B&M rant

Lmman · June 13, 2011 7:52PM

I travel a lot for work and when I get some free time I like to visit these sort of places and I am use to being told that they dont have anything that I am looking for. In most cases I then pick up a ASE or AGE to add to my collection if I dont see anything else that grabs my attention. This week I found myself in a small town in the middle of Idaho where I noticed there was a B&M shop. I looked around and as usual I didn't see anything that interested me, so I asked the shop keeper if he had any MS Quarter Eagles and he didn't. I then I ask him if he has an Iowa commemorative (I've been wanting one for a while just have not found one I like enough to buy yet) and he thinks he does so he gets into his safe and pulls out a box of 20 and thumbs through it. Not finding one he lets me know, and I ask if I can see what hes got in the box and I am told no. Not a big deal I suppose but as I have thought about it, it really bothers me. I was in the mood to buy a nice coin to add to my collection. Yes there are a couple of series that I mainly stick to, but I dont pretend like there are not other coins that interest me.

Coins are something that have interested me since I was a small boy and I really enjoy this hobby most of the time. However I find being a customer within this hobby to be very inhospitible. Maybe I am spoiled by the other hobbies I've got where I am treated like a human being. Yes, I've been told that things are not for sale in other hobbies. But rarely has that prevented the shop keep from letting me look at it or explain to me why I am not allowed to look.

I'm sure this incident wont stop me from walking into a nice shop, but it sure would be nice to walk into one where I can enjoy the visit.

greghansen · June 13, 2011 8:10PM

Small town. Your a stranger. Wanting to look at what he keeps in the safe. It was probably just a cautious guy who was overly security conscious. It would make me feel a little unwelcome also, but as you've noted, I've become accustomed to running into coin dealers whose feathers get ruffled easily. Fortunately, I don't take such things personally. How could it be personal...he doesn't even know you.

Lmman · June 13, 2011 8:16PM

I dont take it personal, just discouraging.

TheShampineCollection · June 13, 2011 8:54PM

I've been coin collecting since I was young. I usually like oddball stuff, lowballs, Ikes, odd silver bars. When I walk into a new B&M, I notice that usually I am not treated very well when I start asking for anything other than the norm. Especially when I was young, but even now. I'm 37 and still feel like because I don't walk in dressed in slacks and a polo (or nicer) that I don't get any respect. As a business owner who has two customer service oriented businesses, I just can't understand the introvert mindset of the B&M coins store owner. Why get into a customer service oriented business if you hate dealing with people? When I visit one of those shops, I usually don't go back. I'm sure they are just as happy without me as a customer.

Greg

ricko · June 13, 2011 11:39PM

I must say, this is very typical of coin shops. I, too, have always noticed the poor customer service and surly attitude of shop dealers. Not sure why this is, but it seems to be the same all over. When I was traveling for business, I would hit many cities all over the U.S., and, like the OP, would browse a shop when I had the opportunity. Always the same, almost as if I were intruding on their private time. Bewildering. Cheers, RickO

PerryHall · June 14, 2011 12:25AM

This dealer has probably been shop lifted so I can understand why he would hesitate to let a stranger paw through his coins. If you were the only customer there, he could have watched you while you were looking through his coins but it would have been awkward if he had to help another customer there. If you were a regular customer, I'm sure he would have let you look through his coins.

erickso1 · June 14, 2011 12:52AM

Where at in Idaho was this? Different areas of Idaho have different types of people.

llafoe · June 14, 2011 12:57AM

Did he have any potatoes in TPG plastic?

OldEastside · June 14, 2011 1:55AM

Ya, don't take it personal, I'm a sorta levi's and tee shirt guy that use to
ride my sportster to a lot of these places years ago and park right in front
of the door, and most treated me great, some like a king and some of them
would'nt even buzz the door mouthing that there closed, oh well there loss.
Don't lose any sleep over it.

Steve

streeter · June 14, 2011 2:09AM

Happens a lot and if it'll make you feel better, I got thrown out of a shop in Amarillo for asking to look at 1969 proof sets

maybe he was partial to them.

jmcu12 · June 14, 2011 2:42AM

I work in a shop and he has a lot of stuff out and he has some in boxes. He does not let people go throug his stuff in the boxes as they are more expensive and he does not want to spend a lot of time baby-sitting someone.

