What Is the Price of Whining at Coin Shows?

Coinosaurus

I have noticed this - when collectors buy a coin from a dealer, they sometimes think that that entitles them to hang out at the dealer's table for an extended period of time and hold forth on various boring topics. It seems the more money they spend, the longer the amount of time is.

Question for our dealer friends - how do you stop this boorish behavior while maintaining good graces with the clientele?

blu62vette

We bring Mark Feld to the table, his scowl sends people away.

No seriously, it is hard. There will always be those who want to talk because a show may be the one place they can talk coins to others.

JamesMurray

Im not a coin dealer , but when i was in business i found nothing stops this type of person , i used to have ready excuses to depart when our "boring bob's" arrived. Give 'em a hearty hello as putting on me coat to go.

WTCG

I've noticed it's the smallest spenders who tend to camp at the table longest. That's one reason why I don't sell coins out of an album.

Lock up your table, tell the campers you have errands or other business to do then walk away from the table. It works every single time.

GRANDAM

There is (1) Dealer at local shows that I go to. He removes all chairs from the front side of his tables. Everyone has to stand up.

Amazingly people don't hang around long.

Given the fact that the old boy is in a wheel chair you would think that he would be a little more understanding.

GrandAm

blu62vette

<< <i>There is (1) Dealer at local shows that I go to. He removes all chairs from the front side of his tables. Everyone has to stand up.

Amazingly people don't hang around long.

Given the fact that the old boy is in a wheel chair you would think that he would be a little more understanding.

GrandAm >>



I had a dealer next to me once in a wheelchair that feel asleep outside his table blocking the aisle to me. I had the promoter wake him up.

crypto79

Ouch come on guys I am not that bad. Well maybe I am

Honestly I think dealers are lucky to have people who want to talk about their product as adamantly as they do or they would only get utilitarian prices and not impassionate collectible prices. A big purchase is just that and if the buyer doesn't get positive feedback there he certainly won't at home.

BillJones

When a collector spent a lot of money with me (for example 5 figures), he could stay as long as he wanted. Most of my larger customers were business people so they knew that I needed to spend time with other customers when the show was busy. I never had an issue with people over stayed their welcome.

fastfreddie

I've probably been gulity of this at times just looking for a reasurance that I made an astute purchase - like I should have already known. Or I somehow thinking that by talking and becomming 'pals' next time I'll get a 'friends' discount. What? There's no 'nice guy' discount? LOL

lordmarcovan

On the flipside, being a chatty person at times, I don't like it when I get bad vibes from somebody I'm trying to make conversation with.

I understand a dealer has a finite amount of time, and I certainly don't try to get in the way if he has other customers. Furthermore, I can take a hint- if you're not a people person, OK. But there's a fine line to walk here- a dealer should beware being too short or even downright rude to a potential customer (or a recently-paying customer all the more so). You'd think that would go without saying, but all too many dealers I've seen seem to ignore this golden rule of customer service.

Point taken, though- I'll try to tone down the friendliness or at least the conversation next time I'm in front of somebody's table at a show.

Unless he's the one to strike up the conversation. (They often do, when they see my wacky holey coin attire).

jmski52

Interesting topic. I've been to one dealer's table now a total of 3 times at 3 successive shows. The first 2 shows, he never bothered to acknowledge my existance, even though I am a reasonably viable prospect, so I meandered on past his table.

At this most recent show, we engaged in some chit-chat for no more than 5 minutes, until he decided to dismiss me and went to sit down at his laptop. Hey, if it's not important to him to communicate, it's not important to me either.

TomB

It has never bothered me when folks have stopped by the table to chat, regardless of if they buy or not. Perhaps I have never had someone abuse the conversation time limit or maybe I enjoy talking coins and teaching more than others. On the flip side, I attempt to limit my time at the tables of others when I talk to them at shows simply because I do not want to block them from a potential sale.

SereneDude

<< <i>I have noticed this - when collectors buy a coin from a dealer, they sometimes think that that entitles them to hang out at the dealer's table for an extended period of time and hold forth on various boring topics. It seems the more money they spend, the longer the amount of time is.

Question for our dealer friends - how do you stop this boorish behavior while maintaining good graces with the clientele? >>


I'm not the chatty type but have been known to do so at various shows when encountering a garrulous dealer.
Mostly though my conversation with a dealer at a show runs along the lines of "May I see that coin?", "How much are you asking?" and, if I feel the price is too high, "Can you do a little better?", or if I feel the price is right, "It's a deal.". Finally I always leave with "Have a nice day." whether I buy or not.
A lot depends on how busy the show is, how busy the dealer is and if I am feeling gregarious or not.

telephoto1

I am all for interacting with customers, and I understand so very well the excitement of making a new purchase... I am still a collector at heart and get a bang out of finding something I want personally...but there comes a time when it is time for us to part after the purchase.

