CoinWeek_3/20/11: "Coin Doctoring – What Has Changed?" by Laura Sperber

Goldbully

Coin Doctoring – What Has Changed?
Posted by CoinWeek on March 20, 2011 8:26 AM

Hot Topics by Laura Sperber


I have not written a HOT TOPICS in a while because I an burnt out from fighting about coin doctoring. At least there has been small postive steps happen. The good thing is we do have a lot of collectors more aware and many are talking and learning more. The issue definately is not hidden anymore. The bad thing-what really gets me going-is how the dealers will say “yeah we agree” then just turn their backs and keep supporting the doctors in ways they feel are justified. Its a disgrace. I believe the problem lies with the dealers who for the most part are enablers.

At the Sacramento ANA Show I saw lots of people openly dealing with KNOWN coin doctors. The “crackout” guys especially flock to them (crackout guys in my opinion are a world class problem too). Several doctors were set up and had unsuspecting collectors buying. Even worse, I saw several well known retail dealers doing business with these guys. I do not think this is desperation-just greed.

For as much as I live for this cause, I can not spend all my monies involved in lawsuits if I named names of these guys. PCGS can and has via their lawsuit. Unfotunately, the rats have done nothing directly to me where I can attack and out them. I am openly now suggesting that ALL collectors MUST ask your dealer who these scum are-and you MUST avoid them. Its time to cut them off. If your dealer says they do not know-time for a new dealer. Its also time for the auction companies to have a little more “honesty” in their descriptions. Maybe for once, one of them simply will not accept a coin or two. You need to have a ZERO tolerance for ANY dealer who agress with coin doctoring or won’t fight to end it.

PCGS certainly has done a tremendous amount to slow the success rate of these guys. Sadly, that has not stopped the doctors. We all know the doctors feel they have a right to destroy coins and have made it a cat and mouse game. I know things are getting slightly better as CAC has informed me they are seeing fewer doctored coins. The key word is “fewer”-which is still not the same as “stopped”. So the fight MUST go on even harder.

Of course the PNG now pretty much has laid down to its coin doctor laiden membership. I am furious at the ANA for teaming up with them for the summer show. That could potentially HURT the collector. BOTH of these organizations MUST do something. The fact that Bob Bruggeman (the director of PNG) can’t corral his membership about this shows how deeply rooted this disease is (and to make it worse, the motion to dismiss the dialogue was made by major retail dealer). I seriously wonder how any decent dealer could still be a PNG member if the PNG does not denounce coin doctoring.

In the end, what I have said here is the same battle cry I have been saying. My blood pressure is at a high boiling point now. I know tomorrow when I go down to the show I’ll see the doctored dreck in every other case and the coin docs doing all the business they can. I’ll see all the major retail dealers just looking away and acting like there is no problem. If I could, I’d love to start outting those greedy whores-but then of course I’ll have to endure my Hot Topics being called “self serving, grandstanding” or something else stupid. I strongly believe if you want to act like a great friend to collectors and claim your coins are great-then do not lie about it and handle doctored coins. Sorry folks, this where dealers who sell mostly (but NOT all) CAC are making a huge statement.

My message remains clear and simple: I have to say it again: Come on people-PUSH HARDER to say NO to coin doctors!!! Make your dealer talk and make them stop supporting these guys. There simply is NO excuse for ruining a single coin. There is no excuse for NOT careing (if you are a dealer). There is NO excuse for dealing with them either. We MUST make coin doctoring stop.

Also, I’d like to thank Richard Schwary for his wonderful article in Coin World a few weeks ago about coin doctoring. He is disheartened too. His background included being a past president of the PNG. Its pathetic he is one of the few retail dealers who have stood up and spoke out (where are all the West Coast and Pacific Northwest retailers on this subject?). Why is everyone else hiding? The reason why-they continue to be enablers. Richard, in my book YOU deserve an award for standing up and clearly speaking out!

My HOT TOPICS are soly my opinion and not those of Legend Numismatics. I can be reached via email at lsperber1@hotmail.com. When I am traveling allow extra time for me to respond-I DO read ALL emails.

Laura Sperber Link

edix2001

To whom do those misspellings belong?

llafoe

I wish I knew who the doctor dealers are... oh well, all my coins are going into SecurePlus slabs for now.

curly

Before the a$$ whipping begins, let me say that Laura is looking out for us collectors. She is my kind of dealer.

pontiacinf

<< <i>To whom do those misspellings belong? >>



if they were not present id doubt she wrote it

and this has already been posted and commented on

Frankcoins

<< <i>To whom do those misspellings belong? >>



Every interaction you have with a customer helps them form an impression of your organization. When a customer walks into your office, they take note of their surroundings. Similarly, when a customer or potential customer visits your web site, they take note of their surroundings and form an impression of your organization. If the web site has text errors and misspellings, the impression won't be positive and you run the risk of losing a customer... a 70% chance, according to the study below.

Bad Spelling and Grammar Hurts the Bottom Line
By Katie Hope

Bad spelling and grammar could be costing UK businesses up to £41 billion in lost sales, a new report has claimed.
More than 70 per cent of customers would not trust businesses with poor communication skills, according to a survey commissioned by Royal Mail.

