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 Replies: 33 / Views: 5,280 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
636 Posts |
Ok, heres the scoop.
I went into my Toronto based 'local' dealers store a couple weeks back. As history I have probably bought approx $2000-$4000 worth of coins from him over the past 3-4 years, usually spending 100-200 dollars per visit
I have never haggled with him in the past over the the asking amount of his coins, as his prices are usually fair, and in-line or slightly below recent trend values posted within the Canadian Coin News. He doesn't charge sales tax if you pay cash so that's always a bonus.
Anyway, I saw this really cool 1952 Canadian red cent without a mark on it, in his 2 x 2 'bargain book'. I wanted it to upgrade my Canadian collection. On the 2 x 2, he had written 20 bucks, and some sort of high MS grade (that I usually don't question. He is very honest this way and his grades make good sense).
When I looked at the trend value of the coin within the Canadian Coin news it had it listed as 10 bucks. That seem so accurate to me that if he had that written on the 2 x 2, I never would have looked it up the trend value. I would have put it on the counter and continued shopping
Anyway, for the 1st time ever, I passed him the coin and asked him, 'Whats the best you could do for that'? He looked at it and said 17 bucks. I then asked him to look at the trend listing , and he abruptly said, I don't go by those numbers.
(I would like to mention that time and time again in the past, when I stump him on a coin I want in his store that did not have any indicator suggesting how much, he has always asked to see my copy of Canadian Coin News. I always bring it with me, and sometimes have even left it behind for him.)
Anyway I calmly said 'Well trends has got it listed at 10 bucks and I'm definitely going to shop around and buy some more material. he remarked 'No, I like my 17 dollars."
Well right then and there, the adrenaline hit me like a ton of bricks, but I held it in, and didn't make a scene.
Anyway, I put the coin back and wrapped up my shopping episode right then and there and ending up purchasing 4 used coin tubes for a total of one dollar-no tax. I didn't continue looking whatsoever, left and grumbled all the way back home,and thought about other dealers I will now utilize to replace him. To this day this still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
My question is, based on my past transactional history with this dealer, the fact that I have never before asked him to sharpen his pencil pertaining to his asking prices, and in the interest of a good customer service, and because I am a repeat customer, do you think he acted appropriately?
I will say that in no way have I ever been 'the customer from hell' and in fact it has never been uncommon for me to hang out there a good 15 mins after the buy has occurred to talk about coins or current events.
Thanks for clarification. Perhaps there's a dealer that will pipe in here, and I can hear a dealers perspective over all this.
(I will reveal the dealers name privately should anybody feel there may be some value to it, but I'm inclined to believe that there may not be either than jeopardizing some customer traffic into his store down the road.)
Thanks again.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
Just a question. I know the US version of Numismatic News only lists to MS65. Was the coin graded? Did the grade number match the one in your reference material. After MS MS65 a single point can easily double the coin price. Just looking for more info before I formulate an opinion. |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
636 Posts |
Indeed, the MS numerical value grade indicated on the 2 x 2, matched exactly the MS trend numerical value within the Canadian Coin news.
I cant remember if it was a 65 or what but they did match exactly.
Edited by Dollar1948
12/31/2009 09:36 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5953 Posts |
While a dealer has every right to charge what he wants for a coin you as a customer have every right to decline to purchase. You did the correct thing in pointing out the price discrepancy and I too would have asked for a discount based on the information you have provided. If he has been generally good to you I would not let this one incident sour your relationship. After all it would seem he has been a consistent supplier of your habit. If after future visits he continues in this trend then yes leave. Remember he also has an adrenaline gland an nobody like to admit they were wrong. Its possible he engaged mouth before brain.
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Valued Member
United States
94 Posts |
I would say he was having a bad day. So many people DO try to bargain beyond reasonableness. I would give him another try and would guess that he will be in a different mood next time. If not, then he is the loser. You don't build your customer base that way.
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Pillar of the Community
555 Posts |
Maybe he overpaid for it, and doesn't have wiggle room.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
Agree that you should not let one incident wreck everything, not a $7 incident anyways.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
A couple of thoughts - one, if you really really want the coin, we're really only talking $7 here. You wouldn't think twice about blowing $7 on a burger and fries, so maybe the coin is worth it.