But if you want something specific, he will look for it and let you know. It also depends on if he knows you and can trust you. Regulars get better treatment.

devious · June 14, 2011 2:44AM

Yes, B&Ms are excluded from dealing with ethics. Don't take it personal. Only the customers are required to be ethical. After all, it is the B&M's space. They can be and act however they want. Customers must be holy and sacred. I don't get this understanding. Why are we so quick to attack ethics of a customer, but so quick to defend the lack of ethics of the B&M?

questor54 · June 14, 2011 2:48AM

<< Yes, B&Ms are excluded from dealing with ethics. Don't take it personal. Only the customers are required to be ethical. After all, it is the B&M's space. They can be and act however they want. Customers must be holy and sacred. I don't get this understanding. Why are we so quick to attack ethics of a customer, but so quick to defend the lack of ethics of the B&M? >>

Brilliant post.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · June 14, 2011 2:53AM

<< Yes, B&Ms are excluded from dealing with ethics. Don't take it personal. Only the customers are required to be ethical. After all, it is the B&M's space. They can be and act however they want. Customers must be holy and sacred. I don't get this understanding. Why are we so quick to attack ethics of a customer, but so quick to defend the lack of ethics of the B&M? >>

Because most of the people here have little idea of the challenges faced by B&M owners and the risks they must deal with.

devious: ethics was never part of the equation. Saying "no" to letting a stranger look at your box of coins is a safety precaution. Just like many dealers at shows aren't comfortable with letting more than 1 coin out of there case at a time, the same can be said for coins at a shop. For all the dealer knew, the OP could have planned to bolt as soon as he got the box in hand.

Lmman · June 14, 2011 2:56AM

It was in Lewiston Idaho and I was the only patron in the shop. I was dressed business casual. And the only reason that it bothers me is that I can go into a Jewelry shop and look at some very expensive jewelry and not have anyone blink an eye. I'm not going to loose any sleep over this, its more of a curiosity about the hobby.

scotty1419 · June 14, 2011 2:56AM

At a show this weekend I asked to browse a few peace dollars in a dealer's case who had setup. After a couple minutes, he gruffly asked "so are you going to buy them or now?"

I could have acted angry and walked away at that point but I politely said no and asked to look at another coin which I ended up getting a pretty fair deal on.

I think in order to increase your chances of success in this hobby you have to be willing to roll with the punches and poor manners of others.

erickso1 · June 14, 2011 3:12AM

Grew up about an hour south/east of Lewiston/Clarkston. Beautiful area, but can have some rough edges people wise.

devious · June 14, 2011 3:17AM

<< 

<< Yes, B&Ms are excluded from dealing with ethics. Don't take it personal. Only the customers are required to be ethical. After all, it is the B&M's space. They can be and act however they want. Customers must be holy and sacred. I don't get this understanding. Why are we so quick to attack ethics of a customer, but so quick to defend the lack of ethics of the B&M? >>

Because most of the people here have little idea of the challenges faced by B&M owners and the risks they must deal with.

devious: ethics was never part of the equation. Saying "no" to letting a stranger look at your box of coins is a safety precaution. Just like many dealers at shows aren't comfortable with letting more than 1 coin out of there case at a time, the same can be said for coins at a shop. For all the dealer knew, the OP could have planned to bolt as soon as he got the box in hand. >>

I suppose the world is guilty until proven innocent. Sad world people live in, I guess.

Why are banks around? Shouldn't it just be assumed that because they're opening up a bank, they're going to be robbed? Therefore, don't open a bank and avoid any possibility of being robbed? If you open a place to conduct BUSINESS, wouldn't it be best to actually allow BUSINESS/COMMERCE to take place? He obviously grabbed the coins from the safe because THEY WERE FOR SALE. Why not allow a potential buyer to look at the inventory? Sounds pretty moronic, from a business aspect, if you ask me.

