There's plenty of money to be made on eBay, and plenty to be lost on eBay . . . Quite frankly, how you make out has much more to do with what you choose to buy than where you buy from.
I agree sir. There are certain areas of collecting I am forced to exclusively buy on Ebay. However, before I became knowledgable I made all kinds of mistakes. I wholeheartedly recommend Ebay AFTER you learn what you are doing, but that really applies to all coin purchases as well. All collectibles are minefields. What matters in one field doesn't in another. Each is unique and you need to learn about each, be it baseball cards, beanie babies, classic cars, or coins, before spending money on them.
Buy some inexpensive stuff from a dealer and compare what you get with the description. Also, look for reasonable and honest descriptions such as "may have been cleaned" or other frank assessments of the condition - avoid dealers that use words like "estate find", "monster toning", "MS++++++++++++++", "investment grade" and other nonsense. Finding how a dealer advertises their wares, even coins you aren't interested in buying, can give you clue as to the type of person with which you're dealing.
I've never been screwed or disappointed by APMEX. I've bought things from GovMint that were on sale or as part of a deal that I have been happy with. My very first coin was purchased with a loss-leader coupon. I believe it was $19.95 w/ free shipping for a BU ASE. ... That was from Littleton. If you understand and play their game properly, you can get really good deals. Dave's Collectible Coins has also done me well. https://www.davescollectiblecoins.com/
My purchases have been all over the market. The only time that I didn't think I got a fair deal from ebay was when I first started and bought a roll of "unopened" pennies. The dates were clear and there was 2 from the 1920's, a 1935, and the rest were from the '40's and '50's. I only but rolls if the cost less than $10 and I feel like rolling the dice. Best of luck.
I would recommend going to Vcoins (www.vcoins.com). It is a reputable site with dozens of dealers who pledge to abide by the highest standards. They also run Vauctions.
I can recommend www.davidlawrence.com as a good online source of coins. They have weekly auctions every Sunday with about 500 coins +/-, and charge no buyer's fee!
I could also recommend Virg Marshall and parrot Dave's Collectible Coins & Rare Coin of New Hampshire, all which are honest. Frank Robinson at FSR Coins also for world and ancient.
I have been very happy with www.davidlawrence.com Both buy it now and auctions have been good. Fast shipping and great customer service.
@blademan37 , what kind of coins do you collect? There are very good dealers who sell exclusively bullion, there are other dealers that specialize in other series. Let us know what you want to add to your collection. Then members can post some good dealers to search on eBay.
Some of the well known advertisers in those magazines are among the most predatory dealers out there known for selling problem coins as Gem BU or some other lofty grade. I think you would fair just as well if not better by using eBay so as long as you can spot fakes.
A lot of them are well known dealers too on coin forums. Rick Snow comes to mind. David Kahn also has quite a following. I'm sure there are others.
It will vary based on what you collect, of course. I tend to collect foreign coins, and have done repeat business with Pegasus Auctions and Atlas Numismatics. They tend to carry high end coins, and Pegasus especially seems to have a source for great Moroccan coins. That's a very specific market, however, so might not help you at all. APMEX is also great for a lot of common stuff.
L&C coins and Northeast coins are both companies where I have made purchases. Been good sources for coins.