First coin show help????

Going to go to my first coin show this weekend in Portland, OR.

Just want to know what to expect.
Are most deals cash?
What are some do's and don'ts?

Want to get some old American currency, too.

thanks

Here are a few thoughts, off the top of my head --

1) Generally, all deals are cash

2) DO ask to see a coin, even if the display case is unlocked and/or open.
If you decide you don't want the coin, make sure you DON'T just leave it on
top of the case -- hand it to the dealer personally. This is for your
protection as well as his.

3) DO make an offer if you feel the price is too high for you, but DON'T
point out the coin's flaws during negotition, and DON'T argue over grade.
The only relevant subject is the price and whether you can come to an
agreement.

4) DO maintain a poker face -- don't get visibly excited about a coin, or
you'll lose your negotiating power.

5) DO take a 5x and 10x glass with you. You'll pick up flaws that you won't
immediately see with the naked eye.

6) DON'T forget to inspect the coin's rim!

7) DO take a price guide with you, but understand that it is only a guide,
and DON'T use it as a bargaining chip. The dealer won't care what the guide
says if he thinks his coin is above average for the grade. Rightly so --
most price guides are for "average" coins.

Know what you're looking for and set boundaries as to what you can spend.
It's very easy to talk yourself into trouble.

Above all, have fun!

--Jeff



"thatcher" wrote in message
...
Going to go to my first coin show this weekend in Portland, OR.

Just want to know what to expect.
Are most deals cash?
What are some do's and don'ts?

Want to get some old American currency, too.

thanks

"Jeff Landon" wrote in message ...
Here are a few thoughts, off the top of my head --

1) Generally, all deals are cash

2) DO ask to see a coin, even if the display case is unlocked and/or open.
If you decide you don't want the coin, make sure you DON'T just leave it on
top of the case -- hand it to the dealer personally. This is for your
protection as well as his.

3) DO make an offer if you feel the price is too high for you, but DON'T
point out the coin's flaws during negotition, and DON'T argue over grade.
The only relevant subject is the price and whether you can come to an
agreement.

4) DO maintain a poker face -- don't get visibly excited about a coin, or
you'll lose your negotiating power.

5) DO take a 5x and 10x glass with you. You'll pick up flaws that you won't
immediately see with the naked eye.

6) DON'T forget to inspect the coin's rim!

7) DO take a price guide with you, but understand that it is only a guide,
and DON'T use it as a bargaining chip. The dealer won't care what the guide
says if he thinks his coin is above average for the grade. Rightly so --
most price guides are for "average" coins.

Know what you're looking for and set boundaries as to what you can spend.
It's very easy to talk yourself into trouble.

Above all, have fun!

--Jeff

Some dealers might have a gruff disposition and
will not negotiate at all. Sometimes there is
a clash of personalities and it's best to leave
their table and find a dealer you can converse
with.

If you can vocalize what you're looking for
in coins you may find the dealer especially
helpful. Others will send you to a different
table because most dealers know each other.

Hope this helps.



"thatcher" wrote in message
...
Going to go to my first coin show this weekend in Portland, OR.

Just want to know what to expect.
Are most deals cash?
What are some do's and don'ts?

Want to get some old American currency, too.

thanks

Before you commit to buying something
I would look around the show to get a feel
for what is being offered. If you spent a
good amount of your budget at the first
table you went to and then find something
you like better at another table but no
longer have the money to spend.....that
can be a disappointment.

Of course if you see something you have
been looking for a long time and haven't
seen it anywhere else and it is priced
right then in that situation it would probably
be best to go ahead and buy it right away.

In article , thatcher
wrote:

Going to go to my first coin show this weekend in Portland, OR.

Just want to know what to expect.
Are most deals cash?
What are some do's and don'ts?

Want to get some old American currency, too.

You might want to start out in the "Bargain Section"
(the far left side of the hall), as the deelers there
are generally more willing to work with and help out
newcomers than many of the Big Time Deelers in the
"regular" section ... There will be exceptions to the
rule in both areas, of course ...

(I'll be at Table 201 in the Bargain Section, but
just helping out ... nothing for sale personally.)

I *AM*, however, always looking to buy the souvenir
card "hand-pulled proofs" raffled off by the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing -- a quick $25 - $50 if
you're lucky enough to get your name pulled. Check
out the "WTB" posting that I'll make in this group
later this evening ...

--
Ken Barr Numismatics
P. O. Box 32541 website: http://www.kenbarr.com
San Jose, CA 95152 (souvenir cards, MPC, Hickey Bros tokens)
408-272-3247 Next show: ANA Portland 03/26-27 w/Fremont CG (#201)
ADVANCED NOTICE: ANA World's Fair of Money, San Jose, CA 7/27-31/2005

Great thoughts, Jeff. I think you've got the makings of a great periodic
post or FAQ section here. Your second-to-last point deserves a full number
(8); the value of doing homework beforehand can't be understated.

I do, however, take issue with your thoughts on setting price (points 3 and
7). True, some dealers respond only to classic haggling, and others may
employ stand-ins who aren't qualified to have a substantive price
discussion. And while I agree that arguing over grade is unproductive, I
have seen a number of dealers engage in negotiations centered around the
merits of the coin. It's reasonable to make a price inquiry (for a coin
without price sticker) by asking, "What's a fair way to set the price on
this coin?". Framing a negotiation in terms of price guides (adjusted as
appropriate) and other benchmarks is a common practice.

