| Author |
 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,474 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
I stopped by on my way to work this morning to see if he had any 70-D Kennedy's I could upgrade with. He didn't have any raw. So, I asked if he had any mint sets. "Oh yeah", he said.
So, he pulls out a mint set (his only one) and puts the Kennedy under his loupe and determines that it's not in the greatest shape for a mint set. As he hands the set over to me to look at, I ask him how much.
He says $13. I'm looking at the Kennedy and it does look pretty rough, I don't think it's an upgrade at all, but for $13 I could have an extra 70-D for trade bait and maybe I could use some of the other coins.
Then he declares that he thinks it's a small date set. Then says, "Oh no, it isn't." Then says "Well, maybe". I ask to look at it and it is clearly not a small date. Seriously, I wasn't trying to cherrypick him, it was definitely not a small date set. He even pulled out his cherrypicker's guide, compared the pictures and still couldn't tell.
At this point, he decides the set is not for sale. If this guy can't tell the difference between a small and large date 70 set, what else is going on in this place?
I wonder how many exchanges have taken place where he has been cherrypicked, or how many people were taken advantage of because he didn't know the difference (not just small/large dates, anything - Morgans, SLQ's, Buffalos, Eagles, anything!).
I will keep him for supplies, but I will definitely know what I am looking at before I ever buy a coin from him again!
Maybe I should revisit his Morgan case again. Maybe he's not sure what he has there either!
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
I thought it was the S mint that came as a small or large not the Denver? John1  |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
4000 Posts |
Well, it was, but because he couldn't tell, he wouldn't sell the set to me. While I was looking at the Kennedy, he was looking at the S Lincoln.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
531 Posts |
And a dealer with a Mint Set, as in one, might not have the selection of inventory you are looking for.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Sounds like you ran into a new dealer that used to sell used cars.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1659 Posts |
Sounds to me like your money wasn't green enough for him or something...
If I had encountered that, I'd just find another dealer. He's not going to be in business very long if he keeps treating customers like that.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
He sounds like a dealer at a flea market last year. I was looking at an XF 1914-S Wheat cent and saw a huge scratch on the reverse. I told him it was scratched and he ask me if that effected the grade. This was in front of 5 or 6 people who were buying coins. He probably thought I was weird because I was just starring at him with a "DUH" look on my face. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
Scary part is...this coin shop has been around a long time. I remember it being there when I was a kid and I'm 46 now. They're listed under, let's just say, a certain major TPG as an authorized dealer. Which I am now assuming just means that they just pay some kind of membership dues like the rest of us. Maybe they are under new management and I never met the previous owners or something, I dunno. I was really tripping over the mint set. The guy was acting like I was out to get him! (Which, normally I am, but that's another thread). I hope he doesn't convince some youngster or newbie that it is a small date. Or get taken himself and buy some counterfeits and pass the savings on to me. Scary. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
Obviously don't use him as a "trusted" dealer. But by all means keep going back. If he doesn't really know what he has you may be able to get some really great deals if he doesn't notice it is something special. Just be sure you know what you are buying.
Remember, there are no requirements to become a coin dealer. Open a shop, get some old coins, and you are a professional coin dealer!
|
| |
Replies: 8 / Views: 1,474 |
|
Posted 03/23/2010 6:07 pm
