When you go to a coin show, who is it for? The dealers or the customers?

Who should dictate how you act when you go to a coin show? The dealer or the customer? If someone puts a shovel load of bargain bin coins out what are they their for? Is it is not to be looked through? What if someone pays a lot of money to get in a show (20 for parking,5 to get in) and they do not have a lot of money to begin with but they just love coins.. are they not welcome? I sell at shows also but I understand how it is to just want to "make a day of it" These people are not wasting your time, they are the heart and soul of the entire hobby.

 

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Enjoy the show however it fits for you. There are no prerequisites. All kinds of collectors attend shows, and dealers are (should be) accustomed to it.

I go with a list of coins I need, some of them pricey. But sometimes I like sorting through a box of slabs or books of raw coins in flips.

The show is about collectors, IMO. Make it what you want.
Lance.

 

Rope,I am a collector, not a dealer and certainly understand the desire for shows to be collector-friendly. But the reality is that shows are where dealers go to do business and a lot of that has nothing to do with retail customers. Many of the dealers are looking to do wholesale first as replenishing inventory is critical to maintaining a profitable venture and many dealers are wholesale first or wholesale only.There's also plenty of friendly, personable dealers that view retail traffic at shows as critical to their business. A collector's job at a show is to be able to distinguish the different types of dealers and not be offended by the dealers he does not hit it off with. The more I go to shows, the easier it is to figure out the dealers to walk on by.

 

exactly

 

I understand that.. but for me it just gets me so mad when i see a dealer act like he is to good for someone like they are the "hot stuff"

 

Welcome to the coin game. Remember the vast majority if not all dealers' primary objective is to maximize financial return, and things make a bit more sense.

 

I do remember that because i am a dealer.. however being so it sickens me to think of the greed that is taking over this hobby. I am all for making profit, i aim to do it. But i do want to remember that i am in business for the collector.

 

You can thank all the people who have jumped on the bullion bandwagon and think of themselves as instant know it all collectors for the perceived greediness you see at shows by some dealers. This is exactly why I stopped attending shows until the bullion fad dies again, not because of the dealers, but because of those they tend to want to do business with. But, there are still plenty of dealers who cater only to the collector and are thrilled to see you aren't a pseudo investor and so will work with you. The rest of them, well, they're just burning bridges and will pay for that in the future in the way of lost customers. Take your time and don't get so frustrated.
Guy

 

All i know is i never treat my costumers like they were a dime a' dozen. And thats the way everyone should be.period

 

Funny story, I went to the last Whitman show in Baltimore and knew a certain out of state dealer would be at the show. I have been checking his price lists for a while and had picked out 3 or 4 coins of his that I was interested in buying. Not only were his prices reasonable, but he has a guide to buying coins on his website that seemed really down to earth, it included advice like get to know a dealer and if you don't like the way you are being treated don't do business with them. As it turns, as I am talking to the dealer about the coins I am interested in he just does not give me the time of day, seems completely uninterested and unfriendly. So I took his advice right over to another dealer I have a good relationship with.

I gather some dealers do most of their business with either other dealers, or high dollar collectors they have a long relationship with. For these guys, I just figure their attitude reflects the fact that I will not bring in enough revenue for them to bother too much with, and I take my money elsewhere.

 

Sounds like the guy didn't read his own website guides! (or write them)

 

And that will make you successful as a dealer with a loyal customer base.....

 

"Your money is just as green as any other dealer's." - a dealer at the April Whitman show to me. I always ask for dealer prices.


Dealers need to make money. When a dealer sells, it's to make money. If it's to a dealer or to a collector, money is money.

To me, the show is all about me because I have money and they have coins. Win-Win.

 

I used to feel the same way. I used to feel like some of the dealers didn't care if I stopped by their tables or not. So I had to turn around my expectations and give them the benefit of the doubt. When I turned around my attitude and turned into Mr. NiceGuy that's when they showed me something in return. It was a win, win for all of us. Give it a try, you might like it! :thumb:

Also, keep in mind what you're walking up to. I mean, you don't want to walk up to a high end gold coin dealer if you only have $20 bucks to spend because it's a waste of time for both of you. On the other hand, if you're just going up to ask questions to learn, then go for it. You may be surprised on how many of the dealers will help you in every way possible. good luck!

 

That's my point! geez.. i dont know why people act like this! It bugs me so much. Then ill be talking to other dealers and they will act like i am "small time" just because i care about everyone! Beef please dont ever let dealers do that to you. They dont deserve to do business with you if they act that way.

 

Ok

 

After your first multi-thousand $$$$ check clears their bank, dealer's warm up REALLY fast to seeing you.
Also, getting a reference from a high profile nationally recognized dealer is a nice thing.

Finally, Cash is king. "Hail to the king, baby."

 

Well I do like money dont get me wrong its part of why i do business. But I still think the dealer collector relationship should be the same even without the big check.. you know?

 

I agree that dealers need to make a profit, but I think that every collector is the foundation of the hobby/business. I have had the privilege of dealing with dealers who knew my interests as well as my budget. Even though I am a collector of "modest means" they always took time with me. I have never been a high dollar client, but I have been lucky enough to deal with individuals that made me feel as though I was.

 

I am happy you found that Lawtoad