Business ProfileforPittsfield Precious Metals

If you want a fair price for your silver coins with numismatic and bullion value, I would not recommend Pittsfield Precious Metals. Every business must be profitable in order to stay in business, but fairness is due to the proprietor and to the customer; thus was not the case in my situation. Coins have numismatic value ( age, condition, mintage irregularities, and metal composition); however coins also have a bullion value- the amount of silver or gold in the coin.
One must add both values to determine the coin's value. Dealers such as Precious Metals in Pittsfield would want to pay you the wholesale value- the bluebook value. They in turn make their profit by selling the coin at his retail value( the red book value). Both books can be purchased at your local book store. One knows that the offer of a coin/ precious metals store must consider the numismatic and the bullion value of a coin. I was offered less than 50% of the value of my silver coins; of course, I would not accept it. Some wise advice to people who are selling coins: get at least 3 free appraisals before you sell.
Neil N. M*****
Clarksburg, MA XXXXX

I have called Mr. M***** regarding this review as it bothered me that he is trying to slander my reputation in this review.
The facts:
Mr. M***** brought in two silver half dollars, a quarter, and two dimes of recent vintage pre 1964 that were not of high grade and which I and any dealer would buy for it's bullion value. I offered him 90% of the going rate on the day he came in, which was $9 per half for something I would receive $10 for.
He goes on above "to give wise advice to everyone to get at least 3 free appraisals before you sell". Which I do not have a problem with. I encourage people to get other appraisals before coming to sell to me. But when you compare pricing you should do so from from those who are also dealers. He himself confessed he did not do so.
Mr. M***** said he talked to hobbyists, he referred to book values which are not accurate since they are printed once a year and not updated on a daily basis which is important especially during this market of fluctuating bullion values. He confessed over the phone that he sold it to a friend/collector (in other words retail customer not a dealer) at substantially lower amount of $18 per half dollar (which would ** double of my offer of $9). I mention this because Mr. M***** states "I was offered less than 50% of the value of my silver coins." If they were really worth double why would he sell it for less especially to a collector or retail customer.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy for Mr. M***** getting a retail value for his coin, but what upsets me is that he infers above that I have not treated him fairly, and in doing so is trying to harm my reputation.
I have been in business at this same location for 42 years buying and selling precious metals gold, silver, platinum and coins. My actions and integrity in dealing with customers for decades speak for themselves, as do the hundreds of letters and written testimonials I have received and on display in my store from people who have done their due diligence and actually done business with me.

I am 77 years old and am a retired professor and a retired Protestant minister. I have never slandered anyone or any business in my entire life. The silver coins that I had brought into the proprietor's store had two values: numismatic value and bullion value. Both have to be combined to offer a fair value to a person selling the coins. She, the proprietor, only offered one of the values of the coins, but that was her decision which precluded my doing any business with her. It was my intention to inform other consumers of her business practice- people who do not know the value of their coins. I have been collecting coins since age 9, so I do have quite a bit of knowledge of numismatics, and I don't want people being taken advantage of.
It was deeply disturbing of this woman to call me here at home and denigrate me because of my original review. I regret that the BBB may have given her my telephone number which is unlisted. Or, perhaps, she may have gotten my phone number from another party. I do issue her a warning, however: if she calls my own home again, I will initiate a lawsuit against her for harassment.

Sincerely,
Neil N. M*****, Ph.D,, M Div.

I called the number in which Mr. M***** called me from initially to set up an appointment.
The few coins he brought in again were of average grade and common date of later vintage which sell for the bullion value.
I have a surveillance camera view of the coins and of him as he presented them to me at the appointment.
He himself told me he received slightly more from a RETAIL customer. Thus proof of the correctness of my pricing.
In the phone call I simply and respectfully asked him a few questions to try to understand the person and why he would write such a review.
When I introduced myself via phone and asked if I could speak to him to try to remedy the misunderstanding or problem about his comment/review, he said he would ** glad to speak to me (how is that harrassment). He did say that he was shocked that I received the comment. I am assuming he thought that the BBB would just post the comment without sending it to the affected business.
After listening to him and subsequently his response to my few questions. I tried to reason with him as I state above in my business comment, in a polite manner. How that is "denegrating" him.
After this he asked me to never call him again and of course I did not.
Respectfully, My customers and my integrity are important to me that is why I called Mr. M***** to begin with.
Anyone who knows me, knows my nature, and know that I am not disrespectful even to those who I feel may have come in with negative intentions. I say this because I treated Mr. M***** with respect when he came in, and valued him as a customer, thus the call back to him after reading the negative comment/review. I did everything I could to treat him fairly and with respect. Response to the Warning?? My conscientious is clean. The proof is in the surveillance photo of him and the coins.