Why do some types of business bring out creeps?

[EstimatedProphet]

Here's what I mean: since gold is running high right now, I went to a gold dealer today to try and sell a 24K ring I have. So, I hand it to the guy, and the first thing he says is:

"This doesn't look real. There's something wrong with it." He's looking at it with an eyeglass.

I said "It tests as 24K on 2 seperate testers." Notice, he doesn't even try to bring out a tester (and I know he has one-he'd be an idiotto be in that business and not have one) but instead just looks at it through a glass.

He then comes up with "Well, that's the only piece of jewelry in the world that's 24K gold. It's too soft to work with. No one ever makes 24K gold jewelry."

I took it back, said "Yes they do" and walked out.

I know damn well it's 24K. I tested it myself. Mr. Wizard is trying to tell me this is fake, as if I'm some bumpkin that just fell off the turnip wagon and never saw any amount of gold of any kind. I know that because I know that there is such a thing as 24K gold jewelry, and if he truly doesn't know that he would have been run out of business after about 5 minutes.

What pisses me off so much is this his his FIRST reaction. He didn't say anything to me at all other than the exchange I listed above. That was it. What kind of a businessman automatically looks toward ripping off his customers from the get-go? I went to the store in good faith, I was willing to negotiate a fair price and not try and make up crap about how it is an 'antique' or had 'family history', and in return I get someone trying to lie to me to convince me that what I had was worthless, so that I would let it go for nothing. I've run into this kind of attitude a lot when dealing with gold. There seems to be a lot of people that try to rip everyone off as often as they can. What's the deal?

[Wcross]

1. He was trying to steal it from you.

I bet if you went in with a Canadian Maple leaf gold coin he would have told you it was a cheap knock-off.........

[EstimatedProphet]

3. That's exactly what he would have done

But-it's been my experience that gold buying/selling can really bring out crooks. I don't get why. Why are there so many more crooked businesses in that line than in others? That's what I want to know.

[blockhead]

2. here

http://images.google.com/url?sa=U&start=5&q=http://jewelry.about.com/od/jewelrymetals/a/gold_jewelry.htm&e=15235&ei=jhW0RIK_IK_giwGavdWbDw

[EstimatedProphet]

4. Thanks, but that really doesn't address what I am talking about

[blockhead]

12. most of the sites say that

24k gold jewelry is too soft for 'everyday' use, but that doesn't mean yours isn't 24k. I would get a second or third opinion.

[EstimatedProphet]

15. I know it's 24K

I've tested it with 2 different testers. Plus, it was stamped 24K. The thing that pisses me off is that this guy has to automatically assume I'm a complete idiot, rather that dealing with me as a real customer.

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Yes, there is such a thing as 24K gold

It means it's 1/24 gold
http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=1555637
(article also has a marking chart)

Does your ring have a stamp in it?

Another info site:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/may99/926623526.Sh.r.html

[EstimatedProphet]

6. No, it means it's pure gold

not 1/24

The ring has a stamp in Chinese, but that wouldn't matter anyway since the guy never looked for a stamp. He knew what it was, or he could find out easily enough. He just wanted to try and steal it from me instead.

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. My apologies...didn't mean to upset or further frustrate you, EP

I misinterpreted what I briefly read on the first link I shared with you. :hi:

[EstimatedProphet]

16. No problem

:)

[Dora]

7. 1 Karat = 1/24 Pure gold. Therefore....

24 Karat = 24/24 Pure Gold = 100% pure gold.

[billyskank]

8. They follow the money, of course

And especially, cheating is the spirit of the age. Honesty is for losers.

[EstimatedProphet]

11. Nah. I don't buy it.

A fair profit still enables someone to live well. Greed is what causes people to try and cheat. I just think that it's an ugly symptom, that some businesses seem to attract the greedy.

[billyskank]

13. It isn't about living *well*

As far as cheats are concerned, that's for losers too. They want to live like kings!

Of course it's greed. Did I say otherwise? And greed is the spirit of the age.

[EstimatedProphet]

17. Yeah, that's exactly it

It is the spirit of the age, and it's definately the spirit of the gold market.

Still, however, it pisses me off. And I believe that ethics should prevent that kind of thing. I'm idealistic, I know, but I also would like to be treated like a person and not a serf.

[skygazer]

9. What kind of a businessman automatically looks toward ripping off his cust

Car dealers.

[EstimatedProphet]

10. Yeah. Same mentality.

Really must hate the world...

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. Car salesman, jewelery stores, auto mechanics, funeral homes -

those are the types of businesspeople who automatically set out to screw their customers from the get go.

Especially the jewelery people.

[EstimatedProphet]

19. Exactly