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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,204 |
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New Member
United States
48 Posts |
Has anyone every had a bad experience with a Coin Dealer? As a newbie, I'd love to know what to watch out for. I'll start this one rolling with a few observations. When seeking out a reputable coin dealer, it's a good idea to do your homework. For this example it's a male. Here are just a few warning signs to look for: (1) He has lots of coins graded MS75 to MS160; He calls "slabs" those clear, coin holder thing-a-ma-bobs. (2) He works out of the back of a '57 Chevy station wagon. (3) He says he learned to grade coins by watching HSN. (4) He makes his own slabs out of Crisco hardened in a kiln. (5) His name is Shifty Two-Face and used to be a lawyer. (6) He has authentic St. Gaudens Double Eagles starting at Twenty Cents. (7) He sells Washington error dollars with a rim, but no coin. (8) He refers to the " Red Book" as that over-rated guide he never reads. (9) He has a plaque that says he graduated from The New Mismatist School. (10) He has proof sets where the coins are sealed in saran wrap. (11) He has all the Presidential dollar coins, including Franklin. (12) He has a few rare Roman coins that say 250 B.C. (13) He uses a grading company: the ALTCC (Acme Looney Tunes Coin Corp.) (14) He can smokes a cigar the while he's showing you his valuable silver certificates. (15) He only accepts cash and that's with plenty of I.D. (16) He has a no returns, no refunds, no guarantee, and an "I've-never-seen-you-before" policy. I'll bet you can add to this list with your own encounters. ***Edited by Forum Mom to remove odd characters and improve readability***Edited by averyb2
04/21/2007 8:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
834 Posts |
Your so silly thanks for the good laugh  Bruce. |
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
Hey that Roman coin that says 250 B.C. that I sold you is legit. I even gave you a cert of auth saying Jesus touched it. And I thought I said we never met!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
882 Posts |
One time, I sold a counterfeit to a dealer who was selling counterfeits. I have no idea why he took it...
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Rest in Peace
United States
2884 Posts |
A few more observations for newbies to be on the lookout for....... 1.All his coins, no matter how old and worn were/are "First Strikes" 2. Will "Meet or Beat all HSN prices!!! 3.Everything in inventory "absolutely will never be priced lower again" 4. He "services" all coins that he sells! 5. Constantly tells you "I'd take that thar' clean lookin' one over that thar' "dirty" un' anytime! 6. Will perform a "scratch test" on the obverse of any coin to tell if its really gold or silver! 7Prominently displays the purty "Hand Painted" ones in his store window. 8. Sells and displays jewelers rouge, sandpaper, steel wool and all other "cleaning stuff" right at the front counter! 9. Prominently displays his bench grinder and wire wheel machine. 10.Finally, washes his hands with "pumice soap" and pulls his real valuable "rare" coins out of his pocket where he stores them for "safe keepin"!!!! By the way, I love the list you posted. It cracked me up, but mow I can no longer go to my two favorite dealers,"Honest Abe's Coins" and I. Dupau's Coins n' currency   Mike |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
834 Posts |
One more, all of his slabed coins are graded by SGS.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
Recognise these phrases?
1. All offers of coins are 'fantastic opportunities'
2. At these prices these coins won't last, perhaps your last chance...
3. Unique, Extremely rare, minuscule mintage, buy 20 and save $40.
4. Exclusive, eye catching, prestigious, the most sought after issue for the quality, value and presentation.
5. A strickly limited edition... A must have... Sure to be the most popular... defined by beauty, quality and limited availability.
I must thank 'Downies' and their 'Money' catalog for these and many more pet phrases.
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Rest in Peace
Australia
661 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Lol, Downies came straight to mind here too.
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
2078 Posts |
avery b2 I love humor,and I love sarcasm even more So here in europe we have Somebody who called all his coins Cosmetically clean  (he is from the UK and used the phrase for 200 year old Napoleons Somebody calling all her coins Splendid uncirculated She is Swisse and stopped this when sombody on a german coinforum said that to rate less the coin had to have spend the entire war on the tracks of a panzer tank Commems are mostly 10 mm 0.5 grams 500/1000 gold if you are lucky  24 carat gold refers to the goldplating on copper quality  Watch out for Liberia , if you sneeze the coin is gone  9999 coins are probably restrikes or copies of goldplated  Nuggets are not Australian coins but might be zinc solder which has been sprayed gold to resemble what you find in running water or in the best of cases minuscule real nuggets A return policy is a disclaimer saying you are an individual selling with no guaratee whatsoever and that the buyer agrees by bidding  Selling the coin in the picture means you are selling something with the same name and perhaps the same date as the picture which is only generic or borrowed from somebody else  And last a german proverb translated in english Every morning somebody stupid wakes up ( who is going to buy your junk ) |
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Valued Member
United States
112 Posts |
perfect, I just saw that guy on TV today (HSN-Coin Vault)! He was selling the PF69/MS69 20th Anniversary ASE sets for $999.00..........What a great deal :) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
They always work for HSN and CoinVault. |
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Valued Member
United States
397 Posts |
You forgot the old Coin Vault best of show: "These are such a great value at this price, that I picked up one for myself just tonight" MM Edited by morganman
04/22/2007 10:13 pm
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Valued Member
United States
414 Posts |
quote:
These are such a great value at this price, that I picked up one for myself just tonight
I believe he means that he picked it up from the garbage can. |
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Valued Member
United States
69 Posts |
Someone should call HSN and ask for their "buy" prices  If they can sell a common-date (maybe) BU Morgan for the incredibly low price of $129, then mine should be a steal for them at $89 each! Another sign of a bad coin dealer...He offers key-date coins with rare "incused" mint marks, and leaves his Dremel engraving tool lying on the counter. Then, he tells you that you can be one of the proud few to own a 1921-CC Morgan AND an 1859-S Indian cent with this spectacular error. ~Jim |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
834 Posts |
The line I like best from the coin vault is, get it now because we are not coming back to this after the break.
Bruce,
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,204 |
Posted 04/21/2007 10:49 pm