I take exception with the assumption that buying something (regardless of price) somehow entitles someone to unlimited blabber time with the person from whom they made the purchase, especially at a busy coin show. I don't assume that when I buy something... and never did, even before I became a dealer.

From a business standpoint, I want a collector to be excited about what they bought...that tells me I must be doing something right... but there's a big difference between expressing one's happiness/asking a few followup questions and going on for an hour telling me everything you know about the history of the series, grading, what your grandma had, the weather, your dog's hernia...

Having a Chatty Cathy at your table can and often will drive business away, plain and simple. And frankly I understand why some guys pull the chairs from in front of their tables. I've been tempted to do so many times myself because, although most people realize why they are there, some still look at them merely as an invitation to just sit and use the table as their hangout. I once had a guy push a few things aside at the end of one of our tables so he could plop down and eat his food! And then he got mad at ME for telling him he couldn't sit there! I could tell you other stories as well. But I digress.

Anyone with even a modicum of grey matter should be able to understand that the guy behind the table has other business to do, and only a finite amount of time in which to do it... so after a brief period of polite post-purchase conversation they should be able to part company with them with no hard feelings.

(Edited due to premature hitting of post button)

Justacommeman

Dave and John just give me $5 and tell me to go bug Laura. MJ

scotty1419

I think its a psychological thing. Once you make a purchase the stress is released. On a chemistry level, there is probably some purchase-related endochrine-release as well - all leaving the buyer feeling a high and relaxed to treat the dealer as a new-found friend.

RYK

<< <i>Dave and John just give me $5 and tell me to go bug Laura. MJ >>


Interesting. Laura gives me $20 and tells me to go bug Dave and John.

Justacommeman

<< <i>

<< <i>Dave and John just give me $5 and tell me to go bug Laura. MJ >>


Interesting. Laura gives me $20 and tells me to go bug Dave and John. >>



Once John and Dave gave me $5 an a ham sandwich to leave. Good times. MJ

SanctionII

As a collector, when I am in a shop or at a show, I am very aware of the value of the dealer's time and of the limited space at his shop counter and at his show table. If other customers are present I either wait off to the side or come back later. If the dealer is one I know I will say hello and say I will wait/come back. If no other customers are around I will talk with the dealer and tell him what I am looking for [if we are friends and he wants to engage in conversation beyond coins, I will do so]. If he shows me some of his stock, I will try to look at it off to the side so I do not block others who want to approach the dealer. I also have told dealers that if he doesn't have the time or space to accomodate me I can come back later when it is more convenient. When I have told the dealer in advance what I want and he advises that he has coins I may be interested in I will go up to him and ask him directly if I can look at the items, but still stand off to the side while looking.

Usually the above works out well. If my courtesy to the dealer is not reciprocated and his lack of interest in me as a possible customer becomes apparent, I simply move on.

shorecoll

I always just feel the need to pontificate on the entire history of spores, molds and fungus and assume the rest of you are entertained by this as well. I also always assume that any subtle or aggressive efforts on your parts to stop me from discussing these wonderful items are just a ploy in your attempts to find those next rare specimens yourselves, so go ahead, take away your chairs and scream to your hearts content...I always remember that inquiring minds really want to know.

crypto79

<< <i>I always just feel the need to pontificate on the entire history of spores, molds and fungus and assume the rest of you are entertained by this as well. I also always assume that any subtle or aggressive efforts on your parts to stop me from discussing these wonderful items are just a ploy in your attempts to find those next rare specimens yourselves, so go ahead, take away your chairs and scream to your hearts content...I always remember that inquiring minds really want to know. >>



Post of the Day

RichieURich

<< <i>I have noticed this - when collectors buy a coin from a dealer, they sometimes think that that entitles them to hang out at the dealer's table for an extended period of time and hold forth on various boring topics. It seems the more money they spend, the longer the amount of time is.

Question for our dealer friends - how do you stop this boorish behavior while maintaining good graces with the clientele? >>



I always delegate this delicate task to my trusty Table Assistants.

MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>

<< <i>Dave and John just give me $5 and tell me to go bug Laura. MJ >>


Interesting. Laura gives me $20 and tells me to go bug Dave and John. >>


Dave and John won't stop talking to me when I'm at their table! I try to leave and go see other dealers' coins but they just won't shut up and I don't want to be rude...eventually I'm at their table long enough I feel compelled to buy another coin!

golfer72

I dont know. I usually get annoyed with dealers after I buy a coin because the grade immediately drops a point after I purchase it.

golfer72

My theory is I am always a lot more interested in what i am saying then the person who is listening to me. That usually keeps the conversations short.