--Chris

"Jeff Landon" wrote:
Here are a few thoughts, off the top of my head --

1) Generally, all deals are cash

2) DO ask to see a coin, even if the display case is unlocked and/or open.
If you decide you don't want the coin, make sure you DON'T just leave it
on
top of the case -- hand it to the dealer personally. This is for your
protection as well as his.

3) DO make an offer if you feel the price is too high for you, but DON'T
point out the coin's flaws during negotition, and DON'T argue over grade.
The only relevant subject is the price and whether you can come to an
agreement.

4) DO maintain a poker face -- don't get visibly excited about a coin, or
you'll lose your negotiating power.

5) DO take a 5x and 10x glass with you. You'll pick up flaws that you
won't
immediately see with the naked eye.

6) DON'T forget to inspect the coin's rim!

7) DO take a price guide with you, but understand that it is only a guide,
and DON'T use it as a bargaining chip. The dealer won't care what the
guide
says if he thinks his coin is above average for the grade. Rightly so --
most price guides are for "average" coins.

Know what you're looking for and set boundaries as to what you can spend.
It's very easy to talk yourself into trouble.

Above all, have fun!

--Jeff



"thatcher" wrote in message
...
Going to go to my first coin show this weekend in Portland, OR.

Just want to know what to expect.
Are most deals cash?
What are some do's and don'ts?

Want to get some old American currency, too.

thanks

Points well taken. There certainly are times when a coin's merits can be
discussed. I've always found it counter-productive to try to discuss
detractions.

Hobbyists who have some experience at going to coin shows probably know
better when to bring up things like that, and when NOT to. I usually tell
newbies to focus on price because it can be too easy to stray from that
topic and get caught up in arguments over price guides and perceived grade.
I've seen too many people in a disagreement over the difference between
XF-40 and XF-45. In many cases they should just get to the bottom-line
issue -- can they agree on a price?

Whenever possible, I look at a coin and decide what I'm willing to pay. I
try not to deviate from that unless the dealer asks me, and then only if he
seems genuinely interested. Otherwise I'm just setting myself up for a
heated argument.

As far as price guides go -- you're right, it can be helpful to START a
discussion around a commonly used guide, but I've found that dealers don't
like to be "beaten over the head" with it after already stating their asking
price. His bottom selling price is going to depend more on how much he has
invested in the coin than what some publication thinks it is worth. For
choice material in a popular series, dealers sometimes pay full retail. I
once sold a key-date Indian Cent on ebay for 30% *over* average retail -- to
a dealer.

A lot of this stuff you just have to "learn as you go" -- and every dealer
is different. Some are more personable than others ;-)

--Jeff





"Chris S" wrote in message
...
Great thoughts, Jeff. I think you've got the makings of a great periodic
post or FAQ section here. Your second-to-last point deserves a full number
(8); the value of doing homework beforehand can't be understated.

I do, however, take issue with your thoughts on setting price (points 3
and
7). True, some dealers respond only to classic haggling, and others may
employ stand-ins who aren't qualified to have a substantive price
discussion. And while I agree that arguing over grade is unproductive, I
have seen a number of dealers engage in negotiations centered around the
merits of the coin. It's reasonable to make a price inquiry (for a coin
without price sticker) by asking, "What's a fair way to set the price on
this coin?". Framing a negotiation in terms of price guides (adjusted as
appropriate) and other benchmarks is a common practice.

--Chris

"Jeff Landon" wrote:
Here are a few thoughts, off the top of my head --

1) Generally, all deals are cash

2) DO ask to see a coin, even if the display case is unlocked and/or
open.
If you decide you don't want the coin, make sure you DON'T just leave it
on
top of the case -- hand it to the dealer personally. This is for your
protection as well as his.

3) DO make an offer if you feel the price is too high for you, but DON'T
point out the coin's flaws during negotition, and DON'T argue over
grade.
The only relevant subject is the price and whether you can come to an
agreement.

4) DO maintain a poker face -- don't get visibly excited about a coin,
or
you'll lose your negotiating power.

5) DO take a 5x and 10x glass with you. You'll pick up flaws that you
won't
immediately see with the naked eye.

6) DON'T forget to inspect the coin's rim!

7) DO take a price guide with you, but understand that it is only a
guide,
and DON'T use it as a bargaining chip. The dealer won't care what the
guide
says if he thinks his coin is above average for the grade. Rightly
so --
most price guides are for "average" coins.

Know what you're looking for and set boundaries as to what you can
spend.
It's very easy to talk yourself into trouble.

Above all, have fun!

--Jeff



"thatcher" wrote in message
...
Going to go to my first coin show this weekend in Portland, OR.

Just want to know what to expect.
Are most deals cash?
What are some do's and don'ts?

Want to get some old American currency, too.

thanks

Hello, Jeff Landon!
You wrote:

Here are a few thoughts, off the top of my head --

--SNIP--

4) DO maintain a poker face -- don't get visibly excited about a coin, or
you'll lose your negotiating power.

This point I disagree with. While you should avoid jumping up and down in
an "I'm gonna be rich!" style; showing an appreciation for the coin may
sway the dealer in your favour. Merchants take pride in their stock, and
will feel complemented when it is appreciated. They may feel it's going to
a good home.

--
See ya ...
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Alan Roy
CNA #17134 eBay: al-roy

My Canadian Numismatic Books:
http://members.photofun.com/al-roy/books
Unusual Royal Canadian Mint items:
http://members.photofun.com/al-roy/rcm

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""