First Time Being a Dealer at a Coin Showw
FinnsCoin
Posts: 39 ✭
I am going to be a dealer at first coin show in dedham massachusetts. Anyone have any advice?
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Tons of threads about this, with much good advice.
Pay attention to the others looking at your coins and if some one wants to visit - have them move their crap off the case! And have fun!
WS
Didn't you just make a thread about submitting a bunch of coins to "USB" grading service? And you think you're ready to be a dealer?
Bring lots of $1, $5, $10 bills for change
Unless you have a helper show one coin at a time to anyone including dealers
Be prepare to negotiate (have a plan of what the lowest price you’ll take for any coin)
Ppff is the best payment method, w/no fees
Watch everyone that comes near your table like a hawk, especially if they’re together with one or more person
Carry a loud whistle to use in case of emergency
etc etc etc
Keep good records. It's important.
Get ready for all the other dealers looking to score off of you.
There is a great thread started by DRUNNER shown below:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/567319/market-report-first-show-set-up-long/p1
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Especially if you look like a sucker
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
thanks. this was very helpful.
thanks
Make the price obvious as to what you want on the holder. It will save you time and more sales if people can see them instead of you opening up the case each time reading the code and or checking CDN etc each time.
Do you plan on setting up often?
Try to be fair. Don' take advantage of all the gullible customers.... and for cripes sakes bring plenty of napkins to block out all the mustard stainz! RGDS!!.
You're welcome, and good luck!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Be prepared for the other dealers to descend on “the new guy” to see if they can “score on you.”
Don’t show anything to anyone until you have your case fully set up.
Keep your eyes on what is outside the case. The only time I got beat in 15 years when a guy palmed $100 bill on me. The bad guys are out there.
Be security conscious.
That applies to people looking at your coins, keeping track of your inventory, keeping your case(s) locked, and being aware of people watching and/or following you - especially when leaving the show.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Most of all……….have fun, but don’t get “carry away”….
Position your cases so that they hang over the edge of the table so that there's nowhere for someone to set something down on the table that you can't see.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
If you offer a valuable or conditionally rare coin raw or in a third world holder (especially if you consider it "insanely rare") and can't even bother to list a price for it then expect that you might have a slower show.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Go straight home after you leave the show
Be conservative in what you do and display; I'd see it more as a buying opportunity. This is an easy entry type business, longevity and solid business histories count for a lot as you find your specialty and interest. Many long time dealers do very little business or profit at some of the shows with all the costs and risks, be realistic.
Oh, and don't forget to drive straight home after the show.
Don't stop and leave the car for any reason!!
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
This!
I overheard a dealer saying someone stole a gold coin he had out.
Look into your own personal security camera you could set up behind your table that records in a cloud or a laptop in case anything happens.
Do the vest pocket thing...
A couple PCGS boxes and a shoulder bag or rolling case.
Start making dealer connections.
The public is broke, poor, and picky.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Hey, I resemble that remark. 😡 😆
If one was to stop by your table, what would we see being offered?
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Great question- please do show and tell!
Saw a guy at the Dalton show one year.
He mentioned in passing that he had planned not to attend except at last minute.
He had one case with about 50 proof sets from the 1950's and 60's, and he was all over the show and occasionally returned to the table.
He was there to buy and sell to dealers and buy from the public.
Just some random thoughts on strategy for the best use of your time and resources.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
This is what I plan on bringing. The more expansive stuff is slabbed and the cheaper stuff in snaps.
I just posted it. I don't plan on bringing anything outside of the case because I don't want to risk anything.
Please give us a report after the show. I would be interested in your impressions from "the other side of the table". Good luck and I hope you have a great show.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I suspect you are going to be disappointed with the number of sales that you make.
What you offer them for will determine greatly if you get any volume of sales, but you are facing stiff headwinds with how the coins are "graded" and "certified" and, from the image, I can only think "ooofff"
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
will do
I know it will be tougher to sell but I think it is still better than being ungraded.
Is this your USB stuff? You only have 2 coins in slabs. Do you really think it's worth paying for a table to try to sell them?
As for the other stuff, snaps=raw. And, again, you barely have a handful of coins there. How do you expect to recover the cost of the table, even if you sell everything?
The table is only $65. plus most of the coins are still very nice even if you consider them raw. I only need 1 or 2 to sell to brake even based on the value of the coins.
As long as you consider them raw, it should be a fun experience.
Hope you are not disappointed.
Curious as to why the non traditional TPG and what was the expense per coin?
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
I see some nice lower value raw coins mixed in with a couple of high dollar ones. Whenever I see something like a proof seated half or AU bust half that is not in a slab, I always wonder why it is raw. Many if not most potential buyers are going to assume that it is raw for a reason. Also I’m not sure assigning a high numerical grade is going to help. A label like “Proof 65 Cameo” is meaningless unless it’s in a first world slab.
This might be against forum/PCGS rules, but heck I’m going to ask anyway.
Do you mind posting pics of the one/two coins here? Curious nosy mind wants to see. I’m NOT looking to buy.
CU members complain or b@@ch all you want.
If either one of these sold I would brake even or if any of the FB dimes/prrof half/curled 2 half sold i would also brake even. I think these are the more likely coins to sell.
Aw shucks, im never gonna make it in This business
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
Totally agree on the 3 cent piece & I don’t own one.
Much luck to you.
After it’s said & done please post an update on your
view of the show
good bad mixed etc
This kind of posts is what this forum is all about.
Thank you for the updates
PS the silver 3 cent piece looks great!!
I will. The show is april 7 so im sure ill post by april 8th
Put the VF30 1833 Dime with the green bean as a primary focus on your table. I don't collect them, but I would guess that would pay for the table and your dinner or gas on the way home, even if nothing else sells! Good luck to you!
Great advice consider the coin as your QB, Ace pitcher (not any of the 2 Japanese “pitchers” w/the major league LA team)* or point guard.
I live in LA & totally disappointed w/ them so far.
Just to add to my post count.
Your dimes are not FB, and there's no such thing as an FB-66 grade anyway. Your half is not proof, let alone cameo. Your 3 cent is not MS-68.
I think that selling any of these would be an awful result for you. If someone is willing to pay your price based on those descriptions, that very likely means that they noticed something else entirely. You could wonder for years what you let go without realizing it.
Is the organizer of the show aware of what you're going to sell? I am not a lawyer, but I wonder if he has any liability for coins that are as misrepresented as these seem to be...
I can't show the FB because my camera isn't good enough, but I can show the proof/cameo half. Just because it is a third world holder doesn't automatically mean is is incorrectly graded.
Can we get a close-up pick of your 1852 silver 3 cent coin. I don't believe I've seen one in MS-68 before. What are you asking for it?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Ouch, that might be my line & I’ll get slammed for it.