You need a Facebook Business Page, especially if you don’t have a website. Facebook’s more than two billion monthly active users make it an impossible platform for any business to ignore and let’s face it, if your customers can’t find you on line why should you think they can find their way to your business?
In this article I will briefly run down for you how I price a coin that would come in to my store if it were certified by PCGS or NGC. Most coin dealers believe that PCGS is the number one grading service followed closely by NGC. Two other grading services can be acceptable to most dealers also those being ANACS and ICG. All other grading services are what I would term “Wild Wild West,” meaning their grading standards can be loose.
The first time I heard this, I was shocked! Then it was endless stories of pawn owner’s explaining how refiners didn’t find their platinum. So let’s talk about this elusive metal.
To start, sneaking metal into your refining lot is never a good idea, especially platinum group metals. The first, and most important reason is if the refiner is expecting gold and silver, a fire assay is done on your material to assess value.
Every day we hear stories about vendors not helping their clients, not calling them back, and a host of other very frustrating and disappointing things, all of which are negatively impacting peoples’ businesses. The Data Age/PawnMaster brand, company, and suite of products have been known for being world-class for the past thirty years. We always sit back and analyze how to improve. I recall an event held at the Ritz Carlton a few years back. I was walking to my meeting and in the hallway I saw three Ritz Carlton employees on their knees highly focused on removing a small piece of gum from the carpet. At first I said for the amount of money a room cost I would expect this but the establishment provided great value in so many areas. They don’t need to roll out three people to get a tiny piece of gum that cannot be seen removed. This is their strategy to customer service excellence and overall user experience. Let me be clear, customer support is a strategy that many miss the mark on in a big way.
My usual response to those asking for the man that runs the business consists of a smirky glaring stare as if I did not fully hear their request. It usually rolls into my explanation that I’ve been in the Pawn industry 29 years and through two ex-husbands. Which then, depending upon their demeanor, can turn into a joke about their desire to be number three or how I still haven’t popped the cherry on my Taser. I am not Disney appropriate so if you are easily offended then my shop is not for you; but if you’re seeking an experience, you just may get it under the biggest golden balls in Northeastern Nevada.
Advertising is all about getting your message across and making it memorable. You’ve heard the messages, you know the taglines – Maybe she’s born with it. Taste the rainbow. Just do it. Where’s the beef? We’ve all seen cavemen, frogs, and pink rabbits hawking everything from insurance to batteries. Sometimes we remember the taglines more than the product. Great advertising brings the customer in and captures their attention, but you don’t have to be a nationwide company to make yourself memorable. (more…)