Wish I could have figured out a way to buy her cent dump

[jamesandsons]

I was in a small town about 10 miles out this morning, dumping about $1300 in halves & dimes at a branch of my dump bank I've only been to once before. The dump didn't go well (didn't last time either... I remember now why I haven't been back!); machine jammed about 3 or 4 times. About 30 minutes later, I was just finally wrapping up when an older woman walked in with a five gallon bucket half full of change. Then she went back to her car and got two more boxes full.

She didn't look like the CRH type, so I asked her how long she'd been accumulating the change. Turns out it was her recently deceased husband's lifetime accumulation of cents. They had moved them from Minnesota to Wisconsin about 7 years ago, and he hadn't added much to it since then. He always talked about how he was going to go through them to look for the wheats and older stuff one day, but he never got around to it. She hadn't been able to find them since he passed away last fall, and just finally came across them this week.

I was running late and unprepared for a situation like this, but part of me really wanted to buy them from her. I went as far as to say "I wish I could buy them from you" a few times, but not as far as to propose an actual transaction. Mainly because I couldn't figure out how to do it.

I suppose if this happens again, I'd maybe offer to buy them based on weight. Do an eyeball estimation of how much was copper, then figure out some sort of formula based on average weight.

I dunno. Have any of you ever done something like this before? How did you go about it, and how did it work out? (Or how *would* you go about it?)

 

[Iamrussell]

Ya id eye ball it and make an offer- especially if there is dimes/qtrs/halves- if you give a good offer that'll make it so they dont have to take the time to dump, it just might work

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just keep stacking, just keep stacking, stacking stacking stacking

 

[1more4me]

It will come down to trust! I've done it quite a few times- pretty much the same situation. Someone dumping a pile and after a couple inquisitive questions, I determine it's a likely old collection. After showing a little excitement over older coins that may have wheaties or silver- I'll tell them- that If they'll give me a few minutes to fumble through them- I'll pay them more than face for what ever I pull out. Telling them there might be $1 dimes or $3-4 dollar quarters etc. Usually, I pull out my card- that has my name and some words to the effect that I buy gold, silver, collectables and pretty much anything old- If they trust you and have time- they'll usually go for it. If they don't trust or don't have time- they won't but at least the attempted was made... If you pull some silver quick- start asking them to keep count- and tell them the $ amount you'll be giving them- once they are involved and know they are making something for nothing- they get excited and help look! That actually happens pretty regular- (last time I pulled nearly $15 face in silver and gave them $200)- those folks also call me when they get more-- or even better- when they decide to part with the bigger and older coins they kept out of the piggy bank and in the jewelry box. Be courteous, friendly, excited, and up beat conversation- helps to not look like a bum- and if at first they aren't quite ready to let you- let them know you are there dumping regularly and all the bank folks know you.

Then again- some folks would not trust you for nothing in the world and you'll figure that out pretty quick- and frankly- more often than those cases above!

 

[sagittarius98]

Buy the bags quickly!