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What is your personal opinion on whatnot?

COINS MAKE CENTSCOINS MAKE CENTS Posts: 1,890 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited July 12, 2026 6:48PM in U.S. Coin Forum

Me and some fellows coin dealers were having a conversation over a few beers this weekend and whatnot came up. All of us had mixed reviews some good some bad some unknowns. This got me thinking what other coin dealers and collectors thought about buying on whatnot and how it is affecting the coin collecting world....

Keeping the poll anonymous to hopefully keep down on any drama

*** the second one is suppose to say I think its HELPING coin collecting somewhat.... dont know how to change it

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What is your personal opinion on whatnot?

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Comments

  • Options
    MasonGMasonG Posts: 7,171 ✭✭✭✭✭

    There isn't an option that works for me. I know what it is and although I don't currently use it, I can't say for sure I never will. As far as its impact on coin collecting, I don't have an opinion either way.

    So that's my vote.

  • Options
    skier07skier07 Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don’t think a lot us on this forum myself included are familiar enough with whatnot and understand how it works. So I’ll defer.

  • Options
    NephasthNephasth Posts: 150 ✭✭✭

    I think it and ebay live help dealers move inventory faster than they would otherwise. I also think some of the dealers use predatory sales tactics.

  • Options
    ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think it gives dealers a good way to clear out the dreck.
    I think it's good for people who with lots of time on their hands who like to buy common or low value widgets and bullion.

  • Options
    CapgunCapgun Posts: 915 ✭✭✭

    No experience there, however have seen PawnBroker Pickers on YouTube. They boast about selling on Whatnot. Amusing at best.

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    Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 12,108 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ProofCollection said:
    I think it gives dealers a good way to clear out the dreck.
    I think it's good for people who with lots of time on their hands who like to buy common or low value widgets and bullion.

    I don’t have an opinion, either, as I have no experience with it. However, a smaller dealer friend of mine told me at FUN last week that someone was looking over the case of his lower end raw coins, and asked for a price on the whole lot, which he then bought. He wasn’t interested in the other case with the slabs and more expensive material, just the “dreck”. He was a whatnot seller.

    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • Options
    USSID18USSID18 Posts: 371 ✭✭✭✭

    I'm not a dealer but I would think the more eyes balls on your coins the better. However, Whatnot would be the last place I would go for the "MOST" exposure to your coins,

  • Options
    KliaoKliao Posts: 5,790 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's a good way to move out lower value junk for (sometimes) crazy high prices.

    I liked how a dealer described it: It's like the TV coin marketers. It's another form of entertainment where you're paying for hours of entertainment.

    Collector
    Over 100 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 57 members and counting!
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  • Options
    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 13, 2026 6:05AM

    I know what it is. I have no intention of ever using it. But, I think it’s good for the hobby, because it’s stimulates interest and seems to be very popular.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • Options
    TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,053 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have an account there. Without a massive build up of followers , it is almost like taking stuff to the Goodwill store.

  • Options
    RandomSchmoeRandomSchmoe Posts: 65 ✭✭✭

    As a collector I like to take my time and look hard at what I may purchase. Whatnot is just not the right format for me.

    Rare-Change.com - Low listing fee

  • Options
    BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 11,643 ✭✭✭✭✭

    El Paso.

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • Options
    TallahasseeCoinClubTallahasseeCoinClub Posts: 333 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 13, 2026 10:11AM

    I did not vote, but have tried WhatNot experimentally as both a buyer and a seller.

    It is a site that I will no longer use.

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

  • Options
    TomBTomB Posts: 22,997 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You likely would have more participation if one of the options was closer to something truly neutral like "It likely neither helps nor hurts a great deal as it is simply another venue".

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

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    Project NumismaticsProject Numismatics Posts: 1,868 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I used it extensively about a year ago for a period of about 3 months. I wanted to see what all the hype was about. It’s very addictive but my issue was that it became more about the thrill of acquiring and entertainment than collecting. I stuck with reputable dealers (there are some!) and my acquisitions were generally at fair market value, just ultimately wasn’t for me. Prefer to collect with a more goal oriented / intentional mindset which is hard on Whatnot.

