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Posted 04/09/2022 11:17 pm
hfjacinto - Can I ask if you are of colour? I ask that as some of your experiences are like mine, dealers telling you, that you can't afford stuff and only showing you one note at a time. This sounds dodgy as heck and I suspect these guys are being prejudiced towards you.
I can pass for white in the cool months, but in the summer I tan up and look browner like the Maori I am, in my country that is the same as being Black and some dealers don't take me seriously along with some collectors as they assume I am either too stupid to collect coins or I am likely to be too poor to buy anything other than junk and finally I am likely to steal their wares.
This ignorance is surprisingly common and I see it a lot, add to the fact I don't dress up (Casual beach wear in summer and trackies/ cheap sweatshirts in winter), add to that my "ethnic" name (You know your name is ethnic when no one can say it properly). Even the dealers I have great relations with, did not take me seriously until I brought some coins. My usual trick is I go in and charm them, get their confidence and the tell them my name. There is usually a blank look or sudden jolt of reaction, but that passes when they know I am real and sincere.
Plus where I live, our city is only 43% white, yet every collector I know apart from one wealthy Chinese guy, is 100% snow British white. I am the only person of colour who collects hardcore and I am seen as an object of curiosity for most and some never talk to me. Also its an elitism thing as I am not high or even middle class.
Finally if any of you encounter racism - walk the heck out of log off if its online. Never fuel or feed prejudice, even if your dream coin is sitting there at a give away price - never honour a bigot. Let them stew in their own hate.
Back to the topic - nothing wrong with asking to look before you buy. I mean if the dealer has nothing you want or you get a pang of remorse like "Maybe I should pay that bill with this money or buy my mama a new car etc", it is not your fault, you are a human that feels emotions too.
If the dealer is nice, let them know what you want and you will buy that thing if they ever get it. Plus not every collector is so specific. You may just collect Bust Halves, but one day you may be in there to buy a mint set, dig through the melt silver or decide to take Princetane on and collect British halfcrowns!
I can pass for white in the cool months, but in the summer I tan up and look browner like the Maori I am, in my country that is the same as being Black and some dealers don't take me seriously along with some collectors as they assume I am either too stupid to collect coins or I am likely to be too poor to buy anything other than junk and finally I am likely to steal their wares.
This ignorance is surprisingly common and I see it a lot, add to the fact I don't dress up (Casual beach wear in summer and trackies/ cheap sweatshirts in winter), add to that my "ethnic" name (You know your name is ethnic when no one can say it properly). Even the dealers I have great relations with, did not take me seriously until I brought some coins. My usual trick is I go in and charm them, get their confidence and the tell them my name. There is usually a blank look or sudden jolt of reaction, but that passes when they know I am real and sincere.
Plus where I live, our city is only 43% white, yet every collector I know apart from one wealthy Chinese guy, is 100% snow British white. I am the only person of colour who collects hardcore and I am seen as an object of curiosity for most and some never talk to me. Also its an elitism thing as I am not high or even middle class.
Finally if any of you encounter racism - walk the heck out of log off if its online. Never fuel or feed prejudice, even if your dream coin is sitting there at a give away price - never honour a bigot. Let them stew in their own hate.
Back to the topic - nothing wrong with asking to look before you buy. I mean if the dealer has nothing you want or you get a pang of remorse like "Maybe I should pay that bill with this money or buy my mama a new car etc", it is not your fault, you are a human that feels emotions too.
If the dealer is nice, let them know what you want and you will buy that thing if they ever get it. Plus not every collector is so specific. You may just collect Bust Halves, but one day you may be in there to buy a mint set, dig through the melt silver or decide to take Princetane on and collect British halfcrowns!
