Poor Salesman

Sure, there are hard-sell types everywhere. However, they're normally easy to deflect or simply walk away. I find coin shops are usually smaller and more intense venues. I just happen to spend more time and buy more when under less pressure.

You can say that again!

I personally hate it when they act like you "hurt" their feelings if you buy from another dealer.

Libertad: I hear ya...

It kills me when a dealer "can't do" anything below melt + 5-10%, when all they need to do is rip off the next granny at half of melt to replenish their stock.

It's not like the dealer did anything whatsoever to deserve the run-up in silver prices. A lot of them think as though they put hard labor into that Peace dollar making it worth more. Come on dealer...

I actually wasn't going to respond to this thread, but after reading some of the responses, I felt the urge to say something.

First off, I came to the conclusion a few years ago that customer service is dead. But after watching customers treat store clerks rudely, under the "customer is always right" banner, I no longer wonder why. When was the last time an employee at Walmart kissed your butt? I have dealt with some pretty nice store employees, and have also dealt with some very rude ones. Guess where I spend my money? Great customer service is rewarded by my hard-earned dollars. I usually just walk away from the rude ones.

When was the last time you negotiated a price for an item in Walmart? Why would you expect that anywhere else? It's okay to ask, but why get upset when the clerk says "no, this is the price"? And I understand the OP's point about prices being marked, but we're also talking about a commodity whose prices fluctuate on a daily basis. You asked, and was given an answer you didn't want to hear. Without being there to witness the exchange, I can only imagine how you perceived the clerk's response.

On the flip side, the OP stated "...just when the salesman had a guaranteed sale..." What led the salesman to believe he had a "guaranteed sale of $100+"? Your manner of dress? The cash and notarized contract in your hand? The fact that you were looking at a gold coin (probably valued at more than $100? The OP also stated this was a "high-end store in the pricey section of town". If so, does this $100 purchase really mean a lot to the salesman? Probably not. Was the price he quoted you (not the marked price) fair? This is, after all, what we all want? There are numerous threads about ripping off the little old ladies, how fair prices should be offered to all.

I am fortunate in that the people I deal with are very customer-friendly. They know I know what I'm looking at. They know I am aware of fair market value. They know this because I actually spend more time talking to them than browsing their selection. I have never negotiated a price for a coin, the people I deal with on a regular basis have offered me the discounts I get. The local coin shop I frequent has been very good to me. And their primary reason for being in business is not to sell coins, but to buy gold and silver. They offer far below melt for these items, and make a killing. No, it does not bother me that they do this. The hundred or so I spend when I frequent this store is minuscule to their profit margin, but I am one of the few that come in with cash in my hand, not with grandma's silver tea set, and they treat me as such. But I have run into vendors and dealers for whom customer service is not a priority. I don't get upset. I spend my money somewhere else.

I agree with your point to a certain extent. And just the other day I bought an item at Walmart that rang up wrong (from what the shelf tag said) at the register. I questioned it, and got it at the marked price. But we're not talking about a consumable good, but a commodity. Why are we buying silver and gold (for the most part)? In the hopes to turn a profit? Like this dealer? Like I said, prices fluctuate daily. Isn't 16.5x face a decent fair market value for junk silver coins? How many on here are selling their silver at the current melt value, rather than a slight mark-up over what they paid when they bought it? Several suggested the dealer should have not marked the individual pieces, that a dry erase board, or even a spreadsheet that can be updated in the morning, printed, and displayed would be better. I agree what happened isn't good business practice, but that's the beauty of capitalism. The seller can set whatever price he wishes, and the buyer can walk away if that's not the price he's willing to pay. Just walk away. There's no reason to get angry about it. The seller loses your money. You find a better deal elsewhere.

I have coins in my collection that were in 2x2's marked by a previous owner, and the seller left them that way. A lot of these were purchased in lots that had only one or to coins that I wanted. Perhaps this was the case with this particular seller?

WOW, I'm amazed at how many people think even the big stores are non negotiable. I haggle pricees at Walmart, Kmart, Menards and many, many other stores. My neighbor next door just did that with a place called Menards for Rock Salt for the Winter. You just can't do haggling with the stock boys or cashier type personal. Got to find someone that can change the prices. You would be amazed at what goes on everywhere when it comes to haggling prices.
Actually even most large stores, such sa Walmart, even sort of advertise that if you find a cheaper price for anything, show them and you will either get it for that or they will beat that price.
Some brag you can get 10% to 20% off if you can beat their prices and I've done that a real lot. Many stores sell massive quantities of merchandise that is difficult to sell to individuals that in turn sell it off at flea markets.
I treat all stores as if they ARE flea markets.

Wal-mart does not haggle,They price match with proof it is cheaper somewhre else big diff .

My sister managed a wal mart front end for 5 years, AT MOST THE FRONT END PERSON CAN AUTHOURIZE A 10% CUSTOMER APPRICIATION DISCOUNT done for employees and employee families during christmans at there home store they work at usually only one week day say a day in december from 8-12 is emplyee family day

Lots of indian and middle eastern people would try to haggle , simply put they were told to call the wal mart home office.

ONLY ONE TIME ! DID WALL MART COME DOWN IN PRICE .

A mormon church was wanting 3,000 bicycles at 100$ each
so Walmart put in a special order for them at 30% off plus BUT IT VOIDED THE FREE assembly of the bikes
and the mormons had to assemble them themselves.

Wal mart has a generic bike manufature in china that only makes bikes for Walmart no one else , the bikes were cheaper goingthrough Walmart then had they went straight through a china sales rep in that instance an they dindt have to worry about being ripped off my a over seas scammer

Wal-mart store managers are able to over ride marked down alredy items,discontinued items,damaged and out of season items .

But you cant just walk in and say hey thats a nice nice 500$ tv ill give you 400$ for it .They will tell you to call home office