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Story how someone got burned buying coins in 3rd tier slabs

GeomanGeoman Posts: 2,491 ✭✭✭
I was at my local coin club meeting this past week, and I brought a few coins for show-n-tell. The coins I brought were a few of my recent purchases and included two Walker Half Dollars in PCGS MS64. I felt they were nice and solid for the grade. At the end of our meeting, a new comer to our meeting pulled me aside and proudly showed me two of his coins he had just bought. Both were Walkers that were graded by NTC. One was graded MS66 and the other MS67. One was obviuosly cleaned with hairlines through the surface. The other was maybe a 63, but I also thought there was a slight rub and could have been an AU58.

He was so proud of them, and told me he had recently bought them at an auction (the kind of auction where everyone brings their junk to) at the local VFW hall. And was happy that he only paid $250.00 for the pair. Ouch! I tried to tell him that the grades of his two coins may be inflated, but he said "Oh no, these have been graded and put into this plastic container that says that is what they grade." I didn't have the heart, or energy, to sit him down and try to explain to him that his coins were probably worth only 1/5 of what he paid. If he comes back to our next meeting, I think I will try again to explain the differences between grading companies.

Comments

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    RWBRWB Posts: 8,082
    Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that almost guarantees the newcomer won't return. Once he understands what happened and how badly he was taken by both his own ignorance and the deception of others, he will feel that coins and cons are one and the same.
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    coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It sucks to be a new collector and get ripped.
    Been there, done that.
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    MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    I have seen lots of people like this bring that crap into local coin dealers, the dealers try to explain that the slabs they are in don't mean a thing. Well the people think the dealers are trying to rip them off. They hit every dealer within 25 miles and get the same story. Some realize that they need to learn about the hobby, the other put the coins in a bank box for their kids! Then when the kids try to sell them, guess what, the coin dealers are trying to rip them off again!!!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

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    notwilightnotwilight Posts: 12,864 ✭✭✭
    It will be easier to explain if you don't use his coins as an example. good luck, Jerry
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    pf70collectorpf70collector Posts: 6,843 ✭✭✭
    Just tell him next time to check out the forums on PCGS and let him decide for himself.
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    MercMerc Posts: 1,649 ✭✭
    You should have told him about the differences in the grading companies. Yes, he will feel cheated and disappointed when he learns that his new coins are overgraded. Hopefully he won't hold that against you. You are just the messenger. I gave a couple of presentations at my coin club about the grading companies. I would rather have them learn than to keep buying junk.

    Only one member quit after I told him he had overpaid on some coins. He showed me two proof Franklins in PCGS PF66 holders (no cam or dcam). Both had milk spots. He had paid $100 each at a large coin show. I told him they go for around $20. He didn't believe me until I sent an email with ebay and teletrade acution results. I tried to be nice about it, but he never came to another coin meeting. Oh well. I can't make everybody happy.
    Looking for a coin club in Maryland? Try:
    FrederickCoinClub
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    ElcontadorElcontador Posts: 7,740 ✭✭✭✭✭
    One of the major problems in this hobby is that too many people make money on the "bigger fool" theory. In this situation, the party with more knowledge will legally steal from the more ignorant individual. It could be something like this, or to a lesser degree, someone selling an overgraded coin to someone who really shouldn't be making a purchase in the first place.

    It's all probably legal, but none of it's ethical.
    "Vou invadir o Nordeste,
    "Seu cabra da peste,
    "Sou Mangueira......."
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    CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,345 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Why don't you write up a speech or a seminar of the dangers of craptastic TPG's. At your next club meeting give the presentation with examples of differenty junk TPG's and the good 3 TPG's. Show realized prices for the same coins in different plastic. When you talk to someone one to one about their coins and you are knocking them many times that personal will be skeptical of anything you have to say. Educate the entire club and the messege will sink in much better.
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    Yes, and let him know that even when using the best grading companies .... mistakes still happen. It's always best to judge a coin in person whenever possible, but if buying sight unseen then PCGS or other top tier graders really is a good idea.

