Featured Recycled Article No. 1: Coin Show Etiquette

Just like I bet dealers reading what coin collectors believe coin dealers should behave probably come off as overprivileged dillitantes. Cuts both ways. Half of either side would take objection.

 

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You and I are, I think, mostly in agreement.

Like you, I'll haggle over anything. Healthcare, bank services, retail stores, car repair, you name it. If it has a price, I'll ask for a lower one. Sometimes I get one, sometimes i don't, sometimes we do the deal, sometimes we don't. As said before, if it's done respectfully and above board, I'm all good with it regardless of which side I'm on, or who "wins".

And, like you, those times I've gotten a great deal "out of the box", I've generally taken it and ran. As stated before...I don't think there's anything inherently "wrong" with haggling a cherry pick...it's just not real bright.

Would I haggle a $40 coin as medorman suggested? Absolutely I would! If it was "in the ballpark" at $40, but I felt with patience and a little work I could find an example for $30, then I'd try to haggle. Sure...it's "only $10"...but hey, if you found $10 on the ground, wouldn't you pick it up? Sure you would.

On the other hand...if it's a $500 variety and someone at a garage sale just missed the boat and is asking $40, then no...I'm not about to draw attention to it or myself. I'd pay the $40, and scoot.

 

Isn't this whole thing though...and, really, Charmy's OP...more about basic common courtesy than a set of "rules"?

I mean...by and large, her "list" is basically just Wheaton's Law for Coin Shows, isn't it?

Don't block someone's wares from view. Don't take up their time needlessly. Don't monopolize a time or place when others are waiting their turn. Wait your own turn. And so on.

You know...stuff all of us...on both sides of the table...were supposed to learn in kindergarten.

 

I find it hard to equate "posting an article about coin show etiquette to a discussion forum" with "sending a do's and don'ts list to my customers". I haven't been going to shows all my life, and I'm not always sure what is or isn't acceptable behavior. I get a lot of value out of articles like this.

 

That's one way to put it.

 

As I mentioned previously, all the things on the list are SUGGESTIONS, they are just things that some people aren't aware of, or don't think about when working with a dealer. They aren't meant to sound like "you better do them or else." On the contrary, they are only meant to help you have a better experience at a coin show.

I know there are many do's and don'ts a collector would like to have for the dealers they work with, so perhaps someone should start such a thread (and hopefully keep it nice!). I would also be very happy to incorporate these suggestions into another article.

I know we can all learn from each other, but as Gboulton said in his post above, it really is all about RESPECT and using our own common sense and courtesy, from both sides!

 

Charmy, I actually "used" your suggestions for going to my first major show. It helped me a lot.

But I still "negotiate". I've learned it never hurts to figure out what "your" price for something is and find out if the dealer is able to work with you on it. If not, and "your" price and the dealers is still too far apart, then walking works for me. If it's close or if I don't mind paying a bit of a premium, so to speak, then I'll get it anyways. Occasionally, some dealer will state a price and I won't negotiate, as I think it's very fair and picking on a few dollars could spoil it. But that's not too often.

I've learned that sometimes, it's still in a dealer's interest to unload a coin, even if he's not getting "full" price --- rather than hold out for someone who will pay that full price.

There are so many people in this world who will never buy things at full price, if at all possible (excluding regulated items/services). And they still manage to get what they desire in life. They bring a huge amount of money into the stream, as they do like to buy. I've found that if one dealer (coin, car, store) or more says no and turns them down, they generally don't have to resort to paying full price. They find someone who is able to satisfy them and their price points.

 

Interesting. I thought the suggestion "don't criticize the dealer's coins" was simply peevish, hypersensitive and obnoxious. But now I know better. Dealers are just trying to be helpful!

 

Actually, I think that is a good suggestion. There is really no need to criticize a coin. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it or negotiate for it. There shouldn't be any time that you tell a dealer something's wrong with the coin to try to get a better price for it.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

 

Scott, I don't know if anyone has told you before, but so far in this thread your posts come across as hypersensative and obnoxious. You seem like you're just trying to be contrary for contrary sake. It is such a common sense NO-BRAINER that if you want to buy a coin from a dealer, criticizing it will not help you get a better deal. It will only serve to create a sense of negativity and possibly hostility in any negotiations. I seriously can't believe someone has to even point this out to you.

If you behave with any dealer like you come across here on this thread, I wouldn't be surprised that any coin show experience you have is not positive. In any event, if this attitude works for you, thank you for not stopping by my table.

 

I guess I'm not a big dog. I buy what I want at what price I want or move on. I observe normal polite behavior that holds true to any situation from dinner parties to strip clubs.