Point is, customers seem to get all the heat on these forums when it comes to a B&M interaction. Even in the hypothetical posts. The B&Ms are mostly let off the hook for any and all of their behaviors. I understand the one coin out at a time, but seriously, as a B&M owner, maybe you should have the doors all lock from the inside. Then he couldn't have bolted and you could have maybe made a sale to somebody you suspected would steal from you instead. They have this locking mechanism in gun shops I go to. And it makes more sense in the gun shops.

Paranoia is rampant in this world. Support the pharma world and buy more happy pills, people.

I live in a world of trust. You're not my enemy until you make yourself my enemy. I wish other people would feel the same. It's hard for me to understand the mistrust placed on strangers, ESPECIALLY in a for profit business/commerce environment.

Yet, I'm the one who is 'devious'.

roadrunner · June 14, 2011 3:17AM

Even in some of my favorite B&M shops they are very leery of allowing me to look through some of their boxes. I think part of not seeing fresh/good material is that they would rather place it with a well-known customer/client who will one day sell the items back to them. There's not a lot to be gained selling to strangers, one timers, even dealers and pseudo-dealers, as those coins will probably never come back. When they have items that local clients won't buy then those are rountinely the things I'll get shown. Once you set yourself up to be a reliable and steady customer, you'll be shown more material. One of the shops I often visited from around 1974 to 1999 didn't hardly show me a coin in 25 yrs. No matter what I did it was impossible to break into their favored-sons group. It wasn't until the shop changed hands that I finally started seeing coins and being able to buy them. 25 yrs was a long time to wait, especially knowing some fabulous coins routinely went through that shop. Many of the best coins were sold directly to west coast dealers who routinely flew in on buying trips to fleece these guys, all the while convincing them what a great deal they were getting. I guess they prefered to be fleeced by sharp national dealers rather than to sell to in-state collectors. The raw coin days made it quite simple to buy nice coins for dirt.

roadrunner

jmcu12 · June 14, 2011 3:17AM

<< I think in order to increase your chances of success in this hobby you have to be willing to roll with the punches and poor manners of others. >>

While I think this is true and helps, from an attitude standpoint; I do think that tact, patience, saying please & thank you, etc. are lacking from BOTH sides of the table.

questor54 · June 14, 2011 3:18AM

<< It was in Lewiston Idaho and I was the only patron in the shop. I was dressed business casual. And the only reason that it bothers me is that I can go into a Jewelry shop and look at some very expensive jewelry and not have anyone blink an eye. I'm not going to loose any sleep over this, its more of a curiosity about the hobby. >>

Leroy Huminsky? He has been in the same location for 35 years! He pays top dollar! AND he is open on Saturdays!

BlindedByEgo · June 14, 2011 3:49AM

I think that this is the best answer to the OP's question. The good stuff goes to the Circle of Trust.

<< Even in some of my favorite B&M shops they are very leery of allowing me to look through some of their boxes. I think part of not seeing fresh/good material is that they would rather place it with a well-known customer/client who will one day sell the items back to them. There's not a lot to be gained selling to strangers, one timers, even dealers and pseudo-dealers, as those coins will probably never come back. When they have items that local clients won't buy then those are rountinely the things I'll get shown. Once you set yourself up to be a reliable and steady customer, you'll be shown more material. One of the shops I often visited from around 1974 to 1999 didn't hardly show me a coin in 25 yrs. No matter what I did it was impossible to break into their favored-sons group. It wasn't until the shop changed hands that I finally started seeing coins and being able to buy them. 25 yrs was a long time to wait, especially knowing some fabulous coins routinely went through that shop. Many of the best coins were sold directly to west coast dealers who routinely flew in on buying trips to fleece these guys, all the while convincing them what a great deal they were getting. I guess they prefered to be fleeced by sharp national dealers rather than to sell to in-state collectors. The raw coin days made it quite simple to buy nice coins for dirt.

roadrunner >>

coirn · June 14, 2011 3:53AM

<< It was in Lewiston Idaho and I was the only patron in the shop. I was dressed business casual. And the only reason that it bothers me is that I can go into a Jewelry shop and look at some very expensive jewelry and not have anyone blink an eye. I'm not going to loose any sleep over this, its more of a curiosity about the hobby. >>

You didn't look Mormon enough.

krueger · June 14, 2011 9:50AM

I think we all have had the same experiences with B&M dealers mostly. I too have experienced all the above described.

