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COIN SHOW REPORT:Enlightening encounter with MacGe at the FUN show last weekend

georgiacop50georgiacop50 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭
I have the only MacGe certified 1953-S half PCGS-MS66 with a 90% full bell line MacGe sticker.

So this a POP One according to the Mac website where the published value is $10,000.00.



Of course, trying to find a buyer any where near that price is problematic.



I noticed a Macable trading table at the FUN show. I walked by the table and there was a young lady seated but even though I was trying to get a look at the coins at the coins in the case (which was quite dark having no lights what-so-ever), she could not seem to avert her eyes from her cell phone and offer to help me. I walked on.



Short time later, I see Alan Hager was now sitting behind the table. Having seen Alan at many other shows, I was familiar with his bad attitude. His normal coin show 'pose' is to sit back as far away from the table as he can with his legs propped up on a chair, reading a newspaper appearing totally uninterested in show going on.



Well he has now entered the modern age---no newspaper but like his assistant, completely engrossed in his own cell phone. I approached the table once again and was ignored again but this time by two people !



I then said "I have a coin I am looking to sell - are you buying?". Mr. Hager appeared visibly agitated that I interrupted his 'important' activity, but managed an irritated "what is it?".



I replied it's a 53-S Franklin that has your sticker on it......



He then reluctantly actually got out of his chair and I handed him the coin - he glanced at it for about 1/2 second and I asked are you buying?



He replied "I already have 3 of them, so no".image



Comments

  • DollarAfterDollarDollarAfterDollar Posts: 3,214 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You obviously should have texted him to get a professional response.



    If you do what you always did, you get what you always got.
  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 11,839 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What the H is a MacGe sticker?
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 27,411 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Boosibri
    What the H is a MacGe sticker?


    yes, what is it? image
  • cwtcwt Posts: 291 ✭✭✭
  • TPRCTPRC Posts: 3,738 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Alan Hager from ACG, correct?

    Tom

  • stealerstealer Posts: 3,968 ✭✭✭✭
    Remember that one time some representative from MAC tried to gain the trust of the people here by making a series of posts?

    RIP.

  • SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 9,953 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That sort of customer service (lack of interest in general from dealers) is actually something that I enjoy about coin shows. If I have a question, I'll ask. And of course I'll return any friendly greeting with a friendly greeting. But I think it's great that I can browse cases and cases of coins without anyone saying a word to me. image
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: TPRC

    Alan Hager from ACG, correct?




    I believe it's the same guy.
  • BStrauss3BStrauss3 Posts: 3,108 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: robertpr
    Originally posted by: TPRC
    Alan Hager from ACG, correct?


    I believe it's the same guy.



    It is. In one of the early interviews, the president of the company said something on the order of he knew about Alan's history, but he needed a numismatist and he was the one available.
    -----Burton
    ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You expected Alan to hand you 10 thousand smackers for your coin?
    no way!!

    and he certainly did not spend 10 grand for the ones he had!

    he is just selling the stickies. They are attractive little stickies too.
    will cost you over 10 bucks to get one for your treasured modern coin!
    want a full split tail stickie for your gem unc 1938d buffalo nickel.
    Alan’s got one for you!
    In fact they are better looking that the ca-ca stickies.
    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • georgiacop50georgiacop50 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭
    No. I did not expect him to offer 10G's....the MacGE "values" published on his website are obviously bunk.



    Either he is obviously lying about having 3, or else the MacGe pop reports are bunk as well. How can he have 3 of a pop one coin??



    My point is his business(MacGe) is doomed to failure, but we all new that when his sham sticker biz debuted.
  • PaleElfPaleElf Posts: 990 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: BUFFNIXX

    he is just selling the stickies.




    TPGs, CAC, MAC... They are all just selling something. Coin collecting was around long before they all existed and collector's have never stopped collecting.
  • MACGE1MACGE1 Posts: 269 ✭✭✭
    Firstly, my apologizes to the OP that you felt slighted at the show.

    With regard to the 1953-S Franklin, we do in fact have 3 coins with our sticker for which we paid $1,500 to $2,500 for. I'm not quite sure why they aren't in the POP report, I'll make sure that they get added immediately. As far as the price guide goes, it's definitely a work in progress and I'm specifically aware about the price of your coin which will be adjusted. As to us buying coins, we do make a market in our stickered coins, however we can't buy everything. If you'd like to know more about what we buy please PM me and we can discuss this further.
  • DeepCoinDeepCoin Posts: 2,781 ✭✭✭
    This is just a new version of an old song, IMHO.
    Retired United States Mint guy, now working on an Everyman Type Set.
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    He still has me blocked on eBay, I found the other day, this post makes me know why it really does not bother me that I can't spend my money on his stuff.
  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting


