable to find anything in the mess. Why is it that there are so many shops like this, and far and few organized dealers who value their customers?

    Just had to vent, thanks for reading.

    AJ >>



    There is one shop like that in So. Cali I occasionally to go to that is cluttered with lots of stuff, but the staff there is very friendly & helpful... image
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,824 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Whats funny is that I have seen MANY coin shops like this. An unorganized jumble of stuff, and the dealer unable to find anything in the mess. Why is it that there are so many shops like this, and far and few organized dealers who value their customers? >>



    I've been to a few shops like this. I have to wonder how they can stay in business.

    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

  • Were you In Berlin, New jersey by Chance?
  • drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,049 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Whats funny is that I have seen MANY coin shops like this. An unorganized jumble of stuff, and the dealer unable to find anything in the mess. Why is it that there are so many shops like this, and far and few organized dealers who value their customers? >>



    I've been to a few shops like this. I have to wonder how they can stay in business. >>


    I'm Central NJ and the best I can figure is that they're just fencing PMs.
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    I work down the street from Sam Sloat Coins, and their shop is very well organized. However, I have been to other shops that were disasters. I guess it just depends.
    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)
  • Sounds like a prime place to cherry pick.
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,694 ✭✭✭✭✭
    We have 3 B&M's here in Melbourne; 2 are like Ankur's, including the rude staff, and I will never go there again, and the other is neat, well organized, and the owner and his assistant are excellent to work with.
    Successful BST transactions with 171 members. Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • a039a039 Posts: 1,546


    << <i>

    << <i>I went to a local antique store and on my way there, saw a coin shop. After visiting the antique shop, I walked the few blocks to the coin store. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how messy the place was. Books, magazines, coins etc all over the place. The place also a gold buying center like many stores today are. I asked to see some older coins, and was shown a few. While the dealer was pricing out the coins, I was leaning over to look at coins in a case which were hidden by the debris above the counter. I put my hand on the counter, and something fell. The dealer very angrily said, Dont touch anything on the table, you're just going to knock it over. I apologized immediately even though I did not cause the items to fall. At this point, the dealer in a very nasty way told me to come back later for the coins.

    I was very ticked at this point, and walked out never to go back again. If he didn't value my business, then I will take my money elsewhere. Whats funny is that I have seen MANY coin shops like this. An unorganized jumble of stuff, and the dealer unable to find anything in the mess. Why is it that there are so many shops like this, and far and few organized dealers who value their customers?

    Just had to vent, thanks for reading.

    AJ >>



    There is one shop like that in So. Cali I occasionally to go to that is cluttered with lots of stuff, but the staff there is very friendly & helpful... image >>



    In La Verne? If so they have the most active bid board in Southern California.
  • SaorAlbaSaorAlba Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The best coin shops are the ones that smell bad, are smoky, and have rude and discourteous people working there. Accordingly they also are very disorganized.
    Tir nam beann, nan gleann, s'nan gaisgeach ~ Saorstat Albanaich a nis!
  • ElKevvoElKevvo Posts: 4,137 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I suppose the opportunities for cherry picking a dealer are riper for one who is disorganized and can't keep up with things...

    K
    ANA LM
  • fcfc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Whats funny is that I have seen MANY coin shops like this. An unorganized jumble of stuff, and the dealer unable to find anything in the mess. Why is it that there are so many shops like this, and far and few organized dealers who value their customers? >>



    I've been to a few shops like this. I have to wonder how they can stay in business. >>



    they stay in business because their main goal in life is to rip John Q Public coming
    off the street to sell their coins, jewelry, and PMs....

    obviously that store had no interest in doing a great retail business via a friendly
    organized store.

  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,492 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I suppose the opportunities for cherry picking a dealer are riper for one who is disorganized and can't keep up with things...

    K >>



    True but you have to be able to L@@K at the coins before you can cherrypick them.
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!
  • DUIGUYDUIGUY Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
    different personalites organize in different ways. One with a filing cabinet and the other with stacks.
    “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly."



    - Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
  • fcfc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭


    << <i>different personalites organize in different ways. One with a filing cabinet and the other with stacks. >>



    this does not make sense to me when you are a brick and mortar store open for
    retail business. we are not talking about someone's private home or office in the back.

    people go to coin stores to look at coins.. not to beg to see what is underneath the covered
    glass case.
  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,492 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>different personalites organize in different ways. One with a filing cabinet and the other with stacks. >>



    this does not make sense to me when you are a brick and mortar store open for
    retail business. we are not talking about someone's private home or office in the back.

    people go to coin stores to look at coins.. not to beg to see what is underneath the covered
    glass case. >>



    Being a messy fella myself, I see it a little differently.

    There's a shop out here in Sacramento that is just stacks and stacks of stuff. All kinds of coins and collectibles. (Stamps, coins, medallions, tokens, medals, bullion, etc, etc) I expect that the owner has had folks come in with this or that wanting to sell and after awhile, he ends up with more stuff than he can figure out what to do with but he WILL get to it someday. Trouble is, someday never comes and the disorganization abounds.

