Coin Show Etiquette (from a Dealer's Perspective)

Everyone has good points here, but I think it comes down to one thing...Respect. Let's try to understand each other on both sides of the table and act accordingly. As I always taught my kids when they asked me how would they know if something was right or wrong, I always told them to ask themselves one question. Does it "feel" like you're doing the right thing? If it does, then it probably is.

Bruce

 

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My honest reaction after reading this is it sort of makes me not want to go to coin shows.

I find buying on the web a lot less stressful -- and it's pretty easy to find internet dealers with 3 to 7 day full money back return policies. I have never had an internet dealer get "offended" by a lower offer and then withdraw their original offer, I can't even imagine that happening -- although maybe I am misreading something here.

At coin shows it seems like most dealers want cash only and dont offer any sort of return period (or might only offer credit).

Although it is nice to see coins live (a massive number of side by side comparisons is really great) ... i still have to say that a large image on the web often brings out detail (and flaws) that you just can't see with the naked eye (even with a good glass).

 

Winged, I think you are reading into it too much. A lot of these things are extreme cases that peeve us off. My example was a bargain that the dealer had mispriced, (and would have been caught probably when a dealer went to post on the internet), and the customer just accepting the deal as for further price decrease. In my experience you do not have the "haggling" like you do in person. Some people truly do insult the dealers with lowball offers. If a coin is on an Ebay auction someone cannot come up and offer half the going price.

Also, I think the comraderie, atmosphere, and seeing the coins in person have tremendous value as well. I enjoy talking to other collectors, seeing things in person, attending the educational events, etc. Many of these shows should be classified as part education as well as coin acquisition expense. Its a part of the hobby that you do not have access to if you simply do everything online.

 

Dealer etiquette (from a buyer's point of view)A situation that has happened to me more than just a few times is when I am waiting to see a particular coin and the dealer is engaged in conversation with another dealer or acquaintence who has happened by. These conversations typically last several minutes and typically are on subjects other than coins or collecting. Maybe two or three minutes waiting won't kill me but if I'm standing there with $500 cash in my pocket to spend, I don't want to have to listen about your grandkid's soccer game or how you'll bring some "better stuff" to the next show for another dealer to pick from. If in-person customers bore you so much maybe you should stick to ebay. Maybe I should too.Also, maybe kids shouldn't be unattended at a coin show, but I've seen dealers totally ignore a pre-teen standing at their table. Maybe they've only got $2 to spend, or maybe just have a question but to ignore this probable future customer is just rude and stupid.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, i agree with your statements about the community and the educational aspect.

 

I think a lot of people get enjoyment out of haggling over prices, but like anything else people can carry it to an extreme.

 

This is a fun hobby, and I'm not trying to take the fun out of coins at all. All these do's and don't's are what dealers would like have happen in a perfect world. The main thing to keep in mind, as was already mentioned, is two-way respect, courtesy, and professionalism - that's all - "do unto dealers as you would have them do unto you."

I definitely would like you to enjoy attending shows, dealing with me (and, ok, other dealers too!), learning, finding just the right coin, etc. And as a dealer, I am there to sell coins but I want to enjoy what I'm doing and working with all you collectors is truly enjoyable for me.

If you're not much of a people person, then I can understand how you might prefer staying at home and ordering coins online. But in my opinion, you're missing out on a big part of the fun of this hobby, and that is the comaraderie you get interacting with friendly knowledgeable dealers, handling and viewing coins in person, then showing off your new purchases to your other coins buddies, and even to the dealers. Even attending lot viewing and live auctions can be a thrill that you'd miss if you only bid on and bought coins on line. Coins should be something to experience, in my opinion.

By the way, the more you learn, especially hands on, the less likely you'd need to return the coins you buy.

 

Its all about being polite, easy going and having fun. It was easy for me in the beginning to get all caught up in "buying coins" and I'm sure I broke a few rules listed in this post and got xissed off at others standing in MY way of all the coins. As my collection advanced so did my realization that I need to just slow down and enjoy the process realizing I wasn't likely to ever finish a set or owning all the coins on my wish list. Yes, when I go to the trouble to travel to a show I want to get busy and use my time well, but I know in the end I will come home with some winners and new info and I'm now OK with missing a few as well. A face to face with a favorite dealer or two really makes online dealings a breeze the rest of the year. Then it is back home to image and registry work and waiting for the next major auction to load up, but I try to use the same mentality there. It is sort of a cycle I guess. Looking at coins in hand helps with buying on the internet and it seems that if you are into certain series of coins, they can actually be some of the same coins recycling the scene. Attending shows are a big part of the coin culture and limiting myself to just the internet is only half the picture. The anticipation of the next show is exciting because it makes for a few full days of coin emersion where the internet is just a footnote to a workday at best. At shows I imagine others to be just like me but in different places of the transition and instead of calling people out I try to be tolerant of other coin loving brethren. JMO

 

Hey P Lady! Great thread and I hope to see you at the World's Fair of Money in August! I've got some pennies to show you!!

