by oktyabyr » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:44 pm
Unfortunately, there are always going to be people looking to make some quick, good money at the expense of other people. They usually end up targeting the elderly for a multitude of reasons. Rare coins, rare stamps, rare whatever. Foolproof investments. The list goes on and on for these people. That doesn't make it right. But they do it. Yes these companies are in it to make money. Yes, the people they are selling to do have the responsibility to research and find out if they are getting a good deal. But that's why the elderly and disabled are usually targeted, they aren't as likely to do research or know about these things.
Are those of us out there that know about these things and take advantage of these deals driving up the prices for the others? I seriously doubt that. If US Coins or Littleton Coin or any of the other ones stopped offering these deals, do you think that they would cut their prices? No. That's where their money is. They use these deals just as any other business does. They are loss leaders. They are designed to bring in business. To drive new sales. Just like the grocery store will offer turkeys for $0.29/lb. It costs them more than that. But they use it as a tool to bring people into the store to buy things in addition to the turkey. The difference is that the store doesn't have someone walking beside you telling you about how this can of cranberry sauce is worth $5.00 instead of $2.75. But then again, appliance stores have loss leaders and then do have sales people to follow you and try to get you to buy the better item instead. Does that make them wrong too?