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 Replies: 36 / Views: 5,590 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
520 Posts |
So I have come to the conclusion that I would WAY rather just go down to the local coin store and fill album slots than order lincoln wheats or whatever for that matter, online. I feel like I have so many slots to fill, and I just CANNOT find BU wheats in the 30s-50s range..at least what I am looking for..Yes, I have filled many holes but still lack quite a few dates in that range. I have gone to multiple coin stores, but it normally takes them MONTHS to restock, so I always buy them online and it just gets frustrating picking them one at a time, and it seems like lately, its even more expensive to buy them online. I have noticed that 9 of out 10 times, ebay is way over FMV in the price of their coins..It just gets old to see the coin that I need on ebay and check my price guide to see that its like 5-20 over in price. I wish that for once, a coin show would come to Nashville or the surrounding area..but they NEVER do.. Guess ill just be extremely patient and wait on the flea market and local coin stores to get some stuff in. I doubt I am the only one. |
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
I do and do not like buying coins off the internet, I do because you can find some good deals and can find hard to find coins that you may not find in a shop, the part I do not like is that sometimes coins can be cleaned and the seller wont tell you or the pictures don't show the fine detail, but that's a price you pay, if you have experience then you will probably be fine and you can spot out the bad coins from the good.
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Valued Member
United States
421 Posts |
For me its hit or miss online for coins. I agree alot of the stuff is over priced or driven over the market value because the demand for that it is greater than at your local coin store. Now it seems anyone who has silver or gold is auctioning it for at least the melt value.( which truthfully is messing with the prices up) Unless it is a semi or key date and then they are in demand for rarity. Sometimes you get lucky. I got a 1916-s Walking Liberty half in G-6 the other night for 50 cents over spot. No that is kind of unheard of. Most coin shops wouldn't have that coin sell for less than $30+ |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
520 Posts |
I mean it is true for hit or miss, but I can be a picky collector and I really like to get a good look at a coin before I buy it..I am just so timid online shopping and am way more open with my money when I see them in person. Unless a coin has been graded, I tend to not make up my mind well because I always feel like I am getting screwed, whether I am or not lol..
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
I have purchased many of my coins online from dealers (not ebay), and I have not been disappointed.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
With what I buy, you don't use the 'Net, unless you know the seller. The main things that I look for are the hardest to find. I have an almost, but not quite vain search for early European coinage. I really need expert assistance and a good relationship with the dealers I know. These coins only form a very small part of my collection, because they are so scarce. I have a few quite valuable ancients. Again, I still need expert assistance because there are a lot of fakes. I just don't buy on the 'Net, unless the seller has an international reputation to preserve. It is just that I am humble enough to admit that I appreciate that dealer specialist expertise, despite the fact that I have been collecting ancients for many decades. For my needs, I don't see ebay as a safe enough option. For more modern coins, I usually acquire them from a postal auction, which I have supported for many years. Even so, I usually take delivery of my successful bids in person. I typically spend around $1,000 twice a year, in this way. Edited by sel_69l
11/17/2011 02:34 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
687 Posts |
It all depends. Bidding on ebay is like a game - figure out how to play and you can come out ahead, but it requires A LOT of searching time. Brick and mortar is hit or miss for me too though. All the local dealers are way over retail on basically everything with the exception of one near where I work who is mostly a bullion dealer. Of course most of what he gets in is low grade and it never lasts long, so that can be kinda frustrating too. |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
I only buy online. There's no good alternative where I live. The key is to make sure the pictures are real. Usually I only buy slabbed, and many of my coins come from heritage who has not disappointed me in service or quality. Granted I don't get many incredible bargains, but I've gotten some excellent coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
magicalmke: If where you live is remote from good dealers your buying strategy simply has to change. Best if you can still buy from a dealer on the 'Net that has a good reputation. I intimated that I was not keen on ebay. Nevertheless, still OK for cheapies, where most of the fun in coin collecting can still be had! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
I live in a very rural area. There are no coin stores and only 2 small coin shows per year. Otherwise I would have to travel a great distance which would defeat the purpose of getting better deals when you add in the price of gas. Therefore I buy almost all my coins on line, primarily ebay, other auction sites and Eagle Eye coin ( I collect mostly IHC). To date I have not had any problems and have not yet had to return a coin. I know the maximum I am willing to pay for a coin before I even begin my search. I buy from what I feel are all quality dealers who post excellent pictures, have a good written description, and a good return policy. I purchase mostly raw coins except for the key dates. I don't feel that I grossly overpaid for any coin that I have purchased. To find the right coin involves a lot of searching and patience, but I think that is just part of coin collecting. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Before you make a purchase online, ensure that the seller has a "return policy" that you can live with, that way you can return the coin if it does not meet your specifications. Seems pretty simple to me.  Edited by oih82w8
11/17/2011 11:27 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1064 Posts |
casutherland, looking online, I see these coin show schedules - are any locations convenient to you?
Fall. Chattanooga. TSNS Annual Fall Coin Show.
Fall. Dayton. Dayton Coin and Currency Show.
Fall. Franklin. Dickson Coin Club Show.
Fall. Gallatin. Gallatin Coin Show.
Fall. Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg Coin & Currency Show.
Fall. Kingsport. Kingsport Coin & Currency Show.
Fall. Knoxville. Coin & Currency Show.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
I love the convenience of online shopping. Lots of coins to look at, easy to pay, close your laptop and the coin is in your mailbox in a few days  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
I haven't had any major problems yet with ebay. I was dumb enough to buy a replated 1943 wheat, but it only cost me a dollar so that was a cheap lesson to learn. Otherwise the coins have been pretty nice. I bought a higher grade Merc a while back that looked great in the pictures and also looked great in hand. Under a loop at just the right angle under light I can see some hairline scratches that indicate cleaning. Even though I would have passed on it in a coin store if I saw those lines, I decided to keep the coin. I figure it wasn't a high value coin and you can only see the scratches under a particular set of circumstances, so it doesn't bother me that much. If you aren't a little laid back about sometimes running into things like this you shouldn't do ebay. On the other hand, few places will give you the kind of deals that you can find on ebay (if you search long enough). |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
And that is the advantage of living in or near large cities. By me we have numerous coin shows. More coin stores than imaginable. And at every flea market, there are coin dealers. I would never even considering buying on line and ebay is way to much like gambling. With on line purchases, you pay shipping, handliing, sometimes restocking fees, sometimes no reture policies, wrong coins, lost in mail and on and on and on. I like to see exactly what I'm getting now, taket the time to look it over carefully, no shipping, no handling, no insurances, no lost in mail, etc. With in person contacts you get to know dealers and can actually get better deals due to that. Make requests. Get free stuff too. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
The main things that I look for are the hardest to find. I have an almost, but not quite vain search for early European coinage. I really need expert assistance and a good relationship with the dealers I know. These coins only form a very small part of my collection, because they are so scarce. You, sir, sound like a man who needs to meet Bill Rosenblum. What he says a coin is, that coin is. http://www.rosenblumcoins.com/ |
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Replies: 36 / Views: 5,590 |
Posted 11/17/2011 01:06 am
