Can a dealer ask a collector to leave his table at a show?

bosco5041

I am not a dealer but I sat down at a dealers table I knew a while back and a collector sat down at the table. He was there for about 90 minutes or so and he did nothing but put down most of the coins and imply his prices were to high the whole 90 minutes or so that he was there. He left purchasing nothing. It didn't seem to bother the dealer much but it did me, maybe I'm to thin skinned. Why did it take him so long to figure out his prices are to high and his coins were junk in his opinion.I was just wondering if dealers seen this guy coming again would they want him taking up space at their table or is it their right to ask the guy to leave since they are paying for the table? I am a collector and I would not put anyone through that to make a sale.

RYK

There are a lot of strange folks who collect coins, and they tend to concentrate at coin shows.

guitarwes

yes. It's his "business area" and you can refuse business to anyone.

MrHalfDime

I would tend to agree with Guitarwes, that a bourse table is the dealer's rented space, and he can not only refuse to do business with anyone he chooses, but he can ask a rude and pesky client to leave, as well.

kryptonitecomics

Yes...I have seen it done

BAJJERFAN

Buy or fly.

OldEastside

Years ago I was at a swap meet selling all
kinds of stuff, household stuff, auto parts
and I took my allstate case and had some
old watches, jewlery the old lady was tired
of and some circ buffs and v nicks and such

Any how I had this raw 41D beautiful toned
full step jeff I pulled from a bu roll in a 2x2
and I wanted 5 bucks for it, this guy comes
by and asks to see it and he looks at it for
literally a half hour and all the time complaining
about it, asking stuff like why I'm asking 5 bucks
for a circulated coin, and I tell him it a toned bu
coin, anyway he chiped away at his welcome
and I finnally told him to get the F%*# outta
here, and he does, but came back half an hour
later to offer me 3 bucks for it, again I say to
him F&%# you, yet a little later he coughed
up 5 bucks for it, and the funny thing I would
have sold it to anyone else for 2 bucks.

But yes, a dealer has every right to ask you
to leave, in fact I recall a few B&M's with the
infamous sign " We Reserve the Right to refuse
service to ANYONE"

Steve

SaorAlba

Unfortunately given our current means of dealing with mentally ill people - we give them a social security cheque and foist them off on the public instead of locking them away in some institutional facility - this is a reality of the times - we have to deal with these driveling fools. Indeed they must be asked to leave the venue.

RYK

<< <i>Unfortunately given our current means of dealing with mentally ill people - we give them a social security cheque and foist them off on the public instead of locking them away in some institutional facility - this is a reality of the times - we have to deal with these driveling fools. Indeed they must be asked to leave the venue. >>


Wow, that's a bit harsh. This type of individual is more likely to have a personality disorder than a psychotic illness (requiring him to be institutionalized). It would be nice if his family kept him away from the coin show, but more likely, the wife is happy to have him out of her hair as much as possible.

JamesMurray

Ok we've heard 90 minutes and also 30 minutes , just what is acceptable then before handing over hard earned cash ? Some of those coins at shows can cost plenty,should we all just pay up and shut up? I understand the concept of a hanger oner lingering but i'm asking at what point is it too much ?Buying coins from a display case isn't like buying sausages from a butchers window,90 minutes does not seem excessive for a serious buyer.

comma

<< <i>Unfortunately given our current means of dealing with mentally ill people - we give them a social security cheque and foist them off on the public instead of locking them away in some institutional facility - this is a reality of the times - we have to deal with these driveling fools. Indeed they must be asked to leave the venue. >>



Yikes buddy....

bosco5041

<< <i>Ok we've heard 90 minutes and also 30 minutes , just what is acceptable then before handing over hard earned cash ? Some of those coins at shows can cost plenty,should we all just pay up and shut up? I understand the concept of a hanger oner lingering but i'm asking at what point is it too much ?Buying coins from a display case isn't like buying sausages from a butchers window,90 minutes does not seem excessive for a serious buyer. >>

I don't really know where the line would be I guess it would be up to the dealer and the attitude of the customer to the dealer. No, a collector should not have to be in a hurry to buy a coin but he should remember the dealer has to pay for the table and hopefully make a profit. A single table at a small to med. show isn't that big and someone sitting right in the middle with books or whatever can cost the dealer business.Anyone should use common sense.This guy IMHO went over the line.

Longacre

Bosco5041's title of this thread: Can a dealer ask a collector to leave his table at a show?

