What Do You Like and Not Like About How Dealers Arrange Their Coins In Their Cases

foodude

I actually spend a significant amount of time thinking about what inventory I have, what type of buyers may be attending a particular show, and what is the best way to present what I have.

I also try to think of new ways to present what I have so those seeing me at different shows don't just glance at the case and "assume" it is the same coins that were at the previous shows.

Anyway, please post your thoughts about the good and the bad about how dealers arrange coins in their cases.

kyleknap

Put it wherever you want, as long as you can find it when I ask for it!

Kyle

LincolnCentMan

I saw a dealer with slabs just PILED in thre cases. I'm not kidding, it was like a rummage sale. What's pothetic is that most were $50-$200 coins!

David

FrattLaw

Prices.... Dealers should always put prices on the front of the slabs!!!

Michael

lordmarcovan

I agree with you, foodude. I spend a lot of time thinking about the presentation in my cases. All too many other dealers seem to subscribe to the "toss 'em in any old way" method.

northcoin

It would be nice to see the rare coins (such as key dates) in one place. It would also be nice for these coins to actually be on display rather than something only available on request. I assume this thread is directed at displays at shows but it also applies to stores. It seems some dealers keep all their good stuff back in a safe and all one sees when one stops by a coin shop is the junk on display.

lordmarcovan

Yeah, I've noticed that, too.

hookedoncoins2

<< <i>Prices.... Dealers should always put prices on the front of the slabs!!!

Michael >>



I can't agree more. When I look through a dealer's case, I hate having to select the coins that I might be interested and ask for the prices to see what is out of my league.

I would also recommend grouping all of your moderns away from the classics, group the gold together, etc. I have seen some dealers that just lay the slabs down wherever, making it harder for me to find what I am looking for.

ms70

I've noticed that a lot of dealers arrange things by date and ascending through denomination. IE: Cents first by date, nickels by date,
etc. I've started to become used to that. It makes sense I think.

Robgetty

I like to see them sorted by coin type and date. It is OK to put multiple
examples of a coin in the same stack, put the best one on top. PUT
PRICES ON THE COINS WHEN POSSIBLE!! (I understand that it may
be harder for higher end coins that have a very rapidly changing price,
but the cheaper stuff is stable enough.)

One thing that bugs me is when dealers lay slabs on each other so you
can just see part of each slab. Yes, they get more coins in the case, but
I want to see what the coin looks like, not what the slab label says!

wingedliberty

Prices, prices, and more prices. I think that about covers it. Thats my biggest pet pieve.

dorkkarl

i hate it when the coins are arranged by shape, rather than by denomination.

K S

tsacch

Arrange by denom and date.....a side area for special type coins or toned ones is nice.

Prices on the slabs or holders would be nice.

BAJJERFAN

Put the ones I want in one case; the rest don't matter!

LanLord

<< <i>

<< <i>Prices.... Dealers should always put prices on the front of the slabs!!! Michael >>

I can't agree more. When I look through a dealer's case, I hate having to select the coins that I might be interested and ask for the prices to see what is out of my league. >>

I wonder how many times this is a technique to determine the knowledge of the potential buyer, if you need to ask rather than tender an offer, I can (as the smarmy dealer) jack the starting price up 25% and when you then counter, I still have a pretty decent profit.

Just a thought.

jbsteven

As a dealer I find it impossible to put prices on certain coins. What happens if you have a 65DMPL CC dollar that has not been at a show or sale elsewhere for the last 6 months and is marked at half of what the market price? Yes, a good deal for a collector but since the market is moving up weekly dealers would have to reprice their stock weekly.

I agree certain coins could have a price on them that stays the same.

food for thought.

WaterSport

Exactly - But price the stuff you want to move and we will do our best to move it out of the case with q quick buy!

Actually. There are several problems facing dealers. They need "portable" and "secure" cases that can be set up easily. What we see at shows is nothing but Antique Cases that have been around since cave men started collecting rocks!

Maybe what dealers need to do is come up with a “better” case that meets theirs and customers needs and get some company to construct it.

WS

LucyBop

I really dont know, as long as a dealer was willing to let me see what i want to see... it really doesn't matter to me....

the thing about it is I usually only look at raw coins anyways....

keets

what MS70 said first----------just arrange stuff by denomination in ascending dates so we don't have to look at the entire table to find where you might have placed three Liberty Nickels amongst 250 slabs.

i might add that the single biggest showcase related peeve of mine is when a dealer conducts business on top of the showcases. just don't do that.

al h.

stephunter

I wish there was an alternative to dealers and the current customer they are working with stacking their sheets, books, and papers on top of the case as they are working. I don't have a solution, but it would be nice to see the coins rather than stand there and wait until the dealer is finished with the current customer. I think the dealer should at least keep his materiels off the case.

NoGvmnt

By denomination, earliest to latest, just as they were minted.

If you've seen Harlan Berks windows, just like that.

AND, put "asking" prices (not necessarily selling prices) on the slabs, you could put a small card on the upper corner of the case or on the table notifying the public that the prices on the slabs are "asking/negotiable" and not necessarily firm prices.

Jim

Lakesammman

I don't like it when they won't show me or sell me the coins flipped over in the back of the case....