Am I Wrong ?

I guess I can understand him getting annoyed, but really that's his business. It's not always great business to be in! But that's not your fault.

As for the Shield nickel, you're kind. I hope you got it for a good price.

I do the same. If I'm asking advice at a show or a shop about something I have or am thinking about, I'll often make a token gesture in the manner of a small purchase as my way of saying thank you.

No, but I was at the Field Museum in Chicago 2 weeks ago and I wanted to buy some of the Egyptian gold artifacts.

They usually don't have those egytian mummies for sale though....

USUALLY?
That would indicate that sometimes.



Oddly enough when in Chicago you may have missed an oppurtunity to buy some. Not at the Museum but there is a place in the center of the City called Harln J. Berk on Clark Street. One half the store is coins, coin supplies and even stamps. The other half of the store is ancient stuff from all over the world. Might just have had some Gold coins and stuff from Egypt for sale. And nowing Chicago, if you knew the right people you could have bought one of the Mummies. I think they make them there.

I've been in your situation. There are three coins shops near me that I've frequented. At the first shop they have a better selection, but the guy hovers near me as I look and then seems agitated when I ask him a question or if I don't make a purchase. Other two have been pretty patient in letting me look and answering questions whether or not it ends in a purchase. So even though shop number one has a better selection, they rarely get my business. Supplies, books and most coins are purchased at the other two shops.

Doing it once the dealer shouldn't get upset, he should be trying to earn your business. You walk into the store every week spending 30-40 minutes cherrypicking and not buying...different story.

In Michigan they have; "The Item Pricing act", and "The Shopping reform and modernization act".
Connecticut Gen Statute 42-115p. Massachusetts has its "Item Pricing Law" also 940CMR 3.13(I). Ohio has "The Consumers Sales Practices act". California Business and Professional code sections 17500-17509. A quick check shows at least 27 States and Territories have a specific pricing law. Most others have Consumer Protection Acts.

There is a clear difference between an error in price by an add in the paper that is attributable to a printer; and an in store pricing error. Mistakes in price outside of the Companies control are not usually binding upon the Company. Mistakes made internally are usually binding. But not always. IF one item of many similar items is miss-marked it is generally considered an honest mistake and not binding. If an entire display is miss-marked then it is generally considered binding.

Talk to anyone who has worked in Senior Management in Retail and they will tell you horror stories that deal with miss-marked merchandise. A marked price is a legally contracted offer to sell. Changing the price upwards after the buyer has agreed to purchase is Illegal. There are, of course, exceptions for actual mistakes. But ignorance of true value is not one of them. Again if you have a sign that says something along the lines of "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone..." then they can deny the sale, but leave themselves open to other legal recourse. Usually refusal to service claims are rooted in unruly customers. Most other causes are questionable at best. And heaven help you if the customer you refused was something other than a WASP.

Again I am not a lawyer. At one time I was a Regional Manager for a National Retail Establishment. As such I had to undergo extensive training in statute and case law, pertaining to my profession. And the above is my understanding of basic business practices and laws as instructed to me by our Corporate Lawyers.