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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
For common dates your right but anything other than that guides are just a ballpark. Coins arent created equal and wont sell for the same prices even if graded as some look better than others or appeal to your taste in look, some like toned some dont. ebay prices are definitely considered retail by a lot of people now. If they only buy according to greysheet bid prices unless they own a store they wont be doing a lot of buying |
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Valued Member
United States
59 Posts |
I use to have a small sporting business in a shopping center. I don't know how the coin guys do it. My rent was $2500.00, other cost. Insurance, taxes, utilities, restocking, and (employee payroll if any). My overhead was $8000.00 a month. I just cant figure how you can do this with coins? Just Me.
Thanks Biged
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Valued Member
United States
359 Posts |
Quote:
HJB is willing to haggle pretty reasonably, in my experiences I have bought a few items from them online. Good prices decent selection. I haven't haggle prices. What was done to haggle with them on online items Buffalo's Rock? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1839 Posts |
It's all about supply and demand. Some dealers that set what you would call a "high" price on a coin will have several options. If nobody is willing to pay the "high" price then eventually they'll likely lower the price until it meets demand and the coin will sell. Some dealers are content to let their inventory age a bit and wait until someone comes along and purchases at that "high" price but it's pretty hard to stay in business for long with that kind of business model.
In my opinion very few dealers is gouging anyone in this industry. It's not like anyone has a monopoly and the public must buy their product which is the definition of gouging by most standards. If a price is too high in your option don't buy. If enough people feel the same as you the dealer will have to wise up or risk failing.
It's really that simple.
As to your list of dealers that offer reasonable prices and are willing to haggle, that's great. And they are probably working on slim margins and perhaps high volume. It's a business model that a fair amount of dealers choose to take and that's certainly good for a large group of coin collectors.
I'd list a few of my personal favorites but then I'd just have more competition depleting their inventory and who wants that ;)
Cheers!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
500 Posts |
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What was done to haggle with them on online items Buffalo's Rock? I actually ran across them via Collector's Corner which is set up to allow buyers to email offers on coins listed there. But I have found that many will haggle directly via email as well. Just send them an email with your offer and see if they accept it. At the very least, I offer something less than 3% lower than their website list price and offer to send them a check - it saves them the 3% cc processing fee so they are usually willing to lower their price by at least the 3%. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
500 Posts |
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I'd list a few of my personal favorites but then I'd just have more competition depleting their inventory and who wants that ;)
This is where we completely disagree! IMO, we should share such info as it will mean the "good ones" get more business and thus are able to keep offering reasonable prices to all due to higher volume etc. The idea being to support that business model over the rest! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1839 Posts |
@BuffalosRock That was just my feeble attempt to be funny. I tend to find myself going back to these guys on a regular basis:
- pinnacle-rarities.com
- aprci.com
- davidlawrence.com
- harlanjberk.com
- typecoincompany.com
- disruptek.com
- indiancent.com
- legacyrarecoin.com
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
However, remember for every good story about a certain dealer, there are possibly many more not so good stories. Usually people that get taken, don't brag about it or menetion it again. Most like to brag about the good deals from a certain place, dealer, store, but when not so good, not much is said. I've heard just as many good deals from H.J.B. as some really horible deals. Unless you know yourself, for sure, about good deals from anyone, it is all just a chance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
500 Posts |
Thanks TBONE, I'll check those out! I contacted that disruptek guy once about a coin and he was a complete jerk. Instead of just politely declining my offer or suggesting a counter-offer he said something like "I cannot purchase a coin that good at that price, and so obviously you cannot either". IMO that is very unprofessional and it wasn't like I made some ridiculously lowball offer ( 10% less than he had it listed for on collector's corner - which was 20% less than he had the same one for on ebay simultaneously BTW). I could see some dealers getting sick of lowball offers and snapping like that, but I try not to waste folks time like that and he's the only dealer I've ever had be such a jerk with a response ( outside ebay unprofessional amateur sellers that is ). I'd never deal with him again as a result! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
500 Posts |
Quote:
However, remember for every good story about a certain dealer, there are possibly many more not so good stories. Usually people that get taken, don't brag about it or menetion it again. Most like to brag about the good deals from a certain place, dealer, store, but when not so good, not much is said. I've heard just as many good deals from H.J.B. as some really horible deals. Unless you know yourself, for sure, about good deals from anyone, it is all just a chance. That is why I only recommended places that I've had multiple good experiences with AND that have what I consider very reasonable list prices to begin with - at least on some coins. Sure, some of these big dealers have many salesmen and you could get a "sleazy used car" type or a good one. But if they care about their rep you are more likely to get a good one. I am amused by how many posters like to throw the YMMV thing, in various forms, at every topic. I've had to return a number of coins I bought via ebay and on various dealer websites. IMO, when buying from pics you are going to get a clunker here or there. I've had very few issues with returns, mostly from being sent the wrong coin actually. So I am not sure what you mean by "horrible deals"? If the price is too high don't buy! If they send you a clunker that doesn't look like the pics then return. Why would you "eat" a bad deal? Did those who you know who got a horrible deal from HJB contact them and tell them they were unsatisfied? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1839 Posts |
@BuffalosRock Quote:I contacted that disruptek guy once about a coin and he was a complete jerk. Instead of just politely declining my offer or suggesting a counter-offer he said something like "I cannot purchase a coin that good at that price, and so obviously you cannot either". IMO that is very unprofessional and it wasn't like I made some ridiculously lowball offer ( 10% less than he had it listed for on collector's corner - which was 20% less than he had the same one for on ebay simultaneously BTW). I could see some dealers getting sick of lowball offers and snapping like that, but I try not to waste folks time like that and he's the only dealer I've ever had be such a jerk with a response ( outside ebay unprofessional amateur sellers that is ). I'd never deal with him again as a result! I think I've purchased 3 or 4 coins from them and I've only dealt with Mary Herzog. My experience with her was outstanding. I guess it's going to be hit and miss depending on who you deal with and a bad experience can certainly put a damper on things. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2885 Posts |
H J Berk is a great firm. They sent me, free of charge, copies of some monographs on ancient coins that I needed for research I was doing. Top firm!
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12841 Posts |
Brick and mortar coin shops (and even virtual shops) have expenses to pay, so you're generally going to get hit with a significant markup so they can keep the lights on and pay employees. I do find it infuriating to pay huge markups and THEN shipping, but if I get what I want and it's quality stuff...eh, so be it. I'm a collector, after all.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
500 Posts |
As an example of what I am talking about, I just purchased a 1932 $10 indian gold MS63 for $1000 s&h included from a new website I found. Looking at Heritage ( super reference BTW ) it shows the Retail and Wholesale from Numismedia ( retail matches NGC retail BTW, wholesale usually approximates greysheet ) as: Numismedia Retail $1350 Numismedia Wholesale $1125 along with half a dozen other reference lists like PCGS etc. So I feel I got a solid bargain - nothing spectacular but I didn't see any in auctions or ebay this year go for less than $1100 and most were over $1200. Sure YMMV, but I do think the Wholesale prices ( which are akin to greysheet ) are a decent target overall for most coins. Happy Hunting!    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1839 Posts |
Here's a snapshot of dealers using Collector's Corner. My guess is that most are going to be fair to do business with.  |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 3,686 |
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First Page
Posted 04/20/2013 11:33 am
