What are your favorite hunting grounds, and why?

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From your list I only use my LCS in his brick and mortar store.

 

I mostly CRH but for key dates and filling holes not likely to find in the wild I use Daves Collectible Coins, APMEX, and Allens Coins. LCS options in my area are limited to buy low sell too high. Sometimes I also buy from antique stores, although prices are normally too high there too.

 

I hunt a small variety of places.

Online, I only peruse and am registered in HA and GC. That’s enough for me to look at to “scratch the itch” until I can look in person. HA presents quality items that generally run higher than my coin budget allows, but they’re still fun to look at. GC I consider to be the better alternative for my size budget and I snag coins off there every few months.

In person, I do have a small LCS across the lake that I visit maybe once every couple of months. There’s a few small local shows (around 20 tables) that happen a few times a year that I’ll take in. The NWCC show in Brooklyn Center that takes place in March and October every year is what I look forward to going to. That’s a sold out show of 100 tables.

 

I have three dealers that I’ve used for so long they really take care of me. We know our voices on the phone. I called him something I want or need and if they don’t have it they’ll find it. It may take a while but I’m willing to wait as I always get a good price. If I ever have a problem with a coin they take care of the problem. I’ve never sent going back.

I haven’t been down to my LCS since mid April but that’s because of my knee surgery. I’m getting close to going soon.

 

If I'm looking for something I usually make the rounds to Ebay, Great Collections and USA Coinbook. Ebay has the most selection and is most well known. I like the sellers that refer you to their online stores where you often times can find their products without the associated ebay fees tacked on.

If there isn't an example on ebay, it probably won't be at the other options. I've had some good scores on coinbook but not often.

I go to shows as well. Shows aren't as exciting to me as they used to be unless it's an ANA World's Fair. Some people go to shows and want 50 to 90% of what's there. I usually go looking for something more scarce that probably won't be there. I'm not interested in 99.999% of what's at a show. Often end up buying something I was not intending to when I went. The unknowns of what could be at the show I guess keeps it kind of entertaining. Never know what products might come on the market since the last one.

Use the US Mint some years, other years not at all. As for the why, some offerings are just more interesting to me than others.

I like my LCS (which isn't all that local) occasionally just becuase you can drive there and get something in hand at any time. Though prices are through the roof on everything. If you want a specific coin they might have one you want, but you're going to pay. They're often asking hundreds more than similar options online and are so stingy on buy offers that I'd never sell anything there. They're content to sit on product until somebody pays.

 

Nearly all my buying falls into the "bargain-hunting" category.

I used to camp on eBay Buy It Now listings, sorted by "newly listed", looking for things that were clearly underpriced. I got some big scores that way (and gave quite a few sellers a chance to get off the hook for an obvious price typo; I'm not one to scream and insist that they make good on a listing mistake). But the bargains are few and far between, and I eventually found other things I'd rather do with my time.

I'll still occasionally stop by a pawn shop looking for good stuff that's priced the same as bad stuff, but it's been a few years since I've had a good find from that.

And, of course, I always check my pocket change and those CoinStar return slots.

I have NOT been tempted to search other online marketplaces (Etsy, Facebook market-whatever, and so on). It took me a long time to develop my bargain-spotting and scam-spotting skills just for eBay; I'm definitely not interested in starting that process again in a new spot.

 

Like @BuffaloHunter I really only check HA and GC. I rarely look at ebay anymore, it's either junk with horrible pictures or BIN with the same overpriced coins up for 6 months. Occasionally I'll check DL, L&C, Stacks, or a dealer who advertises in BCCS journal. My LCS has been there forever, tucked behind the 7-11, run by a couple grumpy old farts who couldn't care less about having a customer walk in. I've also bought at local coin shows, but rarely. There's like 2 a year and I don't feel like driving 60 miles for others.

 

Your list is nicely thought out, Mike.
I'll entertain offerings from all those sources EXCEPT the US Mint or Farcebook. The Mint drove me away years ago. And Farcebook, I don't subscribe to any social media platforms.

 

Of course there are coin shows. Which I forgot to mention.

 

I shop eBay, Sales Corner here, VCoins, Sam Sloat, Washington Numismatics, Charter Oak Coins (auctions), AuctionZip, and I've stepped up to actually bidding at Great Collections and Heritage. I do intend to go to a coin show soon, I'd also like to join a coin club, but the one nearby I contacted never got back to me, lol. I don't trust Facebook or Etsy.

 

A GREAT THOUGHTFUL POST!
I don't personally believe in auctions, as what I've seen are generally the dregs of TPG grading efforts!
Besides, currently I only acquire pre-1933 CACed U.S. Gold coins that are seldom offered, much-less in an auction.
I pay a premium above CDN quoted pricing, but require virtually flawless fields, virtually no "bag-rub" or "bag-marks".
I use dealers who spend virtually full-time attending shows, looking for theirs and my required commodities.
I will surprise them with a valuable gift if they send me something extraordinary.
An often used NY dealer just sent me a 1927 PCGS MS61 Gold CACed Double Eagle with an invoice for $2800.
The coin met my every wish for a MS65 Double Eagle!
I sent him my personal check, and a 1990 PCGS MS70 $5 Gold American Eagle 1/10 oz

 

Good Idea. What about buying a Metal detector during retirement and finding older coins? Just check out my Media pages. Most are "dug".
Also, your own mailbox is a good place to look.

 

I have a devious plan for "salting" my mailbox, too.

 

I like dealing with people. My purchases are typically done with folks I call friends. I will do the occasional bid, but by and large, my deals are done with people I like.

 

I go to the FUN shows, and I mostly buy in Heritage auctions. There are only two local dealers in my area. One doesn't have much that grabs my attention, and the other one forced me out a local club, for which I worked hard for many years. I will have nothing to do with him. I had done him a number of favors, and he treated me very badly for no reason.

I buy some coins and tokens from dealers I know on line.

 

Go clean them out you nit

 

That bum with get his due