I assume Stacks/Bowers will post the online Federal-US coins for Baltimore, but when?

TahoeDale · October 18, 2012 4:25PM

We see all the world coins, and currency posted. But will they have coins for us Americans?
I wrote them last week, but no reponse as of tonight.

Has anyone consigned to them for Baltimore and know when they are posting?

Thanks.

illini420 · October 18, 2012 5:39PM

Even though I spent more with them this year than Heritage, they made it clear to me via email that I'm not a good enough customer to receive a complimentary print catalog in the mail anymore. On the other hand, Heritage made me a legacy member.

No catalog online now? No response to your email? Not sure what all of this means, but it's making it very clear who I will consign with in the future.

Coinosaurus · October 18, 2012 11:10PM

<< But will they have coins for us Americans? >>

We know the Cardinal stuff is in there........these guys really need to switch to the Heritage format which posts stuff incrementally.........

RYK · October 18, 2012 11:38PM

<< 

<< But will they have coins for us Americans? >>

We know the Cardinal stuff is in there........these guys really need to switch to the Heritage format which posts stuff incrementally......... >>

Tough noogies. They will post the catalog when they are good and ready!

Seriously, it takes from 30 mins to a couple hours to scan the entire sale online. Other than if you might travel to the sale depending on what's in it, does it matter that much if they post the catalog a week before the sale?

tradedollarnut · October 19, 2012 1:04AM

<< 

<< 

<< But will they have coins for us Americans? >>

We know the Cardinal stuff is in there........these guys really need to switch to the Heritage format which posts stuff incrementally......... >>

Tough noogies. They will post the catalog when they are good and ready!

Seriously, it takes from 30 mins to a couple hours to scan the entire sale online. Other than if you might travel to the sale depending on what's in it, does it matter that much if they post the catalog a week before the sale? >>

Only if I'm going to buy something....

Lakesammman · October 19, 2012 1:13AM

I often make travel plans based on what's being offered. If it get's too expensive making arrangements at the last minute, I won't go.

georgiacop50 · October 19, 2012 1:17AM

I agree, they need to make some changes...

tradedollarnut · October 19, 2012 1:20AM

Significant coins are not purchased in a vacuum. Arrangements must be made for viewing and funds. Research must be done. Experts must be consulted.

RYK · October 19, 2012 1:24AM

<< Significant coins are not purchased in a vacuum. Arrangements must be made for viewing and funds. Research must be done. Experts must be consulted. >>

Significant coins for auction that require "arrangements" are known about long before the catalog is printed. The catalog serves to help disperse the dreck and widgets.

illini420 · October 19, 2012 2:55AM

Another thing that is a little troublesome is that lot viewing for the coins supposedly starts here in SoCal on this Monday! I usually try to go to the lot viewing while it is available locally, but I'm not sure how they expect us to prepare for lot viewing when they no longer send a print catalog in advance and I can't even preview the coins on the website??? I guess I'll just have to show up and waste a bunch of time there flipping through the catalog for the first time.

I have also offered lot viewing services to forum members in the past as I know that another look can be very helpful to those who can't attend the lot viewing. But that doesn't seem possible either if they don't have a catalog up in advance.

None of this would make me happy as a consignor.

claychaser · October 19, 2012 2:56AM

<< 

<< Significant coins are not purchased in a vacuum. Arrangements must be made for viewing and funds. Research must be done. Experts must be consulted. >>

Significant coins for auction that require "arrangements" are known about long before the catalog is printed. The catalog serves to help disperse the dreck and widgets.

>>

For us plebians, all we can afford is the dreck and widgets. Only problem is, sometimes there are some pretty nice crumbs and I'd like to see them!

Coinosaurus · October 19, 2012 3:07AM

<< Other than if you might travel to the sale depending on what's in it, does it matter that much if they post the catalog a week before the sale? >>

How the *&$%# am I supposed to obsess about a sale for a month if they don't post it in advance?

