| Author |
 Replies: 33 / Views: 6,577 |
|
Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Was buying a few assorted coin today, the dealer decided to unload his remaining Kingdom of Yemen stuff on me as well. I didn't want it at full price, but he gave me such huge discounts that I had to accept. Anyway, I was pretty sure that a particular coin was aluminium - it looked aluminium, felt aluminium, and I knew there were similar looking aluminium coins from that country. So I said as much to the dealer, and ended up getting even more of a discount (all the way down to $2 - the other two were $4 each). Fast forward to home, I'm trying to figure out the type, and after some unsuccessful attempts realize that all the aluminium types have slightly later dates (and are a bit larger besides). I check and cross-check and recheck again. Nope, no aluminium of this size or this date. There is, however, a type that fits my example exactly. But it's silver. I look at my coin again. It still looks like aluminium. It still feels like aluminium. But it's very small, so it's not like the feeling is particularly certain. In horrified realization, I weigh the coin... and the weight is just about right for the silver. ...Any ideas on what should I do? I feel like I totally swindled the dealer out of a huge amount of money. It doesn't help that the coin is really high grade (easily XF, might be higher). If it matters, the coin is this type. I've got another example of the same type in the bunch (one of the $4 coins), in condition similar to the page image; the one I mistook for aluminium was a lot better. For the moment, I'm imagining that I got this coin for $4 and the other one for $2, which helps a little; but I'm really feeling awful either way. |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
34397 Posts |
@j1m, what is the difference in price? If it is two bucks, then I would just buy a little extra from this guy the next time you are in his shop. If it is more substantial, then I'd probably make a special trip back to explain the error and set things straight.
"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
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1609 Posts |
I don't know how valuable this coin is and I'm too lazy to research it. But here's my advice: if the dealer lost less than $30 with this transaction, I say just pay generously the next time you go there. If the dealer lost more than $30 with this transaction, I would go back and tell him/her.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
217 Posts |
There are no aluminum types of this coin. As far as I know they are all silver. If the dealer is dealing in them then he/she should know that I would think. If he was willing to unload the whole lot at a discount then he probably doesn't really care. You can be sure that whatever you paid, he paid less.
I wouldn't worry about it, not a high value coin anyway.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1314 Posts |
Every time I've helped my dealer, he's returned the favor in spades. Doing something that lets him know you are honest cannot hurt.
|
|
Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
 Chute72! J1M, tell the dealer just what you said here. If it's like you said, he wanted to unload it, he'll most likely say forget it. If he doesn't, pay him more, you'll both benefit down the road. He just may become a preferred dealer for you, never know until you try.  |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
You may feel like you swindled the dealer, but you didn't. You believed what you were saying when you bought the coin and it turned out that you were wrong. We've all been wrong at some point in our lives. I think the best way to deal with it is to admit your mistake and pay the difference. |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
january1may, I was thinking about how much this must bother you because took the time to post about it and ask advice and so I'm sending you a  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
You have a good oncsience to do the right thing. So just be honest with the dealer, apologize, and make a good friend at the same time. I am sure this experience will pay off for the better for you if you do. If the dealer finds out it was silver and you do not show up telling him you are sorry for the mistake - what will the dealer think of you next time you come into the shop? |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Can you post pictures of your coin, or give more information. Your link tot he type goes to a general type. There are five sub-type and depending on type, date, and and condition could be worth as little as $4. If it is a rare one you could always let him know and pay him more, ore if you are planing to sell it split the proceeds with him.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
If you are feeling awful, remember that honestly is the best policy. You'll feel better, which is everything in life. Financially, I'm sure the long term relationship you can have with the dealer would certainly pay it back many times over.
|
|
Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
I think you know what you have to do.  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Nothing to loose by just telling the dealer the truth and paying a bit more.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
I'll try to post the photos tomorrow. Sadly at 7pm there's not much light going out of the window, and in indoor lighting the coin looks far too yellow (on my smartphone camera).
I'd have probably tried to pay the dealer fairly, but I fear that I simply will be unable to afford a fair price.
A really good friendship might well be worth it, but the short-term price is that I'd definitely be out of my coin budget for the next five weeks or so (currently at $80), and might well have to borrow from the food budget too (fortunately there's enough food at home right now to last us most of the week, and by then someone might well arrive with more money).
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Oh -- that's a bit more money than I thought. From your first post I assumed you only owed a few dollars.
Even so, you could tell the dealer and pay a little at a time or return the coin. He might hold it for you until you can easily afford it.
Good luck. We're all hoping for the best.
|
| |
Replies: 33 / Views: 6,577 |
Posted 04/30/2017 3:39 pm
