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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,494 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1346 Posts |
I stopped in my LCS (50 miles away in Wichita Falls Texas) while my wife was at the WF hospital having some tests done. I entered and in a friendly voice said - Hi guys how you doing today? Got a polite response accompanied with eager eyes suggesting - what do you want?
I told him my collecting interests - my birth year 1946 and my main interest The United States of Mexico. The coin guy shrugged and answered, 1946 is common. Nothing in Mexico.
Well excuse me.
My mind is saying, shut up, don't bite, and I didn't. I wanted to ask, you think a 1946 Newfie nickle is common. Or 1946 Vatican. 1946 Italy. 1946 Mauritius. 1946 South Rhodesia, MS grade 1946 Canada?
I turned to their discount box and pulled out $25 in different junk US. Planning for a Christmas present for my 11 YO granddaughter, a start for a US type set. I told him what I was doing and asked if he had any inexpensive date-readable large cents.
He retrieved a tray with several G4 quality or lower examples in cardboard flips. Cheapest was $16 or so. Told me they were overflow from his main stock with a tone that suggested I should be impressed.
There was no further interaction from him. No suggestions for other values than the examples I had picked from the discount box. No interest at all.
While this was going on another customer had come in with a minor error which the coin guy said was nearly worthless, then made derogitory comments after the person left.
The store had lots of silver and bullion slabs. I guess they sell a lot as I imagine their rent in a strip center across from a major mall isn't cheap.
...
I see there is a coin show in Grapevine Texas this weekend, some 90 miles distant. I'm looking forward to attending on Saturday and finding some dealers who carry the "common" coins that I need.
BTW today online I purhcased the last Mexico non-commemorative coin I needed, a 1919 peso, a 2-year issue with that particular fineage. When I get it I will post images of the entire collection.
Hopefully it won't be too common for your tastes.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Dealers, who almost always started as collectors, are not known for being top rate salespeople. Unless you hit one of their interests, you might get nothing more than one word responses.
I always ask the following arsenal of questions at shows or coin shops:
What is the best buy in your inventory? Followed up by why is it the best buy?
Do you have any lots of coins for sale at a discount?
What are you looking to buy.
All of these are asked in hopes of getting them to talk. Once you get them opened up, you might begin a friendship and great potential source for items of interest.
Tomorrow a guy walks in the door to sell his grandfathers United States of Mexico collection at pennies on the dollar. Can they call you?
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Sadly, that seems to be the case of brick and mortar LCSs anymore. Profit margins on collectables are slim to none unless they get in ID-10 Tea relatives dumping collections to whatever is offered.(just how often do they "luck out?"). My LCS says, "If it ain't old or gold, it never gets sold!" and he treats most "semi-repeat" customers with distain...f you ain't "drooling your foolin'" is another one. He deals in cash only, no cards or swaps, hardly. Now when Mr. Greyhair Jo's. Banks walks in and drops three grand in hundreds...he trips all over himself, makes me want to create a scene by vomiting! Had brought my LWC album in kinda just to show off, proud of it even tho the keys are lower grades, missing only 09SVDB. He literally tossed it down on the hard counter, dislodging some coins and said "$50", like I was/asking to sell it! Wadda putz! Sad thing is, only other "coin" shop is a gold/silver exchange, just a few really overpriced slabs and raw bullion. The LCS is in a dumpy low rent building he's been in for 50 years, other is in a fancy higher rent indoor mall. Both have to make their overheads. Last option is the pawn shop markups, totally outrageous! I have to travel 75-100 mile to find any others, but know nothing about and is hard for me to do. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Unfortunately I'm getting a crown at my dentist next week to the tune of about $1200. I'd much rather visit your lousy LCS just to mess with them  Edited by edweather
09/19/2017 10:59 pm
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Quote:
When I get it I will post images of the entire collection.
Hopefully it won't be too common for your tastes. Too common? Doubtful. I look forward to seeing it.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Sorry to hear your story. Alas, you're not alone.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7618 Posts |
OP... If you think THAT WF shop is bad you should try the other one (IF it's still open)! The guy running it has the personality of a  rock! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Well excuse me.
My mind is saying, shut up, don't bite, and I didn't. I wanted to ask, you think a 1946 Newfie nickle is common. Or 1946 Vatican. 1946 Italy. 1946 Mauritius. 1946 South Rhodesia, MS grade 1946 Canada? Was probably thinking US only, most dealers are strictly US centric in their thinking. |
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Moderator
United States
15419 Posts |
Indeed ... your story is common to me ... alas many of us get your poor service when approaching the LCS for our favorite coins.