RYK · October 19, 2012 3:16AM

<< 

<< 

<< Significant coins are not purchased in a vacuum. Arrangements must be made for viewing and funds. Research must be done. Experts must be consulted. >>

Significant coins for auction that require "arrangements" are known about long before the catalog is printed. The catalog serves to help disperse the dreck and widgets.

>>

For us plebians, all we can afford is the dreck and widgets. Only problem is, sometimes there are some pretty nice crumbs and I'd like to see them! >>

And you will see them...when they are good and ready to show them to you.

DeliaBug · October 19, 2012 5:06AM

I'll be honest here. I do not like this new company. At all. To me, the good names of the Stack family and Mr. Bowers and their collector focused way of doing things are getting tarnished being associated with this place and it's typical corporate greed. This is the real company

After seeing those salaries it's no wonder they had to jack the juice up.

ColonelJessup · October 19, 2012 9:39PM

I just spoke to Chris Napolitano, their president. He told me the sale will be posted online early this coming week. Over 10,000 lots are being offered; by sheer volume the greatest number this firm has ever sold.

Has anyone heard of a sale with a greater number of lots ever?

I told Chris he can now start to expect complaints by people objecting that so many lots can't be gone through intelligently. Said he's been hearing the same thing from his cataloguers for months. They have now been gifted T-shirts (suitable, but not required, for casual Fridays) reading "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves".

He also denied the rumor that lot # 1 was withdrawn and the entire sale had to be renumbered.

TwoSides2aCoin · October 19, 2012 9:47PM

I learn a lot reading coloneljessup's posts. It's like a breath of fresh air, to me.

ebaytrader · October 19, 2012 10:30PM

<< Over 10,000 lots are being offered; by sheer volume the greatest number this firm has ever sold.

>>

Ick.

Can anyone say, "dead bourse".

RYK · October 19, 2012 11:45PM

I just spoke to Chris Napolitano, their president. He told me the sale will be posted online early this coming week. Over 10,000 lots are being offered; by sheer volume the greatest number this firm has ever sold.

While that is excellent news, as you know, people will complain about anything and everything, especially on a public forum. I have two potential concerns with this extremely large sale:

Lot viewing--at the smaller, lower profile ANA Summer 2011 sale, SB had trouble accommodating me for lot viewing. Despite that the room was about one-third full with patrons and plenty of employees were milling around, they did not seem to have adequate resources to promptly register me, scrounge up a catalog, get me seated, and show me the few boxes of coins that I wished to view. With 10,000 lots, this issue could be significantly compounded.

Coin delivery after auction--starting about two weeks after every SB sale there is a mounting chorus of whiners here

who complain that they have paid and have not received their coins, have not received notice when they may receive their coins, and cannot get any more information about their winnings. With so many coins to deliver, perhaps a second covered wagon or additional riders will need to be employed and additional telegraph wires to field the inquiries. I would personally chip in to pay for these additional resources so that I do not have to sift through all of these impending negative threads.

golden · October 20, 2012 12:25AM

This firm exists only because of its name.

RYK · October 20, 2012 12:32AM

<< This firm exists only because of its name. >>

I am going to disagree with you on that point. There is a lot of talent at all levels in the SB organization. I think that, maybe like recent versions of the Dallas Cowboys or New York Yankees, they just have not been able to execute together as a team on a high level. It could happen at any time. Do you remember how beloved the ANR operation was?

TahoeDale · October 20, 2012 1:33AM

I didn't post the OP out of curiousity. As of now, I have changed my travel plans, and am
not going to Baltimore for the show or auction. Even if the one coin I want is up for sale.

10 days ago, and with no posting online of the Federal coins, I wrote Stacks, asking specifically about
the contents of the sale--CBH's and Early dollars. No response of any kind. So with the need to schedule
another trip to see my kids, and to buy air and hotel, I am traveling elsewhere.

