To Grade or Not to Grade - Dealer Anomaly?
Obiwancanoli
Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭
Like most everyone else, I waited patiently for my UHR's to arrive. One, ordered a week after introduction, was fortunate enough (I think) to arrive with a shipping date of 3/11, and thus, became eligible for FS status. The other arrived aboout a month later, and of course, this one I opened up to view what I felt was a beautifully designed coin. Very pleased was I. 
My initial goal was to have both coins graded, but only if on inspection the latter of the two appeared - with my highly untrained eye - to merit the Mother of all Grades. I had a couple of the Lincoln Commem's I thought might also "make the grade", and when the last of these arrived, I packed everything up, and took it all to a B&M I had called and spoken with a few weeks prior. Very helpful, he was, and our conversation led me to believe he was someone I could trust for an honest opinion, and good customer service. Unfortunately, he was at a coin show for the next few days, and was unavailable until then. To have waited for his return meant another two hour ride there and back. It was Friday, the only day I could really play hookey, and make the hour ride there before they closed.
I knew there was another dealer close by, in the local Mall, and so I headed there as my second choice. It was my second choice because, in the process of calling around to obtain info. and guidance (I'd never had a coin graded before), the gentleman who answered the phone in my initial inquiry told me he didn't think it was worth it to have "a coin" graded. In point-of-fact, his conversation was discouraging, despite his affiliation with NGC & PCGS. It was much the same when I arrived in person with my UHR's, and a few other coins I wanted a trained eye to inspect.
Interestingly, the first dealer - whom I felt was more accomodating - had his coin displays within the confineds of a safe & lock shop, and though neat and clean, there wasn't much of a display, and the area seemed confined. On the other hand, the second dealer had his own shop, with a customer area alone of about 600 sq. ft., three isles of display items, and both side walls full of items fronted by glass counters all around. An impressive display of coins rested throughout the entire area.
So, I walk in with my coins, a gentleman is called out to assist me, and I begin to tell him I have two UHR's I want to have graded, and a couple of Lincolns I'd like him to have a look at. He thinks I want HIM to offer a grade, but I told him I was simply looking for an opinion on their potential. This, I'm sure, is the same guy I spoke with on the phone, and if so, he again begins to discourage me from taking the risk of grading. "If it comes back a 69, you'll probably have spent more to get it than if you'd just left the coin alone, and kept it as is." Of course, I understand this, but with the UHR's, I was willing to take that risk.
After a few minutes, the owner of the place comes back from where it was he'd gone, an older gentleman, much more friendly, but when I reiterated a briefer version of my story, he just sort of shrugged his shoulders, joked, never looked at the coins (the first gentleman only looked at half of my Lincoln's when the owner had come back, and didn't think any of those were worth grading), and seemed almost indifferent to the grading issue in general. In the end, I left with the opened UHR and all the Lincoln's, leaving only the FS eligible coin for them to send to PCGS.
Your opinions please?
My initial goal was to have both coins graded, but only if on inspection the latter of the two appeared - with my highly untrained eye - to merit the Mother of all Grades. I had a couple of the Lincoln Commem's I thought might also "make the grade", and when the last of these arrived, I packed everything up, and took it all to a B&M I had called and spoken with a few weeks prior. Very helpful, he was, and our conversation led me to believe he was someone I could trust for an honest opinion, and good customer service. Unfortunately, he was at a coin show for the next few days, and was unavailable until then. To have waited for his return meant another two hour ride there and back. It was Friday, the only day I could really play hookey, and make the hour ride there before they closed.
I knew there was another dealer close by, in the local Mall, and so I headed there as my second choice. It was my second choice because, in the process of calling around to obtain info. and guidance (I'd never had a coin graded before), the gentleman who answered the phone in my initial inquiry told me he didn't think it was worth it to have "a coin" graded. In point-of-fact, his conversation was discouraging, despite his affiliation with NGC & PCGS. It was much the same when I arrived in person with my UHR's, and a few other coins I wanted a trained eye to inspect.
Interestingly, the first dealer - whom I felt was more accomodating - had his coin displays within the confineds of a safe & lock shop, and though neat and clean, there wasn't much of a display, and the area seemed confined. On the other hand, the second dealer had his own shop, with a customer area alone of about 600 sq. ft., three isles of display items, and both side walls full of items fronted by glass counters all around. An impressive display of coins rested throughout the entire area.
So, I walk in with my coins, a gentleman is called out to assist me, and I begin to tell him I have two UHR's I want to have graded, and a couple of Lincolns I'd like him to have a look at. He thinks I want HIM to offer a grade, but I told him I was simply looking for an opinion on their potential. This, I'm sure, is the same guy I spoke with on the phone, and if so, he again begins to discourage me from taking the risk of grading. "If it comes back a 69, you'll probably have spent more to get it than if you'd just left the coin alone, and kept it as is." Of course, I understand this, but with the UHR's, I was willing to take that risk.
After a few minutes, the owner of the place comes back from where it was he'd gone, an older gentleman, much more friendly, but when I reiterated a briefer version of my story, he just sort of shrugged his shoulders, joked, never looked at the coins (the first gentleman only looked at half of my Lincoln's when the owner had come back, and didn't think any of those were worth grading), and seemed almost indifferent to the grading issue in general. In the end, I left with the opened UHR and all the Lincoln's, leaving only the FS eligible coin for them to send to PCGS.
Your opinions please?
UBERCOINER
A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
Beats All The Lies You Can Invent
A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
Beats All The Lies You Can Invent
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Comments
for me has been an ongoing problem-
bit the bullet and sent off a number of $60-150 coins:
-- I want the ability to sell/ trade; and figured that I was going to struggle to get decent AU prices on decent (raw) UNCs.
--I had paid fairly stiff retail prices for some of these, which I wouldn't recover (I think) in the raw condition.
-- They are very attractive coins, maybe suitable for a more decent grade than I/we would have guessed.
-- There's an ego thing: hey, man- these coins are slabbed! I've got good stuff here!
-- Certified coins will appreciate faster(?); and will certainly be better protected against the elements, and my handling.
Now I have a different problem, potentially: do I keep or trade a couple of coins worth 3,4,5 x what I've paid for them (wishful thinking perhaps, but there are some nice price jumps along the scale)
Enough rationalizing??
1879-O{Rev}: 1st coin of my "secret set"
Don't believe I have ANY chance getting these coins' worth, otherwise.
And with as little as ONE PLEASANT SURPRISE, I'm in coin heaven!!!
1879-O{Rev}: 1st coin of my "secret set"
A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
Beats All The Lies You Can Invent
Try #1 again, even if it is after the fact.
Friggin' spooky, you are...
A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
Beats All The Lies You Can Invent
<< <i>Hopefully he don't have a look see at that UHR. >>
If you're referring to the second dealer - with whom I entrusted the FS UHR - he did not. Oddly, he didn't seem interested in looking at it in the least. His reaction, now that I think back on it, suggested his thoughts were about what a sucker I was, and if I want to spend the money, who's HE to argue?
My professional experience in my own field taught me long ago that no one likes to look stupid twice in a row. Don't think I'll be taking any more business there.
A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
Beats All The Lies You Can Invent