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Being a dealer is never boring
halfcentman
Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭
Last year, I had an appointment to which the source was a referral from one of my wife's co-workers. The woman sounded like a very nice person on the phone, and we made an appointment for early the following week. It sounded like she had some stuff, but as many of us know you just never know.
Some stuff turned to be a bit less than $500 face in 90%, over 8K Wheat Cents, 1/4 bag of 40%, 56 Circulated Dollars, and over $3K in Proof, Mint, and Commemorative Sets (I checked the invoice before I started typing!)
As I was performing the appraisal, the woman turned into a abrasive jerk, hovering over me and questioning almost everything I was doing to the point that it was smothering. I understand fully how people are, and it was a very emotional thing for her since this stuff was her dad's - but this was going overboard and had to be stopped.
I came up with a number, and she was hemming, hawing, and seemed somewhat underwhelmed by it. She was an amateur at all of this, because when I threw the number at her, the woman could not hide her facial reaction which suggested that she thought the offer was strong (which it was). There are tells in buying and selling as well as on the poker table.
It was then that my 12-year-old daughter texted me to call the house right away as something happened at home regarding my then, 6-year-old autistic son. I politely told the woman that I need to call my home as there is an emergency. She softened up a bit and said "of course, family comes first." I called the house, and at the end of the conversation, as I always do, I said to my daughter "I love you." The second I hung up, the woman says "write me the check!" Her tone had done a complete 180-degree turnaround.
Why? Because the woman said that by hearing me talk to my daughter the way I did it and the fact that my familial matters were more important than my business said a lot about my character. She stated that even though I was referred to her by a friend, I was invited into their home and they did not know me from a hole in the wall. I gained three other small deals from this woman's referrals. It does cost you anything extra to be nice.
Some stuff turned to be a bit less than $500 face in 90%, over 8K Wheat Cents, 1/4 bag of 40%, 56 Circulated Dollars, and over $3K in Proof, Mint, and Commemorative Sets (I checked the invoice before I started typing!)
As I was performing the appraisal, the woman turned into a abrasive jerk, hovering over me and questioning almost everything I was doing to the point that it was smothering. I understand fully how people are, and it was a very emotional thing for her since this stuff was her dad's - but this was going overboard and had to be stopped.
I came up with a number, and she was hemming, hawing, and seemed somewhat underwhelmed by it. She was an amateur at all of this, because when I threw the number at her, the woman could not hide her facial reaction which suggested that she thought the offer was strong (which it was). There are tells in buying and selling as well as on the poker table.
It was then that my 12-year-old daughter texted me to call the house right away as something happened at home regarding my then, 6-year-old autistic son. I politely told the woman that I need to call my home as there is an emergency. She softened up a bit and said "of course, family comes first." I called the house, and at the end of the conversation, as I always do, I said to my daughter "I love you." The second I hung up, the woman says "write me the check!" Her tone had done a complete 180-degree turnaround.
Why? Because the woman said that by hearing me talk to my daughter the way I did it and the fact that my familial matters were more important than my business said a lot about my character. She stated that even though I was referred to her by a friend, I was invited into their home and they did not know me from a hole in the wall. I gained three other small deals from this woman's referrals. It does cost you anything extra to be nice.
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<< <i> It does NOT cost you anything extra to be nice. >>
great story. family always comes first because they'll be there when there is no business.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
I recently asked a dealer a price on an item on his site marked POR. I was told it was on hold. I asked what the price was and was shot back a rude response saying it was none of my business. Well the sale fell through and guess what? He will not see a dime from me.
Being nice about things can take you much further than being a jerk.
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Ankur, you need to put that in the why-collectors-drink thread.
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I always operate on the assumption that if someone takes offense to taking a phone call from home that I really don't need their business anyway. If somehow we could all act like friends and neighbors first and as businessmen second the world would be a better place. A few scoundrels, attorneys, and overzellous newscasters make the entire world seem like a dangerous place.
<< <i>Neat story!
Ankur, you need to put that in the why-collectors-drink thread.
Yes , fair and balanced reporting is protocol here.
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It seems that, in this case, good things do come back to you :-)
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<< <i>Was your six year old alright? >>
Sort of. They did not know where the key was to get into the refrigerator, so he was screaming (he is non-verbal) as he was hungry. I knew where it was, and as soon as the fridge was opened he was happy.
Well a few weeks ago, she came in with a sterling silver cup that I purchased. They looked at a photograph of me in a tuxedo(it was a suit but they called it a 'tux") walking my daughter down the aisle last October. It was a proud moment for me and when I told them I had to play 2 songs at the request of my daughter for her wedding, that it was nerve racking having to run a business and try to learn a couple of songs on the guitar in my spare time. Then to have to stand up in front of hundreds of people and sing on the day I have to give my sweet daughter away to another man was tough holding back the tears... but I made it.
1st Song
2nd Song
So, as the story went... these gals saw my telecoustic (a Fender guitar) hangin' on the wall and said : "well let's hear it Joe".
So, I played two songs (again). The eldest lady in her 80s said to me :
"Joe, if I were 20 years younger, I'd be dating you". And I said, "Honey, if you were 20 years older, I'd be dating you , too".
Never a dull moment.
Thank you for sharing.
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My story goes way back to around 1990-1993, when I was on the hunt for as many nice GSA black box CC dollars I could find. Your jaw will drop, but, common dates in average condition (82-84cc) in the box with card were going for about $45 bucks, I bought for as low at $38 and never more than $46/$47. I picked the best PL's and nice uncs for $55. 78-CC's were going for about $70, and 90/91cc's were around $225. (never saw many 90-cc's but 91-cc's were plentiful).
Well, one dealer who I believe still frequents our local Parsippany, NJ show (this show used to be at a different location in Whippany, NJ years ago) had a stack, I mean a stack of at least 50 GSA black box dollars he just bought from a private party. I explained that I paid more than current quote for nice dollars, in the original holders, but he absolutely REFUSED to show any of them to me - explaining he was going to crack ALL of them out and submit to grading. He was an absolute JERK. To this day I will NEVER look at anything at his table.
Perhaps more of an old wives tale, yet not a story you we have to be so concerned with about these days.
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