What makes a good coin dealer?

shirohniichan

I can read all kinds of threads trashing any number of dealers, but I rarely read good things about bigger dealers here.

How does a dealer earn your business?

Want lists? Monthly price lists? Phone calls? Huge inventories? Availability at shows? On-line auctions?

I'm considering working for a fairly big coin company and want to know how it matches up to what CU forum members think a good dealer is.

legacycoin

<< <i>How does a dealer earn your business? >>


One word: Integrity

Bochiman

Honesty
Knowledge
products
ease to get to (ie......do they have a storefront? only at shows? available outside of shows by appt? office hours are reasonable to get to?)
Then comes the other things you list with price lists, want lists, etc....

At least, that is how I look at people I will do business with....but, I am pretty ethical at things and I won't even do business from someone if they have a cheaper price on something I want but they are jerks. (Of course, I understand that except for some moderns, coins are pretty unique due to marks/toning/etc)

Ron

Coinosaurus

It's different for every collector & the good dealer figures out what makes individual collectors tick.

Some collectors want their egos stroked.......

Others want to feel like they are "in" the action & get constant market updates from their dealer.......

Some collectors just want nice coins

airplanenut

All of these earn points:

Honesty
Fair Pricing
Nice in general (you're not wasting their time by being in their presence)
Seem to enjoy the hobby
Are willing to talk to you--especially explain something if they clearly know better than you
***Treat the little guy with the respect of the big-time client

Fairlaneman

If after dealing with the person about four times and I walk into his shop and he says Get lost...the person is Okay by me. Recognition is top dog here.

Nice coins help also...

Ken

nankraut

Airplanenut said: "All of these earn points:"

Honesty
Fair Pricing
Nice in general (you're not wasting their time by being in their presence)
Seem to enjoy the hobby
Are willing to talk to you--especially explain something if they clearly know better than you
***Treat the little guy with the respect of the big-time client

Well...I second that motion.

ARCO

For me a good dealer is someone who can find and sell fairly priced material I am interested in. If the dealer is the most knowledgeable, nicest, honest guy in the world, it doesn't do me much good if he only stocks AG-Good Barber halves in his cases. LOL

Tyelr

Cladiator

1. Honesty/Integrity
2. Good Attitude - Nothing will drive me away quicker than a bitter old man of a dealer - God I hate them so!

Dog97

Numismaticus Rex Dei Gratia san, just treat with your customers there like you treat your customers here & you won't have any problems.

mdwoods

A good dealer is one who wants to buy back the coins he sells to people. You know then that the coins were ones that the dealer bought because he/she thought they were exceptional and
would like to have again in inventory.

numobri

I like a dealer that will work with me.

I don't always have alot of cash.

I have coins,some cash,and(i think)alot of time,If the dealers can work with that,I'm in.

Being fair helps.

KUCH

My motto: "In God We Trust the Dealer Who is Honest"

SDCollector

<< <i>A good dealer is one who wants to buy back the coins he sells to people. >>


I'll second that. All of my few coin sales have been back to the same dealer I purchased them from. He buys them immediately at a fair price. IMO this is a good dealer "test".

Trime

Lots of good points already raised.
For me, I have to feel comfortable that the dealer sees me as a client (customer) that deserves fair treatment every time. I need to trust the dealer (integrity). After that: top quality inventory, knowledge, fair prices, interest, availability and ability to say I do not know but either I will try to find out or try this resource.

shirohniichan

I'm mostly wondering about the big players at this point. My local dealer will call me on my cell phone when something comes in he knows I'll like, but I don't expect Heritage or the "big boys" to do that.

One thing I appreciate is the ability to file a want list and to have it followed up on. I second the opinion that the dealer, no matter how big or small, has to be willing to buy back what he sold me.

spy88

And since no one else has mentioned it, I want a dealer that will treat me like I had a $1,000,000 to spend in his shop, knows I don't, yet get the same treatment!

joeyuk

I also like a dealer I can talk to. When I collected coins or sports cards, often in the same shop, I enjoyed bsing for over a hour at a time while looking over his inventory. Perhaps I felt this should be rewarded as I almost always left with a new purchase. Fresh inventory is also good. If his stock rotates I feel he is making sales thus fairly priced and I get to see new items. It is depressing going into small shops that seem to have the same stuff month after month. Joe

ms70

<< <i>A good dealer is one who wants to buy back the coins he sells to people. You know then that the coins were ones that the dealer
bought because he/she thought they were exceptional and would like to have again in inventory. >>



Yes. This and he also must treat you as an equal & have time for anyone that wants to talk to him. Older adult, child, millionaire, or
someone buying the cheapest thing on the table must be treated with respect.

MadMarty

Any dealer that will not sell Kennedy Halves to Russ is tops in my book!!!

Neptune

fair pricing, versatile inventory, willing to negotiate.

dorkkarl

actually KNOW SOMETHING about coins. pricing, return policies, blah blah blah, all that stuff is negotiable, has nothing to do really w/ coins. i want a dealer who can actually speak at something above babbling about greysheet, what plastic it's in, pcgs this, ngc that, shot-whatever.

KNOW something!

K S

EvilMCT

<< <i>KNOW something! >>



This and a decent conversation will get me back into a store. Honest dealings will get my business.

Ken

edited for grammer

coinguy1

I think a "good coin dealer" should/will provide a combination of the following:

knowledge;
the willingness to share (at least some of) it;
fairness;
honesty;
sufficient participation in the business/hobby/market to be able to provide the right/desired coins at fair/realistic prices;
accessibility to clients;
politeness and good manners;
a pleasant/inviting attitude/demeanor;
a genuine appreciation, if not love for coins - without it, much of the above is probably impossible

291fifth

He has to be graduate, with honors, of Coin Dealer University and have access to the "big vault".

LAWMAN

Like Mark Feld

LincolnCentMan

What makes a good coin dealer?

Tough coins with eye appeal.

David

mommam17

A good coin dealer has to be knowledgeable about coins. He has to be honest and reasonably accesible for me. He has to sell coins for me and sell me the right coin at the right price.

Sequitur

Hey SDCollector:

Who do you go to in San Diego? And turn on the PM.

Mikey

If you are going to be successful, you'd better find someone who understands business and applies objective reasoning to running a coin business, which I don't think is easy.