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I have to rant!
Bustman
Posts: 1,911 ✭
I have not posted all that much lately. Mainly because I was out of collecting for a while. Anyway, a few years ago when I use to buy a lot of coins, David Lawrence cut me off because I returned a few too many coins. I bought plenty, but also returned many. They wound up reinstating me after I complained. Well, a few years go by, I'm not collecting much for a while, but then decide to dabble again. Long story short, I ordered two coins from DLRC about a month ago, neither one of them worked for me so I returned them. Well guess what, I've been banned again. This time they told me if I was willing to accept a no return policy that my account would be opened again. I told them no thanks. Has this happened to anyone else? I think it's pretty rediculous.
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i think dlrc is not the dealer for you. if i say what i think about their
current gold coins in inventory i will get banned.
they must "prey" on newer collectors hoping they will keep obvious
ugly coins that a refined collector rejects outright.
anything nice they have in inventory, be prepared to pay handsomely.
San Diego, CA
JMO
Ron
i consider them a wannabe.
K S
<< <i>I only returned 2 out of 20 and I was banned. >>
It's ridiculous for a dealer to ban a collector that only returned 10% of the coins purchased.
Russ, NCNE
There's obviously more to this story. How about sharing the details with us?
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
In the 1980's my return rate was 90%! Basically to the point where I could trust no seller (this was before slabs). If I was ordering blind based on descriptions only, I'm sure I'd be at 90% today as well. That's a reflection of what's out there. And I've heard for years that I'm too fussy, don't know what I'm talking about, unrealistic, etc. Basically I go to shows to look or to auctions.
I honestly feel that 90% of the offered slabs on the market are poor deals or burials for the end-users. Interpret that any way you like.
What you're experiencing should be the norm....at least the high return rate (not the bamming). I'm 0/1 with DLRC and there will not be a 2nd time. They told me to take a flying hike on an auction lot I won via internet bid. The coin was atrocious and I ended up letting another dealer handle their mess and get the coin downgraded for me. But I also realize I could take 90% of the top tier retailers out there and pass on 90% of the stuff without exception. But this is no different than other dealers do when looking for coins to buy on the bourse. Heck, they don't even buy 1% of what they see.
roadrunner
buyer keeps only the finest coins and best deals then you have to raise your prices on every-
thing. A buyer has a right to return anything and these returns should teach the seller what
the buyer demands so he can plan accordingly. If they can't discern a pattern, they might also
be reluctant to deal with a customer.
Your displeasure is certainly understandable. If their stock is important to you, maybe it's pos-
sible to view it in person at the store or a show. I'm sure once they learn your needs they can
find a way to do business. If not, they need more help.
<< <i>This time they told me if I was willing to accept a no return policy that my account would be opened again. >>
I'm surprised that came from DLRC. I've never had anything but excellent dealings with them, although I must admit I've not once had to return a coin. There is a DLRC member on these forums. Perhaps he could chime in and clear things up?
ps. If you get on Gail at JJ Teaparty's bad side just send her a love token with a G on it and you're in good again
Every so often, drop them a note to let them know how you're doing and that you just bought a very nice coin for XXX amount of dollars and then bode them well and say.....Take care!
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
DLRC is not making good bussiness sense at all by there return policy.
<< <i>For what it's worth when I see a coin listed on the website of a dealer that has no photos I find a photo of the coin type in the Heritage archive, send it to the dealer and ask how their coin compares to the Heritage coin. I've done this multiple times with Dick Osburn and others and it's always worked great. They either come back and say that the coin isn't the one for me (ie. their coin is a dog) or they say that I should pull the trigger on their coin as it's a match up. >>
Yeah, you need to figure out something that works with someone like Dick Osburn who doesn't have images. In that case the best you can do is show them a representative sample of the "look" you like, and see if they can identify the right coins for you.
Like Pres. Bush says' " Fool me once,...shame on you.....Fool me twice and .... uh, uh...shame don't get fooled again"
The Whisker Cheek Collection - Top 50 Peace VAM Registry
Landmark Buffalo Collection
<< <i>For what it's worth when I see a coin listed on the website of a dealer that has no photos I find a photo of the coin type in the Heritage archive, send it to the dealer and ask how their coin compares to the Heritage coin. I've done this multiple times with Dick Osburn and others and it's always worked great. They either come back and say that the coin isn't the one for me (ie. their coin is a dog) or they say that I should pull the trigger on their coin as it's a match up. >>
That's an interesting idea that I never considered. I have discussed auction coins or coins in inventory with dealers who know my coins and coins that we have both viewed in the past. Sometimes, the dealer will say something like "it looks like the so-and-so I sold you last year" or "it looks like the so-and-so in the Heritage FUN auction this year". This can be very helpful.
