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 Replies: 18 / Views: 2,366 |
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Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
I'm new to the hobby of coin collecting and while learning, I'm choosing not to spend too much money until I know what I'm doing. To fill some album gaps I have been buying junk silver from my LCS. On visits where I don't find anything in the junk trays I will always leave the store with at least one silver round or ASE. Today, September 30, 2023, when I went into my LCS, I was told that they didn't have any junk silver but that they had higher grade silver I could purchase. I was really confused. The store was empty, there were three staff on duty, and I could clearly see the tubs of junk silver in the display case where they had always been. Is is not appropriate to look through junk silver for specific dates? I feel like I am not being valued as a customer because I have only been spending $30-$100 each visit. Should I go back and try again, or should take my $30-$100 per visit elsewhere? I don't want this experience marring my enjoyment of the hobby. Edited by Aurelius
09/30/2023 4:29 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7273 Posts |
I've been shopping at my local coin shop for almost a decade, I can look through junk silver, his stash of paper money, heck his bullion and pick what I want, BUT I also spend a small fortune there all the time. Its a 2 way street, if you come in just wanting select dates from junk silver, I would probably tell you the same thing, but that's me. Junk Silver is supposed to be that.If you are a regular customer then letting you look through junk silver is no biggy, if that's all you, its not worth it to them for your business.
He doesn't want you picking the best and leaving the rest behind, there may be other reasons that he knows. You have 2 options don't shop there or buy his higher priced silver.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I would just ask them straight out if there's been a change in their policy.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
There are too many things to worry about in life than this very very small issue. Straight up and ask them about their junk silver and point to it. If they deny you then move on with your life.
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
379 Posts |
I agree, but the shopkeeper could have been nicer to you, and might've asked if you'd like to see some of their "better stuff". He/she could then have cultivated you as a decent customer, so it's their loss.
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Moderator
 United States
54280 Posts |
Did they say "We don't have any junk silver"?
or did they say
"We don't have any junk silver that you can pick through"?
Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Valued Member
 United States
68 Posts |
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I would just ask them straight out if there's been a change in their policy. I plan to go in next week one day after work and ask. Quote:
There are too many things to worry about in life than this very very small issue. Straight up and ask them about their junk silver and point to it. If they deny you then move on with your life. Good advice. Will do. Quote:
Did they say "We don't have any junk silver"? or did they say "We don't have any junk silver that you can pick through"? "We don't have any for you to look through today." Quote:
if you come in just wanting select dates from junk silver... I looked at my receipts from the store, and since June of 2023 I've been in 12 times and have spent $1100. I always leave the store with at least having purchased a silver round. If my current average of about $92 per visit isn't enough for them, I will go elsewhere. Edited by Aurelius
10/01/2023 2:45 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
If you have that option, sounds like it might be a good idea.
Edited by Coinfrog
10/01/2023 9:37 pm
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
I don't blame them. I package my junk silver in sealed $25 FV and $50 FV bags just to avoid these sort of customers. Just because there is no one in the store, that doesn't mean there is no work to be done. You can sell junk silver on Facebook for a tad less than in a store and maybe they would rather be doing that than sitting with you watching you look at dates on $2 Mercury dimes. |
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Moderator
Australia
16808 Posts |
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"We don't have any for you to look through today." Well, there are several ways of interpreting that, depending on context. Ranging from "we haven't bought any fresh junk silver since your last visit, so all that we have you've already gone through" to "We don't want your kind around here". However, if that first idea was their intent, they could surely have done a better job at actually explaining that. Most coin dealers I know don't mind encouraging the "small spenders", the people who come in and spend ages looking through the scratchtrays. The dealers don't know which of those "small spenders" will stay small spenders their whole lives, and which will soon mature into big spenders willing to buy thousand-dollar coins every week. The smart dealers cultivate them all, and thus gain a healthy crop of repeat customers who are loyal to the coin dealer who helped them when they were starting out. They see it as an investment of time that may come back as future income. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
617 Posts |
Aurelius, if the "junk silver" is in trays, then you should be able to look through it and select what YOU want. If they don't want customers to be selective or select the coins, then they should package them up before hand (fv bags).
Frankly, at this point in time, it is important for LCS to make a customer's visit comfortable and possibly educational, there are far too many other options outside of brick and mortar stores for collectors to choose to give their business too.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19120 Posts |
Fascinating conversation. I've had zero issues sorting/picking through junk silver at my local shop--occasionally finding a nice replacement for a low grade coin in an album. and, I don't spend a fortune at the shop either. The staff seems happy to see me--been going there for many years.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
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The smart dealers cultivate them all Not only could the small spender become a big spender, they could also want to sell their coins in the future. I'm comparing this situation to a real estate agent I've used in the past. I haven't bought in 11 years, but he still sends me a birthday card, offers to value my property for assessor, and he's shown me at least a dozen properties since my last purchase. If he said "sorry, I'm not showing you this house, I'll only show you this really expensive one", would I use him again? Nope. |
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Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
I went back to the LCS on Thursday. I will not be going back to that store again, ever. I don't feel like elaborating. I chose to take jacrispies' advice to leave the store and move on. On Friday, the following day, I went to the other LCS in town. I bought ten silver rounds (at $2.00 over spot), a BU Morgan dollar for my US Type album, and 5 silver Washington quarters from his junk silver tray. My business will in future be with this LCS in town where I am treated respectfully, can browse though their constitutional silver, and the the owner is friendly toward his customers. Edited by Aurelius
10/07/2023 10:48 pm
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Valued Member
United States
240 Posts |
Going thru junk silver is the funnest part of going to a coin store, finding a coin to fill an empty slot is like finding treasure
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1373 Posts |
Aurelius, I'm glad you were able to find an alternate shop to visit. From what you mentioned, your 'monthly' spending dollar amount should have been sufficient for any LCS to welcome you. Of course, there's always a difference between sales amounts and profit amounts.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 2,366 |
Posted 09/30/2023 5:21 pm