    Wandering around in the shop can get very distracting since there is just so-o-o-o much stuff to browse through. I usually just ask if he has what I'm looking for and if he has it I look, if not, I leave. Its his shop.

    I think that if a coin dealer is not dedicated specifically to coins then the odds of his shop becoming trashed up gets greater. Once they start inter mixing collectibles, it can quickly get out of hand.
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    I think the dealer lives there....
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
  • RunnersDadRunnersDad Posts: 1,080 ✭✭✭
    There is a coin/jewelry place about 2 miles from my home like the place you are referring too. I walked in for the first time the other day, only too find that the place looked like it had been hit by a tornado. The man had boxes of gardening gloves stacked up in the middle of the floor(not sure why?). His glass cases with the rotating shelves were unplugged and had boxes on top of them making coin viewing nearly impossible.

    I suppose he felt comfortable around me, as he was courteous, but every other word from his mouth was the f-bomb. I asked how his business has been and he replied that he is making big bucks off precious metals(AKA robbing from the blind), and has been investing large chunks of money in the stock market anticipating a rebound.

    When I asked if he had anything he would open a drawer filled with a hodge podge of coins in 2x2's and sift around till he pulled out something that he thought that I might like. Very interesting place, but I am not sure if it will be worth my time to go back there.
    Mike

    Visit my son's caringbridge page @ Runner's Caringbridge Page

    "To Give Anything Less than Your Best, Is to Sacrifice the Gift" - Steve Prefontaine
  • rld14rld14 Posts: 2,390 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Ill name drop a nice little store that Ive grown fond of lately for my Jersey crew. "Bergen Coin" in saddle brook. They are a dad and son store from what ive gathered. Nice group of people the father is mad cool. Been in business for many years. This is by far the best coin shop in bergen county that ive been to. If anyone by me wants their info they can PM me but very pleased by how they treat me >>



    I'll give that a strong second! John Huffman is a GREAT guy, he has a great inventory, fair pricing and is very honest. I can spend hours in there, the new job is killing me, I havent made it there in weeks image

    The store is Bergen Coin Exchange on Market Street in Saddle Brook.
    Bear's "Growl of Approval" award 10/09 & 3/10 | "YOU SUCK" - PonyExpress8|"F the doctors!" - homerunhall | I hate my car
  • mrpotatoheaddmrpotatoheadd Posts: 7,576 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>different personalites organize in different ways. One with a filing cabinet and the other with stacks. >>



    this does not make sense to me... >>

    Apparently, it makes sense to the people who run their stores that way.
  • fcfc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>different personalites organize in different ways. One with a filing cabinet and the other with stacks. >>



    this does not make sense to me... >>

    Apparently, it makes sense to the people who run their stores that way. >>



    or it shows a lack of sense. either or image
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have seen both types of shops, unfortunately, most of them (either type) usually have idiot proprieters who have the manners of a rutting hog. Cheers, RickO
  • mrpotatoheaddmrpotatoheadd Posts: 7,576 ✭✭✭


    << <i>or it shows a lack of sense. either or image >>

    Surprisingly enough, some people open their own businesses because they want to do things their own way, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

    And what's even more surprising is that other people never seem to figure out that the fact they don't understand why those business owners do what they do doesn't mean there's no sense to it image
  • dohdoh Posts: 6,457 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Surprisingly enough, some people open their own businesses because they want to do things their own way, regardless of what anyone else thinks. >>


    You are 100% correct. If that person wants to scare away business and gain a very negative reputation, then that's the owner's right.
    Positive BST transactions with: too many names to list! 36 at last count.
  • fcfc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Surprisingly enough, some people open their own businesses because they want to do things their own way, regardless of what anyone else thinks. >>


    You are 100% correct. If that person wants to scare away business and gain a very negative reputation, then that's the owner's right. >>



    heh.


  • Everytime I go into a business that has rude and nasty
    people working or running it, I empty my colostemy bag
    when nobody is looking.
    image
  • streeterstreeter Posts: 4,312 ✭✭✭✭✭
    they stay in business because their main goal in life is to rip John Q Public coming
    off the street to sell their coins, jewelry, and PMs....

    obviously that store had no interest in doing a great retail business via a friendly
    organized store.


    I've been in more stores in the USA like this than I care to remember. Where I HAVE ACTUALLY KNOWN the owner of the stores that fit this description.....I would say that 100% of them live off rips and bullion sales. Many of them are COLLECTORS who just can't part with their coins. I sense that it absolutely pains them to sell a nice coin to a customer for a fair price. Many of these dealers/collectors actually have a nice inventory but they HOARD like a bunch of pack rats and YOU AIN'T gonna get a coin even if you beg correctly. So don't grovel because it is unbecoming. Just observe, digest the situation and walk. You'll be better off.
    Have a nice day

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