Why coin collectors drink, Part MDCCCLXI

RYK

About five years ago, I made the mistake of buying a coin from a vest pocket dealer at a local show. We did not exchange contact information, but he keeps my home address that he lifted from my personal check. (This is the one time I wish I had paid with cash). Every now and then, I receive a first class letter from him, apologizing for not calling me but acknowledging that he does not have my phone number (phew!), and offering me a great coin for sale. The most recent offering is a southern gold coin in a PCGS old holder that he thought I would like. Five nanoceconds later, I am looking at the scrubbed POS on the Heritage website. It sold there earlier in the month, and he is offering it for about 35% more.

I think I should have him call AnkurJ.

kaz

I'm sure you are just one of many who dread receiving those letters, or worse, phone calls. Is there a name for these folks, who, having been ignored multiple times, continue to pester us?
"dingleberry" comes to mind.

CoinJunkie

Um, maybe you should just drop him a postcard asking to be taken off his mailing list...

BillyKingsley

That's why I use a PO Box.

dollarsandcents

Three words: Return To Sender

Lakesammman

Three words: Return To Sender

4 are better - Deceased - Return to Sender

fc

When you walk into a coin store that looks like the carpet on the floor is older then
most of the coins in the display. So after making that judgment call on the surroundings
you start to look over the display cases and wonder if there is a single good coin
in the whole place to view. You ask if they have anything in the way of gold coins
and they pull out some (from the back mind you, hidden like) common xf45 5s and
some hacked up sliders and start pricing them like they are slabbed coins in PCGS
plastic. All the while you know what they are worth and you realize you are just
wasting your time.

So you move onto the bullion and realize they have nothing in the display cases. Once
again you ask about it and once again they go to the back where an old metal filing
cabinet is and pull out some small bars and what not. Again you go through
the dance of asking how much only to hear they want 3-5 dollars over spot for
1-10 ounce common bars...

After doing this in several small coin shops in multiple cities around the state you
just stop doing it. You then go home, sip on a martini, and open a web browser
to visit ebay for your bullion needs and head on to the major auction house's websites
to view coins they might get in once in a blue moon and promptly wholesale to
their dealer friends who actually want quality and thus the collector who visits
never sees.

coinkat

A P O box has its place... and at the end of the day, its worth it

Edscoin

I didn't know there had to be a reason to drink.

Hyperion

<< <i>When you walk into a coin store that looks like the carpet on the floor is older then
most of the coins in the display. So after making that judgment call on the surroundings
you start to look over the display cases and wonder if there is a single good coin
in the whole place to view. You ask if they have anything in the way of gold coins
and they pull out some (from the back mind you, hidden like) common xf45 5s and
some hacked up sliders and start pricing them like they are slabbed coins in PCGS
plastic. All the while you know what they are worth and you realize you are just
wasting your time.

So you move onto the bullion and realize they have nothing in the display cases. Once
again you ask about it and once again they go to the back where an old metal filing
cabinet is and pull out some small bars and what not. Again you go through
the dance of asking how much only to hear they want 3-5 dollars over spot for
1-10 ounce common bars...

After doing this in several small coin shops in multiple cities around the state you
just stop doing it. You then go home, sip on a martini, and open a web browser
to visit ebay for your bullion needs and head on to the major auction house's websites
to view coins they might get in once in a blue moon and promptly wholesale to
their dealer friends who actually want quality and thus the collector who visits
never sees. >>



I got that way after only 3 coin shops

MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>I didn't know there had to be a reason to drink. >>


Best response so far...

SoCalBigMark

Ankur J is going to medicate you!

MidLifeCrisis

You haven't bought another coin from him in five years and he's still sending you mail? Wow.

RYK

<< <i>You haven't bought another coin from him in five years and he's still sending you mail? Wow. >>


I see him at shows once each year. He shows me his stuff. He tells me about what else is out there, but he won't tell me where it is. What a guy!

Coinosaurus

Yeah, I got one of those. He's been trying to get past my caller ID for years, unsuccesfully

SeattleSlammer

vest pocket dealer

.....sounds sleazy

AnkurJ

<< <i>Ankur J is going to medicate you! >>



RYK wants to be sedated

ricko

I had one PM business from the west coast calling me after stopping at their booth during the NRA convention. Finally, last week, I had enough, and told him clearly (though not rudely), that I would not be doing business with him, his prices were out of line and his offerings did not appeal to me. He thanked me and, if I understood him correctly, he will not call me again. Cheers, RickO