Bad Coin shop experience

AnkurJ · March 19, 2009 1:26PM

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

GoldenEyeNumismatics · March 19, 2009 1:30PM

<< 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.

AnkurJ · March 19, 2009 1:32PM

Maybe its just Jersey!

tightbudget · March 19, 2009 1:38PM

<< 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.

AnkurJ · March 19, 2009 1:44PM

Which shops do you go to?

tightbudget · March 19, 2009 1:47PM

<< 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).

atarian · March 19, 2009 1:48PM

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

astrorat · March 19, 2009 1:50PM

<< 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!

Lane

Barberian · March 19, 2009 3:08PM

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.

robkool · March 19, 2009 3:53PM

<< 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...

PerryHall · March 19, 2009 9:52PM

<< 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.

ACactions · March 19, 2009 10:30PM

Were you In Berlin, New jersey by Chance?

drwstr123 · March 19, 2009 10:41PM

<< 

<< 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.

Longacre · March 19, 2009 10:44PM

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.

joeyuk · March 19, 2009 10:57PM

Sounds like a prime place to cherry pick.

Walkerguy21D · March 19, 2009 11:08PM

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.

a039 · March 19, 2009 11:17PM

<< 

<< 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...

>>

In La Verne? If so they have the most active bid board in Southern California.

SaorAlba · March 19, 2009 11:52PM

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.

ElKevvo · March 20, 2009 12:57AM

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

K

fc · March 20, 2009 1:03AM

<< 

<< 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.

19Lyds · March 20, 2009 1:06AM

<< 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.

DUIGUY · March 20, 2009 1:11AM

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

fc · March 20, 2009 1:13AM

<< 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.

19Lyds · March 20, 2009 1:25AM

<< 

<< 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.

AnkurJ · March 20, 2009 1:25AM

I think the dealer lives there....

RunnersDad · March 20, 2009 1:28AM

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.

rld14 · March 20, 2009 1:36AM

<< 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

The store is Bergen Coin Exchange on Market Street in Saddle Brook.

mrpotatoheadd · March 20, 2009 1:41AM

<< 

<< 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.

fc · March 20, 2009 1:46AM

<< 

<< 

<< 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

ricko · March 20, 2009 1:56AM

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

mrpotatoheadd · March 20, 2009 2:06AM

<< or it shows a lack of sense. either or

>>

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

doh · March 20, 2009 2:14AM

<< 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.

fc · March 20, 2009 2:21AM

<< 

<< 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.

haloid2003 · March 20, 2009 4:24AM

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.

streeter · March 20, 2009 5:29AM

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.

Bad Coin shop experience

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