Dealer Problems...?

Hi again folks,

I coming at you with another opinion question. Your responses about grading helped out a bunch so I thought I would give it another try. Here is the new question:

When you attend a coin show what is your most aggravating problem when dealing with the dealers..?

catman

 

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well i guess that got to be that there $1 bucket never seems to have any gold coins in it.

 

yeah! I hate that! lol j/k

 

hey bet theres plenty of pawn shops in vegas, where there will be coins.All the people going there and needing to sell something to get the air ticket back home after the bright lights empty there pockets.

one persons mis-fortune is anothers oportunity so they say.

 

Well, I will be attending the FUN show next week and let me share some of my previous experiences with you. I had some nice looking coins, all AU+ or better (some slabbed and some not) that I was looking to trade or sell. Figuring I would go to the tables that stated, "BUYING" first, I figured this would be a good start.

Well, most of the dealers that posted "BUYING" should have posted "STEALING" instead. I was looking to sell or trade at bid or below, but I was either A.) made to feel that I had the worst looking, lowest graded junk in the world and/or B.) I'll give you 10 cents on the dollar for it. Three dealers told me at one show that my coins were cleaned, but still offered me "X" for them!

Now I know dealers are in the business to buy low and sell high, but I did eventually find a dealer(s) that I traded my dups for some of their coins I liked. One dealer actually stated, "Nice coins, how long have you had them and what are asking for them?". Actually, I still buy coins from him as he gave me a fair price then and fair price(s) to this day.

On the buying side...be prepared because those same dealers that told me I had junk thought some of their coins came directly from the mint itself. Research the coins you would like and have a list of what are your high's and low's. Cash is also king and talks volumes. You may want a specific coin , but I also found that if you are buying multiple coins from the same dealer and at the same time, you probably might get a volume discount on the whole lot.

Now, NOT all dealers are bad as I have found many of them to be very pleasant. [I keep my own private list...shhhhh]. But if you go in unprepared, look out because you will have a "newbie' sign posted on your forehead.

I also heard that if you go with an ANA membership badge, you are treated differantly too. Is that true? I may have to finally join if that is the case.

 

Probably my most aggravating problem with dealers at a show is that they seem to dismiss me. They tend to think that since I'm younger than than the average collector that I see there AND that I'm a woman that I'm not worth their time. That apparently I'm not a knowledgable collector simply because I have ovaries. I can't tell you how many times I've had to speak up and step forward when they were about to skip over me and go on to someone else when it's my turn. Or they will ignore me completely while trying to talk to my husband. When he replies that he's not the collector, that i am and to talk to me, they tend to look a bit confused. Then I take great pleasure in watching their face when they hear me talk about what I'm looking for. The look of shock is usually priceless.

 

Listening to them explain that the
hairlines are actually die polish.

 

That's appalling! Makes me want to start collecting stamps (they are probably sexist too!!).

 

LOL...good thing I have a decent sense of humor, half of the fun is just messing with them when they start treating me like that.
Guess it's the price ya gotta pay to play with the boys

 

Fun Show

Ed I also plan on being at the show what day(s) will you be there??
Should we do a post for the forum to see who will be there and when- it might be fun to meet some of the blokes.
Richard

 

Thursday, the 13th, is the day I plan on hitting the floor...I have my list and I am ready to go.

 

Me too

My first coin show- I'll be like a kid in a candy store.

Other than locking up my wallet and keeping my hand in my pockets-
Any advice??
Richard

 

It WILL be overwhelminig because it is the largest show you ever attend. Just enjoy yourself and take it as an opportunity to see coins you would never dream of owning as well as the overall learning experience.

 

Have fun and meet some really nice people. There will be lots of nice dealers and browsers, just keep your hand on your wallet.

I always spend a bunch of time at the exhibits. They're fascinating and very educational. The variety of coins, notes, and medals just boggles my mind.

I remember my first FUN show. I was a generalist collector and spent the whole two days running from table to table trying to decide what to buy. Now I spend most of my effort on Indian Head Cents and ANA Convention Badges. I usually try to spend at least a little time on books. Some great deals can be had.

Those bargain boxes really are. You can get some great deals if you have the patience to search through the junk boxes.

Have FUN. I'm planning to be there on Friday or Saturday - maybe both.

 

The group replies, "Hi Catman"

I've only been to one show in my 40+ years of collecting, but there was one thing that bothered me. The gall of some dealers that musta' wanted to drink champagne later that night when all I had was enough to by a six pack of beer.

Other than that, I had the time of my life and didn't have a bit of trouble with any of 'em. Of course, it might have helped being with someone that carried a 20$ gold piece as pocket change and was buyin' everything that wasn't nailed down. Yeah, that was probably it.

..JD

 

I would dearly love to attend a coin show, however there are precious few in sparsly-populated western Colorado.

While I can't comment on dealers at coin shows, I do find dealers interesting within their coin stores and shops.

My favorite dealer is located 40 miles away in a city of about 60,000. He, and his daughter know me, and my family members, on a first name basis. They allow me to look through any coins or paper money they have in their inventory, and they do not watch over my shoulder while I am looking. I have been in the store when people come in off the street with coins to sell. My dealer gets his price guide from Coin World, or a Red or Blue book and honestly tells the potential seller what he/she has, and what he would pay for it.

Contrast that with the last time I visited a large store in Florida. The door was locked. After knocking on the window, the owner pushed a button that allowed me to enter the store. All coins were behind plate glass. The owner was talkiing with four or five friends seated at a table, and he never once asked if he could help me. I looked around for a minute or two, and left.

That doesn't mean most dealers are unfriendly. There is one located near the ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs who is very nice, and helpful. Just across town there is another store owner who impressed me so much I bought a $20 St. Gaudins from him.

So, I would say most of my experiences with dealers have been good, although some don't give you the time of day. I think they must look at me and immediately realize I won't make them rich!

 

Coin Talk Forum identifiers?

For those going to the FUN meeting
Question
Has anyone thought about maybe printing off the Cointalk logo fron this site on a sticker and pasting it to their badge (if it meets with the administrators approval)- It might be fun to identify one another, as forum members-
thoughts - - -
Richard

 

I've never had a problem with dealers at a coin show.

My pet peeve is the dealer two miles from home (and other ignorant people like him) whose response to an inquiry about world coins is: "I don't deal in that kind of junk."

I have no problem when one politely tells me that he sells only a certain category, without judgmental comments on what I choose to collect.

 

You hit it right on the head
A a collector of Australian coins, all I hear is why don't you collect American. They are much easier to get. Sorry don't know anything about those coins.

Thus I am left to overseas and ebay and the like - however there have been a few dealers who have been very helpful-Downies- Austin and Southland
Richard

 

Name Badges....

I don't know about that but I would back the idea of Coin Talk having their own name badges so that the members could wear them to coin shows or coin club meetings. Good thinking rggoodie...!

catman