Did you ever get yelled at by a dealer at a show?

curch

A few weeks back I was at a large show. Looking for the usual 80s sealed wax. I find one dealer with a nice selection of items and most were priced slightly lower than BBCE. He had a few tables with some cheaper wax on the tables and a shelf with some more high end wax. Everything was in reach for the customer to look at. I took a higher priced item off the shelf to look at the box. I got yelled at by the dealer and embarassed pretty much because I took this item off the shelf to look at. I came to the show looking to buy and left with a bad taste in my mouth. I was going to buy this box but after that, I walked away. Anything like this ever happen to anyone else?

belz

It amazes me that still to this day there are dealers that don't understand customer service sells. They awesome you won't buy so they don't treat you well...won't even approach those dealers, not surprised by your comment at all.

ndleo

I had a dealer tell me that a box I was interested sells for more on Dealernet, even though the price I offered was the same as D&A. Do dealer still use Dealernet?

Dpeck100

Was he mad that you touched his product without asking him or did he think you were trying to steal it?

curch

He was mad because I picked it up and looked at at. But it was an open booth for anyone to walk up to the shelf or table and touch anything. No signs not to touch. Yes, it was a $600.00 box of cards.....but then don't leave it out!

72skywalker

When they yell I usually go to my defense mechanism and release a silent but deadly fart and walk away. (It is a little gift thatI can do it on cue like others can burp) I then watch the people's faces as they approach, smell it and walk away disgusted. I then look at the dealer's face that says "It wasn't me." It's the little joys in life at getting harmless revenge.

MULLINS5

Dramatically drop it (like a bad dive in hockey) and say, "oh man, you scared the heck out of me!"

gameusedhoop

<< <i>Dramatically drop it (like a bad dive in hockey) >>


^^^ So you mean pull a Crosby ^^^

curch

Well, it was a box of hockey

MULLINS5

<< <i>

<< <i>Dramatically drop it (like a bad dive in hockey) >>


^^^ So you mean pull a Crosby ^^^ >>



exactly!

MULLINS5

<< <i>Well, it was a box of hockey >>



Nice! What year/issue?

Usually I keep my hands in my pocket or behind me when I'm perusing items for sale (primarily at auctions and thrift shops, but would do the same at tables). I don't think you were out of line for getting the box. If I setup a table I would expect items placed in areas like that to be picked up.

curch

It was an 87 88 OPC box.

perkdog

<< <i>It was an 87 88 OPC box. >>



You should have yelled louder and told him to calm down, then tell him OK so my money isnt good enough for you here and then walk away.

Ive never been yelled at but did have this dealer let out a big sigh and acted like I was bothering him when I asked him to see something under a case, so real simple I waited until he took it out and was ready to hand it to me and I told him I changed my mind and walked away, I cant stand dealers acting like its a hassle when you ask them a question or to see something I might be interested in buying.

dennis07

Did he really yell or did he just say don't touch? If he truly yells at folks he better be a rather large man or pick and chose his targets carefully!

mattyc_collection

Man, I hope I'd have the self control not to get in the guy's face. I've worked really hard in my 30's to be mature and stay out of fights. If someone could politely tell you they'd rather you not touch something, but instead they opt for yelling, it takes real restraint not to take the bait and stoop to their level. Props for turning the other cheek.

curch

<< <i>Did he really yell or did he just say don't touch? If he truly yells at folks he better be a rather large man or pick and chose his targets carefully! >>



Well, he didn't scream at the top of his lungs, but was rude about it. And in front of other people. I felt awful and it ruined the rest of the show for me.

PowderedH2O

When I was 16, I was at my first show (1981). I asked a dealer to look at some 50's cards and he gave me a bunch of garbage about being a kid and he didn't have time to waste with me. I dropped several hundred dollars at that show. I made sure to drop by the guy's dead table to show him.

72skywalker

<< <i>When I was 16, I was at my first show (1981). I asked a dealer to look at some 50's cards and he gave me a bunch of garbage about being a kid and he didn't have time to waste with me. I dropped several hundred dollars at that show. I made sure to drop by the guy's dead table to show him. >>



My friends father asked to look at an expensive card once and the dealer told him that it was very expensive and if he had the money to buy it if he took it out of the case. My friends father is a great guy but gets real vocal if you rub him the wrong way. He pulled out about $2K in cash and told the guy to keep his card and stick it in one of his holes that is usually quite dark. I laughed when the dealer tried to apologize and get him to buy the card. We all just walked away. Of course my friends father went back to the dealer to show him the same card he just bought at another table.

MULLINS5

I'm not sure if this hobby is saturated more with jerks or 1990 Donruss.

MrNearMint

I never got yelled at but definitely insulted a dealer by offering him 1.50 for a 2.50 card. I really didn't think I was doing anything wrong (and still don't think I did) but this dealer kind of made me feel bad and I actually haven't been back to the card show since.

Many people say they "don't care what people think or say to them" but it's quite surprising how one person can really bring you down.

