Laura's LB Report
KollectorKing
Posts: 4,820 ✭✭✭✭✭
KollectorKing
Posts: 4,820 ✭✭✭✭✭
KollectorKing
Posts: 4,820 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
I appreciate the effort, but the intro bit about how they only deal with the top %5 of quality coins so that their experiences may be different is some Bullstuff. Please, why even bother to trumpet out such.
Otherwise informational to a degree but not all that interesting. Next....
Well, just Love coins, period.
" they only deal with the top %5 of quality coins "
So that 01-S Quarter that some are bashing must be a real nice coin that will soon have a CAC sticker soon.
The reason that is added is because of this chat room declaring things are different for different niches. So it's not bullstuff.
Some good info in this report as usual.
Impressive that this went for double expected to a dealer that needs to resell.
To solve the price guide issue, it may be good for more dealers to publish sold prices for individual coins similar to HA.
PCGS Members show in Vegas is 9/27 to 9/30, not 9/20.
I stopped reading when Bohnmans (sic) was mentioned.
Tsk, tsk, tsk......
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
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Her reports are more bragging than informational.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
You know for a company that puts out an honest show report, as they experience, and a company that has defined nice coins, Laura takes a lot of flak. When I dealt with Laura she was always very nice to me, although I never really bought a lot, should have, but didn't. One time I got an invite to a special small party where many biggies in the business were in attendance, got to see the 1913 Liberty nickels reunion, Hawaii Five O specimen, July 29th 2003. I still have the mementos from the show. There was a gold brick from the SS Central America there @ Diamond International Galleries what a thrill to hold that brick in your hand. 2007-2008 was very rough on me, but Laura and Legend have never been, neither has Stack's Bower's or JAlbanese
so they all are mentioned here together by me as first class in Numismatic dealings/dealers, hobby professionals, promoters of good will for the future of the "hobby".
I too fall victim to the times and negative thinking, but not when it comes down to thinking about who's really who in the Coin Industry.
I always "hobby" as I believe many of us are being looked out for by the TPGs and the a fore mentioned folks as you all know; "After awhile our money is spent on an investment" Art, History, Culture, Fun and maybe a we have a good return on what we've spent for our coins. Regards, Sol
Good example: in her niche the CDN is quite useless. I agree. I haven't seen one at a coin show in several years.
Some in this chat room claim the dealers pull them out at shows all the time, thus you have to know the CDN. Different coins, different niche. You need to appreciate the difference.
I think her Ideas While Waiting comment is spot on. Better to identify a small niche, small collection, that you can work on rather than being frustrated while waiting for the next special coin that might not appear for a long time. I've practiced that for years, it's like having a Major and Minor degree in coins. Something you can fall back on.
Why no mention of it!
Greysheet....SMACK!
Glad to read there is still some puke gold out there. How about them Langbord ten in the wrong holders and no stickers ?
I don't. I really don't. As my mother would say, "If it weren't so sad, it would be funny."
I enjoy Laura's reports. I'm surrounded by fancy talking people in my professional life, and find Laura's straightforward writing style refreshing somehow. The stories of bourse commerce are interesting. It's cool how you can tell she loves her work.
A keystone niche that bears watching as a leading indicator.
For all her bragging, she does a lot of good.
And everyone on the ANA Board will tell you that, for all her bitching, she's done a lot of good.
This is a market where extrapolation pays off, I find outliers often useful
Let me paraphrase: "We were still sticking pins in dolls at 24K, then thrilled at 28K, and now eat my dust
"
Excellent work.
It's true. You won't find Ms. Sperber checking the reject slot at CoinStar machines ... unless she has a fetish
I disagree. I find it interesting, and quite puzzling ,that someone who has obviously achieved enormous success and is at the top of their profession, seems to find NO "love of her work" at all. Call me "DRECK." I call it as I see it. Let the chips fall where they may.
From what I've seen, she seems to love coins and love helping collectors build collections, but she calls the hobby as she sees it, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I appreciate her directness. It's like having a friend telling you the inside scoop at the highest echelons of the hobby.
She says it's a two-tier market, fine. She says CDN is worthless, it's not...it's just not for her tier. It's either a two-tier market or it's not...actually, I think there are at least 3 levels. I distinguish between junk and dreck, and the junk market is pulling down everything.
TDN is right. Laura added that right after there was fallout over one of her Hot Topics or Market Reports and many argued it might be true for the top 1-5% of the market, but not for the rest.
Because it epitomizes what she frequently calls "expensive dreck" (all in my humble opinion of course).
I hope she booked her flight for the right week. If not, can you imagine the market report?
After reading through the report, I must agree with her that the pricing data available to the public is crap, and it makes it hard to sell the nicer stuff unless you have the right connections.
Zoins, I appreciate your comments. Truly, I do. I've seen your coins. You are a collector "par excellence." I'm blessed. I have money. I was dirt poor as a child. I worked hard. I got lucky. I have money. Money to burn. However, I still see, and I always will see, the world through the eyes of a hungry kid growing up on the ranch. That said, I CANNOT reconcile myself, and I NEVER will be able to abide by people who are "ON THE TOP" and talk down and ridicule the people below them. Not everyone can afford the best. People buy what they can afford and they are satisfied. Even if the "TOP DOGS" don't get it. Believe it or not.
