Have you ever had a dealer recommend buying a coin from another dealer's inventory?

SmallEagle · January 27, 2009 6:13AM

Last Friday after seeing my post regarding Pinnacle's offering of the Sounder Type Set, Joe O'Connor emailed me and suggested I try to buy the Norweb 1795 half dollar if it came available. It was listed on Pinnacle's website as "on hold". I told Pinnacle I was interested and ended up buying it today after their previous deal fell through. Joe has often advised me against buying coins in auctions but he has never recommended that I buy a coin from someone else's inventory. It's almost like going beyond the call of duty.

Has this happened to you?

bidask · January 27, 2009 6:16AM

One time at a major show ( ANA) I asked L.S. if I could shadow her as she made her rounds to other dealer booths.

She pointed out a couple coins I should buy one of which I bought.

jdimmick · January 27, 2009 6:40AM

Yes, I have if I had a customer looking and I like the coin that another dealer has.

Yesterday, though I had a customer go look at another dealer item that I liked, to see if he liked it, but told him not to buy it from them, let me go buy it from them cheaper and that I would flip it to him at a much lower asking price than the dealer that had the coin was asking. Done this twice lately.

Hey its business

FinallyHere · January 27, 2009 6:45AM

Joe's good people, honest and I've never known him to not have the client's interest at heart - so, this comes as no surprise to me

micmt · January 27, 2009 6:47AM

"Yesterday, though I had a customer go look at another dealer item that I liked, to see if he liked it, but told him not to buy it from them, let me go buy it from them cheaper and that I would flip it to him at a much lower asking price than the dealer that had the coin was asking. Done this twice lately. "

I've knew a dealer a who did this also but would charge the same price. But then again he would do this in a small town and have to drive an hour to the other dealers. He would go searching for multiple coins on the same trip to save on gas and time.

collegecoincollector · January 27, 2009 6:54AM

it only seems to happen at shows. one dealer will tell me to go to another dealer's table if i'm looking for a specific coin. somehow they all seem to know what each specializes in, it's crazy! ..... but who's complaining

BBQnBLUES · January 27, 2009 6:54AM

I've asked one of the Forum members to acquire a coin from an on-line dealer that I needed/wanted.

He was kind enough to allow me to place it on a 4 month layaway _PLUS he was able to sell it to me for less

no harm in asking...

GoldenEyeNumismatics · January 27, 2009 7:03AM

Yep, it's happened to me.

But not for a coin like the Norweb 1795 Half

EagleEye · January 27, 2009 7:17AM

Sometimes a referral like that will get the referrer a little percentage of the sale.

Sometimes, it is just in the interest of helping you build the best set.

Sometimes, its both.

Anyway, it is a good business move.

RWB · January 27, 2009 7:28AM

Yep. The conversation usually goes something like:

Dealer: (Mumbling to himself as he chews a 3-day old hot dog.) I gotta’ get rid of dis guy, he’s a drivink me nutz.
Me: OK. Can I see that coin - over there – yea, in the bottom under the 1850 proof set and the sack of 1895 dollars?
Dealer: Sure! (under his breath) Dis ‘s da 19th coin he’s eyed and no sale…
Me: Hmmm…well, not quite what I was looking for. Do you have any 1864 French minors struck in aluminum?
Dealer: (Thinking….) Ah! Hot dawg! Here’s my chance.
(To unwanted customer...) Geez, I don’ know much abou' d’em. But Joe Fizzelbuck, over d'ere in aisle 4300 (gesturing direction) yeah, waaaaaay over d'ere behind the statue of Farran Zerbe taking a leak. Yeah, he’s got a bunch of ‘em.
Me: Great! Thanks for your help!
Dealer: Anytime. Anytime---bye!
(To himself…) Now, how can I change my table location so d’is guy can’t find me…?

RYK · January 27, 2009 7:28AM

Yes, on more than one occasion.

BigE2 · January 27, 2009 7:31AM

RWB- That's FUNNY! I especially like the part about the Zerbe statue.

speety · January 27, 2009 7:49AM

Yes, L.S. has on multiple occasions and while TDN isn't technically a dealer, he has also pointed me towards many coins not in Legends inventory.

Unknown · January 27, 2009 9:15AM

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PutTogether · January 27, 2009 9:34AM

I've told customers that they should buy a car from another dealer if it was a car I knew they would like and I didn't have and couldn't get for them. Sometimes there is just a car out there I know someone in particular should own, and it doesn't matter if they get it from me or not.

ArizonaJack · January 27, 2009 9:35AM

It is a service oriented thing. If one of your customers wants a coin you cannot provide, you have a mental list of " good folks " that you should recommend. I have done it on many occasions, and it has paid itself back in karma and sales every time.

RichieURich · January 27, 2009 10:07AM

Another dealer just did that for me yesterday and his customer called and bought a fairly large coin. I've done the same when I knew who had or might have a certain coin. This happens a lot, it just doesn't get reported much.

Have you ever had a dealer recommend buying a coin from another dealer's inventory?

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