Bringing The Red Book To A Show?

I don't care what anyone thinks, I have a Red Book with me at coin shows I take it to coin club meetings too. I know that the prices are not firm in the book or there on the coin holder. I use it as a guide. If I find a coin I like and the price seems fair, I'll buy it. If the dealer gives me a price and quotes the Red Book value cause he sees me carrying it, I'd probably tell him that the Red Book is just a guide too.
I think carrying a coin magazine might be a bit more of a red flag to dealers as those prices are really inflated in those guides.

I bring the Red Book with me and I know that prices are inflated. I keep the Red Book mostly out of site in a bag I carry and when I need to look something up, I have my reference. I use it for reference, varieties, etc, not as a pricing tool. For pricing, I compile a list of coins that recently closed on ebay and grade and print out that list.

jbuck, that's pretty smart

I would have to decide between the Red Book and greysheet depending on what you are looking for. I suppose for higher value coins, the greysheet might be more important to get the right price, but I usually bring my Red Book. Sometimes I have brought a magazine, even though the prices listed in it are quite a bit higher, just because it is lighter to carry. Keep in mind that price guides are just general guidelines, and are not 100% correct. Usually I would say they overprice most coins.

Now jbuck has the solution that many just don't think about. Of course you have to have fingers that are flexible and one of those phones. That is moderazation for you. I asked my neighbor a few days ago why he never wears a watch. He pulled out his cell phone and showed me the day, date, time and all big enough for even me to read.

I would take a Red Book if I wanted to.

But for me .. I take a spread sheet with the coins I want to fill what current Dansco's I am working on.
Like last weekends show I had Jefferson nickels then Roosevelt dimes. In the spread sheet I put which coins I need, with the grade and price I would like. I have been using nusmismedia.com to get a ballpark price.

If I see other coins I might want, there are usually dealers there that I know, I ask them to give me greysheet price. Some dealers will show the greysheet if I ask.

There is nothing wrong with bringing your RedBook to the show, just keep in mind that other people would like to see the coin as well. I have seen people stand their for more than 10 minutes looking up a coin in their book. Of course, you should be sure that you are making the right choice but again keep in mind that the dealer has a business to run and other customers would like to see the coin. Unless you the only one their.

I would recommend taking a list of what you would like to buy with prices. It is difficult to adhere to your list since you will so many coins that you will like but look at it, step back and look it up in your RedBook.

Sometimes you will be presented with good deals and you might not know it until later when you do your research. You may hit yourself in the head because you did not buy it but what if the deal what not as good as you were told. Then you would be hitting yourself in the head because you bought something expensive.

This is my rule: If I am not sure then I do not buy it.

It is best to trust your instincts and don't be bothered if you missed a deal. It is better than to overpay for a coin.