I understand now that B&M shops are there mostly to buy and rip from the unknowledgeable public.

They have an arrogant attitude and try and intimidate the walkins to sell to them very cheaply.
I have had this same attitude experience at shows also, but seems to be only a few now and then.
I even had one of our past ANA govenors give me this attitude intimidation BS/ berating at his table. he still won't ever get my vote for his seat again at this years election.

I had one local B&M dealer get all upset that I wanted to buy a Fine barber dime 1906-S he had in a pick one lot. He knew I was an advanced collector and he thought I had cherry picked him for some rare variety he had missed. I just liked the coin, he did not believe me.
Many are paranoid of this.

krueger

ambro51 · June 14, 2011 10:09AM

SAY NOTHING

Reach into back pocket, remove wallet.
Open wallet, fan through about twenty $100 Bills.

Turn, walk out of shop.

mrpotatoheadd · June 14, 2011 10:28AM

<< Even in the hypothetical posts. The B&Ms are mostly let off the hook for any and all of their behaviors. >>

You're kidding. right? That is not even remotely close to the truth. B&M owners are raked over the coals regularly here.

Sometimes, there's even a good reason.

Greeniejr · June 14, 2011 10:52AM

A big problem is that for some people the theoretical relationship has degenerated so far that they come in to the store with a terrible attitude which causes things to go bad fast. Because some feel like the shop is going to try and take advantage of them, they come in with this, I am better than you attitude, it turns the dealer off really fast. I have had countless times where I have legitimately tried to help someone, tried to find out what their interest is to show them more coins and you give them space. They then immediately complain you are not paying attention to them and complaining you don't have esoteric material they are looking for. You get others who don't know their head from their tail coming in with their grey sheets, asking for coins that don't exist and then if you do have something they will complain that you are charging over bid. Then there are similar people who come in and before looking at anything ask how far back of bid our prices are.

Unfortunately the solution to this is that collectors need to come in with a POSITIVE open mind and let things happen. Yes there are jerks behind the counter but it is like that in every business. At least give it a chance. Who knows, if you do that maybe you can get on the preferred list. Or just deal with MDP because he is nice to everyone.

On another note, if you think the B+Ms are bad here, trying going into one in Europe. On my vacation to Italy and Spain I went into several shops and all they had was cleaned, overpriced crap. In a few of the stores the coins were of questionable authenticity and a few others had the owner sleeping at their desk. Be somewhat thankful for what you have here.

mrpotatoheadd · June 14, 2011 10:59AM

<< Because some feel like the shop is going to try and take advantage of them, they come in with this, I am better than you attitude, it turns the dealer off really fast. >>

I'm sure I posted this before, but one day at the local coin shop, the dealer told me a guy came in with some stuff to sell and said "I know you're going to rip me off, but what will you pay for these?"

Coinosaurus · June 14, 2011 11:34AM

I've sat on both sides of the table. There are plenty of jerks on either.

I do think you tend to hear more bad dealer stories, because, well, they are simply outnumbered by the collectors.

BBN · June 14, 2011 11:36AM

<< SAY NOTHING

Reach into back pocket, remove wallet.
Open wallet, fan through about twenty $100 Bills.

Turn, walk out of shop. >>

I did this about 6-7 years ago. The first time there(new to the hobby then) around 2000 the guy told me after picking some low grade crap that if I didn't intend on spending at least $100 that I was wasting his time. I went in a few years later with several c-notes hoping to get a nice coin. I asked him if he had a 1909-S VDB and he and his buddy hanging out with him started laughing and he stated "you buying a 1909-S VDB? You don't have the money for that." I said I did, showed the wad of $100s I had and left. I was mad but returned about 2-3 years ago to buy a Liberty double eagle and spent about $1300. Since that purchase he treats me much differently.

