The "Deal Shopping" Mentality - Helpful Insights for the New Collectors

I pretty much did the same thing when I was getting started, and continue to do the same thing with dealers who I haven't done much business with in the past.

Now, when I'm looking to buy from a dealer that I trust and who I have made purchases from in the past, I just ask for the dealer's best price and if I like the price I pay it; otherwise, no big deal and I don't buy the coin. No haggling involved and makes things pretty easy.

Of course other times I have seen coins listed on dealer websites that I just had to have!!!! So a quick phone call or email to them telling them I want it at their price is made to ensure that no one else scoops up the coin at full price while I'm trying to haggle. I learned that lesson hard one time (and that's all it took) when there was a coin that I really really wanted and instead of saying I'd buy it, I asked the dealer via email if they would take an offer of a little less... of course, the reply to me was that it had been sold to someone who was willing to pay more.

 

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Look at me, listen, Charmy.

With all due respect, and you know I like you, I think you're a sweet young woman,

I think like a buyer and you think like a seller.

Let's acknowledge that with the greatest amount of respect that we have for each other ok?

Buyers think in terms of deals(at least savy buyers) and savy sellers think in terms of table fees, making a living, etc.

Nobody is more right than the other, I will state that clearly.

However, expect that people will haggle if they choose to. It's the name of the game. If your prices are higher than the grey sheet, I know I personally won't have interest. If they are at or very close to grey sheet, I will have interest. It's as simple as that.

We're not wrong for haggling or shouldn't do it. Even if the coin is a nice coin, in these trying times, nobody has money. I mean that with hyperbole and that's more or less true especially with investments like coins.. so being a little chintsy or frugle is not a bad thing, that's how some of us were raised.

 

Right, but (with the 2000% respect I have for you, Mike), you make it seem like this was how you used to be and you've grown to learn better.

Let me state it clearly.

There is nothing and I mean NOTHING wrong with haggling.

If the dealer doesn't like it, tough. It's in our nature to bargain. Nobody smart pays face value for negotiable items and this mentality will never change.

 

Well, when I made my post I had in mind dealers who don't have prices on their coins to begin with, which is usually the case. If I really trust a dealer and know them fairly well, I'll trust that they will give me the best price when I ask for it. Maybe that's just naive of me, but it makes for much easier transactions for all involved.

Of course, for dealers I'm not as familiar with, I'll haggle with the best of them

 

BNB, "listen to me" you say??? Wow, pot/kettle here! Did you not read or understand my post? I said I see nothing wrong with haggling, never have had a problem with trying to get the best deal. Haggle away all you want - it's the "American Way." So you don't need to beat that horse again. But BNB, you seem to ignore that I also said you shouldn't necessarily walk away from a coin just because the dealer wouldn't budge on the price.

To me, it seems like it is your goal is just to get the best possible price, with less consideration for the quality of a coin. So I am a bit confused - are you trying to be a dealer, or are you a collector? Because most of what I have said in this thread has been directed to a collector, so perhaps we have some disconnect.

I can understand as a dealer not wanting to pay too much for a coin and stick closer to Grey sheet prices, but this does not necessarily work for the collector who is trying to put together a nice, quality set. Of course you can get a good deal (meaning low price) on a quality coin now and then, but that will not be the general rule.

So I understand you tend to have your cut and dried rules that you prefer to follow in buying coins, but it can pay to be a little more flexible in the way you approach things.

 

I'm not arguing here. That is not my intention with you.
I'm just reitertaing the point that haggling is okay regardless of what dealers have to pay for their table fees.

Yes, table fees are very important, making a living is as well, but they don't give the right to make a dealer charge absorbant fees for coins that may very well not be worth it.

Drawing from experience so far, Charmy, I have purchased coins from Heritage and even dealers that are fair prices and are GORGEOUS. So to assume I just look for a bargain and i'll buy junk is plain wrong with all due respect.

I look for price and quality. That is me sticking to my guns and I have found some very nice coins with that mentality.

