True Dealer Story 4

AMRC

Here ya go. I can't make this up. Start from the bottom.



-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth ***** [mailto:*****@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2012 9:33 AM
To: Armen Moloian
Subject: Re: coins

It has no mint mark. I don't ageee with your price. It is musuem quality!

On 5/12/12, Armen Moloian <> wrote:
> It sounds like you might have an uncirculated 1880 Morgan Silver Dollar.
> The coin would retail for between $40-$50. I hope that helps.
>
> -----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth ***** [mailto:*****@gmail.com]
> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 9:15 PM
> To: Armen Moloian
> Subject: Re: coins
>
> Off hand I don't know the mint mark. It s grade is perfect by casukal eye.
>
> On 5/11/12, Armen Moloian <> wrote:
>> Do you know what the mint mark is? Is there anything on the
>> container it is in a holder with a number or grade?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth ***** [mailto:*****@gmail.com]
>> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 4:42 PM
>> To:
>> Cc: mailto:*****@gmail.com]
>> Subject: coins
>>
>> Are you interested in a silver dollar 1880 in mint condition? It
>> is in a sealed contaiiner showig both sides of the coin?

morbidsteve

Haha wow people are insane.

astrorat

<< <i>Haha wow people are insane. >>

Insane? Hardly, just uninformed. Not everyone has expertise in gauging the value of 140 year old coins. How many people would think an ancient Roman coin was worth a "mint" but would be stunned to learn they could be had by the hundreds for less than $10 each?

illini420

Not sure how you can think that's surprising when you haven't even seen that coin. What if the coin really is gem quality? What if it is an MS67? It is even possible that the coin is a proof! In any of those cases the seller is correct in disagreeing with your retail price estimate.

LanLord

Museum quality? So it's hairlined to all get out? OK!

AUandAG

Hmmm, polished turd comes to mind. Uniformed owner as well.

Thanks for the call, bring it in when you can.

bob

lcoopie

IMO
It doesn't sound like you treat your customers with respect

I may well be wrong but that's how it sounds.

DorkGirl

Considering the lack of information he received, I think he handled the situation the best he could.

yosclimber

Thanks for sharing your story from the front lines!

Here's how I might reply to the last msg, if I had lots of spare time and thought this might lead somewhere:

> It has no mint mark.

Thank you, that is part of the information that is needed to determine its value.

> I don't ageee with your price.

$40-50 wasn't an offer price, just a likely estimate of what it would cost someone to buy a coin like you describe.

> It is musuem quality!

Unfortunately this is not informative, as you already said it looked "perfect".
Many of these look perfect.
The price guide says the (retail) value of an 1880 with no mintmark is $31 to $52,500 .
To narrow it down further will take more info or a quick look at the coin.
As I mentioned before, is there anything printed on the plastic container, such as:
PCGS NGC MS63 PF60 ?

[Of course, if I was in the business, I would already know this was probably not going to lead somewhere,
and there were many other things I needed to do that took priority over a common 1880 that the person was not going to sell me and I didn't need....] :-)

coindeuce

Many uninformed people in possession of tangible collectibles that they have no interest in retaining are often only interested in validation of what they may already believe, whether their belief is accurate or not. They are rarely interested in becoming informed, or educated when it involves the truth of the matter.

astrorat

I learned "back in the day" and working in a shop, most people thought their circulated coins were "perfect" and it took some careful instruction and a little time for them to understand. Alas, usually that time and effort went unrewarded (financially) for the shop. When the customers realized they didn't have a king's ransom, they usually kept the coins or would use them as fun gifts for the grandkids.

