Hi, It is Mammothtooth here with a question. Classical Coins on the net has a very nice format, with fixed prices. My question is do you use them much, or Vcoins, or what non auction site. Thank you, Rich
I am assuming you are referring to the Internet shop operated by David Welsh. Back when I started collecting in earnest, I bought this Alexander the Great tet from him. He was very patient with some newbie questions—questions that now might seem offensive, such as, “How do I know it’s real?“ So I’ve had only one experience with him, and many years ago. But it was a positive one, demonstrating that a little patience with a neophyte can help cultivate a lifetime collector.
For fixed price purchases, I mainly use Vcoins, MA Shops and Forum. I also use eBay, but only for sellers that I have done business with in the past. Some of these sellers also list their coins Vcoins and MA Shops as well.
I have mixed feelings about eBay. All of my incredible deals have come from there, but 99.99% of listings are junk. Be warned that many coins are fakes and with that in mind, it can be a great place to shop...you just have to accept that a lot of time spent browsing will be wasted. eBay definitely won't have a great selection of high end coins but often outmatch retail places in terms of sheer volume for lower end coins. Another thing to consider is the provenance of many of the coins listed. With international listings, the coins you buy could be looted (as could any on retail sites but eBay tends to have less accountability)
That is true. eBay abounds in fakes, a virtual minefield for the new collector. After a while the fakes appear very obvious, often badly made and of a style that varies greatly from an original. Most of my purchases on eBay are for certified coins, most subsequently freed by me from their slabs, especially for ancients. Of the sellers that I patronize in a given year on eBay, I can count them on one hand, so I try not to stray from that path.
Totally agree with @The Trachy Enjoyer and @robinjojo on EBay. See my earlier post "Caveat Emptor". In the earlier days, I would report fake sellers, but then I gave up as there were too many and EBay didn't seem to care, as long as it generated revenue. I've continued to waste lots of time wading through mountains of fakes and low end coins, but over the years I have found a few "needles" in the proverbial haystack. I guess it's the thrill of the hunt which keeps me going. For higher end coins, I've also used MA Shops and VCoins but find a lot of the prices high. I guess there is the possibility of negotiating with the seller. The other option is auctions, but these days, prices are often too rich for my budget.
