<< <i>The ANA has had major problems, this year seems like an exception to the rule. The ANA has provided some excellent attributes, but for me if I can't get to Co the ANA is practically useless. When I call them to obtain a service it is practically helpless to do anything. They have almost nothing to provide, my library has books and catalogs that they don't even carry. They just go so far. Pretty minimal imho from helping when one isn't able to go there. They are not even close to being computer ready. They have a place but imho they still need a lot of work to ge them up to par...haven't tehy been around long enough to have achieved this?
How often has the ANA helped you, and how? >>
Given me 6 Scholarships (worth approx $1500 each) to attend Summer Seminar
Provided a platform for roughly a dozen numismatic theater presentations.
Helped provide givaways for YN programs I ran.
Gave me a platform for 5 award winning exhibits.
Published articles I have written.
Helped me coordinate programs with other big names in the business.
Given me a life membership.
Given me the ability to submit coins to NGC for grading.
Given me a great coin show to attend each summer.
There's more, but you get the point.
editted to add:
Given me access to their library, which has been critical in a couple of papers I have written. All I needed to pay was cost of shipping.
I had one serious problem once, with a dealer, who was/is a bad con man. The dealer is an ANA life member, etc. I.e., much more important to the ANA than to me. They did eveything they could to keep him clean, and basically have me eat it. They couldn't have cared less on how unscrupulous this louse was. And, I gave them very a detailed account of his con job.
The org has some great benefits, but in my experience, they will take a dealers side over the lone collector. I have never renewd my membership after that eye opening experience.
Now, not all dealers are con artists, and there are collectors who are con artists, but we need one org JUST for collectors.
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
<< <i>I had one serious problem once, with a dealer, who was/is a bad con man. The dealer is an ANA life member, etc. I.e., much more important to the ANA than to me. They did eveything they could to keep him clean, and basically have me eat it. >>
Nobody deserves to be cheated. That said, what do you think a collectors' organization could have done to resolve the problem you had with that dealer?
<< <i>I would a coin club of the magnitude that I invision could have a positive effect on such a one sided outcome, kind of even the playing field since it seens the ANA & PNG are headed by politicians ...ahem dealers. >>
How would that work? What would your organization be able to do to make MadMonk (or any other wronged party) whole?
Numbers always play an important part of how orgs handle complaints. If they knew an idividual was backed by 10,000 others, they might worry about certain things, like elections, etc. Never underestimate the power of a determined mob.
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
<< <i>Numbers always play an important part of how orgs handle complaints. If they knew an idividual was backed by 10,000 others, they might worry about certain things, like elections, etc. >>
I'm sure the people in the organization would be concerned about elections, but why would that evil dealer care?
<< <i>Numbers always play an important part of how orgs handle complaints. If they knew an idividual was backed by 10,000 others, they might worry about certain things, like elections, etc. >>
I'm sure the people in the organization would be concerned about elections, but why would that evil dealer care? >>
If the union did exists and was 10,000 strong or so a boycott would work. Bad publicity is the killer of all small businesses. If the dealer can't pay his bills he will cease being a dealer. As Mad said "never underestimate the power of a mob".
<< <i>If the union did exists and was 10,000 strong or so a boycott would work. Bad publicity is the killer of all small businesses. If the dealer can't pay his bills he will cease being a dealer. As Mad said "never underestimate the power of a mob". >>
How does that help the guy who was cheated in the first place? I thought that was one of the purposes of a collectors organization.
The dealer could wind up on a bad dealer/trader list. There are other options, and the thing is, with a large and varied membership I am sure that there would be a cornucopia of ideas.
You have to start somewhere. Perhaps a set of purchasing guidelines to follow, to insure that you had an iron clad case if something went awry. You might even have a list of dealers who have proven themselves to be trustworthy. If collectors had sole input to this type of list, and the org became a formidable entity, you might see quite an effort to be a recognized dealer.
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
Comments
<< <i>The ANA has had major problems, this year seems like an exception to the rule. The ANA has provided some excellent attributes, but for me if I can't get to Co the ANA is practically useless. When I call them to obtain a service it is practically helpless to do anything. They have almost nothing to provide, my library has books and catalogs that they don't even carry. They just go so far. Pretty minimal imho from helping when one isn't able to go there. They are not even close to being computer ready. They have a place but imho they still need a lot of work to ge them up to par...haven't tehy been around long enough to have achieved this?
How often has the ANA helped you, and how? >>
Given me 6 Scholarships (worth approx $1500 each) to attend Summer Seminar
Provided a platform for roughly a dozen numismatic theater presentations.
Helped provide givaways for YN programs I ran.
Gave me a platform for 5 award winning exhibits.
Published articles I have written.
Helped me coordinate programs with other big names in the business.
Given me a life membership.
Given me the ability to submit coins to NGC for grading.
Given me a great coin show to attend each summer.
There's more, but you get the point.
editted to add:
Given me access to their library, which has been critical in a couple of papers I have written. All I needed to pay was cost of shipping.
They did eveything they could to keep him clean, and basically have me eat it. They couldn't have cared less on how unscrupulous this louse was. And, I gave them very a detailed account of his con job.
The org has some great benefits, but in my experience, they will take a dealers side over the lone collector.
I have never renewd my membership after that eye opening experience.
Now, not all dealers are con artists, and there are collectors who are con artists, but we need one org JUST for collectors.
<< <i>I had one serious problem once, with a dealer, who was/is a bad con man. The dealer is an ANA life member, etc. I.e., much more important to the ANA than to me.
They did eveything they could to keep him clean, and basically have me eat it. >>
Nobody deserves to be cheated. That said, what do you think a collectors' organization could have done to resolve the problem you had with that dealer?
<< <i>I would a coin club of the magnitude that I invision could have a positive effect on such a one sided outcome, kind of even the playing field since it seens the ANA & PNG are headed by politicians ...ahem dealers.
How would that work? What would your organization be able to do to make MadMonk (or any other wronged party) whole?
Never underestimate the power of a determined mob.
<< <i>Numbers always play an important part of how orgs handle complaints. If they knew an idividual was backed by 10,000 others, they might worry about certain things, like elections, etc. >>
I'm sure the people in the organization would be concerned about elections, but why would that evil dealer care?
<< <i>
<< <i>Numbers always play an important part of how orgs handle complaints. If they knew an idividual was backed by 10,000 others, they might worry about certain things, like elections, etc. >>
I'm sure the people in the organization would be concerned about elections, but why would that evil dealer care? >>
If the union did exists and was 10,000 strong or so a boycott would work. Bad publicity is the killer of all small businesses. If the dealer can't pay his bills he will cease being a dealer. As Mad said "never underestimate the power of a mob".
Tom
<< <i>If the union did exists and was 10,000 strong or so a boycott would work. Bad publicity is the killer of all small businesses. If the dealer can't pay his bills he will cease being a dealer. As Mad said "never underestimate the power of a mob". >>
How does that help the guy who was cheated in the first place? I thought that was one of the purposes of a collectors organization.
There are other options, and the thing is, with a large and varied membership I am sure that there would be a cornucopia of ideas.
You have to start somewhere.
Perhaps a set of purchasing guidelines to follow, to insure that you had an iron clad case if something went awry.
You might even have a list of dealers who have proven themselves to be trustworthy.
If collectors had sole input to this type of list, and the org became a formidable entity, you might see quite an effort to be a recognized dealer.
Hoard the keys.