Longacre's title for same thread: Can a dealer be forced to deal with the Numismatic Unwashed™?


I am not sure legally whether the dealer can ask someone to leave the table, but I am sure there are ways to clearly hint that a collector of unwashed status is not welcome.

JamesMurray

<< <i>

<< <i>Ok we've heard 90 minutes and also 30 minutes , just what is acceptable then before handing over hard earned cash ? Some of those coins at shows can cost plenty,should we all just pay up and shut up? I understand the concept of a hanger oner lingering but i'm asking at what point is it too much ?Buying coins from a display case isn't like buying sausages from a butchers window,90 minutes does not seem excessive for a serious buyer. >>

I don't really know where the line would be I guess it would be up to the dealer and the attitude of the customer to the dealer. No, a collector should not have to be in a hurry to buy a coin but he should remember the dealer has to pay for the table and hopefully make a profit. A single table at a small to med. show isn't that big and someone sitting right in the middle with books or whatever can cost the dealer business.Anyone should use common sense.This guy IMHO went over the line. >>



Thanks for that , it is pretty surprising reading some other replys in regards how some view potential customers.

ebaybuyer

how socially acceptable would it be if another collector asked that clown to leave the dealers table, ive been to a few shows where there is always some D bag with all kinds of CRAP covering up the majority of the dealers showcases, all the while talking down the dealers coins, predicting the market and generally suffereing from diarrhea of the mouth, anyone with any sense could see the dealer was annoyed, would it be completely rude if i was to ask that guy to get the F&CK out of the way because while he seems to have nothing to do and all day to do it, the rest of us sont give two shhh ...its what his opinions are.

coinsarefun

<< <i>Unfortunately given our current means of dealing with mentally ill people - we give them a social security cheque and foist them off on the public instead of locking them away in some institutional facility - this is a reality of the times - we have to deal with these driveling fools. Indeed they must be asked to leave the venue. >>






My mother taught me when I was very young........."if you have nothing good to say, or intelligent, keep quite"

My brother was hit by a drunk driver when he was 7 years old, in a comma for 6 month's. Upon waking up he had a brain stem injury which has made
him mentally handicapped. Thanks G-d for Social Security as our family would not be able to keep up with his expenses..........Not a very nice thing to say SaorAlba



Stefanie

Coinosaurus

The problem is, if someone came to a show to tire-kick all day, they have to kill their time somewhere.....and a lot of it will be at dealer tables.......

Whenever I am BSing w/a dealer I always try to step aside if a possibly paying customer walks up.

DIMEMAN

As a variety collector I often spend some time (not 30 min or longer) at a dealers table looking for varieties. But while I am their I try to stay off to a side so other customers can look while I look. If I find something and ask for a price I usually say would you take this and he counters and I either say OK or I will think about it. I NEVER put his stuff or prices down.

And yes, the person in the op should be ask to leave. A dealer should not have to put up with that crap!

IrishMikey

I have done exactly that at several shows. I have also asked the sergeant at arms to
escort someone from the show, but not just for being obnoxious.

ricko

His 'place of business', if a customer is being obnoxious either in attitude or time wasting or blocking business, the dealer can ask him to leave. Cheers, RickO

JupitarCoins

<< <i>Unfortunately given our current means of dealing with mentally ill people - we give them a social security cheque and foist them off on the public instead of locking them away in some institutional facility - this is a reality of the times - we have to deal with these driveling fools. Indeed they must be asked to leave the venue. >>




I'm thinking more that they should lock you away in some institution.
I cant believe that comment that you made.
Are you serious!!!

relicsncoins

Most dealers probably will give some leeway to a person if they have dealt with them before. If I guy sits there and complains about one thing after the next and then purchases a $10000 coin, the dealer will probably put up with the complaining.

WoodenJefferson

Short of a cattle prod or Tazer, just how is a dealer going to accomplish this task of getting an annoyance away from his table? Be mean to them, ignore them, call security...how and what is ethical?

WTCG

A collector camping at a table for 90 minutes without buying a single item isn't that unusual. I've seen people parked at a table for five hours without buying a thing. That dealer needed to show some initiative and get that dead weight moving.

Any booth holder has the right to refuse service just like any B/M establishment. In that situation I normally say something like "you should move on because I don't think I have anything you will buy". If that doesn't work then lock up and walk away from the booth. Works every time.

