Traits Of A Collector

Most collectors I've met or know are very kind, generous people who are nice to be around.

Now, I hate to say this, but I can't say the same for EVERY coin dealer I've met. I would have to say that over half of the dealers I've had the pleasure/displeasure to deal with have been very grumpy, rude or sometimes just plain mean. However, when I've really gotten to know some of the mean ones, they've turned out to be really nice guys who just come across that way when you first meet them.

I was at the PNNA coin show in Kent, Washington last month and bought a 1917 Type I Standing Liberty quarter in an NGC holder, graded MS66 FH. I had just met this dealer and was going to buy the coin at full sticker price, and even though he knew I was going to pay it he still dropped the price $200 or so. This guy was probably the nicest, coolest coin dealer I've ever met.

I'll never put out someones name that I had a problem with (because maybe they were just having a bad day and aren't really all that bad), but I will say that if someone wants to buy a high-end coin from a trustworthy dealer, I will personally vouch for the guy I was talking about above, Tim Halladay of Port Gardner Bay Coins, Inc. in Mukilteo, Washington.

Couldn't agree with your analysis more. I would have also included trustworthy, loyal, congenial, extroverted and honest.

Some of my coin club and I got together to take a picture; check it out below:

There seem to be a lot of references to rude, and mean dealers in this thread; why do we think that is? Maybe it's a difficult way to make a living, maybe those in the business are tired of people trying to get something for nothing from them? Maybe just the pain of dealing with the public? I'm guessing it's not a vocation for someone who doesn't like being asked a lot of questions, probably the same ones over and over...

If you've ever had a job where you deal with the general public all day and/or for several days in a row, you would know. Customers can really get to you after a while. Although most, not all, collectors appear to be nice, friendly, curteous, gentle individuals, remember your only seeing them from a coin collector situation. Some of those same people could and might be serial killers, bank robbers, wife beaters, etc.
Now that would make an interesting poll here. For example How many of you are serial killers? How many are wife beaters? etc.
Sort of kidding but just because on this or any internet forum people sound and/or act nice, doesn't mean that is what they really are like.

or could be cloudy with a silver lining almost forgot my balance sorry

I've met many coin collectors/dealers. I met one guy from craigslist, I had $2500 face value in silver dimes and quarters he wanted to buy. I met him at his house, just as we finished counting up the coins, and I mean the exact second we finished counting all the power went out, but I could see the neighbor's house and that was lit up like a Christmas tree. I was thinking to myself "OH @#$!, I'm dead!!" turns out that his wife turned on a hair dryer and a space heater at the same time and blew a fuse. This guy sets up at a few of the shows I go to but I didn't know him prior to our first "black out" meeting, since then he has become a friend and a "mentor of the coin" you could say. He's been collecting for 30 years, I'm 31 so in my eyes he has a lifetime of experience and he teaches me so much.

There are a few mean ones I've won over, but very very I've met that I would say are complete "meanies". lol

In addition to being helpful to others, collectors tend to be mentally active, intellectual curious and have a genuine appreciation of history.