Second, if it's overpriced, nobody's likely to buy it. So, it'll just sit there. I'd look at it everytime I go in - eventually, he'll maybe get the idea and price it correctly.
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
First of all, sorry you had a bad experience with a trust source. That always is a bummer. That said, I would give him another shot. He could simply have had a bad day or you could have been the 4th person in a row questioning the pricing of coins and he snapped on you.  When I started collecting I had one dealer that I did the vast majority of my business with and developed a good relationship over the two years. A similar thing happened. I asked what his best price was on a coin and he snapped "it is priced as marked". Well that stung a bit but I went back a week later, he apologized and offered the same coin to me for less than book value. I continued doing business with him up until I moved away from that area. Not sure if the same will happen to you but he is worth at least one more shot given the history you have with him. Clinton |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1923 Posts |
I'm not a dealer either, I'm usually not a haggler unless like you say its out of line in pricing. But I have had bad experiences in coin stores in the past and I never return to those stores ever again. I think that to deal with the public you have to be a special person and have loads of people skills and hold your tongue unless your being threatened or slandered. I would think that a good business would want to have top notch service for there customers, and clerks or owners with a warm and friendly personality, fair up to date prices, and I would defiantly look after my return customers. I like the coin shows better the dealers always have a better attitude towards sales and more willing to discuss pricing as well as no sales taxes, you can browse through there boxes of inventory with no hassles, a way better atmosphere.
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Valued Member
United States
493 Posts |
I wouldn't let the incident stand in the way of you continuing to shop there. He has every right to ask whatever he wants for his stuff and you have every right not to buy it if you don't think the price is in line. More than once I have handed a coin back to the dealer with a simple "thanks, but I can't afford that price today" type comment. No harm no foul, continue looking at other stuff and buy what you like, what you want, and is in your opinion, correctly priced.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
Quote:
...Well right then and there, the adrenaline hit me like a ton of bricks, but I held it in, and didn't make a scene...
We all have moments like that. I know I've had more than my share of them in 2009 for various reasons. Quote:
Am I wrong in being mad at this dealer? Not at all. You are entitled to feel the way you do. It sounds like both you and the dealer locked horns a bit that day. It happens. We have to forgive and forget and move on else be miserable and disappointed on a continuing basis. Do business where you feel comfortable but try not to read too much into one negotiation. Good Luck! |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
It seems to me that this is just one of those "stuff happens" episodes.
Maybe he was having an off day, maybe something happened and he was preoccupied.
I have to admit that I've never really had the problem, because the dealers I go to always give me a price (usually lower than marked) at the end of my browsing session when they're totalling up. For example, I'll pick out $60 worth, and they'll tell me that $50 is fine. Sometimes they have to see the total of what you're spending before they'll discount.
Or, maybe he was in a situation with Revenue Canada where he had to lay his hands on every cent he could. The Collectibles business is such an easy area to under-report income in, or use to "hide" money, and maybe he got caught doing it.
One of the dealers I patronized in Winnipeg before I lived here was from England. He apparently had lots of money in a bank there which he would have been taxed on here if he had brought it to Canada in cash, so a couple of times a year he would go back there to convert it into store stock, which he would be able to bring into the country duty-free.
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Valued Member
Canada
464 Posts |
I agree with you, his response to you was less than diplomatic. I don't think you should let the incident deter you from seeking deals though, there are people out there that simply enjoy haggling and arguing for no reason... It is probably a job requirement for being a dealer.
Edited by gawd0wns
12/31/2009 1:55 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1349 Posts |
I submit that Trends is an average price. Coins that are nice for the grade (those not quite making the next higher grade) will go higher than the Trends price, particularly if they are mint state coins and particularly if they are nice red copper.
http://www.victoriancent.com2011 & 2025 Fred Bowman Award Winner, 2020 J. Douglas Ferguson Award Winner, & 2022 Paul Fiocca Award Winner. Life Member of RCNA.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
"No, I like my 17 dollars."  Well, that $17 isn't his until someone agrees to his price. Given your loyalty to this one dealer, his unilateral stance over $7 is surprising. If it were me, I would not hesitate to revisit negotiation with this dealer.  |
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Replies: 33 / Views: 5,280 |
Posted 12/31/2009 09:35 am