I do think it's odd that some coin dealers are short on people skills. I do not think coin collectors are this way in general but I do think this hobby attracts these types of people. I can't understand why dealers won't allow people to see their coins up close. When I was engagement ring shopping several years ago multiple jewelers let me hold several thousand dollar rings with no problems. If anything, they were very cordial and acted like they really wanted to make a sale.

erickso1 · June 14, 2011 11:37AM

<< 

<< It was in Lewiston Idaho and I was the only patron in the shop. I was dressed business casual. And the only reason that it bothers me is that I can go into a Jewelry shop and look at some very expensive jewelry and not have anyone blink an eye. I'm not going to loose any sleep over this, its more of a curiosity about the hobby. >>

You didn't look Mormon enough. >>

Coirn, I may have to disagree. Lewiston is to far north, and to close to Washington for Mormon country. That was more around Boise, Id and thereabouts. You ran into a whole new breed of cats in Northern Idaho, Northern, Washington.

Nick

MAT1 · June 14, 2011 11:56AM

<< It was in Lewiston Idaho and I was the only patron in the shop. I was dressed business casual. And the only reason that it bothers me is that I can go into a Jewelry shop and look at some very expensive jewelry and not have anyone blink an eye. I'm not going to loose any sleep over this, its more of a curiosity about the hobby. >>

I agree with your statement. That is the why I do not go inside coin shops anymore. I am tired to be look at like they do me a favor ( I am the paying customer!!!)
Few dealers I trust that is all and the bay,

TwoSides2aCoin · June 14, 2011 12:16PM

<----scratching Idaho off my list of "Coin Friendly" states.

mrpotatoheadd · June 14, 2011 12:28PM

<< <----scratching Idaho off my list of "Coin Friendly" states. >>

On the basis of *one* report? Kind of an overreaction, I'd say. You could try reading this thread for some other opinions if you're interested.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · June 14, 2011 12:51PM

<< I think we all have had the same experiences with B&M dealers mostly. I too have experienced all the above described.

I understand now that B&M shops are there mostly to buy and rip from the unknowledgeable public.

They have an arrogant attitude and try and intimidate the walkins to sell to them very cheaply.
I have had this same attitude experience at shows also, but seems to be only a few now and then.
I even had one of our past ANA govenors give me this attitude intimidation BS/ berating at his table. he still won't ever get my vote for his seat again at this years election.

I had one local B&M dealer get all upset that I wanted to buy a Fine barber dime 1906-S he had in a pick one lot. He knew I was an advanced collector and he thought I had cherry picked him for some rare variety he had missed. I just liked the coin, he did not believe me.
Many are paranoid of this.

krueger >>

I'm guessing you're understanding of B&M shops comes primarily from people posting here. Wait for your own empirical knowledge to come as opposed to developing such generalizations based on what is posted here, because so much of what is posted here is wrong.

TwoSides2aCoin · June 14, 2011 12:59PM

<< 

<< <----scratching Idaho off my list of "Coin Friendly" states. >>

On the basis of *one* report? Kind of an overreaction, I'd say. You could try reading this thread for some other opinions if you're interested. >>

You're correct. That was probably a little over the edge on my part.

mrpotatoheadd · June 14, 2011 1:11PM

TwoSides2aCoin-

I have to apologize. I didn't mean to jump on you with both feet over this. It's just that "Mr. Nasty B&M Owner" seems to be a regular topic on this forum, and I think the reality is (in general) something quite different. On the other hand, based on the attitudes of some of the posters as expressed in their own words, I can guess why they might think as they do and why the dealers they encounter act as *they* do.

As for me, none of my B&M experiences have ever been anywhere near as bad as what I see posted here, but then again, maybe I'm doing it wrong?