Greeniejr

As long as it is not that busy, I say come to my table and chat away. There is always something to be learned and relationships to be built. I always remember a conversation I had with Jay Brahin when I was starting as a dealer and not just a table assistant. I was trying to argue with him that I would rather buy a High Relief in Gem then a branch mint Saint from the 20s in Gem. Ah to be young and stupid.

Kove

I have never tired of a collector or smaller dealer that is chatting with me at my table. It's one of the more pleasant things about a coin show, even though typical sales to them are 0-3 coins.

Much less pleasant socially (but more pleasant financially) are the large dealers that swoop by my table, gracing me with their presence, brimming with self-importance, eyes glued to CCE on their iPads, tediously stilted conversation, but buying 6-12 coins at a time, or more.

A coin show would be much less interesting without all kinds of people present. I learn from all of them.

seateddime

I have found sometimes that some dealers talk your ear off to get them to sell you a coin.

They are always the ones with no one waiting to buy.

coindeuce

I deal with the situation every working day. I'm strapped with a work associate who literally will try to teach a customer how to build a Swiss watch if they ask him for the time of day. He is a proverbial windbag. I've had the situation of having had to serve multiple customers while he gasses away about drivel with a single customer. And more than once I've had to embarass him in front of a customer when he was feeding them a line of BS that he thought he could pass off as scholarly knowledge. So it isn't just customers that don't understand the adage "time is money".

pennyannie

I do not have much desire to sit and chat with most dealers. The few that i do talk to most of the time coins are not the topic.

It is sometimes hard to judge the book by the cover, some of those chatty guys have money but most do not.

DoubleEagle59

I think it's reversed.

How do I look at a dealer's coins and have to put up with the continual small talk in my ear while I'm concentrating on their coins?

I'm there to say a pleasant 'Hello" and then it's all business.

If I'm going to have a conversation with someone, I'm not going to have it where deals are being made.

melvin289

telephoto1

<< <i>I deal with the situation every working day. I'm strapped with a work associate who literally will try to teach a customer how to build a Swiss watch if they ask him for the time of day. He is a proverbial windbag. I've had the situation of having had to serve multiple customers while he gasses away about drivel with a single customer. And more than once I've had to embarass him in front of a customer when he was feeding them a line of BS that he thought he could pass off as scholarly knowledge. So it isn't just customers that don't understand the adage "time is money". >>



Sounds to me like he's a) lazy, b) an idiot, or c) doesn't have enough to do. I'm thinking B. If I'm his boss and my other guy's dealing with 3 people while he's just talking, I'd have no qualms about stepping into his convo and asking him to take care of someone else... and then we'd have a little "chat" after the customers were gone.

WoodenJefferson

Pick up a cattle prod at your local Farm & Fleet...they are just long enough to reach over the table. Move along ~zaaaaap~

FredWeinberg

Sounds like your co-worker is

Cliff Clavin

COALPORTER

Hold a private coin show and only invite the people you like.

jayPem

<< <i>Hold a private coin show and only invite the people you like. >>



Yes !

WTCG

<< <i>Hold a private coin show and only invite the people you like. >>



NGC is doing that in Dallas between now and Baltimore and I still remember the days when the PCGS events were truly private affairs.

claychaser

<< <i>Dave and John just give me $5 and tell me to go bug Laura. MJ >>



They give me $20!

Myqqy

I never bother dealers when they have their set up at a show- and i generally assume that any dealer in front of me has the social skills of an angry cow, so if they say something polite to me then i am pleasantly surprised...
I am happy if a dealer acknowledges me, but i get worried when they ask me what i am looking for- it takes me WAY too long to explain my complex systems of determining coin value, and my cascading system of which coins have the most current value to me in my collection at the current moment ... and God forbid they start pulling out examples for me to examine when i haven't committed to the "here is what i want" conversation.... because then i have to figure out a way to shoot them down in a gentle enough fashion, and God knows i have enough running through my head at a coin show!!
Oh the humanity!!!!

Mission16

Actually, for me, it was the ones who spent little or nothing that wanted to stand around and talk about the price of peas. More so, when it was busy.
Some ones would get pushy when they wanted to sell something too.

Nunfa0

A little Ot but this reminded me. Years ago, when I worked in retail, an old guy would come into the store and talk for what seemed like hours at a time. He would never buy anything and just wanted the company ( at least that's what it looked like). Any way I would get annoyed because it took up my time and stopped me from getting commisions, the other guys would laugh at me. Then one day he was talking away and I was pretending to be interested and his left sleeve slid up his arm. There on his forearm were 7 numbers tattooed into his flesh. This old guy was a death camp survivor. I felt like an a** for the way I had treated him and from that time on he got my full attention.

I never did ask what camp he was in but the Doctor that delivered me was the first British Medic into Bergen-Belsen camp and I like to imagine that he may have helped the old guy.