How not to promote show

For many years Numismatic News has offered free listings for coin shows in its Show Directory section.

It is a popular service. I believe that helping shows get a boost helps us all, whether we are collectors or dealers.

When we gather together, it provides opportunities for business transactions between us and for learning from each other.

In short, such free show listings are a win-win proposition, right?

Well, most of the time.

Once in a rare while I receive an email like the one below. It came to me over the weekend regarding a show listing.

It read it part:

“Neither the advertisement nor the website stated the start time. Therefore, I called the number listed in your issue this morning around 7:30 a.m., expecting either a recording with details or a professional person on the other line.

“Unfortunately, a man answered and immediately began raising his voice, swearing and mocking me, stating, 'We’ve had this show for 30 years, why wouldn’t the show be on? Are you (expletive) kidding me?' Etc. I didn’t even get to ask what time the show starts before he hung up the phone.

“This is not the type of treatment I expect when calling one of your advertisers. Please vet your advertisers. Your subscribers do not deserve to be abused. Also, please ask your advertisers for detailed information regarding shows to eliminate the need for your subscribers to search for these simple details.

“Thank you for your time & attention to this matter.”

The would-be show goer who wrote me this email is right. He should not be treated this way.

There is much time and effort expended in numismatics to make it a pleasant experience for everyone involved.

How much damage is done by a thoughtless interaction like this?

I know that such occurrences are rare. Few complaints like this have come my way in my nearly 40 years at Numismatic News.

But when they do happen, I want to slap my forehead in disbelief.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper has twice won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."

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