    I should know they make mistakes, I have a beautfully toned MS65 FBL Frankie at home and the toning really brings out the fingerprint on the obverse image
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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It is a shame.... I had the situation with a fellow where I work... had purchased several coins... at an incredibly inflated price. Tried, very nicely, to inform him of the problem(s) - yes, there were many - but he would have none of it. Became quite belligerent. I had to just let it go... by now, I am sure he has learned - well, perhaps not learned, but realizes he has been taken. I feel very bad for these people. Cheers, RickO
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    bidaskbidask Posts: 14,057 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I was at my local coin club meeting this past week, and I brought a few coins for show-n-tell. The coins I brought were a few of my recent purchases and included two Walker Half Dollars in PCGS MS64. I felt they were nice and solid for the grade. At the end of our meeting, a new comer to our meeting pulled me aside and proudly showed me two of his coins he had just bought. Both were Walkers that were graded by NTC. One was graded MS66 and the other MS67. One was obviuosly cleaned with hairlines through the surface. The other was maybe a 63, but I also thought there was a slight rub and could have been an AU58.

    He was so proud of them, and told me he had recently bought them at an auction (the kind of auction where everyone brings their junk to) at the local VFW hall. And was happy that he only paid $250.00 for the pair. Ouch! I tried to tell him that the grades of his two coins may be inflated, but he said "Oh no, these have been graded and put into this plastic container that says that is what they grade." I didn't have the heart, or energy, to sit him down and try to explain to him that his coins were probably worth only 1/5 of what he paid. If he comes back to our next meeting, I think I will try again to explain the differences between grading companies. >>

    Have the heart to suggest he join these boards.
    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




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    250 is pretty cheap considering the potential he could spend down the road. please inform him before he does something real dumb the next time. thx
    my EBAY items
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    tahoe98tahoe98 Posts: 11,388 ✭✭✭


    it's unfortunate when a new collector refuses to listen to someone offering advice, like educating yourself before taking the plunge. hopefully they learned a lesson.
    "government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is a force! like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." George Washington
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    BECOKABECOKA Posts: 16,961 ✭✭✭
    Maybe have lecture topic on 3rd world slabs at one of the coin club meetings and invite the person in question to attend.

    Kinda like an intervention. image
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    au58au58 Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Maybe have lecture topic on 3rd world slabs at one of the coin club meetings and invite the person in question to attend.

    Kinda like an intervention. image >>



    This is a very good idea. Or, as a practical learning experience, ask the club to front the re-grade fee and send them to a top tier.
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    Why can't dealers flat out say to a newbie/unknowing person: 'I'm sorry, but I won't even make you an offer
    on those because the grading co. is not reputable' Then no one can come back at the dealer with the...you're
    trying to rip me off attitude.



    Jerry
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    I have a couple NTC MS66's with heavy toning that I have to decide what to do with - a Morgan that has a quarter inch nick that could br construed as a scratch by most, and a Walking Liberty that looks AU-58 - maybe I will just keep them as remindersimage


    but I bought my 2 for less than half of what your friend paidimageimageimageimageimageimage
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    Caveat emptor
    This is the last time I will ever do this again
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    I've been burned worse. A $250 lesson in this hobby is cheap.
    Salute the automobile: The greatest anti-pollution device in human history!
    (Just think of city streets clogged with a hundred thousand horses each generating 15 lbs of manure every day...)
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    messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    One thing that troubles me is the impression I have that you may be the only one at a coin club meeting that would be qualified to enlighten him. Implore him to hie hence to this forum. Then prepare a presentation for your club demonstrating varying grading standards that exist between grading services, using real coins as examples. $250 for tuition might sting a little, but it's not the stuff legends are made of yet.
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    tightbudgettightbudget Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭
    image
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    RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think a good way to handle this is to show the person who has a third world slab in PR69DCAM, a coin in PCGS PR69DCAM. Tell them to look at the coins inside the slabs, not the labels on the slabs. Clearly the PCGS coin will have much more eye appeal and much more DCAM surfaces than the third world slab. That way, the person can see the difference with his own eyes.

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

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