We are now 23 days from the start of the show, that is a day's travel from the west coast.

BTW, when I last asked a Heritage rep the same thing, and over 60 days before the sale, I got an immediate reply.

SB, You are losing customers

DeliaBug · October 20, 2012 2:01AM

<< I told Chris he can now start to expect complaints by people objecting that so many lots can't be gone through intelligently. Said he's been hearing the same thing from his cataloguers for months. They have now been gifted T-shirts (suitable, but not required, for casual Fridays) reading "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves". >>

With regards to the cataloguing statement - I don't know if that is in jest or not, but as a consignor I will not consider this company after reading that statement. I sure as heck do not want to do business with a company whose president does not understand the time frame necessary to properly catalogue a sale or understand the capabilities of his employees to do so. Wonder how many mistakes will be in it? And for example, if I want Michael Hodder to catalogue a set, I'll consign to that house - I don't care who the president of the company is. Retaining key personnel is huge after M&A and I'm not pleased with what I've seen so far, and now this. I am curious to see what happens and who may leave after this 10,000 lot fiasco.

EXOJUNKIE · October 20, 2012 3:27AM

No wonder Pistareen's website hasn't been updated in at least a couple of months...he's been imprisoned in a dark, S-B sweatshop room cataloging lots! I can imagine all the catalogers chained to their desks in a dank, dungeon-like room with only their unshaven faces illuminated by the constant glow of their computer screens, struggling to meet their daily quota of lot descriptions while corporate leaders crack the whip demanding higher output and boost morale with free T-shirts that can only be worn on Fridays. Meanwhile desperate bidders, kicked to the curb and deprived of their print catalogs, keep coming back for more....

Elcontador · October 20, 2012 4:02AM

I ignore Stacks for a number of reasons, some of which I can list here, others I probably should not:

1) Consistently poor customer service
2) Repeated purchasing of coins which imo are 'questionable' and putting them in their auctions

EXOJUNKIE · October 20, 2012 6:09AM

<< 2) Repeated purchasing of coins which imo are 'questionable' and putting them in their auctions >>

The same thing has happened to me too many times...a lot of my raw S-B purchases have come back body-bagged from TPGs, including many from the "QDB Collection."

SmEagle1795 · October 20, 2012 6:27AM

I wonder if it is just a bug on the website for why it isn't showing yet. I incremented the LotID on the querystring and there are a number of US lots visible online already:

http://stacksbowers.com/auctions/AuctionLot.aspx?LotID=401371

Keep clicking "Next" and you'll find the rest.

vibr0nic · October 20, 2012 7:13AM

My buyer experience will heavily influence my seller selection when the time comes.

I really love for Heritage's "publish as we go" approach to the online catalog - I hope it becomes the standard.

TahoeDale · October 20, 2012 12:57PM

sm eagle is correct--though there is no listing(yet) of the federal coins, they can be found where he indicates.

This has been a problem in the past-inability to find all the coins for sale, without a list where thay start.

A catalog with lot number is absolutely necessary.

tradedollarnut · October 20, 2012 1:20PM

Nothing really for me - but that 1859-S half dollar is AMAZING!

Justacommeman · October 20, 2012 1:38PM

There are some great coins mixed in with a lot of land mines. Seems to be quite a bit of recycled stuff ..............looks like it goes to Lot 3337 starts with sm eagles's link.

Very nice images.

MJ

MFH · October 21, 2012 12:58AM

Many thanks for the Link to the Stack's sale... I also have a consigned lot in that sale.
At least now I can see that it's been listed - and the images are okay.

DoubleBagger · October 21, 2012 6:13AM

Can someone post the link I can't seem to get it to work! Thanks

SmEagle1795 · October 21, 2012 6:17AM

Link

Nic · October 21, 2012 7:05AM

<< Nothing really for me - but that 1859-S half dollar is AMAZING! >>

The 1840 $ looks burnt.