Imagine my interaction at the various LCS and shows when I ask for any lowball coins they might have ... strange looks back indeed.
Best we can do is pursue the hobby with whatever resources we have available.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1314 Posts |
Just to be fair to dealers, my locals B&M is a real treat.
The owner is pleasant - even when busy. His store is well stocked, even if it is not all on display.
He knows me well enough to make suggestions, and isn't offended if I'm not interested.
He has given me books, and offered some so low that I consider it a gift.
And he isn't afraid to say, "You probably know more about that than I do."
It is all good business.
I know that there are many difficult coin dealers out there, but there are also many difficult computer salesmen, auto dealers, bakers and bankers.
If you enjoy the relationship with your Local dealer, let him know with an occasional compliment. If not, look for other sources.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Sorry to hear about your bad experience at the coin shop.
I have heard similar from others visiting shops.
For me I think when going to a coin shop I have not been to before,
I try to work at developing a relationship. Having a general conversation
and maybe buying some of their common items. Junk silver or Morgans.
Starting out wanting special deals might not get a good response.
In all the coin shops that I lived near in the past 40 years I feel I have
been welcomed. 20 years in the Air Force and been out 20 years,
I have lived many places.
There are several in this area, and most of them will bring out coins from
their back ares to get my opinion on. Or will hold coins I might be interested
in.
I guess what I am trying to say is, build a good relationship with your local
coin shops. It can pay off in the long run.
Edited by GR58
09/20/2017 9:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
999fine, your story has been told so many times. Those dealers should read this forum.
All I can say is, keep looking, since many LCS are way better than that, including the ones in my area. Of course I am known to all of them, but I observe how they treat customers, especially how they break the bad news.
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
I also like to visit my dentist. She's very competent, friendly and nice. I never had any trouble there, and I always leave with a good feeling (also because my teeth are in great condition, fortunately). And the incidental times that something had to be fixed, she did an awesome job. Having said that, it's really too bad that you don't feel welcome at the coin shop. I have several local coin shops, they all know me and I know them. Fortunately, I managed to build up a good relation with all of them. Sometimes it takes a bit more effort than one'd wish, as not all coin enthusiasts are equally sociable as they are knowledgeable, but it's certainly worth the investment. As recommended before in this thread, I think it may be a viable strategy to just try to talk to them. Maybe just try to open them up by asking what their shop has to offer, if there's anything they specialize in. Most coin dealers are also hobbyists, so they usually have a passion for a certain type of coin, era or area. Once you get them talking, it's usually easy to just hop in the discussion with your own knowledge and experiences. Once you found common ground, things will go much smoother. I wouldn't start with asking for the discounts or special offers. That way you just put yourself as a 'cheap' customer and those are of much less interest. It's no good to pretend to spend a million if you don't have that much to spend. Fool them once... At least, this is what I usually do and it's paying off so far. And if they still give you the silent or grumpy treatment, then well just screw them and write a bad review on TripAdvisor or so.  ps. Please post the Mexican peso coin! I'm also working on a Mexican type set since I visited Mexico, but that one is still lacking here... so I find it very interesting! Edited by UltraRant
09/22/2017 12:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
Our local coin shop was owned by a couple of ex-civil servants who apparently didn't care if they made a sale or not, a visit there was like pulling teeth ! An attempt to start a conversation was met with silence, I kid you not. They were glued to the sports channel on the shop television.
They've sold the shop, it's much better run now, but it was known as 'Give Me Your Money and Get Out Coins & Stamps'.
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Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
My local coin shop- which recently closed- had an extremely friendly and helpful owner. The couple of times I went, I enjoyed talking to him.
The reason I only went a couple of times is because it was a local coin shop. No matter how friendly or unfriendly the person running the place may be-- I know they will have much less inventory than the world wide web at a much higher price than I can get online.
As much as I want to enjoy a local coins shop, like I did back in the 1980's and 1990's, I know it will likely never happen again.
I don't want one glass container to choose from, when I know I can have the world to choose from.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1346 Posts |
I appreciated all the responses to my post. Thank you. I see I am not alone, and that is regretful.
I attended the Grapevine Texas show this weekend on Saturday and posted my review elsewhere.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,494 |
Posted 09/19/2017 7:58 pm