PutTogether · June 14, 2011 4:02PM

You guys that think coin dealers are too gruff obviously don't spend enough time in gun shops.

mightyhunter · June 14, 2011 11:21PM

I still have a coin in my Standing Liberty Quarter Registry Set that I bought from this guy many years ago. It was a 1924D that was purchased raw and graded years later at PCGS at AU 50. I am surprised he is still walking the planet. He used to be friendly with kids who would kick tires over coins and sports cards. I bought a few other coins from him and the price was usually right. Lewiston is not exactly a geographic hotbed for people of the mormon persuasion. If you think he was a jerk, you might want to go to Coeur D' Alene or Spokane and see how you are treated in a few of those shops. There is also a shop in Missoula, Montana where the owner and his employees did not graduate from charm school. I think that some dealers are just inherently suspicious of new faces because of a fear of being robbed. Others, are just scared to death that you will cherry pick them and others are just socially deficient. A few are so bogged down watching and dealing in the precious metals market that they don't have the time to deal with real coin collectors.

greghansen · June 14, 2011 11:33PM

You guys that think coin dealers are too gruff obviously don't spend enough time in gun shops.

astrorat · June 14, 2011 11:33PM

<< You guys that think coin dealers are too gruff obviously don't spend enough time in gun shops. >>

Spot on!

astrorat · June 14, 2011 11:46PM

As somebody else who has been on both sides of the counter, I can tell you that often a B&M dealer has to contend with misinformed customers who know that their "victory nickel" (i.e., Liberty nickel) is worth thousands and thousands and any realistic discussion is framed around the dealer being a thief because they know what dealers are really like. The same thing happens with lots of common coins that are rare to the public but widgets to dealers.

If people (not just dealers) have these types of interactions enough, it may become difficult to not be cynical. Some dealers take the easy way out and try and bully the public and other dealers. It's a low-level survival response from an emotionally unskilled person. You can't control somebody's action, only your response to it. Never forget that about 1/5 of the population has a mental disorder of some kind ... seriously.

CaptHenway · June 15, 2011 12:10AM

<< As somebody else who has been on both sides of the counter, I can tell you that often a B&M dealer has to contend with misinformed customers who know that their "victory nickel" (i.e., Liberty nickel) is worth thousands and thousands and any realistic discussion is framed around the dealer being a thief because they know what dealers are really like. The same thing happens with lots of common coins that are rare to the public but widgets to dealers.

If people (not just dealers) have these types of interactions enough, it may become difficult to not be cynical. Some dealers take the easy way out and try and bully the public and other dealers. It's a low-level survival response from an emotionally unskilled person. You can't control somebody's action, only your response to it. Never forget that about 1/5 of the population has a mental disorder of some kind ... seriously. >>

You mean like the people who look up an Uncirculated 1914-D cent on "THE INTERNET!!!" and then insist that their 1913 plain in VG must be worth more because "it's older!!!!?"

astrorat · June 15, 2011 12:12AM

<< 

<< As somebody else who has been on both sides of the counter, I can tell you that often a B&M dealer has to contend with misinformed customers who know that their "victory nickel" (i.e., Liberty nickel) is worth thousands and thousands and any realistic discussion is framed around the dealer being a thief because they know what dealers are really like. The same thing happens with lots of common coins that are rare to the public but widgets to dealers.

If people (not just dealers) have these types of interactions enough, it may become difficult to not be cynical. Some dealers take the easy way out and try and bully the public and other dealers. It's a low-level survival response from an emotionally unskilled person. You can't control somebody's action, only your response to it. Never forget that about 1/5 of the population has a mental disorder of some kind ... seriously. >>

You mean like the people who look up an Uncirculated 1914-D cent on "THE INTERNET!!!" and then insist that their 1913 plain in VG must be worth more because "it's older!!!!?" >>

No, that's their sister.

Barry · June 15, 2011 12:32AM

Most B&Ms do one kind of business - fleece widows then wholesale what they've ripped.

Greeniejr · June 15, 2011 12:45AM

I was flipping through the channels last night and I came across the show Hardcore Pawn on the True TV channel and all I can think about was this thread. Look at the type of people who they deal with and you can understand the type of people that drive us B+M dealers to insanity. That is why a friendly smile or polite banter goes a long way vs. a stick in the rear attitude.

Coppercolor · June 15, 2011 12:53AM

<< You guys that think coin dealers are too gruff obviously don't spend enough time in gun shops. >>

Amen.

Born out by dozens of experiences, I atribute my willingness to weather the introverted, suspicious, gruff or even"inside circle" tendencies of dealers that has lead to many a true treasure.

