I stopped by Sam Sloat Rare Coins before lunch today, and business was BOOMING...
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
I ventured out of my office today to meet up for lunch with some Corporate Suits from NYC at one of my favorite restaurants, The Little Kitchen. If anyone is ever in the area, the chicken and crispy spinach is to die for. However, I got a call that they were stuck in traffic on I-95 (surprise, surprise), and were running late. Having time to kill, I drove down a few blocks to Sam Sloat Rare Coins to see what they had in the offing in their cases.
I was shocked, because when I walked in, business was BOOMING. The shop is of decent size, and they even have ropes set up (like a bank) where you have to stand in line and wait for help. There were at least 15 people in the shop when I got there. And these people were not looking-loos. They were doing business.
For example, some lady had two large handfuls of gold jewelry that she was looking to sell. One of the workers was looking at it and weighing it. Then this old lady and old man had a portfolio of ancient coins that they were selling. I heard the worker say something like, "can you come back on Friday(?), because that is when Allen comes in and looks at all of the ancient coins." I assume he was speaking about Allen Berman, who I asked about in another thread.
The store was busy enough even for the main coin dealer at Sloat's to come out from his darkened room behind the two way glass. Catching a glimpse of this guy with the beard is an excessively rare sight, and I was delighted that his eyes adjusted to the light by the time he emerged and met with one of the customers.
Now Longacre likes to think of himself as a man of the people, but I think I would tire of dealing with the unwashed masses in a retail store. In this instance, there was some teen-aged kid in the store (maybe he was around 13 or so) with his mother. I am typically an easy-going guy, but in the few minutes that I was in the store, I wanted to slap this brat. He was, in my opinion, very rude to the help. He was asking essentially to see everything in the case, and jumping around from case to case. He wanted to buy a modern commemorative coin in the original packaging (let's say it was $20), and he told the guy that he wanted to buy it for $15 because he didn't need the packaging. The worker was trying to be nice and said that it came with the case, but this punk kid was being really rude, and said pretty snottily, "then I don't want it."
This kid even had the audacity to step in front of your very own Longacre as I was looking at some coins in the case. Even the kid's mother told him to say excuse me. Then when he finally bought something, he tried to pay with a ripped in half $10 bill. The kid taped the bill backwards (end to end, rather than in the center), and the worker said he would not accept it. Then this punk kid quoted some statute and said that the worker was breaking the law by not accepting the bill! Everyone always complains about coin dealers, but I can see how dealing with the numismatic unwashed can be trying.
I intended to go in there and buy a 1970 Washington quarter, but I didn't see any in the case, so I didn't bother to ask. Instead I made a courtesy purchase of an excessively rare 1889 Morgan Dollar in approximately VF, which will go into the time capsule in my shed. When it is less busy, I will stop in and get some of the uncirculated sets that I need. I am also embarassed to admit that I asked if they had a roll of the new Lincoln cents. The guy said they did not, and even the banks in the area don't have them. Pretty amazing given the amounts that are getting minted.
After about 30 minutes, I arrived at the restaurant, had some hot and soup soup in addition to the chicken and crispy spinach, transacted some business (generally talked about myself for about 60 minutes, which Longacre likes to do
), and literally seconds ago, arrived back at my office to write these words, gentle readers. 
I was shocked, because when I walked in, business was BOOMING. The shop is of decent size, and they even have ropes set up (like a bank) where you have to stand in line and wait for help. There were at least 15 people in the shop when I got there. And these people were not looking-loos. They were doing business.
For example, some lady had two large handfuls of gold jewelry that she was looking to sell. One of the workers was looking at it and weighing it. Then this old lady and old man had a portfolio of ancient coins that they were selling. I heard the worker say something like, "can you come back on Friday(?), because that is when Allen comes in and looks at all of the ancient coins." I assume he was speaking about Allen Berman, who I asked about in another thread.
The store was busy enough even for the main coin dealer at Sloat's to come out from his darkened room behind the two way glass. Catching a glimpse of this guy with the beard is an excessively rare sight, and I was delighted that his eyes adjusted to the light by the time he emerged and met with one of the customers.
Now Longacre likes to think of himself as a man of the people, but I think I would tire of dealing with the unwashed masses in a retail store. In this instance, there was some teen-aged kid in the store (maybe he was around 13 or so) with his mother. I am typically an easy-going guy, but in the few minutes that I was in the store, I wanted to slap this brat. He was, in my opinion, very rude to the help. He was asking essentially to see everything in the case, and jumping around from case to case. He wanted to buy a modern commemorative coin in the original packaging (let's say it was $20), and he told the guy that he wanted to buy it for $15 because he didn't need the packaging. The worker was trying to be nice and said that it came with the case, but this punk kid was being really rude, and said pretty snottily, "then I don't want it."
This kid even had the audacity to step in front of your very own Longacre as I was looking at some coins in the case. Even the kid's mother told him to say excuse me. Then when he finally bought something, he tried to pay with a ripped in half $10 bill. The kid taped the bill backwards (end to end, rather than in the center), and the worker said he would not accept it. Then this punk kid quoted some statute and said that the worker was breaking the law by not accepting the bill! Everyone always complains about coin dealers, but I can see how dealing with the numismatic unwashed can be trying.