    Never heard of that sticker co.
    So Cali Area - Coins & Currency
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    While I would never disparage people attempting to launch a business - or grow one - it would seem that customer service would be the primary focus of such an endeavor.... Cheers, RickO
  • SamByrdSamByrd Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭✭
    the firm seems to be the same lock stock and barrel in every respect as its predecessor the experience by a long time poster here is a lot more insightful then made up prices and basically meaningless stickers.
  • BStrauss3BStrauss3 Posts: 3,108 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Disclaimer: I don't own a lot of modern coins, certainly no registry quality ones. I think the whole pursuit of registry points and stickers is crazy. So I guess I can truthfully say I have no dogs in either camp

    BUT

    There is another company also attempting to provide a business around stickering modern coins, http://qacoins.com/

    THEY have figured out it's all about customer service and the contrast is amazing. If you meet James at a show, /a/ he will talk to ANYONE intelligently about ANYTHING (especially, but not limited to coins) /b/ he can't shut-up - he so loves what he does he could talk all day. Now he is a busy man, he knows he is running a business and he will apologize and run off to keep an appointment. /c/ If you do run into him, get him to show you whatever coin he's recently fallen in love with - it's worth the look.

    -----Burton
    ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,528 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Am i the only one confused after reading their website as to which coins get a Mac and which get a GE sticker?
  • georgiacop50georgiacop50 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭
    Totally agree BStrauss3... I have known James Sego since I was quite young and he is truly the polar opposite of the Mac crew. QA is a classy outfit, and James is all about sharing and helping.

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 27,411 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: cwt
    link


    thanks for the info image
  • MACGE1MACGE1 Posts: 269 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: TwoKopeiki
    Am i the only one confused after reading their website as to which coins get a Mac and which get a GE sticker?


    In short, MAC is the sticker we affix to a MODERN coin that is premium quality for the grade - similar to what CAC does to traditional coins. GE is what we use to describe the strike of ANY coin, not necessarily modern ones. They are two completely different ways of increasing the value of a coin a the latter of which is patented.
  • gonzergonzer Posts: 2,986 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: ricko

    While I would never disparage people attempting to launch a business - or grow one - it would seem that customer service would be the primary focus of such an endeavor.... Cheers, RickO




    +1

  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,250 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: gonzer

    Originally posted by: ricko

    While I would never disparage people attempting to launch a business - or grow one - it would seem that customer service would be the primary focus of such an endeavor.... Cheers, RickO




    +1





    +1 - personally, I see little value in more stickers with the possible exception of CAC



    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • LanceNewmanOCCLanceNewmanOCC Posts: 19,999 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: georgiacop50



    He replied "I already have x of them, so no".image







    one of the most worthless responses and i hear it too often.



    if you hear me use this, feel free to call me a dummy.



    there are many coins i could use dozens of.



    cant people come up with something creative.



    perhaps, i dont buy coins from guys in sandals.



    You obviously should have texted him to get a professional response.




    lol

    .

    <--- look what's behind the mask! - cool link 1/NO ~ 2/NNP ~ 3/NNC ~ 4/CF ~ 5/PG ~ 6/Cert ~ 7/NGC 7a/NGC pop~ 8/NGCF ~ 9/HA archives ~ 10/PM ~ 11/NM ~ 12/ANACS cert ~ 13/ANACS pop - report fakes 1/ACEF ~ report fakes/thefts 1/NCIS - Numi-Classes SS ~ Bass ~ Transcribed Docs NNP - clashed coins - error training - V V mm styles -

  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This sticker thing has gotten totally out of hand. Apparently anyone can slap a sticker on a slab, whether they know anything about coins or not, and and someone will buy it.



    Wake up, people!
  • MarkMark Posts: 3,520 ✭✭✭✭✭
    georgiacop50:



    From the MAC website: The MACge LLC website www.macablege.com is an invaluable tool for ascertaining the most accurate cetified (sic) coin price in the market today. We verify and publish in our POPS each and every coin we sticker.



    As for Mr. Hagar, you must have caught him on an off day because the website says He (Mr. Hagar) looks through over 20,000 coins per month ... . Do the math: If he works 20 days a month, 8 hours a day, he is looking at a new coin every 30 seconds.



    One question I'd like to ask MACGE1: Is Mr. Hagar's first name "Alan" or "Allen"? I ask because on the MACGE "Meet our people" page, under Mr. Hagar's picture his name is given as "Alan" but in the blurb for "Consultant" the text says "... he met up with Allan ...". I presume the person that was met up with was Mr. Hagar? I might ask this question of the President of IT Operations, but because she has "little to know (sic) experience in coins" answering that question might not be her "nitch" (sic).



    Mark






  • one of the most worthless responses and i hear it too often.



    if you hear me use this, feel free to call me a dummy.



    there are many coins i could use dozens of.



    cant people come up with something creative.



    perhaps, i dont buy coins from guys in sandals.









    ... or maybe from guys wearing socks with sandals... image

    baahaa
  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    I replied it's a 53-S Franklin that has your sticker on it......

    He then reluctantly actually got out of his chair and I handed him the coin - he glanced at it for about 1/2 second and I asked are you buying?