OldEastside

About 15 years ago, my BM called me and said "hey Steve I have
a nice 1940 proof nickel in a NGC holder,and I know you like these"
so I went down there and gave him $50 bucks for it, while we were
talking, I noticed this other guy in there with a small sandwich bag
of buffalo nickels, he saw me buy the proof, and he left, the place
had a bidboard and usually 5 or 6 people were in there at any given
time so I really did'nt give it a second thought, any how I left and
walked out to my car, and that same guy approached me and asked
if I like nickels and I said sure and he shows me his bag of buffalos
maybe about 10 or 12 of them and he says theres some 1920's and
1930's in there, alot older than my 1940 I had just bought, but he
seemed insulted that I did'nt take him up on his offer of a lifetime
at $35 bucks each, I later called Ron and told him what had happened
and he laughed and said he had offered $2 bucks for the lot and that
half of them were dateless.

Steve

Bochiman

Well, the problem is obvious....you are dealing with a gmail user

madax425

If an exchange like this with a potential customer, makes you think he or she is stupid and worth ridicule, you are not someone I would like to do business with. There is nothing funny or out of the ordinary with the exchange you posted. I hope the person goes somewhere else with his business.

Pokermandude

<< <i>Well, the problem is obvious....you are dealing with a gmail user >>



I do "weekend warrior" selling as well, and I find that it's the yahoo email users who are the worst. Worst as in least knowledgeable, most grammar/spelling errors. I do ads through a site called kijiji (very much like Craigslist, more popular in Canada) and a good 4/5 of the people who type their email address in the contact form incorrectly are yahoo email accounts.

yosclimber

If it wasn't likely to be such a dirt common coin, I'm sure Armen would have been willing to spend more time replying.

But if he spent 30 minutes replying to such people, and on average made about $5 from each such person,
definitely not worth the time to extend the conversation.

He tried.

P.S. I believe the humor is not about the possible intelligence of the potential seller,
but about the frustrations in obtaining useful information for assisting such persons, even when you are trying to help.
It's a shared humor about how we can't communicate easily sometimes.

ricko

Communication between a knowledgeable dealer and an uninformed coin owner is very difficult. First, because they have an 'old' coin that they 'know' is worth a lot of money. Second, because they firmly believe that whomever they deal with will be out to fleece them. Third, their complete lack of knowledge regarding grade and condition make it impossible to explain without taking them through a grading guide - which often is a fruitless journey as well. The coin owner gets upset and the buyer is highly frustrated.... and usually, not worth the hassle. Cheers, RickO

AMRC

<< <i>If it wasn't likely to be such a dirt common coin, I'm sure Armen would have been willing to spend more time replying.

But if he spent 30 minutes replying to such people, and on average made about $5 from each such person,
definitely not worth the time to extend the conversation.

He tried.

P.S. I believe the humor is not about the possible intelligence of the potential seller,
but about the frustrations in obtaining useful information for assisting such persons, even when you are trying to help.
It's a shared humor about how we can't communicate easily sometimes. >>



Thanks for your comments. I believe you are spot on.

As for the negative perceptions. Yes it is possible it could be an MS67. So I am should have told him it coould be worth $38,000 and then when he brough tit over I could offer him the more statistically probable $40-$50. Interesting business model, but not for me. As far as ridicule? I assume you meant him to me, otherwise I don't see it.

Barry

Could someone post a link to True Dealer Story 2?

I couldn't find it scrolling back a few pages and the search function doesn't work for me (I know, I could use IE, but I don't use it.)

yosclimber

True Dealer Story 2

Here is how to search:
go to google
put in the search box there:

site:forums.collectors.com "True Dealer Story 2"

PerryHall

Most dealers that I know are smart enough to not quote a price over the phone---not even an approximate price or price range. They tell the seller over to phone to bring the coin into the shop for a free appraisal and then offer to buy it only after they examine it in hand. Too many times the coin may be harshly cleaned or otherwise damaged and the seller insists that the dealer honor his price quote over the phone and then gets irate when the dealer refuses.

coinsarefun

So tell him that he needs to bring it to his nearest museum and donate it!

Barry

<< <i>True Dealer Story 2

Here is how to search:
go to google
put in the search box there:

site:forums.collectors.com "True Dealer Story 2" >>


Thanks!