True of fishing too. Go where others havent' been willing, or didn't have the fortitude and opportunity abounds.

BryceM · June 15, 2011 2:17AM

'tis a funny business. I'm pretty convinced some B&M owners love their favoritie coins too much emotionally to let them go. They all have a price sticker, but actually selling them seems to be a problem. There are all sorts of B&M coin shops too - seedy pawn shops all the way up to Fifth Avenue sorts of places. The people vary accordingly. There are always two sides to a coin (and a story) too.

BTW, Religious appearance, skin color, or orientation isn't usually an issue in this modern, enlightened age, except maybe for a few people here who obviously are still bothered by such things.

RichR · June 15, 2011 2:17AM

I can relate a story from when I was an older teenager (I'm 42 now)...as even then I was running out of "common" stuff to buy and was trying to collect proof and mint sets from the 1950s with minimal toning. And this was no easy task in the days before eBay and the internet.

So I'd pull out my yellow pages and start calling around to stores that I had done business with in the past to ask them if they had the set in question in stock, and if so, was it heavily toned, and the price.

I can't tell you how many of them would refuse to check or answer...even about the price. They'd say, "If you're interested, come in." And then hung up. So yes, that always struck me as odd.

I'd like to say that things have improved in recent years, and at most shows everyone is usually pleasant enough. But every now and then, you still run into a crab (Baltimore crab?) at an empty or nearly empty table who actually looks annoyed that you're disturbing his lunch.

Oh well...such is life.

Tonelover · June 15, 2011 3:29AM

When I was in my early teens I began to collect common foreign coins. I went to shop after shop after shop to look through fishbowls full of worthless foreign that were usually priced about $.10 apiece, maybe three for $.25. I would have them spread all over the counters, in trays, generally making a pretty nice mess and being totally oblivious as to my true worth as a customer, all so I could spend an hour or two looking for about $10 worth of them that I didn't already have.

I must have been lucky because not one dealer was ever rude to me while I did that.

renomedphys · June 15, 2011 4:04AM

Not a lot of comparable shops in my area, but one stands out like a sore thumb. The owner is probably the only one with a feel for numismatics, but still he staffs his shop with mindless automatons with no zeal for the hobby. It has been at least two or three years since I've even been in there, but during the handful of times I visited, they:

- have told me that the owner is too busy to provide personal service.

- have told me that I cannot look through proof sets to pick a nice one, as they do not allow cherrypicking. Furthermore that the owner has already cherried off the good sets, which the owner hoardes in the back, which I cannot see.

- on several occasions were unable to answer a real question, went into the back to ask the owner, who was too busy to tell me himself, but rather gave the clerk a quick non-explanation which was relayed to me. I followed up, upon which the clerk explained that although she did not have an answer, she was unable to ask the boss another question unless this was leading to a real sale, as he was just too busy to bother with random stuff.

- accosted me once when I entered his shop after I commented right here on the forum that his new big-money silver CC widget had that "dipped look" according to auction photos. I mean, I'm no expert, but how does a silver coin go over a hundred years looking like freshly polished silverware? Anyway, the clerk saw me and ran to get the owner's wife. She showed me a printout of the post, told me that she thought it was unfair, and then further asked me why in so many years I have not given their shop a fair shake, and not allowed them to help me build my collection. I told her that in my opinion, this was just a shop to find occasional widgets, and no place in my opinion to find real quality coins in the series I collect. I also told her that I have never been treated like a customer that mattered in the least, and that in leiu of the owner's presence at the counter, was no place to carry on any real discussion about coins. Well "BURN!" I guess. For that, I was asked impolitely by the owner's wife to leave and withhold my further business.

Sweet! Now every time I pass by their shop I get a chill down my spine.

By the way, as you may have guessed, this shop is local to me, in Reno. I just want to clear up that I am NOT talking about Silver State Coin, Northern Nevada Coin, or any of the shops local to Carson City. Just a shop in a run-down strip, fully barred windows, run by a black-eyed troll of a man that perhaps has forgotten what the sun looks like.

B&M rant

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B&amp;M rant

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B&M rant