Buying From Ebay Way Under Book Value?

The PCGS prices are pretty inflated. I would use another source to get more realistic values.

Also, note that if a coin was a premium coin (even slabbed and graded can be ugly, have carbon spots, etc.) it would have sold in a retail environment. ebay is often used to move the items that can't be sold when someone is holding the coin....

I think you should get a sample of the Greysheet.

http://greysheet.com/

IMO you should learn more about grading and authenticating coins before buying anything, and that opens you up to raw coins on ebay, which is always a good source of coins.

Why not learn more about coins and values, so you don't have to take these otherwise unnecessary precautions such as buying only slabbed coins.

Buying raw coins on ebay can be a risky proposition as the seller can play with the lighting ect. If you only buy from a Seller who has a very high feedback that helps your odds of a decent transaction.

Also look for Sellers that have a reasonable return policy.

Keep in mind ebay is a wholesale market and the economy is poor. I have purchased many things over the years priced well below their intrinsic value. Additionally I have turned around and listed those same items back on ebay and sold them at a good profit.

The key is to be PATIENT. Once you have found a coin you want to add to your collection you bid on it in the last moment at the highest price you are willing to pay. If you win it, great. If not, there will be another one available shortly. Best wishes on your internet "cherrypicking". Sincerely, John Leckrone

like I said earlier though...people even question some of the grading done by the top grading companies. so when youre talking a 50% difference in price between ms63 and ms64, its not for everyone. especially if youre super worried about investment potentail. I misgrade a coin and I've already lost what little price increase I would have seen over the next 5 years.

I hear ya vanbroj. You are right about most sellers using poor pictures on ebay. I do most of my shopping on ebay too, and the reality is that once you get accustomed to it, 95% of the auctions I filter out and don't even give a second glance. There is so much garbage, that it pays and saves tons of time to have a greased and polished "mental filtering system". The truth is, there is still some risk even with that %5 that make it past the filter, and then it comes down to a risk vs. reward ratio; and there are a lot of great coins that can be had at terrific prices. It takes some practice and experience, and knowledge of how to interpret pictures; but I prefer ebay 9 out of 10 times.

Hey Johnny, no doubt the risk/reward is there with ebay.
I have 87 feedback on ebay , I only buy so I have a little experience there.
I usually will only buy my key dates slabbed to weed out fakes, but you can do real well with raw coins, especially if you can get good pix , or buy from a seller you know from past deals with give you an accurate description.