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    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 32,610 ✭✭✭✭✭

    whatnot = whatever. i look thats about it

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    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 41,638 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TomB said:
    You likely would have more participation if one of the options was closer to something truly neutral like "It likely neither helps nor hurts a great deal as it is simply another venue".

    Or eliminated the usage question. What if I think Whatnot is good for the hobby but don't want to use it?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 41,638 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ElmerFusterpuck said:
    I've looked at it for a bit and decided it wasn't for me. It felt like I was in a small room full of screaming toddlers while trying to concentrate on an open heart surgery.

    Lol. It definitely doesn't appeal to everyone. But it does appeal to a lot of people.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Options
    jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,213 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think it's not very user friendly like ebay, gc, etal. JMO
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 41,638 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jesbroken said:
    I think it's not very user friendly like ebay, gc, etal. JMO
    Jim

    It's designed for a very different experience. If you like whatnot, you would probably be bored to years at GC or HA. Ebay, of course, has now embraced the whatnot format and offers live auctions.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Options
    ColonialcoinColonialcoin Posts: 883 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have gone on a couple of times. From what I have seen, it’s people selling as Laura put it, widgets. Mainly cheap, raw stuff that sells from $1-$100.

  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 41,638 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Colonialcoin said:
    I have gone on a couple of times. From what I have seen, it’s people selling as Laura put it, widgets. Mainly cheap, raw stuff that sells from $1-$100.

    That is the bulk of auctions. But there are certain sellers who sell fairly high end stuff. The site is only really defined by the style of the auctions, not the items sold.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Options
    ProofCollectionProofCollection Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @Colonialcoin said:
    I have gone on a couple of times. From what I have seen, it’s people selling as Laura put it, widgets. Mainly cheap, raw stuff that sells from $1-$100.

    That is the bulk of auctions. But there are certain sellers who sell fairly high end stuff. The site is only really defined by the style of the auctions, not the items sold.

    I don't know about that. Could a dealer profitably sell a few dozen $1000+ coins and make a profit in that format? Not from what I've seen because the $1000+ customer base is not attracted to that format. Which isn't to say it couldn't be cultivated and couldn't be done, but still.

  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 41,638 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ProofCollection said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @Colonialcoin said:
    I have gone on a couple of times. From what I have seen, it’s people selling as Laura put it, widgets. Mainly cheap, raw stuff that sells from $1-$100.

    That is the bulk of auctions. But there are certain sellers who sell fairly high end stuff. The site is only really defined by the style of the auctions, not the items sold.

    I don't know about that. Could a dealer profitably sell a few dozen $1000+ coins and make a profit in that format? Not from what I've seen because the $1000+ customer base is not attracted to that format. Which isn't to say it couldn't be cultivated and couldn't be done, but still.

    Your experience is limited. People don't always start things at $1 and go. They are people that do wall scans, all of actions is interested and then start it at a "fair price". I've seen sales of a much as $5000 for coins.

    This wasn't coins, but I also saw one card dealer sell 250 $1000 boxes in about 10 minutes. It was amazing to watch.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 41,638 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 13, 2026 6:27PM

    @ProofCollection said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @Colonialcoin said:
    I have gone on a couple of times. From what I have seen, it’s people selling as Laura put it, widgets. Mainly cheap, raw stuff that sells from $1-$100.

    That is the bulk of auctions. But there are certain sellers who sell fairly high end stuff. The site is only really defined by the style of the auctions, not the items sold.

    I don't know about that. Could a dealer profitably sell a few dozen $1000+ coins and make a profit in that format? Not from what I've seen because the $1000+ customer base is not attracted to that format. Which isn't to say it couldn't be cultivated and couldn't be done, but still.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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