Coin Gallery

First of all having been in coin business for many years we have more respect for a graded coin than to abuse it; we do not throw coins.  The graded coin cases are very durable and break resistant.  Common sense would dictate to anyone  that if a clerk damaged...

a client's merchandise the client should point the damage out to the store clerk.  This did not happen.  Recalling the individual who filed the complaint, he kept saying that his coins had to be of a higher value than what we told him.  We offered him $5.00 for the "large cent" which was a "cleaned coin" of only "good" condition for which we stated he paid $99 for the coin.  We showed him in the "Red Book" where the coin could be purchased for $20. Cleaned coins have a lessor value than non-cleaned coins.   From  recall, the silver dollar  was an 1883-O not the coin he stated; especially a Carson City (CC) coin.  An 1884 CC graded MS67 would have a value near $5,000.  The coin he presented to us we offered him $30 and showed him where we have them on display for sale at $35.00.  Honest with the client we were, rude we were not.  We made him a fair offer, which he refused.  It is not our position to overvalue or overpay someone for something just because they overpaid for the item. We did not break his case nor were we rude to him; hence, we will not meet his demands.  He is free to do as he chooses and if his course of action is as he stated then we will respond accordingly.  We will also take action against any other undocumented liable or slander.

Review: I went to the Coin Gallery located @ [redacted] in [redacted]n June 24, 2013 at approximately 1 PM to see if they were interested in purchasing a 1995 United States Mint six coin proof Civil War Commemorative Set I had for sale.

I spoke to [redacted]. I opened the cardboard box to reveal the wood case. [redacted] hastily grabs the wooden case and the letter of authenticity beneath it and proceeds to take the case and certificate to others behind the counter areas to get their offer price. He comes back with the case and quotes me a price of $650. I say no thank you, he hands it back.

I do not see the certificate, so I ask him where the certificate is. He tells me it's there. When I opened the wooden case directly in front of [redacted], to my shock and dismay [redacted] had taken the certificate and put it into the wooden case and damaged it, causing a crease.

When confronted with this [redacted]'s response was to apologize and then grab the certificate and attempt to straighten it. He then hands it back and says it's fixed so what's the problem now. The damage was done he ruined it.

At this point I explained to him an apology does not fix the devaluation of my certificate. After a back and forth of what I wanted followed immediately by we are not going to give you a replacement nor are we going to pay you for the diminished value. My only option [redacted] offers is to get out of the store.

[redacted] mentioned several time about them having tape, and then claims he did not damage my certificate after all, I said wonderful, now there is proof to show others what happened.

At this point he became more hostile and arrogant and demands leave the store immediately, I told him I was not going to leave without receiving an undamaged certificate replacement, if it was no big deal as he claimed he could have quickly resolved this by taking the one he damaged and giving me an undamaged one, or the $100 value I deemed as a fair price. Again, he gaves me one option, take a worthless and insincere apology and get lost.

At this point, he threatens to call a person he called [redacted] according to [redacted] is a police officer; he made it clear I needed to know this [redacted]was a police officer as he repeated himself several times. I said fine, call this [redacted]person he can't just come in under some cloke of authority of law and arrest, or harass me on your say so. You damaged my property. You are not going to intimidate me by calling [redacted]the cop or whatever he is. He repeatedly mentions this [redacted]person. I keep telling him to call the police; he refuses and demands I leave.

I waited for approximately 10 minutes, the last 2 outside the store, for their arrival. I explained to them what happened and requested an incident report, which I received.Desired Settlement: Replacement or a $100 payment for loss of collector value.

As a coin dealer, this should have never happened. [redacted]s sloppy, unprofessional handling and attitude, coupled with an arrogant indifference towards causing harm to a customer's property is appalling. I trusted the person employed behind the counter to be a professional. A true professional knows how to properly handle coins; and the impotance of a certificate of authenticity to a coins value. What I got was an arrogant dolt who damages my property, thinks my complaint is trivial and then treats me as if it were his right to Solely decide what I should get. And that he has the right use the police as a tool to cause me harm.

If I do not receive a proper satisfactory resolution I will gladly share my horrible experience with everyone I know.

He knows what he did was wrong and he knows their security tapes showed this.

Business

Response:

Response to complaint #[redacted]

This reply is written by [redacted], and I am the person who waited on the [redacted], and I am the store manager.

