What do you think of these coin shows on TV like The Coin Vault or Art and Coin TV with Barry Chappell? Everytime I watch it makes me laugh because the host is worse then a used car salesman. They yell how what they are about to do is crazy with cost for an item that is way below the "leading numismatic" quote. I find the same items at a lower cost on ebay of all places.
I always wondered what the "leading numismatic quote' was, then I think I found the answer. I won't name the company, but they sell primarily to non-collectors so have high advertising costs. I simply view TV coin shows as extrmely high priced, which they need to be to pay for the tv time. Like a lot of things in life, those who have the knowledge benefit and don't buy from those places, while those with little knowledge suffer.
One show I do enjoy is when Rick Tomaska hosts Art and Coin TV. His prices are high but he really makes sure the coins are top grade. I live in an area where there are only a couple of very small B&M's so watching the coin shows is a treat for me. I've only ordered once from TV but that was a pretty good deal....at least compared to Ebay pricing. The pitches on TV are quite comical though and it's amazing how many people buy from them. State quarters are a favorite for TV.