Coins looked nothing like the pics and when I spoke to a live person they had an additude thing going on.
Herb
i remember staring in disbelief about certain board members raving on & on about how great a company it is. hogwash.
& he, that is the board member from dlrc, can bite me.
K S
<< <i> I only returned 2 out of 20 and I was banned.
There's obviously more to this story.... >>
I have since bought another and believe (hope) it is more of what I am looking for. Their shipping was quick and they thanked me for notifying them by email that I was returning the first coin.
<< <i>I sort of got banned from JJ Teaparty for returning too many coins on approval. It's a combination of me being a picky collector, and the fact that pictures can hide some things. They told me that when someone returns a coin, they pass it around the office and discuss the reasoning behind the return. >>
The problem with JJ Teaparty is that most of their coins seem to be described as PQ which is ridiculous. Hyping coins only leads to problems for both the dealer and collector.
With regards to DLRC, I've only purchased on coin from them and discovered a fingerprint that wasn't visible in the image. As a result, I returned the coin with a note regarding the fingerprint and they called me to apologize for it. I was quite impressed by that touch of customer service.
<< <i>[The problem with JJ Teaparty is that most of their coins seem to be described as PQ which is ridiculous. Hyping coins only leads to problems for both the dealer and collector. >>
For what I'm looking for, they don't seem to have many original coins these days (mostly circulated classic silver). On the plus side, the images are pretty good and you can screen out the ones that aren't "right" pretty easily. Their images pretty much allow me to completely ignore the description and value the coin myself based on the image. If I like it and it's a fair price for what I think it is, I'll buy it regardless of their prose or their stated grade.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
If a firm buys mostly PQ coins, should they downplay that when they go to sell them?
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
I saw the 1825 half escudo. Did I miss anything else? Thanks!
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>Andy did you see the CAR gold at NEN?
I saw the 1825 half escudo. Did I miss anything else? Thanks! >>
That's the one, 58 if memory serves.
Of the 10-20 or so firms that routinely use this type of advertising, maybe 2-4 of them (20%) really do deal in mostly PQ or higher end coins. The other 80% just advertise it w/o the material to back it up. That's the problem. The same firm that always buys PQ probably also states that they are "the highest buyer."
roadrunner
<< <i>If a firm buys mostly PQ coins, should they downplay that when they go to sell them? >>
Andy- You're absolutely right. What I should have said is that I have a problem when the coins are claimed to be PQ and they are almost entirely average pieces. "Needle sharp" details should be 99% fully struck. "Blazing luster" should be blinding. "Superior eye appeal" should be eye candy.
I found out rather unceremoniously when I went to bid in one of their Auctions. Again, I have purchased MANY coins from them that total a substantial figure and to be treated this way shows that they are certainly lacking when it comes to Customer Service and common COURTESY.
I did return a few coins (something I rarely do) because once in hand they proved to be problematic or not at all as pictured or described. The worst was a coin, out of thousands of certified coins that have made their way across this desk, that was unlike ANY I had previously seen.
I knew immediatley that the coin had been overly dipped, as it was totally devoid of luster and had turned with a really Gross creamy White substance running all over inside the slab. Instead of them having the foresight to send the coin back to the certifying Service and taken OFF the Market, they sold it with full knowledge that there was a significant problem involved. Just what were they thinking?
When I called and advised them of the situation, I was told to send it to the Service which lead to a sequence of very unpleasant events. Despite all this I continued to buy from them until they ran out of merchandise that appealed to me. It was some time before I went back and this is when I discovered that I had been shown to the curb.
To treat a customer ( any customer) the way I was is totally unprofessional and to learn that mine is not an isolated case speaks volumes about what caliber coin dealer this is.
Customer Satisfaction is and should be Paramount. I found the way I was treated to be very unprofessional. All ANA Members, particularly Dealers, are bound by the ANA Dealer Code of Ethics. They would do well to remember this.
gee, i hope the mint doesn't get the same bright idea on returns.
Practice makes perfect & nobody is perfect. So, practice being nobody and be perfect !