Moving on

Metalsmith

I have a local dealer looking for coins for my collection. while I have talked to him about finding me coins I am looking for and when I do he talks like he is interested in being my dealer as I build this set, his performance in working with me is disappointing. I have dealt with him on another collection I was building (completed) and he was fine in working with me and he knows I have the finances to do this so there should not be a problem.

I live in a small town and few dealers (3) and one coin show a year so there is not much in coin interest here. My thinking is when he goes to the larger coin shows around the country he can look for coins for me. He has a list of coins I need and he knows what I like as far as grade. I am not expecting him to be looking just for me but my thought is, your at a show, you have a customer that wants this or another customer that wants that, you buy some coins and when you get back home you sell them to your local customers. The problem I am having is he doesn't seem to look for coins for me. It's like if a coin comes in his shop he buys it and if he hasn't sold it before I come in he shows it to me but that seems to be about it.

I have found a dealer online that has provided me with the coins I am looking for. It is not like he is looking for me but every week he seems to have something I would like for my collection. In the past year I have bought about 30 coins from this dealer and spent over $20,000 while my (dealer) at home I have bought 3 coins and spent maybe $1000.

What's the best way to tell my (dealer) that I have found someone else that meets my coin needs? As I said, this is a small market and I don't want to lose a contact in the coin market but I don't want him to look for coins for me anymore. If he has something I like I will buy it but I don't want to feel obligated as he is my (dealer).

I know many of you are dealers on this site and I would like to know how you would want to be treated in this situation.

Ms

ricko

As you acquire coins you want from your new dealer, simply remove them from the list at your former dealer. No harm in having two potential sources and no need to eliminate the local source. If asked why you are removing some from his list, simply reply you acquired them at another source - honesty is good and you still maintain a good relationship. It is doubtful that any dealer really expects exclusivity. Cheers, RickO

bolivarshagnasty

I concur with ricko on this, as this may inspire your local dealer to work a little harder.

PerryHall

What if he gives the new dealer the same want list? What if they are both then bidding on the same coin in an auction.

LindeDad

Simply put your local dealer may not be into or have any other customers for what your working on now.

Edit to add that what type of customer are you. If the dealer is not making a profit on serving you he's not likely to go out of his way to help. I actually had a guy that would not buy unless I was losing money on the coins so I quit answering his emails.
And I'm not even a real dealer just selling off mine and friends extras and under grades from upgrades.

ColonelJessup

<< <i>What if he gives the new dealer the same want list? What if they are both then bidding on the same coin in an auction. >>



I know of few, if any, dealers who would buy a coin "on spec" at an auction, or elsewhere, to fill a customer's want list without talking to the customer first. Too easy for the dealer to get stuck.

From your description I'm taking the inference that dealer #2 is selling you coins out of his inventory. He liked the quailty and price before your needs were ever considered.

BustCuds

No need to burn the bridge with dealer #1, never know what he might find plus you're not obligated to buy.

Having a few but trusted "friends" never hurts.

mrpotatoheadd

ricko's answer is a good one- hard to go wrong there.

As far as having somebody looking for coins for you, a consideration...

I tried it myself based on what people who bought from me on eBay asked for and I'll tell you this- it's not anywhere near as easy as it sounds. I would be willing to bet that unless you're spending a fair amount of money with some regularity, it would not be practical for most dealers to look for specific items for you. But then, that's just me...

Ahrensdad

"It's not you, it's me."

"We can still be friends."

Sorry, couldn't resist.

TwoSides2aCoin

"What's the best way to tell my (dealer) that I have found someone else that meets my coin needs? "

Here are a few selections:

A) I'm disappointed in your performance, so I've found what I'm looking for, elsewhere.
Hey if you get any backlash around town about my posts online , I still like you.
C) So, I heard "silence is golden" and if you don't hear from me again, the price of gold will probably be higher and that's good, right ?