Hi Cindy; Welcome to the message board and to the wonderful world of collecting silver strikes.

I've just read a Letter To The Editor in this week's copy of Numismatic News that has resonated with me with respect to what you have addressed in your post regarding a few buffoons on this forum... some of which may sound very familiar after reading the following letter to the Editor. Here is what a mail order coin dealer from Michigan had to say in his letter ...

.... "In late 1994, at about 7:30a.m. on a Friday, I received a call from a "customer". Previously, this caller had been sent several of my lists, purchased nothing, and used my trade clause to make written offers for my best material, offering piles of low-grade, low-value and practically un-merchandiseable coins in exchange.

After identifying himself, what follows is what he said to me. (Replace words in parenthesis with your least favorite expletive.)

"Let's quit (fooling) around! I don't have any (more) time for this (stuff)! I write you (stupid) letters and you just blow them off! Do you want to make a (lousy) trade, or don't you?"

My response to this tirade? Certainly, I was taken aback by this unexpectedly profane call. But I didn't get angry. Instead, I just chuckled, said "lose my phone number" ... and hung up. Yes, he tried to call back, but I would not answer the phone. Nor did I respond to several written inquiries from him which followed.

The letter-writer continued, "I guess the point of my letter is this; In any business or hobby, you will have an equal share of jerks, con men, etc., to deal with as you do in life in general. The mistake we all too often make is to allow these unsavory types to become psychological vampires and bleed away the sheer joy we find in numismatics!"

"As numismatists (or silver strikers), we are not immune just because we feel that the nature of our business (or hobby) should somehow hold all involved to an assumed higher standard of behavior. Nice if it were true, but it's a fantasy notion."

"The reality is, especially in today's business climate; time, energy and patience are assets too valuable to allow to be drained away and wasted by people like this. But it's all to easy to be drawn into; I know, I've done it myself. As my caller so eloquently phrased it, "just blow them off."

Joseph Whipple
Clawson, Michigan