K

rays · October 22, 2012 10:27AM

The Rarities Night lots are posted.

There are some incredible colonials coming, such as a

Higley Copper

New York Elcelsior copper

Sommer Islands hogg money

ColonelJessup · October 22, 2012 10:54AM

<< 
The 1840 $ looks burnt.

K >>

Yes.... I am bidding on it too.

Did anyone notice the SP66 '94 S$1 has been plugged?

Yes, of course I have a customer. What do I tell her? What?

Oh, it's OK. TDN says George will calm her down again. Again.

Again.

Cue Warren Zevon singing "Lawyers, Guns and Money"

Sonorandesertrat · October 22, 2012 12:06PM

Great post as always, CJ. You really should write a 'kiss n' tell' book.

golden · October 22, 2012 12:47PM

Yeah it's up but won't load.

breakdown · October 22, 2012 1:01PM

<< Yeah it's up but won't load.

>>

It wouldn't for me at first tonight either, but I am having limited, slow success now.

coindeuce · October 22, 2012 1:44PM

Still not loading at 11:40 p.m. ET. Do I have to try at 3:00 a.m. ?

CoinRaritiesOnline · October 22, 2012 1:53PM

<< Still not loading at 11:40 p.m. ET. Do I have to try at 3:00 a.m. ?

>>

It worked for me.

coindeuce · October 22, 2012 2:21PM

I even used the link provided by SmallEagle1795, which loaded a lot, but navigating from that lot listing is just plain fruitless. I tried both Firefox and IE9. No difference. S-B's server must be overwhelmed with traffic.

jacktheknife · October 23, 2012 12:26AM

Still can't get the website to open. Rats...

Jack

mbogoman · October 23, 2012 2:06AM

<< Still can't get the website to open. Rats... Jack >>

I had the same problem earlier, but I can get in now. Some of the sessions still aren't ready, but you can see what's in them by using a little trickery. Just click on one of the earlier posted and ready sessions (i.e. one of the currency auctions). The next page will have a menu of all the auction's sessions running down the left side of the screen. Click on the session you are interested in. Even when no coins show up (i.e. it's not ready yet), you can still see what's in the auction by lot number. The lot numbers for the auction are listed in the description paragraph - just enter the first lot number in the Search box and click away. The lot descriptions will appear in order, some with photos, some without.

Unknown · October 23, 2012 2:10AM

This content has been removed.

golden · October 23, 2012 2:14AM

<< just a spinning wheel on my screen for me. As a potential bidder it is frustrating, imagine if I were a consignor

>>

Vbowling299 · October 23, 2012 2:20AM

im still not getting any of the U.S. coin lots other than rarities night...

MFH · October 23, 2012 2:29AM

<< im still not getting any of the U.S. coin lots other than rarities night... >>

Same here - all I get is Rarities Night .

jacktheknife · October 23, 2012 3:32AM

Quite a mess. Total "amateur hour" when compared to the folks in Dallas.

Jack

mbogoman · October 23, 2012 3:34AM

<< << im still not getting any of the U.S. coin lots other than rarities night... >>

Same here - all I get is Rarities Night . >>

OK, click on Rarities Night. See all the other Sessions running down the left side of your page? Click on any of the sessions that interests you, for example: "Session 7, Early American coin lots" . You will get a pretty much empty page with a brief description of the session, including the lot numbers. Now plug the first lot number into the Search box. Voila! You will now have the first coin's description. Keep hitting "Next" to see more.

Results will vary depending on how far along they are in preparing the lots. Some have detailed descriptions, some have photos, some just have a one line description. But it can give you an idea of what's in the session and what you might want to come back and check later when everything is ready.

illini420 · October 23, 2012 4:22AM

I clicked on the rarities night sale and it pretty much just froze my computer... would never load. Bummer.

I assume Stacks/Bowers will post the online Federal-US coins for Baltimore, but when?

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