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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,020 |
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Valued Member
United States
191 Posts |
hey yall- Going to my first coin show today. Any suggestions or hints? Is it ok to carry around my ANA grading book and Red Book? Or would that make me look like easy prey or something? Thanks for the input! |
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Member
United States
3242 Posts |
I would take my RedBook!!!! I do not think they will mind they will get over it as soon as you pay at the door |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1327 Posts |
take your RedBook, and I don't think anyone will mind. I know the few show I have gone to alot of people either have a RedBook, or a Greysheet or at least some sort of price guide. I know talking to my local dealer a who has been selling coin for more the 30yr he suggested that I use my RedBook as a inventory list. he told me it is a lot easier to mark in the RedBook what coin you have that way you know what you need. Because the way I do it was to just carry a excel printout of the coins I have and need. So with all that said I do not think any dealer will care if you have your RedBook they don't know if you are using it as a reference or price guide or a check list. Also one thing I usually do is I will walk around the whole show and then go back to the table I feel will have what I want. But I have never been to a show with more then 40 tables. but also have fun Edited by djluster
11/25/2006 09:46 am
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Pillar Of The Community
3147 Posts |
While they are entertaining I have found there are very few good deals at a coin show. Most of the dealers come to trade, buy and sell with other dealers. Many will come across as cold and uncaring when the general public are there. Enjoy your trip but go with low expectations.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
954 Posts |
Have fun!! It will feel overwhelming, and I won't be surprised if you come home with a headache, I did.  My advice, take a walk around and check out what each seller has to offer. If you see anything nice, write his table number down. After you have made the rounds, go back to the tables you liked and get serious. There is not enough time to spend a lot of time at every table. If you don't see anything that yells "take me home" don't buy just to buy. It's OK to come home with money in your pocket. Just try to have some fun, there will be nothing but coin nerds all around you.....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
If you are one of those people who HAVE to come home with something (guilty as charged here) then buy something little when you walk into the bourse. I usually go for supplies and books, since I need them anyways. Walk around the floor, see which dealers have inventory that interest you, and go back to their tables. Try to make a friend with a dealer there, it's great to know dealers who can get you those hard to get coins down the road.
Make sure you NEVER correct a grade that the dealer has written down on the 2x2. Even if it's been harshly cleaned and graded 10 points above what it should be, don't question him. You don't want that same dealer to be the one with the prize coin that you need for your collection sometime down the road. Usually, the price marked on the 2x2 isn't the dealer's best price. I just like to ask what the dealer's best price is, and usually I just take it or leave it. If you're buying a few coins from that one dealer, he may discount the price on the lot a little for you.
Bring cash or check. And if you're buying some high-priced coins, you may find the the dealer won't accept your check unless other dealers there can vouch your credibility. Cash is usually a great negeotiating factor too. If you can pull out your offer in cash, chances are the dealer is going to be interested.
But just have fun, and remember to tell us about your experiences!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
if something drastically changes in my money situation I was planning on traveling to the F.U.N. show because its going to be held on my Birthday this year. If nothing changes (which I dont forsee any changes) I will have to stick with the Charlotte Money Show March 16th-18th of 2007, and it will be my firstcoin show and I can't wait
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
Take whatever publications you think will be helpful to you. Just don't try to show the seller that his coin is grossly overpriced because "well, the RedBook says ..." - that might upset someone  I usually try to know what I'm looking for before I go, so I take a photocopy of the pages concerning my "prey" in my pocket for reference. I know that's impossible if you've never been to a show before. You're probably in for an exciting sensory overload when you see all the coins available. Just have fun with it. I know a guy who actually carries the latest edition of Krause with him to every local show. That thing is the size of the Manhattan phone book !!! Enjoy the show !!! |
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Valued Member
 United States
191 Posts |
Well.... you guys were right, I was overwhelmed. It was the Michigan show in Dearborn and there had to be 200 tables there. I think I had the right approach. I went with the thought I probably wouldn't buy anything(but had a $1000 with me just in case). I figured it would be a good way to see alot of coins up close and personal. I am a new collector so I thought it would be important. To my eye alot of the raw coins I saw seemed to be overgraded. I have been studying SLQs for a couple of months and tried to put alot of the other stuff out of my mind while I was there. Well....I didn't feel confident haggeling and pulling the trigger on anything, so I came home empty handed. The one thing I got from this first experience is a better feeling about how I have been buying coins online. I feel I've done pretty well between HJB and selective ebay purchases. Thanks guys! |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
You went to your first show with $1000 and came back empty-handed? I think you'll do just fine as a coin collector.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
you can't go wrong with HJB
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by SuperDave
You went to your first show with $1000 and came back empty-handed? I think you'll do just fine as a coin collector.
Yeah, you'll do just fine. If that was me, I'd have come home broke and would have written a couple of checks, too  But I'd have a neat handful of stuff for my type sets |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,020 |
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Posted 11/25/2006 09:45 am
