An Interesting Way To Spend An Hour

ND where is your zest for life ? the thrill of the unknown ? and the desire to challenge the vast waste land of the internet coinland super market ?

By far the bad out weight the good, and the margin is widening daily !!

In fairness though there are a few sellers that a person can feel confident and safe buying from !!!

Rick

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Originally posted by national dealer

I thought that I would share an hour of my time with everyone.


How do you guys do it? I realize that everyone doesn't have the opportunity to travel around to most of the shows, or visit many dealers in a given year, but it is just plain scary out there in the internet world.
ebay is simply bigger, but not really standing alone.

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ND,
i myself use E-bay more as a guideline to check the coins, and prices, I don't know, but I guess you have there in the states just like we have here, auctions for coins.
Manny of those show their stock before the auction is on-line (take for example https://www.mpo.nl), so you can look where you want to go for.

The good thing with those are that becouse it's an official (and most of the time under control from the NVMH) thing, they have the garantee that the gradings, and the coins are not false, and if they are, you have a 100% money back garantee.

If you check those site's, and you are able to go there as well, you can look first for the things they offer, take the item numbers, and go on the auction day, or before after appointment, to look what they are and how they are.
Of cource, you also can do on-line bidding, and let the coins be shipped to your home, mostly the coins are sended after payment, but there are also like at the https://www.bpv-veiling.nl that they send the bill afterwarts, if you keep the shipment.

I do so myself a few times a year, and, untill now, with complete satisfaction.

Greetings, Carl

I know a few who are really good at using the auctions for selling. Coins are and will always be a place for the predator and prey. I see many get slaughtered at shows, and I would not recommend that source for the newbie either.
It seems that once a collector gets their feet wet, they think that they can jump right in. Well there are plenty of sharks out there. Some look like cuddly little fish until they eat you.
I have been having an ongoing "talk" with a new collector who found themselves thrust into collecting through an inheritance. Luckily, this person got bit by the collecting bug and is willing to learn before buying. Believe me this is not the norm.
I have suggested taking a nominal amount of money to an upcoming show, but mainly to buy books and supplies. This person has also been thinking about which series to complete and add to the collection. Luckily some goodies were part of the collection received. This makes the trading so much easier.
Learning is a life long pursuit. I read some form of numismatic material each and every day, along with looking at coins. I practice my grading skills, my ability to recall certain facts, and continue to write articles. I fully understand that not everyone can do as I do, nor would they wish to, but to survive in this business/hobby, a certain amount of effort is required.
In a few years I may very well be required to suggest slabbed coins just because the odds of being burnt are too great. CoinWorld runs a weekly section from Anacs that covers fakes. This is really just the tip of the iceberg.
In my search today, I found 51 coins that were blatant fakes, and 17 that were questionable enough that I would not touch them without holding the coin in hand. Not all of these were keys or being sold in the far east.
As I have mentioned here lately, I have run into some incredible fakes. None would stand out to anyone but the most skilled. None were overly valuable as to be extra careful. Prior to last month, I would have purchased any $3 gold coin without hesitation. Now, I have to think twice about raw coins and early slabbed pieces. I carry with me very detailed photos so that I can match the diagnostics.
The days of sand cast coins are coming to an end. The days of simply throwing a coin on the scale and saying "yep it's real" are close also. Counterfeiters are getting better, and they are looking for fast cash from those who are not willing to learn.

Just food for thought.

I would be more than happy to offer "regular" dealers that I deal with. I have already mentioned the 3 ebay sellers I recommend

Now, before anyone asks, I WILL NOT recommend any dealer that is my direct competitor.

That just isn't good business. However, there are quite a few that sell coins for less than a grand that I have dealt with and some that I still deal with. Those I would be more than happy to share.

Happy Birthday to you Metalman! Does this mean you need to go back and update your profile?

You just gotta be like Mel Gibson and check the water with your Geiger counter when shopping in Barter Town.

A collector who's looking for popular items such as Lincoln cents or Morgan dollars might do fairly well buying from trusted Brink & Morter dealers or from coin shows. If they are doing business with a good dealer and getting the coins they really want at fair prices then there's nothing to gain by playing around on ebay. Leaving a situation like that for internet auctions is all risk and no reward.

What about collectors who like the abstract or unusual or the "freakish and bizarre?" Are there any dealers on this board that have a Lincoln 1954S San Jose for sale? If so by all means email me!
On-line auctions have more abstract things such as Lincoln Cent BIEs. I never once saw a Lincoln BIE at a coin show.

"...You can go your own way
Go your own way
You an call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way..."

Fleetwood Mac

I firmly believe that the internet opening up the hobby is a good thing, but people must do their own research and learn about items before they buy.

Would you automatically believe a car salesman? I know I sure wouldn't. I go to multiple lots, see multiple cars, check multiple prices and then go where I want and know how to get a fair deal.

Coins are the same way. You have sellers who truly don't know anything about what they're selling (which is very foolish on their parts), sellers who know they're peddling junk and trying to hype it in order to make a buck, sellers who are flat-out scamming anyone and everyone, and good, fair dealers who are trying to make an honest living.

The internet has opened up possiblities to obtain many more sought-after coins than ever before. Coins that were only available in certain parts of the world or country are now available to all. With this added opportunity comes added responsibility. Many "bad" transactions were as much the buyer's fault as the seller's. A buyer is responsible for what he/she buys; a seller is responsible for what he/she sells. Even if one of the parties does not uphold their end, a good transaction is possible if the other accepts their responsibility.

That is why there is a place now for forums like this one and the many, many informational sites out there.

Susan, what you and Stujoe have said is quite true. There are some very ethical dealers on ebay with great return policies. I have retuned three coins in the last year and had no problems at all. Most were very gracious and even offered a future discount on another purchase or free shipping.

I have access to more choices than I have ever had in my life and am thus far pleased with my purchases. The worst ripping I have ever suffered I am sorry to say came from a few brick a mortar dealer's I knew before I learned some of the ins and outs of the hobby. Even the way I am treated now is different since I now have the confidence to make educated offers and call something out of line when I see it.

It's easier to walk from an on line auction than to haggle face to face with most dealers! The word is cautious! That applies to purchases anywhere in this hobby or most walks of life. I think many dealers despise on line auctions because they have allowed people to buy more like they do and document what things are really selling for.

If they want to attack real out and out gougers just watch the T.V. boys! Even "Coin Country" is turning into a rip off program. To bad, because they were on to something good! Mike