Call me crazy, but if you're a normal person, you'll get out of a show what you wish.

 

I don't mean to derail the thread, but how about a thread on Coin Show Etiquette for dealers? I still remember my first coin show when a dealer was acting like a pure snob towards me.

On the other hand, I still remember searching through another dealers junk box. I took my sweet time spending about a half hour and he was extremely nice. I made sure I spent more money on his expensive coins afterwards too.

 

Icerain, that was exactly my suggestion above. I think it would be a good idea and I will be happy to take those suggestions and create an article for publication so that perhaps it will help dealers have a better understanding of what bothers collectors.

 

Ok, I will expand on that experience. The coin I was asking about were two rare world coins. Though they are not as expensive as many others out there. The dealer told me and I quote "I don't carry dollar coins with me, I have thousands of common coins at home and won't waste my time with them" The fact that these two coins had mintages under 4,000. And are not only hard to locate but to find them in high grades would definitely be in the upper hundreds.

I also met a few dealers that would rather chat with their friends or another dealer next to them than acknowledge I was there to spend money.

 

penny lady,
Im not buying your do's and dont's list. those are things that may irritate you, and other dealers while dealing with us avergage Joes. However I've had experiences with a dealer, where I was trying to look at his coins, and there was another man with his papers, books, etc all over the place. I couldnt see anything. But the guy was going through the trays, a row at a time buying a coin every 30 seconds. Just making a pile. I dont think the dealer was turned off with his poor etiquette when its accompanied with big bucks.

 

I also met a few dealers that would rather chat with their friends or another dealer next to them than acknowledge I was there to spend money.[/QUOTE]

Theres two types of dealers. Those that are making a living, raising a family by dealing with coins. Then there are the people who like to hang out, show off their coins and act like bigshots. Find the dealers that are making a living selling coins and you will have a better experience.

 

Bkozak, you don't have to buy my list - it's free!

Of course not every dealer is the same, that's what makes the world go round. Not all dealers are going to care about etiquette, and they may not care to give it back either.

Speaking for me, most of my customers are "average joes" (however you want to interpret that term). It doesn't matter to me whether it's a really good customer, or another dealer friend, or just a guy looking through my loose penny trays - I ask them all not to place their books, cups, food and other things on top of my cases.

By the way, being a coin dealer IS how I pay my bills and make a living - and if you haven't gotten it yet - I absolutely LOVE what I do. I love working with collectors helping them build their sets, I enjoy attending the shows, and I like talking coins with collectors and dealers. It is not only my work, it is my passion.

 

You guys sweatin' the small stuff gotta develop a stronger resolve. If someone (dealer or anyone, for that matter) hands you a cavalier overly haughty attitude, the way to handle it is to move on down the line. Remember folks, you are the one in control of things. You're the guy or gal who has the cash burnin' a hole in their pocket. No sense wasting it on someone who (you perceive) is disrespecting you. I've been to a lot of shows where I pressed my nose up against the window and dreamed of owning a high end unobtainable coin from some really high end dealers. Most indulged my child like fantasy, but the few that didn't, I never took offence. I just moved on. There will always be snobbery when it comes to this hobby.......those individuals who feel they're better than everyone else......those who feel that you, a scrubby collector of moderns, could never measure up to them. Those individuals never profit. They miss the chance to cultivate an intense desire within the person who is collecting the coin. Their desire is purely profit driven.
And then there are those individuals (dealers?) who inspire....who take the time to work with you and who truly understand and appreciate you, the collector. They greet you, and acknowledge your presence. Their love and enthusiasm for collecting shines through. It is these folks that I spend most of my money with.

 

A pretty fair list but it missed a few faux pas that might be mentioned.

1. When a dealer shows you that 1856 flying eagle cent, do not toss it in the air, and say flip you for it, call it.

2. If you lunched on chili and beer, do not ask a dealer to pull your finger.

3. If a dealer will not come down on their asking price, do not hold your breath until you turn blue.

4. If a dealer hands you a coin you want and will not meet your price, do not cry until they agree to sell it to you.

5. Realize that offering face value for coins will not get you anywhere.

6. If while showing you coins, you accidently drop one, do not ask the dealer for a discount because of the rim ding you put in it.

7. If a collector is selling coins to a dealer, do not tell the collector you will give them whatever the dealer is giving plus a dollar.

I am sure there are many other important rules that would enhance the coin show experience for novice collectors, and keep them from being banned at future shows.

 

Now now, let's not turn this around. The negativity came from the patronizing "etiquette" list itself, not from me. Seems to me that in this economy, and with the existence of Ebay, dealers should be happy that anyone stops by their table. But you're right, I won't be stopping by. Why would I want to deal with this guy?