Without dissecting the complaint part by part, the version presented to you by [redacted] is grossly flawed in detail. He is correct in stating that he did bring the coin set in for pricing and possible purchase by us. He was quoted a purchase price of $650 which was not to his satisfaction as indicated by the tone of his reply. The set was shown to a second individual to validate that the value was not more than what I thought it to be. The letter of authenticity did accompany but was not view. When I began repacking the set, the individual began grabbing it out of my hands. In the packing I did place the letter inside the box which is a common practice, but did not meet his approval. It was at that time he claimed the letter had been bent and became very aggressively hostile. Having not paid any attention to the letter I can neither confirm nor deny that the letter was bent here. I dealt with him on the basis that I had bent the paper, and it should be noted that the bend was very minute. From our perspective the letter does not make the set more valuable. Had we purchased the set we would have broken the set up and melted most of it as it is a set difficult to resell.

At this point his attitude became extremely aggressive and extremely loud. He demanded that the perceived damage be made right. I asked him no less than four times what it would take to make it right and he just kept being loud, aggressive, and obnoxious and demanding a new letter of authenticity which he knew I could not produce. A second staff member tried to assist to no avail as Mr Peoples continued with his disruptive display of aggression. There were a minimum of 8 other clients in the store and to one of them he was very rude and he interfered with her trying to conduct a purchase. She asked him to not interfere, that she was trying to conduct business and his response to her was he did not care about her and her business, that it was all about his business . Several clients left the store based on his loud voice, aggressive actions and overall display of actions and demeanor.

Based on his attitude and interruption of business several clients left the store, three of which returned the following day all expressing disbelief that someone could be so aggressively rude. Two of which I can provide contact information on once they agree to let me provide the information.

He was asked to leave the store based on his actions and vocalization and his disruption to all. After repeated requests to leave and a minimum of 4 requests of what it would take to resolve the issue the police were called. I called the police as a last resort. I personally placed the call to the police.

He eventually left the store and waited for the police out in front of the store and spoke with them on their arrival. The two officers then came in and talked with me and asked for my version of the incident. Upon hearing what I said to Mr [redacted] the officers left to go back and speak with him again. Upon their returning inside the store they handed me a card with his information and their information and informed me that they had told him that he was no longer welcome and told him if he returned that he would be charged with trespassing. This action was initiated by the officer and not at the request of anyone employed by the Coin Gallery.

Regarding the desired settlement.

Knowing full well that an original new replace letter of authenticity is not an item I can either procure or create myself he is trying to coerce $100 from the Coin Gallery as evidenced by his statement in the last three lines of the desired settlement which reads “ If I do not receive a proper satisfactory resolution I will gladly share my horrible experience with everyone I know”.

I rather imagine that he has already done this and will do so regardless of whether he is paid or not. His actions in the store clearly demonstrated that he has no regard for anyone other than himself. A gentleman he is not and calling me an “arrogant dolt” in the desired settlement section clearly bespeaks of his character. The term dolt by its own definition is a “stupid dunce” and by demeaning me he expects to be compensated. Clearly I do not think so! I am more inclined to think an apology from him is the proper resolution.

Review: I approached the store operator with two old rare coins first one being a 1797 large cent in almost uncirculated condition, the second being a mint condition ms67 1884 cc morgan silver dollar, I asked him to evaluate and value my coins, he very rudely threw my coins on the counter causing the slab which holds the morgan to break and said he would pay no more than $30 and he had the same coins in lesser condition selling them for about $300Desired Settlement: I would like my ms67 1884 cc morgan dollar to be replaced because the slab grading case has cracked and the value of my coin lowered, I have witnessess and photographic evidence, if they will not settle by replacement of the same item or value then I will file for suit, by which I will intend to compound multiple allegations which I have discussed with my legal counsel.

Business

Response:

First of all having been in coin business for many years we have more respect for a graded coin than to abuse it; we do not throw coins. The graded coin cases are very durable and break resistant. Common sense would dictate to anyone that if a clerk damaged a client's merchandise the client should point the damage out to the store clerk. This did not happen. Recalling the individual who filed the complaint, he kept saying that his coins had to be of a higher value than what we told him. We offered him $5.00 for the "large cent" which was a "cleaned coin" of only "good" condition for which we stated he paid $99 for the coin. We showed him in the "Red Book" where the coin could be purchased for $20. Cleaned coins have a lessor value than non-cleaned coins. From recall, the silver dollar was an 1883-O not the coin he stated; especially a Carson City (CC) coin. An 1884 CC graded MS67 would have a value near $5,000. The coin he presented to us we offered him $30 and showed him where we have them on display for sale at $35.00. Honest with the client we were, rude we were not. We made him a fair offer, which he refused. It is not our position to overvalue or overpay someone for something just because they overpaid for the item. We did not break his case nor were we rude to him; hence, we will not meet his demands. He is free to do as he chooses and if his course of action is as he stated then we will respond accordingly. We will also take action against any other undocumented liable or slander.