Thread: Why Some Coin Dealers Don't Post Photos Coins for Sale on Their Website...

I just posted my comments on another forum in response to a thread about why dealers don't put photos of coins for sale on their websites. So I thought perhaps my comments might be of interest to some of you here to help give you an idea of why, at least for me, I don't post photos of every coin for sale (and perhaps I will also be speaking for other small coin business people).

Let me preface my post with this: I love what I do - I really love being involved with coins, collecting, buying, selling, dealing and socializing with other coin people, traveling, etc. I love talking to other coin people, attending shows, seeing other people's beautiful coins, sharing my collection, and I really love helping customers complete their collection after working on it for 20+ years, etc. Sure, there are frustrations and very hard work involved, but I do love what I do and am grateful to be able to make a living at it.

I know that expectations in today's electronic world are geared toward having accurate and up-to-the-minute information made available instantly. Buying anything on line has become the preferred method of shopping for most of us, me included, and I know not having a good photograph of whatever you're buying is very frustrating and most people would simply ignore that item. And, if you can't see a coin in hand, I agree having a clear and detailed photograph before you buy it is, understandably, even more important to most people.

So, back to why I don't post photos of all of my coins for sale. I usually have maybe 2000+ coins in stock, both raw and certified, in all grades for sale, and I'm just a one "woman" show. My husband has his own job at which he works very hard, and aside from not having time to help me, he has no interest in coins. I travel to probably 40 shows a year, do all my own paperwork (except taxes!), make my own travel arrangements, personally update my inventory sheets before and after each show, maintain customer want lists, package and ship out coins myself, stock my own supplies, and try to read and keep up with all my coin publications, etc. I simply do not have the time, nor the quality of skills necessary to take photos of each of my coins, as well as list and price and upload them to my website. Luckily, I found Todd Pollock who takes photographs of some of my better coins that I do post on my website, but I certainly can't afford to have him take photos of every coin in my inventory, nor would it be cost effective.

I know some of you are thinking why don't I hire someone to help me. Well, my profit margin is not large enough to afford to pay for someone to help me, nor do I think that posting photos of every coin in my inventory would increase sales enough to pay for someone to do this for me. I have begun to take Dino-Lite photos of coins upon request because it is simple and quick and I can easily email that photo to my customer. But even if I took Dino-Lite pictures of each of my coins, the time it would take to list, price and upload them to my website would still be too much for a one person business to handle. The other thing that makes posting photos of every coin for sale not feasible for me is that, with the amount of shows I attend and the quantity of coins I buy and sell during those shows, my inventory is constantly changing - it simply would be a nightmare to try and keep up with updating my website to make sure my posted inventory was current.

And the most important thing, at least for me, aside from keeping my customers happy, is that I continue enjoying what I'm doing. If being a coin dealer becomes so burdensome, too frustrating, overly stressful, and not profitable, then it simply would no longer be feasible to continue and I'd have to find something else to do to make a living - which would be very sad for me, because, as I mentioned above, I LOVE COINS!

So, please feel free to post your response, comments and experiences on this issue.

It's possible, but it's also a hassle and very expensive to ship coins to/from a photographer, and you have to take into consideration that the coins are out of inventory while they're being photographed by a third party.

I have a website and do post photos of some of my coins, but as a small business, I have to pick and choose what I think will be feasible and profitable.

Of course, I know posting photos of all my coins would increase sales, but as I mentioned, the expense, time and inconvenience are a factor I have to weigh, so for me, at least right now, I post great photos of some of my better coins (taken by Todd) and send photos on request of the rest (taken by me and my Dino-Lite).

Taking photos of coins is only the first part, then uploading and listing and pricing information takes time. And as I also mentioned, my inventory is constantly changing so maintaining the website, adding and removing coin photos would take even more time. So it's just not feasible for me right now.

Frat, you're missing the point. It's NOT just taking the photos - it's all the rest that goes with it.

I have pic's of every coin that I sell. I think that the person buying the coin should see what there getting. I even have a pic for .20 cent coins and a lot of dealers at shows think im crazy! I have only had 1 coin returned due to my fault, I mislabled it! I have a lot of return buyers! I have bought coins with out pics and I was not happy with them, so I make sure that dont happen when I sell the coin.

Unfortunately it is the very lack of photos on most websites that keeps me buying coins on EB*Y listings where 95%+ of the listings to have photos (not that photos are a guarantee of anything but it is a start).

A dealer not having pictures of coins has not stopped me from buying from them. That said, it is a small percentage of all the dealers out there that I have done this with. One specific example, a well known dealer in Virginia had a two cent piece I needed. With a phone call I asked him to describe the coin, after a short discussion I sent a check and the coin was sent to me. This dealer made sure to explain to me that after I had received the coin and had a chance to "live with it" I could return it for no reason at all, with a full refund. A week after delivery the dealer emailed to ask for my feedback on the coin.

When I received the coin it was every bit as described, so don't overlook the great inventory that is out there just because that dealer doesn't have pictures. Just my humble advice.

Originally Posted by The Penny Lady

...I don't post photos of every coin for sale (and perhaps I will also be speaking for other small coin business people)...

The bottom line for me ... it takes too long to photograph all those coins.

For some coins, I don't have them long enough to photograph them. Some coins never make it home from the show.

Originally Posted by frattlaw

In today's online business content management software makes all of that rather easy... its no more difficult or time consuming than adding photos to your myspace or facebook page.

Tell me more ! Specifics.