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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,524 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
I worked a flea market today. Small town, low rental cost, excuse to get out and about.
Lots of people kept asking me the same questions. I do not mind answering them, do not get me wrong, but does anyone here have a little sheet they can give out to passer bys?
I was thinking sort of a "What is my $1 and $2 bill worth" "What is my silver dollar worth (it may be nickel!)" and so on.
I may write something up tonight, a FAQ and a What I Collect/want to buy flyer.
Would this be seen as rude? I can post the finished product here.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I'd say waste of time. As many questions you can think of, someone will ask something else. With coins there could be a zillion questions and by the time you documented them all, someone would pop up with a new one.
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Moderator
 United States
34397 Posts |
@harmonica, just my Two Cents (only having been on the other side of the bourse table). I really appreciate it when a dealer takes the time to listen to and then answer my questions. I would find it pretty off-putting if as I started to frame my question, the dealer simply handed me a sheet of paper and turned to another customer. I'm sure that the quality of questions is on a sliding scale, with a major coin show generally providing the most nuanced questions all the way down to some slack-jawed yokel asking questions at a yard sale. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't like your FAQ idea because I like the personal interaction. Nothing against yard sales by the way; I've just been looking for an opportunity to use "slack-jawed yokel" in a sentence.  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1118 Posts |
justcarl, I was not thinking about self publishing a guide to coin collecting, just the two questions I get asked over and over.
dspenciner, that is what I was worried about. I love listening to my clients and educating them, I was thinking maybe as an add on? We stopped issuing $1 and $2 bills in Canada and with the exception of "What is my silver dollar worth?" I only tend to get that question. After I go over my rehearsed spiel (1987 dollar coin, 1996 2 dollar coin, hoarding as speculation, supply v. demand, serial numbers) I could have a printed list of "good" serial numbers and a description of grades? No?
I do think I will get a list of what I collect/buy done up with contact info. American Pickers style.
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Moderator
United States
34397 Posts |
Ok yes as an add-on that does sound interesting. By the way, I was up in Lac Megantic yesterday. I don't make it up there very often now that I'm a bit further south.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5394 Posts |
Wrong way to go with a hand out sheet I think. We are regulars at the Abbotsford BC Flea market and get asked the same sort of questions you allude to in your OP. A lot of the people who ask the so called tiresome , mundane and silly questions are usually , but not always elderly. A few minutes of interaction and politely answering their questions has led to some nice appraisal money, the purchase of lots of useful coins and notes along with scrap silver and gold. It has also led to acquiring some new collectors purchasing coins. A little conversation and politeness goes a very long ways.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
 Best thing, IMO, is to take the time to create a connection with the customer. People are more likely to do business with a perceived friend or acquaintance. As a backup, maybe have a used reference book in the table that customers can peruse? I assume there is a RedBook equivalent to Canadian coins? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
You expect people to READ?
What would happen is they would look at the sheet of paper for a few moments and then ask you the same questions.
I used to see that kind of behavior when I worked in a pizza parlor. Busy night, people waiting in line to order, they all have copies of the menu and they're chatting. When they finally get to the counter they lay down the menu, point to an item which has a complete listing of what is on it, and ask "What's on this?". You tell them and THEN they start to discuss among themselves what they want. You finally get their order. And the next guy who has been standing behind them listening the whole time points to the same item and says "What's on this?" Repeat for the next two hours.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
I have been in sales most of my life. Sales is all about making customer feel good about their purchases no matter how big or small. There is also the issue of trust. How can a piece of paper do this for you. The power of a polite conversation is huge in establishing trust. You want them to ask questions as it is a great way to start the "sales" process. If you type out a FAQ or info sheet.People will come to your table, grab your sheet and then go buy or sell to/from someone else using the knowledge they gained from your paper. For this same reason I wouldn't put out a RedBook either. Refer to it to answer any questions(Suggest they buy book) but don't let them just peruse it. |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,524 |
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Posted 05/08/2016 8:04 pm
