Just Ask John: Why Sell with DLRC
We’ve had a few weeks off between JAJ posts, but there’s no one to blame but myself. Some weeks you just get a little bit of writer’s block and it’s difficult to sit down and answer any of the questions that have been posed. As my mom always said, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all…” so, I’m trying to abide by that and keep my mouth shut sometimes. That being said, it’s a little more difficult with this week’s question…but I’ll try to do my best. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, it seems very self-serving, but that was the point of the question!
The question this week comes from a fairly new customer/collector who asked (paraphrased as to not speak negatively about others):
“For the 1st time, I'm going to sell a 1956 Type 1 Proof 69 Cameo Franklin with your company or another. Why should I choose you?”
This is a question we get asked quite often, but in several different forms, so I believe it’s one that’s worth responding to. Before I answer this, I’ll be very clear. I’m not a salesman. In fact, I couldn’t even sell ice at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when it was 95 degrees and 95% humidity. So at the risk of sounding over-confident or like the world’s worst salesman, I’m happy to share why I think we’re your best option when the time comes to sell.
The answer that every seller is looking for is this: you’ll get more money for your coins in a faster time frame. So obviously I have to start by saying that. But the more important question may be, how do we go about doing this?
It all boils down to a few simple points:
1. We offer the best rates.
2. We charge NO fees (listing, imaging, etc).
3. We market to collectors. We’ve been doing this for 40 years and have developed the customer base to focus on reaching collectors instead of dealers. Dealers do indeed buy coins (that’s what I do most of the time), but they aren’t the most aggressive buyers because most dealers are wholesalers. And when the collections that our customers have built come for sale, we’re quite often the best buyer for them. We’re selling nice coins, not just the everyday coins that you can see anywhere else, which bring inconsistent prices.
4. We aren’t just a marketplace. We’re true numismatists who understand and know coins. We recognize that every coin has a value and we’re willing to not only make outright purchase offers, but we’re able to make guarantees on unreserved consignments. We’re not simply listing the coin and telling you that it’s the best method but instead we customize any consignment to the seller’s needs. Not to mention that if we can’t agree with our customers on a price, we can still use the outright consignment option to get their coin out there! We’re not here to just earn a commission, we’re here to build a relationship.
5. DLRC is well aware of our competition and what they offer, and that’s why I think we’re the collector’s best option. We offer everything that they can offer you with less overall fees and our results speak for themselves. After 40 years, we’re not stagnant… we continue to develop, grow, and innovate!
One collector threw out a comment yesterday that really made me think… “if someone like Mr. Hansen trusts you enough to be his partner in buying, selling, and curating his collection, you guys must be pretty good to work with.”
Of course, I can say all of these things, but they don’t mean anything until it’s proven. I hope that you’ll give us the chance to work with you. We will personally assist you every step of the way and I think you’ll see the results in the end.
You’ll be treated as you deserve to be treated: a partner in collecting, not just a consignor. Our goal when working with customers, whether buying or selling, is to develop a relationship with customers. That can certainly be difficult to do at a distance, but it remains our ultimate goal. And when we’re able to give you the service that you deserve, I think that the experience turns out to be a better one, financially and otherwise.
Please feel free to write or call at any time and I’ll respond personally to the best of my ability. If you’re considering sending your coins to us, we can also cover the insurance on your package that you’re sending to us. Just let me know when you’re ready and I’m happy to go over the details. Hope to hear from you soon!
John Brush, President of DLRC