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 Replies: 38 / Views: 2,996 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1228 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
619 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
I personally would have pointed out the error to the dealer. A few weeks ago I was sifting through a pile of Franklin half dollars and found a 1955 that didn't belong in the bin with the others for that price. I let the dealer know about the mistake and he thanked me for my honesty. I see it this way. Exceptionally good dealers are hard to come by and I am not about to profit on someone else's mistake. But then again, my experience was the difference of a few dollars not a few thousand. |
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
I wouldn't point it out. If I sold a rare coin in a junk lot, nobody would inform me about my mistake. They'd just take advantage of my error. A dealer should know what he's selling.
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
1361 Posts |
In this case the seller did not do his job well. For sure he bought this lot for a low price from someone who didn't know what was inside the lot. The buyer was lazy in checking all the junk silver knowing it was all junk.
I wouldn't really know how to react in this scenario, If we are talking about thousands of dollars, I think I wouldn't be able to sleep well with it. But come to think of it maybe I will even think it is a fake coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5604 Posts |
I believe that many people feel the way they do because the way they were treated. Actually, this, IMHO, Is a reflection of the way things should be, more up front and honest with the people who, have done just that with you, think about it.....
Not a saint, just wish some would consider the shoe on the other foot, then see what it is like....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5604 Posts |
The more I think about this "collector" I want to scream... I do not think this is or should be considered the behavior of an adult, who has had a relationship with this dealer who, I from personal experience, feel are hard to come by, just as much as a good person is, forget what they do as a profession. I know this topic has gone around the circle of opinions, however 1st the coin can not be returned, also the only thing anyone could hope to have returned, IMO, Would be Consideration, Respect, Compassion, Justification and the feeling of human regard toward one another, That I believe once stood much taller than most things we all take for granted today....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
I have pointed out things to the dealer that didnt look right in the bargain bin, but ultimately it's the dealer's responsibility to know what he is selling and to make sure his items are priced appropriately. There's a saying that goes "caveat emptor" or "buyer beware" (I hope I picked the right latin phrase....lol). Well if that is the case, then wouldnt it be fair to say "seller beware"? The buyer bought the coin based on the asking price of the dealer, right? I have been selling on ebay all kinds of things from football equipment to classic video and board games and other stuff. I sold a football helmet that I bought at a Goodwill store for 50 cents, and turned around and sold it for $100 when I received an offer during the listing that I couldnt refuse. After cancelling the auction, I received emails asking why I cancelled the auction and was told that the helmet was probably worth more like $200 to $250. So should the guy who bought it be responsible for telling me this? Or better yet, should I "do the right thing" and turn a portion of my $99.50 profit over to Goodwill? The simple answer is no. They put a price on it that they wanted, and I bought it. I was offered a price on the helmet on ebay, and I was happy with it. We cant sit here and scrutinize every transaction that goes on because one party left money on the table. You make a mistake in selling and you live and learn from it, and then move on. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
Quote:
Exceptionally good dealers are hard to come by and I am not about to profit on someone else's mistake. But then again, my experience was the difference of a few dollars not a few thousand. While I agree that good dealers are hard to find, we dont know if the dealer was good or bad. For all we know, this particular dealer might have been a jerk, or ripped off many customers on the buying end. For example this 1893-S coin in the $7-$9 bin. Who's to say he didn't buy that from a customer for $5 claiming it was worth nothing more than the silver in it? He might have known he had a gem, but convinced the unknowing seller that it was worth $5, and then forgot to take it out of the stash when the seller left? We just dont know the whole story here so we cant assume that the dealer is a good guy and a victim here. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
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A dealer should know what he's selling.  And one reason collectors are drawn to buying bulk, unsearched lots is the possibility of finding something good. Here, this collector simply lucked out.  Well, I guess this subject was covered in detail before--but it's good to read those follow-up comments.  From one who buys mostly at shows, I don't go with the purpose of pointing out errors dealers make on valuations. If I find a $500 coin for $10, that's my lucky draw--and one reason I collect. |
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Valued Member
United States
357 Posts |
I would have given it back to the dealer I got it from if it was a person I deal with on a regular basis. If It was someone I didn't know I would have properly have keep it. ( finders keeper lose their weepers so to say). I once dropped a envelope with nearly a 1000 dollars in it at a restaurant that my two boss's and one other guy went to. since I was sitting in the corner part in the corner booth were I drop it. I went right back to that spot a few minutes later and it was gone, well nobody in the place found it RIGHTTTTT. Its a great thing to be honest but most people are not. People do what they expect people to do to them. I was a victim as we all are. That life.
Edited by norseman012
03/25/2009 12:32 pm
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Valued Member
United States
377 Posts |
The Bottom line is that if anyone deserves anything, it is the seller that the dealer ripped off.
I use the term Ripped off because that is what the dealer did. As the "professional it is his Job (Duty) to give a fair assessment of the items presented to him, In which case (if he did) he knew what he was stealing.
Edited by wif99
03/25/2009 1:24 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
The thing is, why would you go out of your way to boast about this? Guy must be pretty starved for attention or something.
One of the thngs my grandfather taught me at an early age was, "If you get a good deal, keep it under your hat!"
There is nothing to gain by making someone else look bad. I myself have been the recipient of similar "good deals" but not to the magnitude mentioned in this incident, but I wouldn't go out of my way to crow about them.
Knowledge IS power. The average person expects a dealer to be an expert on what he is selling.
I think it would depend on the relationship between the people in question. If the dealer is a general all-around good guy type, cuts you a deal when you buy bulk from him, buys at a fair market value, then he probably doesn't deserve to be taken advantage of for his oversight. It's almost a karma thing.
On the other hand, if he is the type that takes advantage of his clientele, then he probably doesn't deserve fair treatment back from them, especially if he does such things as pay lower than average when he's buying from the public.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1228 Posts |
norseman012Quote:
Its a great thing to be honest but most people are not. People do what they expect people to do to them. I was a victim as we all are. Thats life.
Why did the chicken cross the road,because the world crossed the chicken! wpglwrQuote:
I myself have been the recipient of similar "good deals" but not to the magnitude mentioned in this incident, but I wouldn't go out of my way to crow about them.
silence is golden,unless he was an all around good guy! 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
My view is that mistakes were made all around. The dealer didn't know that he was buying a rare coin, and later didn't realize what he was selling. On top of that, the buyer didn't realize what he was getting. So all in all, he is merely the recipient of the result of a chain of oversights. So, it was not his fault and he should be free to reap the rewards.
Edited by Archraz
03/25/2009 6:05 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
i say keep it! I would not feel bad about it b/c the dealer obiviously didnt take the time to look through them like he should have. I am not saying everything the buyer did was right but I would keep it
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Replies: 38 / Views: 2,996 |
Posted 03/25/2009 08:45 am
