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 Replies: 27 / Views: 2,396 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
At a small flea market there is this guy that just doesn't learn about coins to well. I purchased 42 Mercury dimes from him for $40. Mostly common dates and average grades except a 19D, 19S, 23S, 26S and a 45 Micro S. Then he showed me a 1886 Liberty Head Nickel in a 2x2 that he had priced at $90 and it was a decent G-4 grade. He was trying to tell me he thought it was a real expensive coin but he ended up selling it to me for $50. I keep telling him he sould invest in a price guide of some kind but it just doesn't sink in I guess. Don't know where he gets all his coins but this time he had one bin with about 6 or more inches of coins. This was his USA bin. Some in sets, some in 2x2's, some just dumped, and I mean dumped, in raw. Indian Head cents, Lincoln Cents, Buffalo nickels and on and on and on. Almost all his coins are in G-4 or thereabouts grades but all are cheap. In that bin all coins are $0.25 each. It seams like sellers at flea markets are going into coins more and more. At one of our larger flea markets last Sunday I counted about 15 sellers with coins for sale. One guy tried to get me interested in a 1941 to 1970 Lincoln Cent book full including the 55 Double Die. All coins were only just fine condition and he wanted a price in the thousands. Another seller was trying to sell piles of Mercury dimes all in 2x2's and all very common dates in the 40's for from $1.25 to $5. Makes me wonder if this hobby is still growing. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
Makes ME wonder if these people have lost their minds.
There's a big flea market in my area that I've gone to before, but that guy is asking WAY too much for his "wares". At the flea markets you attend, are these people selling other things besides coins in their areas?
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Valued Member
United States
63 Posts |
Were I live we have a flea market the 1st Sunday of the month.I have noticed that coin seller have been popping up at this monthly flea market more & more each month Only 1 of the 10 or so has a Red Book or a Coin Values. there prices tend to be high to me, and most I would call culls. but evidently they are selling their back each 1st Sunday. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
At the flea market near me, there are two coin sellers and both have their prices ABOVE RedBook. I tired to tell him, but he wasn't interested in lowering his price. Apparently enough people come in who don't know about coins and buy them for his inflated prices. |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Makes ME wonder if these people have lost their minds.
There's a big flea market in my area that I've gone to before, but that guy is asking WAY too much for his "wares". At the flea markets you attend, are these people selling other things besides coins in their areas?
As a general rule I've found that a large percentage of individuals that sell at flea markets are either exceptional buisness people or complete idiots. And as to selling other items, yes in all instances the people selling coins also sell just about anything you could imagine. None are just coin dealers. As a rule their coin prices are so far over valued that it is a joke and then their are the others that almost give their stuff away. The smaller flea market where the guy has those large bins of coins I've tried to explain to him the values of some of his coins. I even gave him a copy of a magazine with prices. He is just one of those people that says things like "Oh, thanks a lot, wow, this is great" then goes right on doing the same things anyway. One person constantly pockets a few coins every once in a while from him and he has been told by several other sellers about that. Again, he says things like "Oh, thanks a lot. Glad you told me" then just goes on allowing that guy to do that. If you go to flea markets a lot you get used to the flea market mentality. One dealer was selling CD's of music for $1 each or 3 for $5. I asked him about those silly prices and he said he was wondering why people insisted on buying one at a time. I went to buy an American Flag and the seller told me this is one that has 50 stars on it. WOW! One seller was selling bars of Dial Soap. He had them separated into 3 rows and all were the same size. Row 1 had 2 bars together for $1. Row 2 had 6 bars together for $1. Row 3 had 12 bars together for $1. He knew this and just wanted to watch people trying to decide which ones to take. I watched and he was right. People stood there and tried to figure it all out and some even took the 6 bars and said 12 is to many. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
 Thanks, JustCarl, you made my day with that rendition of "A Day at the Flea Market". That was beautiful. |
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Valued Member
United States
417 Posts |
Justcarl, I want to visit your flea market. My life is not complete without a homage. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
We used to have 20-pocket books full of coins in 2x2s, enough to fill a 21" overnighter. We'd put stuff like quarters for 20¢ or Ikes for 75¢ in with the other coins. People would see them, but we'd go several shows between selling one.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
We used to have 20-pocket books full of coins in 2x2s, enough to fill a 21" overnighter. We'd put stuff like quarters for 20¢ or Ikes for 75¢ in with the other coins. People would see them, but we'd go several shows between selling one.
Exactly what I mean. So many things at flea markets make me wonder about our educational system. As noted above, people sometimes just don't think. However, always good for a laugh. I still like the looks on the faces of people when I use a half dollar. |
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Moderator
 United States
188325 Posts |
This is a good thread! Reminds me of going to flea markets with my grandfather. We enjoyed trying to figure out what cabbage truck a person fell off of, but many times we walked away with a pretty good deal. Great times they were, I miss them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
628 Posts |
Carl, I love flea markets for all the same reasons.
I'm a fan of the venders who dump all their junk on the ground in front of them, like 3 bags of laundry mixed together with small block chevy headers on their way to the sandblaster, with a couple life-sized plastic dolls sans clothing mixed in for drama.
The flea market I go to a lot has great steak tacos. Fantastic.
I'd would not mind running into the guy at your flea market who's coin value challenged.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1429 Posts |
I am wondering what is driving the growth in coin availability in these markets. Is it people dumping their lots (as part of estate liquidation)?
I posted a thread a while back as to the growth in the coin collectors universe. I am 38 and NONE of my friends collect as I believe there are many competing passions related to consumerism. They love to buy stuff but not to collect as a passion. If the collectors universe is shrinking then perhaps these markets will be flooded with coins that no one wants. It may be good for us yet may cast a big question mark on the future of this hobby.
Any thoughts on this theory are welcome. Cheers.
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Valued Member
United States
296 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
188325 Posts |
Quote:
I'm a fan of the venders who dump all their junk on the ground in front of them, like 3 bags of laundry mixed together with small block chevy headers on their way to the sandblaster, with a couple life-sized plastic dolls sans clothing mixed in for drama. I know that guy! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1415 Posts |
I stopped going to flea markets a few years ago. I found that I spent a lot of time there and bought things I didn't need. I think I got one of everything by now and the one's I don't have I don't need.
I never saw many coins there and with all the fakes coming into the market, I would be suspicious of any at flea markets.
I find the antique markets where there are a lot of dealers is a good place to go for local (country) coins.
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
just carl said: Quote:
So many things at flea markets make me wonder about our educational system. As noted above, people sometimes just don't think. Speaking as a teacher and apropos to this forum ... I'd be happy if people who go through the U. S. educational system could count change back, were able to name at least five presidents found on coins and bills, and knew how to use apostrophes correctly on mailboxes and in forum postings.
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Replies: 27 / Views: 2,396 |
Posted 09/29/2008 12:39 pm
