Featured Recycled Article No. 1: Coin Show Etiquette

You know that they make those things easier and easier to use, so that you guys don't get left behind.

 

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I am from the FIRST class at my high school to have a programming class, and the last class at my college to NOT have ANY computer classes for credit. I am the pivot point in the digital divide. Coincidentally also the first year to NOT face a military draft. I had a draft number, and it was Looooow, meaning I was 'Nam bound, but Nixon ended the draft. Yes, goys and birls, the YOUNGEST Americans ever drafted are now 60!!! Let THAT sink in.

 

Agree with the tip concept. Here's something for you to chew on as well.

You have a favorite restaurant/bar in your area. You frequent it a lot. You're what they consider a regular. Do you not get special treatment? Maybe you don't have to wait for a table, maybe you get a free drink or two, maybe you get a free appetizer. If you develop the relationship, IMO, you will get a benefit.

Dealers buy from each other, often at prices you and I can not get. So if you have a dealer looking out for you, he'll be able to offer you coins at prices you may not be able to get without that relationship.

 

And the whole point I was making is that in the Information Age the I the non expert can already buy coins at that level without needing to tip. Reread my prior posts I even give specific examples.

For someone like me I just buy anything I like. I don't "need" any specific coin so I can just hunt around until I find these great coins at the dealer prices.

 

I agree with every part of your response except the cheaper part. Which again is my whole point.

 

Arrggghhh! Why won't this SW let me abandon a previous Reply? This is here because a prior draft just keeps coming up! Maybe an edit and post will eliminate it?

 

Gotta say, I'm in with the Vician universe on this one.

 

I thought, back in the old days, you guys used to place a great deal of value and pride in being independent, self-sufficient, thinking and making decisions for yourself. Modern days and technology make that very possible for several generations. Strange, that any old-timer would argue against such an approach, especially when it is just hobby related. Sounds to me, like some people here are peddling the good old boy's club, the business and life long dependencies on dealers. Maybe, they no longer collect, they've lost the will, the eyesight, the ability to make own decisions, etc. and feel they need that crutch or dealer at all costs, hence the continued arguments against a step in hobby evolution, that has already sprung roots.

 

It's a brave new world out there and the situation changes a little bit more every day. With time lapse examples it becomes glaring. If you wanted to buy a coin 100% of the time 20 years ago it had to be from a dealer. They controlled the hobby and could have a dmv like attitude. Fast forward to today. I just blew off some coins on eBay. Collector to collector. What percent of all sales today are dealer sold? Less then 100% to be sure.

Things have changed so much that even the dmv doesn't have a dmv attitude any more. The local post office is getting so crushed by private competition that they are giving some of the nicest customer service I have seen from any government agency.

I honestly feel that five years from now people won't recognize the market when compared to today. Again look at used cars. Now we have the whole car facts and blue book online. With information the playing field is leveling and I honestly think the same thing is happening in the coin industry.

 

DING! DING! DING! Correct on ALL counts. I used to BE a dealer, in cameras. We worked on a GROSS markup of 2-5%, because the cash cow was film development and printing. The expected coin dealer markup is more than my area's particular culture desires to pay. Even a HUGE number of HOUSES sell here without realtors. The auctioneers sell as many residences as realtors do. We are an anti-markup sort of folk. We simply prefer to avoid professional middle men. We don't object to paying a "wage", figurative or literal, but markups annoy us.

 

Vic, I'm not debating your points as not being valid. I've bought maybe 2 of the hundreds of coins that I own directly from a dealer. I still do all my own hunting online. In my view, it also wouldn't hurt to use all possible avenues. Anyway, I'm not going to change your mind, nor was it really my intention since I purchase coins in primarily the same way you do. I'd like to add a trusted dealer to help, that's it.

 

I hear you. I think it is amusing how many of us buy online. I understand where you are coming from. Personally I just like walking the rope with no net. More exciting for me.

 

Bottom line: imagine even HAVING this debate 15 years ago. The fact that change is here and accelerating even as we discuss this seems indisputable to me. That said, the LAST type of brick and mortar or coin show circuit dealer to feel the pinch will be the highly specialized ones with a strong easily identifiable and/or memorable niche, like The Penny Lady, or Denly's for paper currency. The generalist already has a metaphorical targeting laser dot on the forehead.