Hey ya'll Can ya'll give me some tips on how to barter....also do you think its a good idea to even try to barter since I'm a teen I don't want dealers to think I'm trying to get-the- best of them and think I'm a smart-aleck Your thought will be apreciated. Speedy
Well speedy, there is really nothing wrong with bartering as a whole. As far as being a smarta**, well that is up to you. Conduct yourself like an adult and with respect, and others will do the same. Being young does keep you from some activites with dealers, such as selling material. You have to be 18 to sell anything these days. I hope that helps.
i have the same problem, like speedy as teens, we cant go into a new dealer's store and try to strike up a deal
It doesn't hurt to try. Just understand that he wants to make a profit...and you want to get a good deal...so whatever you do, make sure it's reasonable for both of you. Just be professional about it. I'm 18 and have been haggling for years. If I state a price, they usually either go for it or slightly alter it. (I presume bartering is haggling lol)
For me, a good rule of thumb is to not bargin more than I think the person might be willing to sell the coin if they had to make rent. This is a judgement call, but I wouldn't offer $100 on an 1885 CC Morgan MS65. That would just be rude. I would probably start 15-20% below the asking price, if I thought that would be doable. Above all, bargin respectfully. You want to be able to buy something else from this person in the future, most likely. Don't do anything that would burn a bridge. That goes for a lot of things, though... Cris
In addition to dealing in coins, I also run a computer store. At least of few times a year one of local radio or television stations contacts us and asks if we are interested in bartering. They propose the idea of exchanging their goods - on air advertising - for my goods, computer hardware. My answer to these folks is always the same. In order to barter, both parties involved must have something the other wants. Without this essential ingredient, bartering is never successful. If I wanted additional advertising, I would purchase it. When I approached them about purchasing the advertising would be the appropriate time to "barter a deal." Year after year they fail to understand this. My point? Approach local dealers or collectors and propose a barter - only if and when you have something of interest to them. If you are collecting Barber dimes and want one of the tougher dates, barter a deal with an equally tough date in another series. Or, offer twice the value in coins that are more difficult for a dealer to move. Make the offer attractive for them and you, and you will succeed in bartering. Lastly, the fact that you are a teen may assist you in this endeavour. Although I cannot speak for all dealers, I know I try to offer extra help and assistance to younger collectors in whatever way I can - you are all afterall, the next generation ;-)
Hey ya'll Thanks to all who have replied.......I know that I won't be bartering to the dealer where I go in my town 'cause he gives me money off anyhow.....if the set is marked $20 and he got it for $15 he'll sell it to me for $17-18 ND...will you please go on with that? I don't understand why I couldn't sell coins back to a dealer if I wanted too? Speedy
Most states require a person to be 18 to legally sell merchandise. I know that it is this way in Delaware. Without an ID, we cannot purchase anything from anybody. Most states still link coin dealers just above pawn brokers. That is the logic behind it at least.
Thanks ND. To me there is not logic behind that...I hope that does not offend you. So if a guy comes to you and wants to sell you a coin you have to see an ID before you can make an offer?? Speedy
I did not say it was my logic. If someone young comes to our office, we must ID them. We have paper work that we must submit to the State Police. Now on the other hand, the vast majority of our purchases are done via shows or mail. Since we are unable to verify age through the mail, if we don't know, we are okay. At shows, it has not become an issue yet.
Well, one thing you could do if have one of your parents help you out, if they have the time. When I was a teen, my Dad would let me make my own deals with him in the background if an adult "agent" was needed.
ND Thanks for going on with that for me rbm86 I guess I have already done that a little. You see, I was going to sell some ASE (right before silver went up ) and Dad bought them off me....I didn't do bad...made $2 a coin from when I had gotten them. I have bartered about coins with non-collectors but never with collectors. Speedy