MULLINS5

<< <i>I never got yelled at but definitely insulted a dealer by offering him 1.50 for a 2.50 card. I really didn't think I was doing anything wrong (and still don't think I did) but this dealer kind of made me feel bad and I actually haven't been back to the card show since.

Many people say they "don't care what people think or say to them" but it's quite surprising how one person can really bring you down. >>



+1

itzagoner

on a sensitivity level, i'd say this ranks somewhere between Bambi and Barney.

ashabby

It is rare person that can focus and not take things personally when someone is not nice to them. We all have off days. Just move on. You have a choice to be happy or sad about it.

slum22

<< <i>It is rare person that can focus and not take things personally when someone is not nice to them. We all have off days. Just move on. You have a choice to be happy or sad about it. >>



This is pretty good advice. I haven't been to a real card show (I went to Long Beach Expo, but that's really a coin show with a handful of card dealers) in two decades. I have never been yelled at by a dealer at a show, but I am in the process of being yelled at by a dealer on eBay, lol. I am not too bothered by it. I am just going to take the high road. After working with the public for over a decade in my job, I find it easier to let people vent and get their anger out of their system. To be fair, your situation sounds a bit more intense (especially being in person) but I would have done exactly what you did and just walked away from the situation. Sorry it bummed you out for the rest of the show. I would suggest that next time you try to just put something like that behind you and try to enjoy your day. You did nothing wrong and you shouldn't let someone else's poor behavior ruin your day.

Indy78

I've never been yelled at, but have dealt with a few rude dealers at shows. One example is a 3 or 4 years back at the Chantilly show, I was down to about 10 cards to complete a nice, ungraded 1977 Topps baseball set. I found maybe 4 or 5 in a box of 800-1,000 at a dealer's table that added up to a grand total of $2. When I went to pay, he grumbled about me picking out cards from the "kids box," saying the box was meant for kids to pick through. I calmly responded, "do you want my $2 or not?" He took it, and I walked away with my cards. No biggie, but I had to chuckle at that one.

alnavman

maybe he was the first customer after the dealer kindly told the father with the four year old twins to stop picking up every box and playing with them......having been a dealer from years ago who no longer sets up I had something like this happen to me......you may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.....

spilling drinks on cards
dropping boxes
bending cards
"accidently" putting cards in one's pocket
grabbing cards in number order, pulling out about fifty or so and then deciding you don't want them and walking away leaving a mess on table


I'm sure everyone who has set up at a show had this happen to them from time to time......

I'm not sticking up for the dealer by no means, you should always show restraint but there are two sides to every story.....

al.

PS: If I had a $600 dollar box of cards it would be in a display case, not sitting out in the open.....an invitation to be stolen if you ask me....

DoctorK

The fellows response to you was not professional and I would have walked away. With that being said, I always ask if I may look at something or Do you mind if I take a look at xxxx? prior to touching anything in a dealers booth. It does not matter to me if it is in a case or laying on the table. It gives the dealer some peace of mind that you are not up to mischief and starts a conversation with them.

Indy78

My guess was that he was irked that I only spent $2. I gave him two singles, as I recall; I suppose if I gave him a 20, he would have really let me have it, lol. Although I don't agree with his behavior, I have made it point since then to try to spend at least about 5 bucks or so at a table where I don't know the dealer. I neither feel obligated to do this nor do I think that there should be some kind of etiquette for it. I just do it to keep the peace with potential future sales or negotiations in mind.

NJ80sBBC

My 20+ years away from the hobby from 91/92-2012 has resulted in me not fully appreciating the current landscape. I have made well over 100 unopened transactions in both Ebay and non Ebay deals in the past few years. However only one has been completed in person (a pickup at a local card shop from an Ebay sale). I suspect that many of the dealers at shows are feeling the pinch of a transparent and efficient market place and those who have not evolved accordingly are really in distress. Not implying that the OP's particular experience, or the rest of those described above, are dirextly attributable to the current state of the market place, though I could see it being a factor.

My last memory of card shows was in Central Nj, where I was hoarding 89UD and TT Jerome Waltons and Dwight Smiths. And I had never even considered the thought of keeping a box of cards unopened, much less a hoard of them!

alnavman

There is a show in Strongsville, Ohio about twenty minutes from where I live and I just may do an experiment this weekend.....Walk in, start picking up boxes and see what the dealers reactions will be. Will try to report back by end of weekend......With the number of dealers who will be there I expect to find some good, some bad and some indifferent.....

al.

basketballcollector

If you're a big guy, give the dealer the DX Crop Chop (like WWE's Triple H used to do) and dare him to do anything about it.

Gemyanks10

<< <i>If you're a big guy, give the dealer the DX Crop Chop (like WWE's Triple H used to do) and dare him to do anything about it. >>




Then say, "I've got two words for ya..!" You know what comes next

rcmb3220

Had a similar thing happen to me a while back. I just got up on his table and dog-wiped all the way across it. He acted like he was mad, but I think deep down he thought it was pretty funny.

bishop

Jack Handey ?