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Re: How do you handle hagglers at shows?

@cinque1543 said:
...

Now, a week or two later you’re at a coin show, and you see a dealer selling the same date and grade of coin at $1000. I know that no two coins are exactly alike, but do you mention to the seller that recent online sales have been lower?

Can I watch you do this, please?

messydesk

1

Re: How do you handle hagglers at shows?

@CaptHenway said:
The haggler's first offer has to be respectable for there to be any haggling. Some people start with an obscenely low offer fully expecting that they will be able to get the coin exactly midway between the marked price and the first offer.

Using rounding to simplify the math, (and since I retired in 2010), I remember having a $20 priced at $2200 when melt was $2000. Joe Schmuck come up and offers $1800, expecting to get it for $2,000. I put the coin back in the case, lock the case and return to my NYT crossword puzzle. He is offended that I will not haggle with him.

People do that on ebay all the time. They ask for an offer, i give it. They counter. I reject it. They offer to "split the difference". I always counter with the original price. On occasion, I've countered higher and offered to split the difference. They don't find it funny.

jmlanzaf

12

Re: How do you handle hagglers at shows?

Me asking about a coin I'm interested in at a coin show:

Me: I really like the coin, what's your absolute bottom price?
Dealer: $400
Me: thanks, but I'll pass.
Dealer: OK, how about $375?

Obviously $400 wasn't his absolute bottom price. Sometimes a dealer will haggle with himself.

ajaan

4

Re: How do you handle hagglers at shows?

@cinque1543 said:
Based on the great advice from members of this forum, I’m seeing great value in checking recent sales on the Great Collections, Heritage and eBay websites. Let’s say these sites, particularly the first two, show that a 1881-S Morgan MS65 PCGS CAC Green has been selling for around $750 in the last month or two.

Now, a week or two later you’re at a coin show, and you see a dealer selling the same date and grade of coin at $1000. I know that no two coins are exactly alike, but do you mention to the seller that recent online sales have been lower?

Back when I was working I would have told you that you should have bought that other one.