| Author |
 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,685 |
Page 2 of 2
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
There IS a certain amount of value inherent in actually being able to see and touch the merchandise before buying. Not sure how this would add to the equation here but it should be considered. Also, it is FUN to attend a coin show or prowl a good coin shop for that next purchase. I would no more put a time value on this than I would reading a book or watching a movie. It is not time lost or wasted; it is time enjoyed!  As to what the on-line vendors charge for shipping... my thought is that their charges for this are reasonable IF we order a decent amount of PMs. If we just buy a few coins, then the shipping cost on a per coin basis is pretty high. I usually buy 100-200 oz. of silver at a time with a shipping cost of $20-25, so the cost per oz. is quite reasonable. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
619 Posts |
I have a couple of nearby flea markets that sell coins, but the closest one charges for parking. I also have a nice coin shop I go to maybe once a month. I usually buy most of my coins online, usually from ebay. However, I just ordered some 90% from Silvertowne with free shipping. Great deal, especially considering silver went up after I ordered. By the time I got it three days later, I paid right at melt. They sent some nice coins; some of them were AU! Edited by CPC24
03/10/2012 11:39 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
808 Posts |
Quote:
Also, it is FUN to attend a coin show or prowl a good coin shop for that next purchase. If someone is lucky enough to have access to a great local coin shop, I agree that's time well spent. However, even in the big city, good ones are becoming hard to find. Edited by coinwatch
03/11/2012 7:35 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
The one factor you overlooked was what we humans seem to crave, and that would be the instant gratification we get when buying from a shop or show. Also you get a health bonus from shops and shows in the form of reduced stress from the absence of the anxiety build up waiting for the purchase to arrive. So isn't the couple of bucks worth satisfaction and bliss that comes from seeing all the choices we have right in our own hand?  Wait a minute and let me rethink this one. All those choices can cause unhealthy stress and anxiety. |
|
Valued Member
United States
264 Posts |
If gas is a concern, I would just buy more at once. Cost of gas + Markup (Southland Coins in Lake Charles, LA charges $7.50 above spot for ASE) + Taxes + Spot = Buying silver in coin stores  Shipping cost + Overhead of ebay Fees + Spot = Online coin buying I refuse to support my local coin store as a result. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Quote:
However, even in the big city, good ones are becoming are hard to find. No argument there. Good coin shops are difficult to find in most places. If you do luck out and come across one, it can be a real treasure to a coin or bullion collector. |
|
Valued Member
344 Posts |
I know of a dude in LA if you are buying bulk that will give you under 2$ premium on ASE plus no tax (legally you are not supposed to be charged tax on bullion anyways if amount is over 1500) But you gotta be buying big stacks to use him. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have two cars, one which drinks fuel like a fish (a 30 year old 6.9 litre Mercedes) and another, which is far more sane to drive. I live on the outskirts of Sydney near a rail station, and so use a consession ticket to travel wherever possible. A 50 mile round trip on the train costs $2.50. So I visit coin shows and dealers on the cheap, travel wise. Easy to see why ebay is so attractive for low value coins, even in your own City. For high value coins you have to pay the premium for buying from a dealer or auction with the highest reputation, or travel, to exmine the coin in hand before deciding to buy. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Quote:
I have two cars, one which drinks fuel like a fish (a 30 year old 6.9 litre Mercedes)... Man, that is one big engine! Ford used to sell a 6.9L International diesel V-8 engine in some of their heavier light duty trucks (F250-F450). Typically, these would give 15-18 mpg when just driving around and maybe 11-12 when hauling or towing. I never realized that Mercedes had an engine that size for any of their non-limo cars. It's definitely a biggie! Quote:
I live on the outskirts of Sydney near a rail station, and so use a consession ticket to travel wherever possible. A 50 mile round trip on the train costs $2.50. Considering the price of fuel these days, that's quite a bargain.  |
|
Valued Member
United States
410 Posts |
You could always combine your coin show trip with other errands. That is what my wife and I do. We run our errands for the week on Saturday morning. We combine trips even though fuel prices don't effect us that much. 10 years ago we traded a 15mpg truck for a 45mpg Jetta TDI.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Most of us are combining trips to save gas these days. The local prices for regular gas right now is right at $4 a gallon. We found an Arco station with regular at $3.90 a gallon this morning, so filled the tank.  That Jetta TDI is a nice little car. I would not at all mind having one of those or the Passat TDI. |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Another useless calculator. Even the IRS figgers it costs over 50¢ a mile to run a car. 75¢ is closer on lots of them.
The danger of using a gas calculator is you get gobsmacked when you get a $321 bill to replace a water pump and misc, like I did last week. That's 1146 miles @ the 28¢ a mile the calculator is ignoring.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
I have a couple of nearby flea markets that sell coins, but the closest one charges for parking. Washington CH, Ahia used to have a great year-round flea market. Parking was 50¢, and that included guys with big trux and tow chains who'd pull you out if you got stuck in the mud, free!  |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
Considering the price of fuel these days, that's quite a bargain. Our county has the cheapest, most idiotic public transportation. Call the day before, it's $2 from/to any point in the county. This can mean 40 miles. Last year, the incompetents running it cost over $25 per trip, which at the time was a maximum of five miles. Gas, repairs, etc, aside, $2 doesn't begin to pay for the driver. No wonder they are subsidized. |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:I know of a dude in LA if you are buying bulk that will give you under 2$ premium on ASE plus no tax (legally you are not supposed to be charged tax on bullion anyways if amount is over 1500) But you gotta be buying big stacks to use him. And he's limited to what he can buy, since he can't get them from the gubmint cheaper than that. |
|
Page 2 of 2
|
Replies: 17 / Views: 2,685 |
Page 2 of 2
|
First Page
Posted 03/10/2012 11:11 pm