Julia Strong, deputy director of the National Literacy Trust, noted the impact that staff with inadequate literacy skills could have on an organisation's competitiveness. "It also emphasises the importance of businesses providing training where literacy problems are identified," she said.

Alex Batchelor, Royal Mail's director of marketing, agreed. "This study is proof that poor communication really does hit companies where it hurts - on the bottom line," he said.

Issue date: 12 August 2005
Source: PM Online

llafoe

<< <i>

<< <i>To whom do those misspellings belong? >>



Every interaction you have with a customer helps them form an impression of your organization. When a customer walks into your office, they take note of their surroundings. Similarly, when a customer or potential customer visits your web site, they take note of their surroundings and form an impression of your organization. If the web site has text errors and misspellings, the impression won't be positive and you run the risk of losing a customer... a 70% chance, according to the study below.

Bad Spelling and Grammar Hurts the Bottom Line
By Katie Hope

Bad spelling and grammar could be costing UK businesses up to £41 billion in lost sales, a new report has claimed.
More than 70 per cent of customers would not trust businesses with poor communication skills, according to a survey commissioned by Royal Mail.

Julia Strong, deputy director of the National Literacy Trust, noted the impact that staff with inadequate literacy skills could have on an organisation's competitiveness. "It also emphasises the importance of businesses providing training where literacy problems are identified," she said.

Alex Batchelor, Royal Mail's director of marketing, agreed. "This study is proof that poor communication really does hit companies where it hurts - on the bottom line," he said.

Issue date: 12 August 2005
Source: PM Online >>



The moral of the story... Legend should move their company from the UK to the US!

blu62vette

I still never understand when someone is talking about a huge problem in our hobby and the reaction is only about spelling.

mrpotatoheadd

I'd be more concerned about the government spending money to study bad spelling than the misspellings found on an opinion page on a website. But then again, that's just me...

edited to add... Do you think Laura's articles would get as much attention as they do, if they didn't have the spelling errors? I don't.

greghansen

I still never understand when someone is talking about a huge problem in our hobby and the reaction is only about spelling.

Unbelievable really. If it's so poor you can't understand the message that's one thing. But just to ignore the message and jump on unimportant issues about the presentation is pretty lame IMO.

MrEureka

I would like coin doctoring to disappear from the face of the earth, and I welcome specific suggestions as to what I can do to help. Too bad Laura isn't here to reply.

edix2001

<< <i>and this has already been posted and commented on >>



How about the assault on grammar?
I'm jes' sayin'....

llafoe

<< <i>

<< <i>and this has already been posted and commented on >>



How about the assault on grammar?
I'm jes' sayin'.... >>



You're in the negative position... assault may have been a poor choice of words.

earlyAurum

The retail coin business is a narrow market. The participants are surely not turned off by some bad spelling. Legend is a top tier firm. All this bashing is just silly.

bidask

<< <i>

<< <i>To whom do those misspellings belong? >>



Every interaction you have with a customer helps them form an impression of your organization. When a customer walks into your office, they take note of their surroundings. Similarly, when a customer or potential customer visits your web site, they take note of their surroundings and form an impression of your organization. If the web site has text errors and misspellings, the impression won't be positive and you run the risk of losing a customer... a 70% chance, according to the study below.

Bad Spelling and Grammar Hurts the Bottom Line
By Katie Hope

Bad spelling and grammar could be costing UK businesses up to £41 billion in lost sales, a new report has claimed.
More than 70 per cent of customers would not trust businesses with poor communication skills, according to a survey commissioned by Royal Mail.

Julia Strong, deputy director of the National Literacy Trust, noted the impact that staff with inadequate literacy skills could have on an organisation's competitiveness. "It also emphasises the importance of businesses providing training where literacy problems are identified," she said.

Alex Batchelor, Royal Mail's director of marketing, agreed. "This study is proof that poor communication really does hit companies where it hurts - on the bottom line," he said.

Issue date: 12 August 2005
Source: PM Online >>

That's for those stuffy Brits.

Come on now....if we are really honest we all got something we can improve upon....don't we?

Frankcoins

I am openly now suggesting that ALL collectors MUST ask your dealer who these scum are-and you MUST avoid them. If your dealer says they do not know-time for a new dealer.

I don't know who any coin doctors are. So my customers need to find a new dealer?

19Lyds

As I perused the offerings at the Sacto ANA Show, I could not help but notice that some dealers were offering different types of raw coins that had similar toning patterns. Some were even slabbed and while some toning can and often is similar are certain types of coins I found it a bit disturbing to find similar toning of different types of coins.

I meant to stop by Laura's table on Sunday but Legend had left but, even though she has typing problems, I can only applaud her efforts.

At least she's taking a stand and not pandering to the weakness of the quick profit.

edix2001

<< <i>I don't know who any coin doctors are. So my customers need to find a new dealer? >>



Seems like she slept through Logic class at Monmouth, too.

llafoe

<< <i>I am openly now suggesting that ALL collectors MUST ask your dealer who these scum are-and you MUST avoid them. If your dealer says they do not know-time for a new dealer.

