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 Replies: 17 / Views: 4,500 |
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
Hey everyone, going to my first coin show this weekend. Is there any do's and don't s that I should follow? Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place or if its already been talked about.
Thanks so much
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I think there is a thread about this already here but ...
my advice is to remember that the dealers are there to make money and if you're not buying, don't take offense if they are short or curt with you. They only have so much time to sell. That being said, at small shows, if a dealer isn't busy, you might find he is willing to spend some time with you.
No lurking. That is, if the dealer is busy with somebody, you should not hang around. Move on to the next table. It's okay to take a quick look at what's for sale, but standing there and waiting is considered rude.
Don't put your stuff on his cases. That means purses, iPads, or anything that you could potentially slide a coin under. It makes the dealers nervous.
I'm sure there's more but that's all I can think of right now. Maybe somebody else can add to this.
Have fun. I remember the first show I went to and I was just in a daze -- never so so many coins! I was hooked after that.
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Valued Member
 United States
61 Posts |
Thanks, I'm hooked already, it will only get worse now I suppose :)
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Yes. You are right. It only gets worse. LOL
-- but there are worse things to do with your time and money.
I had front desk duty at my local coin club's fall show this weekend and this woman brought her three daughters. She said that none of them were coin collectors but she wanted her daughters to collect something besides video games.
I sold them some raffle tickets. The oldest daughter won about $100 in proofs. I'm hoping she is hooked and starts coming to our meetings.
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Could you post after the coin show and let me know how it was?
I hope you have a good time.
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
Absolutely, it's my first show so I will be taking it all in. Should be fun.
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
Buddy, went yesterday before work. Well it was awesome. Lots of dealers and people. You learn a lot about how stuff works. You really have to go in with a "game plan" and know how to deal. Prices fluctuate depending on dealers and since it was my first show I was a little out of my element. I will deffanately be frequenting shows from now on. I saw tons of Morgan's and early coins, not as much newer stuff and bullion as I would have thought, but I did get a few pieces so I was really happy. Hope this helped.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Glad you had a good time. I was a bit overwhelmed at the first show I went to. And you're are right -- you need a game plan. The first year I was collecting I wanted everything but I hardly bought anything. I just tried to learn. So now I go with a short list - four or five things. I check prices on Numismedia and make some notes. Sometimes nobody has anything on my list. That's okay because my husband likes to collect coins and bullion with animals on them. So if I see something I think he will like I get it for him. Those are 'just for fun' purchases and are not ever expensive items. And even at that we only get one or two. Again, I'm glad you had a good time.  |
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
Thanks Buddy, can't wait until my next go around :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts |
A couple years ago I was at a coin show sitting at a dealer's table looking through his box of cheap Indian Head cents. A large man pulled up a chair right next to me and sat there staring at my face. I turned and looked at him and said "Hello". He continued sitting there silently staring at me while I looked through the box. I turned back to him and said" Do you have a question?". He replied "I'm waiting for you to get done looking through that box". I looked at him and said he could look through the coins I already went through. He sat there for a minute, staring intently at my face then mumbled: "I'll wait for you to finish..... if you ever do." I sat there, taking my time while this bully tried to intimidate me but after a few minutes he got up and went away. Don't do what he did....... |
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
Matchbox, that's awful, I would have done the same thing back to him. Say "oh a staring contest, I love these" hahahahaha. Then be like buddy I'm going to be a while and see what he says. I did pick up on older guys bullying. One guy seemed to get annoyed at me for looking over his shoulder. Don't understand people like that.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
in the situation matchbox was in I would have pulled out my magnifying glass and started looking at each and every coin. I am just that type of person I guess. I don't like starting trouble but can really push peoples buttons that want to show themselves trying to intimidate me
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Valued Member
United States
198 Posts |
Glad you had a good time at the coin show.... Here are a couple more do's & don'ts for future shows> 1) don't bring all the kids you are trying to baby sit with you to the show... you will NOT be able to consentrait on coins. 2) do not eat at a dealers table... believe it or not, people feel that it is ok to dribble food and handle coins & currency with drity hands. 3) stop at the bank or ATM prior to going to the show... some dealers will not take checks and most will not take credit cards. 4) Know what you are collecting/ buying... do your home work before going to the show... know grading and the price of each grade. If needed, take along a note book with dated needed and prices you want to pay. 5) Get there early enough to visit the dealers tables... if you wait until the end of the show, you might not see any dealers as some may leave early due to a long drive home. Hope these help and most important.... ASK QUESTIONS.  A lot of people are scard to ask questions about what they are looking at or why it is priced the way it is. |
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Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
"you might not see any dealers as some may leave early due to a long drive home." This really annoys me. I've been to shows in early afternoon where some dealers are already packed up and gone. I sell at shows (not coin shows) where we are told no packing out before the show is over or you will not be invited back. They advertise a show from X time to Y time. So why do coin shows allow this? If some coin dealers want to leave right after noon, then change the show times.
Also it appears some dealers are only interested in "dealing" with other dealers. I've been to shows where dealers sit working at a back table with their back to customers. They have apparently made their show already, buying and selling with other dealers? I usually find the mom and pop booths the most friendly and accommodating. They usually get my money.
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Moderator
 United States
188110 Posts |
Quote:
They advertise a show from X time to Y time. So why do coin shows allow this? If some coin dealers want to leave right after noon, then change the show times. The show I regularly attend advertises a close time of 3PM on Sunday (the final day), whereas the other days end at 6PM. |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 4,500 |
Posted 10/29/2012 9:33 pm
