Is it in bad taste to request a lower price or ask for a discount on a Vcoins/Ma-shops listing from a foreign seller? If so, is it difficult to “negotiate” on prices, bundles, etc. or do most non US dealers have the ability to go back and forth in English?
It's never in bad taste to request a lower price IMHO. You will find some dealers don't discount or rarely discount, others will offer huge discounts if you ask. I got a discount of approximately 2/3s off the listing price from a dealer who likes to play pricing games and while I was happy with the price I got I would never make such a lowball offer to a dealer who doesn't pay pricing games. As far as the question of whether or not they can go back and forth in English, my experience is that all of them can. I've not had any issues with that with dealers on Vcoins/MA-Shops and I frequently ask questions or ask for discounts.
I never tried to negotiate a price with an MA-Shops dealer, but I have run into a communication gap with one dealer in Germany. Just was a simple misunderstanding on his PayPal email address, but it was a bit challenging getting to the heart of the problem at hand. We did finally get there.
I do it regularly. Usually they will drop the price at least a little bit if you ask. As @Randy Abercrombie stated there can be some communication difficulties.
If you haven't dealt with JAZ Numismatics on Vcoins , I recommend you do so. If you don't see what you want , contact him and ask , as he has been able to find sources with such coins from his wide experience here on cointalk before the Big Split. I purchased a great rather expensive coin and received a excellent one. I asked him ( selfish me) to try and find a second one and he did. He is also within the US. I am sorry , but I really don't trust overseas sources. Jim Jim
Yes, like many who already replied I often ask for a discount. Most of the time I get one. It's always okay to ask, if done respectfully.
