I Remembered Today Why I Stopped Going To Coin Shows

Mostly all of the older types such as Liberty Head Quarters, Halves, Dimes, etc.
As to the original post, at the coin show last Sunday I noticed that now about 75% of the dealers all had prices on the flips. About 90% all now use the 1-1/2" flips for their coins. Only one had any plastic flips. Several customers brought their kids and one was about 5 years old. I was there for over 2 hours and saw only one female and she was a dealer. All dealers were friendly and welcomed conversations except one and he is always noted to be rather on the crabby side. One dealer had 5 tables and all full of those glass covered cases. I asked how much this all is insured for and he said over one million.
One of the more socialable dealers told me he is opening up a coin store and not sure how he is going to make all the shows and run the store. I know he has 4 kids and a brother so I asked can't they help? He just smiled and said Yeah, right.
As I and others have been saying, go back to a coin show and just have fun.

I found this post after Googling "why are coin dealers so rude". I should mention that I've been collecting since 1972 /73. During good years I can spend in excess of $50,000. on my collection.

I am indeed convinced that coin dealers can be nasty towards potential customers to a degree not witnessed in any other industry. Even business logic would dictate that being polite or conversant wouldn't kill them and may in fact yield some business. I am familiar with the arguements that they're under a lot of pressure, they have to deal with lots of trivial questions from unknowledgeable plebians, they need to make $, etc.

However some of them do indeed act pretty nasty towards me. As the poster of this thread mentioned 10K, I can spend 10K easily on a single coin. I always assumed that polite behavior was reseved for the really big spenders: i.e. those folks that could spend $500,000. (or more) on a single coin.

My grudges are somewhat ameliorated by the coincidence that at least 3 of my nastiest coin dealers have suffered mishaps, or occurances that were I a vengeful deity, could hardly have inflicted worse. I guess one could say "what goes around comes around".

I should also point out that my situation has become a little better. Since around 1990, I've moved entirely into collecting specialized world [foreign] coinage. The rarity/price ratio is 10X or maybe 100x what one sees in the US market. E.g. for 10K, you can still get some important & rare foreign coins while this money can't touch even a common date early silver US dollar in "acceptable grades". Thus I've moved towards becoming a bigger goldfish in a small pond rather than a minnow in the ocean.

Of course there are also those dealers that buck the trend and who are really nice. However there are still a fraction of delaers that leave a bad taste in the mouths of many of us cheaper [more frugal?] collectors.

There are 3 shows I go to regularly, they are Parsippany, NJ - White Plains, NY and a really small one in Clifton, NJ..... I am mentioning locations, not to bash any particular show or dealer, but in case any others had this happen at these shows. Even though My experience at these coin shows have been mostly very pleasant and enjoyable. But there have been several instances and occasions where this was not the case.

I have learned the hard way to stay away from dealers that don't have prices on their stuff!! The White Plains NY show is rather large. Several times there I have walked up to a table picked out a coin and asked how much. Only to be given an outrageous price along with an odd bold faced grin... This has happened to me at least once at the other 2 shows too. The times I asked about an unmarked coin and got a reasonable offer have been so few I won't even bother to ask anymore. Unless it's a coin I can't live without. Unless at least some of the coins have prices, I will pass that table. There is also one seller that does the shows I mentioned plus I have also seen him at others. He does pretty brisk business with mostly silver and stuff, and there is usually a crowd at his table. But he also has a junk bin. Now he doesn't appear to be a mean guy or anything but at least one time at each show I have been treated rudely for wanting to look through the bin. One time he wasn't even doing business with anyone, just standing having casual conversation. I mean why have a junk bin if you don't want to be bothered with it? I notice his junk bin sits untouched at each show so he must just lug it around from show to show?

One dealer I frequent at the show has the coins I collect and they have prices. But I notice some people get greeted with a warm welcome and there final purchases are discounted. While others aren't as fortunate. I have purchased coins from them before and figured by now I would have developed some type of repoire, but nope, every time I visit their table I still feel so UN welcomed I just want to get what I need and leave ASAP.

And then there are the few sellers I have grown to love. Coins are priced, and fairly. Everyone usually gets a warm friendly welcome. They go out of their way to help. Even offer a loop when I forget mines. And at the end make a good deal even better. these are the dealers I look for and make a beeline to at every show. And will Always buy from them. They always make my experience at coin shows good ones. I suggest everyone find those dealers at coin shows, this may require visiting coin a show more than once.

yeah I agree, or you can just say the spot price of silver + 8980$

Okay, I've read this topic several times now. I've come to a few conclusions.

It all comes down to budgeting, buying habits, and grading desirable coins.

I'm fine with unmarked prices. I'm fine with just having the grade on the flip for higher-end pieces. It allows some room for haggling while at the same time we can gauge each other in grading skills and we engage each other. It makes the sale all the more knolwedgeable for both parties and we both grow as numismatists. However, my buying habits like the priced coins so that I can play with my budget on a whim. If I'm in the market for something very specific, however, I like the grade over price idea more. This opinion applies only to mid-higher priced coins that are not bullion driven. I'm talking about scarser and older coins that are out of the realm of melting pots. These are the ones that are saved by collectors for collectors and sold at reasonable prices by both consenting parties. Both parties should be at more or less the same level with the dealer getting the upperhand because he simply knows more from handling coins day in day out and meeting lots of people in the same field.

Amr: If I get some of the ones you want, I'll gladly drive them over to those people's house in Chicago for you.


1000% true. When you go to car lots and/or a dealership, you usually stare, check out, wander around a car, then leave. So what's the difference? Car sales people know not everyone is going to buy a car they are looking at. So same with coins.