    He replied "I already have 3 of them, so no". image


    If he wanted any more, why would have to buy them?
    Couldn't he just make as many as he wanted?
    They can't be out of stickers already
    image
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭✭
    For buffalo nickels, they will add a sticker to the holder, pcgs or ngc, if the bison has what they call a FULL SPLIT TAIL. Thus the acronym FSTL on the stickies for this attribute.
    Only problem is I have never heard of anyone caring about or looking for unc buffs with the FSTL attribute. (You might think a full horn sticker, something like FHRN might be more appropriate)

    In their price guide which you can access they have the following pricing for ngc ms63 and ms64 1916 doubled die obverse buffalo nickels


    1916 ddo ms63 without their FSTL sticker -- $155,000
    1916 ddo ms63 WITH FSTL sticker -- $200,000 (value of the added sticker here is $45,000!!)

    1916 ddo ms64 without their FSTL sticker -- $260,000
    1916 ddo ms64 WITH FSTL sticker -- $350,000 (value of the added sticker here is $90,000!!)

    Right now there are two unc 1916 doubled die obverse buffs on eBay, one is an ms63 and the other an ms64.
    Great candidates for a MAC FSTL sticker I would think if it would bump up the value that much!!

    Wonder what alternate universe these prices came from ?

    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I just checked out the two 1916 doubled die obverse buffaloes which are for sale on eBay....

    The NGC ms64 does have a FSTL or full split tail and would thus be a good candidate for MACGE (GE = grade enhancement) sticker, a 90K bump up in price.

    however

    from what I can see the NGC MS63 does not have a full split tail.
    Guess I will let the owner of the ms64 know that they can bump up the potential value of this monster buffalo by 90K by getting the FSTL stickie.
    (Wonder what it would cost to insure a 250K coin?)

    By the way the ms63 has a cache sticker and the ms64 does not.
    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • BUFFNIXXBUFFNIXX Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If you are thinking of buying a MAC stickered coin be very careful of not paying too much. For example if someone offered a gem ms65 pcgs 1938d buffalo nickel
    with a MAC FSTL (full split tail) or as i call it FOOL SPLIT TAIL for , say $500 u are getting ripped. Same logic goes for a cache stickie in my opinion.
    Collector of Buffalo Nickels and other 20th century United States Coinage
    a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
  • brg5658brg5658 Posts: 2,384 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think more fitting descriptions would be:



    Modern Approved Crap



    and



    Grade Embellishment
    -Brandon
    -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
    My sets: [280+ horse coins] :: [France Sowers] :: [Colorful world copper] :: [Beautiful world coins]
    -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,691 ✭✭✭✭✭
    As I see it, and correct me if I am wrong, you didn't feel slighted, he slighted you.
    LCoopie = Les
  • georgiacop50georgiacop50 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: lcoopie

    As I see it, and correct me if I am wrong, you didn't feel slighted, he slighted you.




    Actually, I felt vindicated!



  • thebeavthebeav Posts: 3,744 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm going to print up little "Superman" stickers. Put them on my 2x2's and keep any bad guys from buying my coins.....
  • StorkStork Posts: 5,205 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm having problems getting past this page.



    Too many superlatives, too many grammar/spelling/word usage mistakes (um, it's 'niche', not nitch...and 'know' is not the same as 'no'), and a serious overabundance of commas. Ugh. Can't read further as my eyes are bleeding.


  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,303 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If this AH sticker is worth anything, then he should be able to stand behind all the Accugrade coins still out there (ie pay CDN type prices for the listed grade). If that doesn't occur how do you put stock in this current venture?



    Alan Hager has been a lifelong Numismatist. At age 67 he brings to MACge his vast knowledge of every major traditional rarity, in having handled over 98% of every major 20th century rarity coin. He invented the Slab and the Certification process that is used universally by NGC and PCGS. Alan has written (7) books on U.S. Numismatics. His client list exceeds 100,000… 60,000 of which he acquired in the last fifteen years on eBay, His extensive inventory exceeds 20,000 certified coins listed on E-Bay, valued in excess of a millions. He owns over 60% of all “Finest Known” Modern coins, Cents to Dollars, listed on E-Bay today.



    Some of these claims would take a team of auditors to figure out. What's "a millions?"

    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Stork
    I'm having problems getting past this page.

    Too many superlatives, too many grammar/spelling/word usage mistakes (um, it's 'niche', not nitch...and 'know' is not the same as 'no'), and a serious overabundance of commas. Ugh. Can't read further as my eyes are bleeding.


    It says they have:

    1) A Founder (Hagar)
    2) A Visionary
    3) A VP
    4) An IT Specialist

    I wonder how much a Visionary gets paid?image
    I'd like that job. image

  • 3keepSECRETif2rDEAD3keepSECRETif2rDEAD Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Thor11
    My father , PawPaul, knows Mr. Hagger very well ...... you have my sympathy



    ...hmmmm...I wonder why this kid keeps bumping up all his uncle grampa's threads a full month after they have died...

    image

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