@lordmarcovan said:
I once reached into a dealer's open case at one of the big national shows like FUN, to pick up and examine a coin. The lid to the showcase was propped open and the dealer was standing right in front of me, so we had made eye contact and exchanged a word or two. I believe we had talked very briefly about the coin in question.
My mistake, however, was failing to clearly ask, "hey, do you mind if I take this coin out of the case to look at it?"
He flipped out and almost slammed the case down on my hand, as though I was trying to snatch the coin and run.
I stepped back quickly with a "whoa, easy there, fella!" reaction.
It was a gross overreaction on his part, but in retrospect, I suppose it is understandable. I thought we had exchanged enough (nonverbal) communication that consent for me to pick up the coin was implied, but I was incorrect.
I think coin show etiquette would side with him on this (though he certainly could've corrected my faux pas more tactfully).
A good many of my little frictions with dealers have been over seemingly petty things like this. Sometimes it was because I unknowingly breached etiquette, as in the example just mentioned. Other times the dealer has just been a plain jerk and inexcusably rude. (I suppose the dealer I just mentioned in this story was a jerk, but within his rights, and excusably rude.)
Think if it in this light.
A show case is like your house.
Can anyone go in without your permission and handle your property?
Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211
@lordmarcovan said:
I once reached into a dealer's open case at one of the big national shows like FUN, to pick up and examine a coin. The lid to the showcase was propped open and the dealer was standing right in front of me, so we had made eye contact and exchanged a word or two. I believe we had talked very briefly about the coin in question.
My mistake, however, was failing to clearly ask, "hey, do you mind if I take this coin out of the case to look at it?"
He flipped out and almost slammed the case down on my hand, as though I was trying to snatch the coin and run.
I stepped back quickly with a "whoa, easy there, fella!" reaction.
It was a gross overreaction on his part, but in retrospect, I suppose it is understandable. I thought we had exchanged enough (nonverbal) communication that consent for me to pick up the coin was implied, but I was incorrect.
I think coin show etiquette would side with him on this (though he certainly could've corrected my faux pas more tactfully).
A good many of my little frictions with dealers have been over seemingly petty things like this. Sometimes it was because I unknowingly breached etiquette, as in the example just mentioned. Other times the dealer has just been a plain jerk and inexcusably rude. (I suppose the dealer I just mentioned in this story was a jerk, but within his rights, and excusably rude.)
Think if it in this light.
A show case is like your house.
Can anyone go in without your permission and handle your property?
Yep. Fair assessment. Of course in my enthusiasm at the show, I did not think of this. So while Dude was a bit too rude to me, I did have it coming.
@BustDMs , I'm sorry to hear that. I can tell that your situation sort of surprised you. Mt. St. Helens worthy, no doubt.
I believe when things like that happen it chips away whatever "trust units" people are born with.
It can make you more cynical overall.
I hope you can move on and that's easier said than done.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
@UnclePennyBags said:
I am probably not what most people would expect in a coin collector, I'm a bigger guy who usually looks more at home in a biker bar than in a coin show and I have felt some dealers feel uneasy about me looking around... I'm always polite and ask to look at anything before I touch it, and I generally tell them specifically what i'm looking for it if's not easily found upon first glance and I still get the feeling some think i'm some type of criminal.
Generally when this is the case I buy the smallest thing you have that is coin supply related (under $1.00) and pay with a $100 just to watch them look the bill over, and once i get my change I congratulate them on the only dime they will ever get from me .
At a show/flea market, or wherever I may be set up, I do not judge my customers (potential or otherwise) on their appearance.
At a show/flea market, or wherever I may be set up, I do not judge my customers (potential or otherwise) on their appearance.
I agree totally.......The nicest Indian cents I ever bought were from a guy with a tattered coat and patches on his pants. His hands were even dirty. The coins weren't uncs, but just nice circ stuff. Neat coins like an 1873 in VF, stuff like that. At first, I was suspicious, like how could 'this' guy have these neat cents ? After beginning to talk to him about Indians, his passion and knowledge about the series became evident.
The deal was hundreds of dollars. Even now, almost 40 years later, I think about that guy. Often, I wish I had given him hundreds of dollars too much. He sure appeared to need it.
But if I made judgments based on appearances, he was the kind of guy you would just want to run away from.
I would never judge someone by their appearance. I've known quite a few millionaires that just don't focus on appearance because they don't have to impress Anyone. I've also known those that try to give the appearance of wealth by how they dress and what they drive but owe so much money they can hardly breathe.
Comments
Think if it in this light.
A show case is like your house.
Can anyone go in without your permission and handle your property?
Yep. Fair assessment. Of course in my enthusiasm at the show, I did not think of this. So while Dude was a bit too rude to me, I did have it coming.
@BustDMs , I'm sorry to hear that. I can tell that your situation sort of surprised you. Mt. St. Helens worthy, no doubt.
I believe when things like that happen it chips away whatever "trust units" people are born with.
It can make you more cynical overall.
I hope you can move on and that's easier said than done.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
At a show/flea market, or wherever I may be set up, I do not judge my customers (potential or otherwise) on their appearance.
I agree totally.......The nicest Indian cents I ever bought were from a guy with a tattered coat and patches on his pants. His hands were even dirty. The coins weren't uncs, but just nice circ stuff. Neat coins like an 1873 in VF, stuff like that. At first, I was suspicious, like how could 'this' guy have these neat cents ? After beginning to talk to him about Indians, his passion and knowledge about the series became evident.
The deal was hundreds of dollars. Even now, almost 40 years later, I think about that guy. Often, I wish I had given him hundreds of dollars too much. He sure appeared to need it.
But if I made judgments based on appearances, he was the kind of guy you would just want to run away from.
I would never judge someone by their appearance. I've known quite a few millionaires that just don't focus on appearance because they don't have to impress Anyone. I've also known those that try to give the appearance of wealth by how they dress and what they drive but owe so much money they can hardly breathe.