 

Charmy makes a point most excellent in post #47. When you limit your exposure and experiance to "on-line only" you deprive yourself of the wonderful experiance of viewing things that you normally would never have the opportunity to view up close and personal. High definition photos can't replace the thrill of holding and examining a potential addition to your collection. Nothing replaces viewing something that you know will never be part of your collection, but have had the chance to "loupe". At a show a few years ago I had the opportunity to see a Pan-Pacific $50 octagonal gold Commemorative. The dealer wasn't busy and I commented, to him, that while I could never afford such a beautiful piece it sure was a pleasure to look upon the beauty that that coin emminated, in person. His reply was "would you like to hold her"? Made my show.......

 

When people are looking to buy or sell, I advise that they go to a coin show and get several offers for what they are selling and see a real coin market in action. I feel badly for those who go to a "cash for gold" operation, or other questionable place to sell. They will never get top dollar.

At a large coin show there is a wealth of knowledge, experience, history, and wealth. A rare opportunity. The shocking thing to me at last year's ANA in Boston was that so few of the locals came out to witness history in action. It is important that we be good will ambassadors to those interested in numismatics and its place in US and world history. Those who are treated well will be much more likely to be long-term collectors, investors and fans of the hobby and industry.

 

I would much rather buy coins at a coin show because I can hold them and make my own grading assessment as well as converse with the dealers and others. But I also like the on line aspect once in a while because I have a monthly budget and there are only a few coin shows every year for me to attend. I would never buy a "key" coin on line. I have a trusted on line dealer which is nice.

 

Good points Charmy.

I also recommend not to challenge a dealers grade. Chances are slim they're going to change based on what you think. If you disagree, keep your mouth shut and simply move on.

 

Yeah, the dealer shouldn't hear anything that discomforts him, or have to interact with any customer unwilling just to pay his price - in cash, no haggling - and move on.

I rarely have an opportunity to attend a show, living off the beaten path as I do. At least I can take comfort from the dealers' commentary on this thread by seeing that maybe I'm not missing much, except the opportunity to be cynically manipulated.

Which historically I'm not good at.

 

My wife and I attended the Money Show in Houston in December and Heritage held a live coin auction which I had never seen. There were people there bidding and also bids coming in over the Internet. We were amazed at how quickly the coins sold and some for many thousands of dollars. I don't know where else you could watch something like that.

 

Did I miss the etiquette guide for dealers or is that the next in the series?

 

I find that if I am going back to visit a coin three or four times then what I am doing is trying to talk myself into buying that coin and I find that invariably those coins I have to talk myself into buying I always regret buying.

I happen to be one of those chatty people, so I know that whenever someone else comes up to the table I always defer to them becuase I know I am just shooting the breeze and this may be a paying customer.

Not a renegade coin grader, but someone who could be a coin grader. The guy who owns NNC was the winner in the dealer/grader catagory of PCGS's World Series of Grading a few years back. He even beat out some of the former graders.

 

>We were amazed at how quickly the coins sold and some for many thousands of dollars. I don't know where else you could watch something like that.<

Same thing at the Baltimore Whitman show they only spend, it seemed, five seconds or, on each coin. However, some of the big dollar coins took more time. The auctioneer's concentration was amazing she was watching the audience, a spotter on each side of her, the her computer screen for online bids and recording winning bids. There was a large video monitor showing the entire proceedings.

 

Not a renegade coin grader, but someone who could be a coin grader. The guy who owns NNC was the winner in the dealer/grader catagory of PCGS's World Series of Grading a few years back. He even beat out some of the former graders.[/QUOTE]

Have you seen how they grade coins? Very reminiscent of "Accugrade"; maybe they are connected?

 

Well Accugrade was down in FL for a long time but no I don't believe there is any connection. I have seen and heard all the reports about NNC's terrible grading, my point is that the owner CAN grade much more accurately if he wants to. The question is, if he can do so well, why does NNC suffer from such a poor reputation? Why is his company sending out coins that are apparently poorly graded?

I personally have no opinion on the grading that the company does. I don't buy slabbed coins so I never bother to compare the grades they assign to the coins. My only interest when I look at a slab is whether or not I have seen a slab like it before, or is it different from other slabs I have seen from that company. I don't normally even look at the coin in the slab.