God bless, no disrespect, and I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

 

Further more, I completely respect that you are an expert at your fields of coin knowledge and are probably an OUTSTANDING Dealer...

 

Listen, dctjr, with all due respect, I understand why Penny Lady made mention of both of us. She values her opinions greatly and I have great admiration for that, however, I am not one to stay quiet when an opinion doesn't match mine and in this case, some aspects to her reply didn't match mine. However, I agree 95% of what Charmy has to say nonetheless.

I will add:

Correct me if I'm wrong, Charmy, but say a 1937-d 3 legger I bought for $800 and I want to sell it for $1000 or grey sheet ask. I'm making a profit. Rinse and repeat and there you go. I should be able to afford all of the aforementioned.

 

Charmy and the other dealers here, please answer me this question....

When you get particularly interesting or nice coin in, do you reach out to your haggling customers first or do you offer them to customers that are easier to negotiate deals with or do you not make that distinction?

Just wondering....Mike

 

Thank you for apologizing and I apologize myself for calling you god. I am quite happy.

 

dctjr, I apologize, I started out responding to both of you regarding the haggling issue and not passing up on a good coin just because the dealer wouldn't lower the price. That's the only part of my reply that was directed to you.

Specifically, the first two paragraphs you quote above were in response to BNB and NOT you. And again I am sorry I was not be more specific in my response.

So hopefully this clears up your opinion that I was judging you or belittling your intelligence because I was not, nor was I doing that to BNB. BNB and I often go round and round on issues, and that is the beauty of debate and being able to express your opinions here. So, please do not take any of that in such a negative way, it was definitely not meant to be offensive.

 

Interesting way of putting your distaste for hagglers don't think I can't read between the lines with all due respect..

Haggling is not meant for all dealers. It is a very powerful tool in our arsenal as a buyer, but it is not for every dealer. Some dealers that we may know or establish trust with are those that I believe we don't haggle with because more than likely we will get a fair price from them anyway.

 

Heh, with all due respect, Charmy, that's not nice that you kinda singled me out there

Nothing wrong with good honest debate, but you say I go round and round on issues. Well, that's not my intention.. If you want clarity, please just ask me. I always want to be transparent with every deal and purchase I do. If you feel I'm going round and round, I sincerely appologize and will work to correct that.

 

Granted, it was a rather leading question....

However, I don't dislike or "distaste" hagglers. To the contrary, I ask for better prices on every coin I buy. So please don't presume you know my intent.

However, there are some downsides to excessive haggling which some inexperienced collectors may not understand and my question was trying to bring to light.

Bottom line: Asking for "your best price" or "my price" will not cause any problems, but if you haggle beyond that don't expect a shot at the good stuff. If you collect common stuff, available at any dealer's table, it may not be that big of a deal, but when you're talking about more esoteric/rare coins it becomes much more important.

 

I feel I must respond.

I just agreed with your point and Charmy made the rebuttal if you may call it that to both of us. For her to say the first two paragraphs weren't directed at you in my opinion is not what I understood. All I did was agree with your paragraph so I don't know why she is now removing you from her rebuttal and now focusing it directly on me. Kinda weird if you ask me, no disrespect, and the action is weird, not the person (sometimes people get confused)

 

BNB, again, please read my response - I said you and I go round and round on ISSUES not deals - that is just a figure of speech meaning that we do a lot of discussing back and forth, just as we are doing here.

dctjr - I edited my original response to exclude yours AND BNB's names - that was just a mistake to include you in my entire response - so please don't be unhappy.

 

Sorry, I took the shot and presumed .

It just sounded to me like that's what you were kinda getting at.

I agree with you that haggling to the extreme limit can be a bad thing to an extent and I do not condone or encourage it by any merit; however, for dealers that may have a nice coin and you want to either question his /her pricing in reference to the grey sheets or just plain get a better deal, haggling I believe is fine in that regard.

 

I accept your apology and apologize my self, It just made me unhappy a few sentences past the 1st paragraph
I am all good now.

 

Okay, sorry my misunderstanding then.