I don't know who any coin doctors are. So my customers need to find a new dealer? >>



Frank - You know what they say... 1 out of every 10 dealers are coin doctors... if you look around the room, and the other 9 aren't coin doctors, then...

JapanJohn

Same discussion. Different day.

Considering it violates no law to shake and bake a coin I think the language used to describe said doctors is a bit harsh. Scum, wh****, etc.

In my opinion the correct track is to identify and boycott (as she stated).

But really, it isn't against the law. It becomes problematic when it violates an agreement to get into a grading service slab. More and more reason to support technology incorporation by the grading services.

Personally, I think the technology out there to really make, duplicate, and doctor coins might be a step ahead of the detection process in some areas. Kinda like the radar detector and police radar detector detector world. Better radar, better detector, better radar, better detector. The winner is the companies making the black boxes.

John

Tdec1000

Sounds a bit more of a stab at the PNG and glorifying CAC. Having a sticker on your plastic coffin IMHO isn't what coin collecting is about.

Bochiman

<< <i>I still never understand when someone is talking about a huge problem in our hobby and the reaction is only about spelling.

Unbelievable really. If it's so poor you can't understand the message that's one thing. But just to ignore the message and jump on unimportant issues about the presentation is pretty lame IMO. >>




I look at the source and the source that zeroes in on the spelling/grammar is usually the same each time.......I then discount the source as they usually have an ax to grind, something to hide, or are just ignorant.

I don't always agree with Laura, but in many times I do, esp on something like this. I'm certainly no big player, and I'm not a dealer, but even I know some of the local dealers who try to do things to coins (and have no problems ignoring them and their wares). So, if I know some, how can an established dealer, who supposedly knows their market and coins NOT know any?

Monstarcoins

<< <i>As I perused the offerings at the Sacto ANA Show, I could not help but notice that some dealers were offering different types of raw coins that had similar toning patterns. Some were even slabbed and while some toning can and often is similar are certain types of coins I found it a bit disturbing to find similar toning of different types of coins.

I meant to stop by Laura's table on Sunday but Legend had left but, even though she has typing problems, I can only applaud her efforts.

At least she's taking a stand and not pandering to the weakness of the quick profit. >>



What are you talking about?

PawPaul

.it's obvious to me what he's talking about

edix2001

<< <i>

<< <i>I still never understand when someone is talking about a huge problem in our hobby and the reaction is only about spelling.

Unbelievable really. If it's so poor you can't understand the message that's one thing. But just to ignore the message and jump on unimportant issues about the presentation is pretty lame IMO. >>




I look at the source and the source that zeroes in on the spelling/grammar is usually the same each time.......I then discount the source as they usually have an ax to grind, something to hide, or are just ignorant.

I don't always agree with Laura, but in many times I do, esp on something like this. I'm certainly no big player, and I'm not a dealer, but even I know some of the local dealers who try to do things to coins (and have no problems ignoring them and their wares). So, if I know some, how can an established dealer, who supposedly knows their market and coins NOT know any? >>



I don't recall personally ever zeroing in on the spelling/grammar before. It's a critique of the presentation. Such laziness on the part of a writer interferes with their ability to communicate their thoughts. Text should be a window.

EVillageProwler

I don't recall personally ever zeroing in in the spelling/grammar before. It's a critique of the presentation. Such laziness on the part of a writer intterferes with their ability to communicate their thoughts.

Lazy!

TwoSides2aCoin

The best thing about coin doctors is that someday they're going to die.

edix2001

<< <i>I don't recall personally ever zeroing in in the spelling/grammar before. It's a critique of the presentation. Such laziness on the part of a writer intterferes with their ability to communicate their thoughts.

Lazy! >>



Heh! The images for the letters I and O, which are next to each other on my keyboard have worn off completely. But you will noticed I corrected my typo.

EVillageProwler

Edix2001 - you had more than one typo. Lazy!

llafoe

<< <i>The best thing about coin doctors is that someday they're going to die... only to be lasered, puttied and entombed in plastic! >>

EVillageProwler

Hi Edix2001,

Let he who is without blame cast the first stone. Let he who actually knows English correct Laura's spelling and grammar.

Lazy! Lol!

EVP

edix2001

<< <i>Edix2001 - you had more than one typo. Lazy! >>



For shizzle!

AnkurJ

I have had two dealers over the last few years admit that they are doctors.

One dealer was set up at the GSNA and had a full set of Toned Proof Trade dollars in PCGS holders. Yes, a FULL set. I commented on how nice the toning was, and the response was: "Thanks, I tone them all before I send them in". It shocked me, and I simply walked away, and never returned to that dealers table regardless of how nice his coins were.

The other dealer sets up at local shows regularly. He had a 1797 half dime that was raw but had a rim ding. When I stated that the ding was a turn off, he told me he can repair it AND get it into a problem free holder. Once again, I simply walked away, and will never return to his table again.

There are honest dealers, but its the small percentage of dishonest ones that just mess up this hobby.

Swampboy

<< <i>I still never understand when someone is talking about a huge problem in our hobby and the reaction is only about spelling. >>



Silly, isnt it?




Go Laura.