Lets all be thankful

vega1 · March 27, 2007 7:23AM

Please allow me to rant for a minute, sorry if this is OT.

It really gets me when people ask for professional advice on this forum on, say for example investing in coins, or how they did on a purchase, and then get pissy when they don't get it. This is a **free internet forum**, one on which anybody with an email address can get on and post. Yes, there are some extremely knowledgeable and professional people here, and it is a source of excellent information. But come on, take it for what it is people, the world is full of idiots and most of them are on the internet, maybe right here. (You know who you are

) Maybe I'm cynical but I think people should feel lucky they got any serious advice at all, not start chastising the masses because some people were less than courteous or ridiculed them.

I for one have learned volumes of information here, and I *sincerely* appreciate the efforts of everyone to keep it a useful and safe place for YN. but I think we should all feel lucky this forum is as good as it is, and thank PCGS for putting up with us all and continuing to host it (although they get a tangible benefit as well).

So if you ask for information and you get 5 flames for every 1 useful post, recognize that your ahead. No one here is under any obligation whatsoever, everything they do is out of the kindness of their heart and the enjoyment of the hobby.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

kranky · March 27, 2007 7:27AM

It's pretty easy to ignore the unhelpful posts and learn from the good ones.

FredWeinberg · March 27, 2007 7:32AM

I wish the people who call me on my phone, or email
me, would read what you wrote.

Yesterday alone, I got two hang ups, and one "I've
only asked about 5 questions on my coin, why are
you so short with me?".

I always reply at least three times to an email and
followup questions - if the coin is damaged/altered,
I ignore the sender after I've told them three times.

I also take every phone call personally (althought my
assistant does take a few of the Two Headed Coin Calls)

People think you have nothing to do all day but talk to
them about their coin, and although you might answer
their question as to how it occured, and the value (or a
rough estimate based on a verbal description), some
don't understand when I say "I'm sorry, but that's about
all the information I can give you based on your verbal
description" - and get mad at me.

They want to know why the Mint would acid treat a coin,
why the Mint would put a coin in a vise, why the Mint would
do whatever they did to THEIR coin - and when I tell them
again the the Mint didn't do it, someone else did, they start
all over again asking "Why would someone do that??"

And, MOST of the time when they do have a real error, and I
do make an offer, they say "Thanks anyway", and I see it
up on Ebay two days later, with my offer as the opening bid,
usually.

I take it pretty well, overall, and accept that it is part of my
job description - ESPECIALLY when you're dealing in
Mint Error Coins.....

The way I vent after phone calls like that? (and I get a dozen a day)

I put the phone down, take a deep, loud, sigh, and say --------

"How The Heck Did We Ever Put A Man on The Moon?"

combatmailman · March 27, 2007 7:36AM

I just ignore the snide comments that are made on here, some as jokes, some as ignorance, take in the good and let the bad go out.

LALASD4 · March 27, 2007 7:37AM

"How The Heck Did We Ever Put A Man on The Moon?"

Some people said we didn't. Maybe it is true.

mach19 · March 27, 2007 7:40AM

I Hear all of Them post

Thanks for Kicking this around

13PacesEast · March 27, 2007 7:40AM

<< flames for every 1 useful post, recognize that your ahead. >>

you're ahead.

you're

Newcomp103 · March 27, 2007 7:49AM

<< "How The Heck Did We Ever Put A Man on The Moon?" >>

Makes sense....it LOOKS like a coin!!!! And what would we say about a super expensive coin without it???

"Neptune money" just doesn't have the right ring to it

Seriously...Fred has it right...I do not have anywhere close to the knowledge that a lot of dealers have, but
any time someone knows that numismatics are my hobby, they always want info on the coin(s) that they have, but dismiss the conversation when I tell them that the 1934 "Indian Head Nickel"....with only a partial date...that they think is so rare is worth a buck or 2....rudeness knows no boundaries!

N8 · March 27, 2007 8:11AM

<< 

<< flames for every 1 useful post, recognize that your ahead. >>

you're ahead.

you're

>>

Hah, you did exactly what I was going to once I saw it...

TwoSides2aCoin · March 27, 2007 8:35AM

Got Pics ?

notlogical · March 27, 2007 8:52AM

<< 
I put the phone down, take a deep, loud, sigh, and say --------

"How The Heck Did We Ever Put A Man on The Moon?" >>

Space, the final frontier.

mheffner2 · March 27, 2007 1:17PM

When I ask for advice or understanding I'm always grateful to get even one useful nugget. And sometimes the flames are just damn funny!

Boothill40 · March 27, 2007 1:37PM

Seems like I always get realy good responses to my ?'s so i can't complain as the folks of this forum have been real good to me i just hope i contribute something back.