Lost a $400 sale at the flea market because I couldn't explain Trump's tariff plan fast enough

I was selling old coins at the Spokane flea market last Saturday when a guy asked how Trump's tariffs would affect silver prices, I stuttered for a minute, he walked off, and now I keep a cheat sheet in my pocket for next time.

2 comments

2 Comments

wood.john4d agoTop Commenter

Folks get way too hung up on trying to have an answer for everything on the spot. That buyer wasn't looking for a deep policy breakdown. He was testing you, seeing if you knew your own product. Next time just say "I don't know the exact tariff numbers, but I know silver has been a safe bet through every president" and move on. The guy probably walked because he sensed you were unsure, not because you didn't have a tariff plan memorized. Memorizing talking points won't help you sell coins, knowing your inventory will.

the_wesley4d ago

Oh man, that's spot on... I actually read somewhere that most buyers in that space are looking for confidence, not a policy expert. They want to feel like you've got a handle on your stuff without having to recite a wikipedia page from memory. I heard a podcast a while back where a guy said the best sales move is just being honest when you don't know something, then redirecting to what you do know. That "silver's been safe through every president" line is perfect because it's simple and true. The whole thing about him walking from sensing uncertainty... that's real. People pick up on that vibe faster than any tariff figure. It's like that old saying about how nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care or whatever.

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