I intended to go in there and buy a 1970 Washington quarter, but I didn't see any in the case, so I didn't bother to ask. Instead I made a courtesy purchase of an excessively rare 1889 Morgan Dollar in approximately VF, which will go into the time capsule in my shed. When it is less busy, I will stop in and get some of the uncirculated sets that I need. I am also embarassed to admit that I asked if they had a roll of the new Lincoln cents. The guy said they did not, and even the banks in the area don't have them. Pretty amazing given the amounts that are getting minted.
After about 30 minutes, I arrived at the restaurant, had some hot and soup soup in addition to the chicken and crispy spinach, transacted some business (generally talked about myself for about 60 minutes, which Longacre likes to do
), and literally seconds ago, arrived back at my office to write these words, gentle readers. 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)
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)
0
Comments
You just decribed the typical Westport kid.
I'll have to stop in there sometime soon, it has been a while.
<< <i>I was there last weekend. They had no $20 gold pieces which I was quite surprised. Real nice store though. >>
They sell a lot of bullion... but primarily in AGE's and Buffalos, not double eagles.
<< <i>I was there last weekend. They had no $20 gold pieces which I was quite surprised. Real nice store though. >>
I've been to coin stores where they had $20 gold pieces, but they would not show them to me because I was kid at the time, and they thought I had no money. Stupid them. They lost out on a lot purchases I made from other dealers in later years.
"Gee, thanks a lot, Big Spender," the waitron grumbled as he counted out the tiny golden coins. "Ten dollars tip for a $500 lunch? Only in Connecticut."
<< <i> However, I got a call that they were stuck in traffic on I-95 (surprise, surprise), and were running late. >>
I'll vouch for your acquaintances, the accident was right outside my office window, it tied up Route 1 as well for a good 90 minutes.
I was in Sam Sloat a couple of weeks ago and sold them some junk silver and a few other pieces. They were friendly and fair, even making courtesy offers on some stuff that pretty obviously isn't their normal fare. I'd like to get back there when I have a little to spend, they had some bins of collector coins (circulated Barbers and such) that I wouldn't mind spending a lunchtime rummaging through.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Can someone send him a 1970 quarter to a random local post office c/o the postmaster?
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
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Thank-you, Longacre.
Ryan
The obnoxious youth in my area tend to be mid tween girls oblivious to the existence of anyone other than themselves within the local Starbucks. Excellent report! I suppose if it weren't for the I-95 traffic and resulting need to invest your time wisely this important Sam Sloat Rare Coins mission would have fallen to a less eloquent member of your staff, perhaps the third assistant to your second secretary? It's great for all gentle readers you found time to make this rare personal appearance. Let us hope the whiff of that little rambunctious hoi polloi will not trouble your dreams tonight
https://www.smallcopperguy.com
<< <i>That kid should be lucky that they even let him in the shop. When I was his age, a 13 year old was about as welcome in a coin shop as a dog turd. In his case, I can see why. >>
I bought my first $20 gold piece, a 1908 No Motto St. Gaudens, when I was sophmore in high school in the mid 1960s. I paid $75 for it, which a lot of money for a common date $20 back then. There were ads in the magazines for them at $49.95, but I sawa a few of those, and they pretty chopped up. I was also concerned about getting hit with a counterfeit so I bought from a dealer I trusted and paid the preimum. I still have the coin, and it's in an NGC MS-64 holder.
Is Longacre that lazy or in such poor health that he can't walk a few blocks?
<< <i>I drove down a few blocks to Sam Sloat Rare Coins to see what they had in the offing in their cases.
Is Longacre that lazy or in such poor health that he can't walk a few blocks? >>
His personal chauffeur actually drove him. Longacre is just being modest. He sits in the non-smoking lounge of his stretch limo.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
<< <i>. He sits in the non-smoking lounge of his stretch limo. >>
In his smoking jacket. How ironic.
<< <i> In his smoking jacket. How ironic.
<< <i>
<< <i>I drove down a few blocks to Sam Sloat Rare Coins to see what they had in the offing in their cases.
Is Longacre that lazy or in such poor health that he can't walk a few blocks? >>
His personal chauffeur actually drove him. Longacre is just being modest. He sits in the non-smoking lounge of his stretch limo. >>
Yes, actually.
Seriously, the street is not pedestrian friendly.
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)
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>I drove down a few blocks to Sam Sloat Rare Coins to see what they had in the offing in their cases.
Is Longacre that lazy or in such poor health that he can't walk a few blocks? >>
His personal chauffeur actually drove him. Longacre is just being modest. He sits in the non-smoking lounge of his stretch limo. >>
Yes, actually.
Seriously, the street is not pedestrian friendly. >>
Longacre strikes me as one of those guys who wouldn't take a taxi, much less the subway. No, he would wait half an hour in the pouring rain for a limo, given the alternative of walking a block to the subway and (gasp) purchasing a Metrocard from some sort of automated vending device. No, when you do biz with Longacre you have to wear the white gloves and bring everything out on a purple cloth.
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