SaorAlba

Sorry about the message above - and for offending anybody. I was just reading something in the newspaper about someone that really did belong in an institution and let that guide my fingers in typing a response to the original post. Thankfully I am not running for any political office, and yes, I do endorse this apology.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>A collector camping at a table for 90 minutes without buying a single item isn't that unusual. I've seen people parked at a table for five hours without buying a thing. That dealer needed to show some initiative and get that dead weight moving.

Any booth holder has the right to refuse service just like any B/M establishment. In that situation I normally say something like "you should move on because I don't think I have anything you will buy". If that doesn't work then lock up and walk away from the booth. Works every time. >>



Or a simple suggestive "Looks like I can't sell you a coin" might work too!

19Lyds

<< <i>I am not a dealer but I sat down at a dealers table I knew a while back and a collector sat down at the table. He was there for about 90 minutes or so and he did nothing but put down most of the coins and imply his prices were to high the whole 90 minutes or so that he was there. He left purchasing nothing. It didn't seem to bother the dealer much but it did me, maybe I'm to thin skinned. Why did it take him so long to figure out his prices are to high and his coins were junk in his opinion.I was just wondering if dealers seen this guy coming again would they want him taking up space at their table or is it their right to ask the guy to leave since they are paying for the table? I am a collector and I would not put anyone through that to make a sale. >>

Does thisa mean that you spent 90+ minutes at this dealers table?

As for the Title Question, I see no reason why a dealer cannot ask an unproductive and negative individual to leave his table. They ask/tell them to leave their stores so why is a Coin Show any different?

coinsarefun

<< <i>Sorry about the message above - and for offending anybody. I was just reading something in the newspaper about someone that really did belong in an institution and let that guide my fingers in typing a response to the original post. Thankfully I am not running for any political office, and yes, I do endorse this apology. >>











Thank you very much......means a bunch to me




Stefanie

TwoSides2aCoin

One day I saw a a collector squirming after a dealer demanded he leave his table at a show. I was scared for the collector.

johnny9434

<< <i>Yes...I have seen it done >>

i've seen it done as well. who needs that agrevation. move on you dont like what the dealer has. jmo

Staircoins

<< <i>A collector camping at a table for 90 minutes without buying a single item isn't that unusual. I've seen people parked at a table for five hours without buying a thing. That dealer needed to show some initiative and get that dead weight moving.

Any booth holder has the right to refuse service just like any B/M establishment. In that situation I normally say something like "you should move on because I don't think I have anything you will buy". If that doesn't work then lock up and walk away from the booth. Works every time. >>


Wei has it right. When this has happened to me in the past, I've politely mentioned to the person that I needed to go walk the floor for a while. Then I locked up my table and left. Without an audience, they soon moved on.

DennisH

Some collectors deserve to be told to leave.

bosco5041

<< <i>

<< <i>I am not a dealer but I sat down at a dealers table I knew a while back and a collector sat down at the table. He was there for about 90 minutes or so and he did nothing but put down most of the coins and imply his prices were to high the whole 90 minutes or so that he was there. He left purchasing nothing. It didn't seem to bother the dealer much but it did me, maybe I'm to thin skinned. Why did it take him so long to figure out his prices are to high and his coins were junk in his opinion.I was just wondering if dealers seen this guy coming again would they want him taking up space at their table or is it their right to ask the guy to leave since they are paying for the table? I am a collector and I would not put anyone through that to make a sale. >>

Does thisa mean that you spent 90+ minutes at this dealers table?

As for the Title Question, I see no reason why a dealer cannot ask an unproductive and negative individual to leave his table. They ask/tell them to leave their stores so why is a Coin Show any different? >>

You got me there Lee!!! No really I was behind the table sitting with him at his request, he had to go to the show himself and ask me to go with him.

g048406

There's no question that a dealer has the right to ask anyone to leave their table, for any reason. But, here's an observation:
About half the time that I see a customer bad mouth a coin or the price etc they are are actually VERY interested in buying that particular coin. Some of these people think that by bad mouthing the coin, they can get a better deal on the coin. Sometimes it's really hard to tell if the customer really hates your coins or is looking to talk down the price. Personally, I hated that kind of stuff, so I stopped renting at the coin shows and concentrated more on ebay.........however, I'm seeing the same exact thing on ebay through email contact. I guess it's just the price of conducting business.