Or bragging about the 1963 silver dime if she found one.
Except she keeps using "then" when she means "than"
As in "bragging then inspirational" which implies a time sequence, or possibly a conditional situation, rather THAN a comparison
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I didn't want to make this thread about her instead of her posts, but she has made her fair share of ad hominem attacks. Anyone who disagrees with her is a "mouth piece," "coin weenie," etc., who collects "dreck" or is unknowledgeable, etc.
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Hi @Hydrant, I'll the first to admit that Laura's posts are a bit blunt and unvarnished, but that's the way she is. Some people are okay with the delivery, others are less so. I try to focus on the message which not many provide at this level.
Regarding the buying the best, she says that she advises people to buy the best they can afford, not simply the best. And that the best doesn't necessarily mean the highest grade:
Regarding talking down and ridiculing people below her, I think there are two items:
Interesting how her approach as Hydrant says, is worse than bad because of a transmitted [probably NOT] perceived attitude. Reminds me a bit of the medical "academics" in these parts that are never slow to try to put quieter colleagues down in sometimes subtle and other times not so subtle ways. They are the proverbial big fish in a small pond with weak egos; I never saw or heard even Nobel prize winners in other far more advanced and sophisticated circles conduct themselves in such a manner. Interesting how the latter would at the very least politely listen to opinions of "lesser" mortals, always mindful that even a lowly student or perhaps even a layperson may have much to contribute, and secure in their position.
Well, just Love coins, period.
I think that to be a game changer in any pursuit you have to have a genuine and deep passion for what you are doing. Of those with the passion, only some also have what I think of as the schmooze factor. The passionate schmoozers know how to work people and focus on the semantics and interpersonal skills needed to nudge people into consuming the change that they advocate.
Others with the passion either lack the schmooze, or could schmooze but choose not to. The result is that an equally correct message is often less well received. As a participant, each of us is best served to filter the message for the value that may be present, even if the flavor is a tad bitter.
good report. Would appear more professional with the aid of a proofreader/editor. Hopefully Laura will consider all negative comments as constructive criticism and continue with here enjoyable reports.
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I always enjoy Laura's reports. Combination of a wisdom and train wrecks.
In this report I find her to be counter productive with her CDN price guide rag rant. How can she complain about dreck auction prices influencing the levels to the downside when she refuses to participate in providing price level information for her "top 5%" of coins, because she will not be paid.
Reminds me of the old adage: cut off your nose to spite...
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I always find Laura's reports interesting.... she was a lot of fun when she used to post here on the forum. Cheers, RickO
I agree with Laura about CDN that it does not know in which way it wants to lead itself in this new age of technology.
They want to be a dealer to dealer wholesale sheet, but they also want to reflect up to the day auctions as well as dealer bids on the network. Are they a wholesale or retail reporting network. Their official stance is to report information to "protect the next buyer". Unfortunately the way they report information by just lowering bids based on a single auction will only continue to lower the listed bids across the board as low end coins go to auction and will continue to send the prices on a downward spiral through the toilet. In fact, I would say that they are self-destructing their own company-and hurting others on the way down as well. I will try and define this more in a later thread.
My take is that we have to read these market reports as Laura (or Legend) Market Reports.
Her sphere of influence is in very high grade and "eye candy" coins. My opinion is that this is a valid sector to cater to but could also be the key to what I call "new money newbies."
Sure, she has her dedicated numismatic peeps in her clientele, but taking a clue from her mentioning for some time about her "hedgie" as a new client says to me that Legend's customer base is looking to spend a lot of money and get some terrific looking coins. Time will tell if that is a lasting boon to numismatics.
Okay....that's fine.
My interests are more on what I call a historic aspect of numismatics (as well as condition of course) and I'd find a NE Shilling or a Pine Tree just as cool (maybe more so) than a proof version of what otherwise would be a "widget" if circulated. I've had some finest knowns and that's fun and I guess satisfying but in a different way than my newp California gold piece is.
One can NOT knock Laura (except for her grammar and spelling) as she HAS carved out a very respectable niche in the numismatic world and more power to her. She obviously "lives" coins and that's as cool as all get out. I don't support in one iota her adamant insistence on ONLY PCGS and CAC and hope that isn't contagious to other dealers.
But I still regard these reports of hers as more pertinent to that condition centric sector of the "market" than as an overall report on the entire collecting world.
At least she doesn't include "in US dollars" as opposed to all the alternatives.
I like Laura's reports!
"The newer buyers seem younger, wealthier, and are a bigger group then we ever knew of."
Oh no, this must be a typo or mistake!?! I thought the sky was falling and that there were no collectors under the age of 59.5? C'mon guys, get out on social media and the bourse and start yelling at these YN's before they take over the hobby!
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Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Ha, I'm interested in what this says.
Something about how perception of other people's age changes as you get old.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Her reports are more bragging. Totally agree!
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She said younger and not young. You are practically a young numismatist in this hobby if you're too young to run for president.
I thought 59.5 was now our cut-off for whippersnappers.
Alright !!! alright !!! I have had just about enough !!! Now, is Whipper Snappers one word ???
I> @derryb said:
Proofreader? corrected 'here' to 'her', hope that helps. HST, the report is talking to the 5%, which I am not. So not much information in there for me.
Best, SH
Ssdd or years for that matter.