Geoman

A somewhat similar situation occured at a small coin show where I was set up at also. A person had asked to see many of my coins, and each time offered me between 50% - 75% of greysheet. After handing him many coins for a half hour, and him asking me if I would take $50 for it when it was marked $100, I finally asked him to leave. He then proceeded to the other tables and did the same thing. He never complained that the coins were over-graded, or called them junk. He just asked if we would take "X" amount, to which all dealers said no. Finally he became upset and and a little more loud and vocal. So I finally asked the bourse chairman to tell him to leave the show. He did, and the guy left. But he came back and said he was sorry at the end of the show to myself and the other dealers. His excuse..... he said that it was his first coin show and that is what he thought all people did at the shows - counter offer.

He still comes to this show twice a year, and I have yet to sell him a coin.

PerryHall

<< <i>There's no question that a dealer has the right to ask anyone to leave their table, for any reason. >>



Not true. You can not ask someone to leave based on race, creed, national orgin, religion, or gender. Any other reason is fair game.

WaterSport

I just wish the dealers would tell the folks to leave because they have their crap spread all over the cases, are hogging up what little space for another buyer like me to look, take up too much time looking especially if I have circled the bourse once and smell bad!!

WS

Cameonut

So far I have been fortunate to avoid the "Klingons" - the guys that cling to your table and never seem to move on.

If I ever run into a guy like that, you can rest assured he will be dealt with fairly and professionally. I think every person is different, so it is hard to give a "one size fits all" answer. The key is to keep your cool and don't let them get to you.

seanq

I've been asked to leave a couple of times, usually after the dealer saw me rifle through a couple of boxes with a 16x loupe. The one that sticks in my head was a guy in Hartford, CT who scolded me for not putting his books back in the right order, right before telling me there was nothing to cherrypick there anyway.

I honestly don't think I was being discourteous, I think it was because he didn't want to get ripped. If I'm going to camp out and look through a bunch of boxes, I'll go out of my way not to block any other customers and not to cover any of his other merchandise, and I always try to buy something in exchange for taking up his time and space.


Sean Reynolds

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>One day I saw a a collector squirming after a dealer demanded he leave his table at a show. I was scared for the collector. >>



I know of whom you speak.

DNADave

I've only set up at a few shows, but each time it was the other dealers that I found myself wanting to get rid of. All they wanted to do was shoot the bull. I needed to spend time talking with customers and keeping an eye on the table.

pennyannie

I am not scared of dealers, even those with musturd stains and drool. I have never been booted from a table but i do have tables that i will not stop to look.

Mockingjay

<< <i>Sorry about the message above - and for offending anybody. I was just reading something in the newspaper about someone that really did belong in an institution and let that guide my fingers in typing a response to the original post. Thankfully I am not running for any political office, and yes, I do endorse this apology. >>



I believe I understand what you meant, and so did others. Need to not be so quick to pile on.

I've been to shows where boors are standing around yammering like a wannabe dealer, etc. It's annoying, and dealers have a lot of patience to tolerate it. More than once I've wanted to just smack'em out of the way.

Taking time to select a coin to buy is fine, but if you stand around and run your mouth and talk down the dealer's offerings, just move on. You are irritating more people than just the dealer.

fcloud

You just never know. A recent show we had two people come up and talk for about a half hour. They seemed to be new to coins, so we spent some time explaining grading and the like. The went away for about 2 hours and returned to talk some more. They would up being my best sale at the show were they purchased three MS70 coins from me. I'm not willing to chase any potential customer away. You never know they may come back once they make the rounds.

SeattleSlammer

I've been to a lot of shows over the years and I'm amazed that more dealers don't give people the boot! Have you seen the types of folks that hang out at coin shows?

Lakesammman

Yes, and a dealer can ask another dealer to leave as well.

I watched JK put up with a obnoxious individual for much longer than I would have (at the FUN show) and was shocked to find out it was another dealer.

Shamika

If the guy is truly being offensive, I'd ask him to take his business elsewhere. Otherwise, I'd just laugh to myself at his foolishness.

Broadstruck

I was at a dealers table at the first Philly Whitman show waiting for him to finish talking to another collector.

The fellow was so deeply engrossed in conversation that he inadvertently began digging in one of his nostrils.

Then wiped his fresh discovery on the edge of one of the dealers cases while still chatting away without knowing what he'd done was asked to leave.

ebaybuyer

he may have only been scratching his brain

BarberFanatic

<< <i>I just wish the dealers would tell the folks to leave because they have their crap spread all over the cases, are hogging up what little space for another buyer like me to look, take up too much time looking especially if I have circled the bourse once and smell bad!!

WS >>



+1

golfer72

I would love to see the dealers get rid of the idiots who spread their stuff out on top of the case and cover all the dealers coins.