Do You Prefer to Buy From Large Dealers or Specialists, or From Smaller Dealers or Foreign Coin Deal

dragon

I prefer to buy from smaller dealers, vest pocket dealers, dealers who don't specialize in what I'm looking for, and even foreign coin dealers. My experience has been that these sources are more likely to sell better coins for the grade, raw coins, undergraded holdered coins, etc. I've also found that many small or part-time dealers will sometimes offer very PQ coins at reasonable prices because they don't have the necessary resources to keep resubmitting and max all their coins out, and many also don't always recognize a really PQ coin in certain series and sell it much more reasonably than a large dealer.

I also really like looking over foreign dealers inventories as they sometimes carry small groupings of US coins, and have no real idea what they have as far as PQ coins, toned coins, etc. I've made (2) MS67 Carson City dollars at PCGS in the past buying raw Morgans from foreign coin dealers.

On the other hand, larger well known national dealers are more likely to have a bigger selection as well as more expensive coins in their inventory, but...... your chances of getting a real 'deall' or a super PQ coin at a non PQ price is virtually nil when you're buying from a dealer that specializes and regularly deals in the coins you're looking for IMO.

Please give your reasons why you would prefer to buy from a well known, larger dealer or from a small guy, or even foreign coin dealers.

JrGMan2004

I prefer the small guys for the most part... and that's mostly because they are the ones that carry coins in my price range... the larger dealers can make a much better profit on the expensive coins, so they really don't carry the low-end stuff that I can afford... so... it tends to be small guys for me... and I do like to purchase from specialists too... though I may not get a major score, there is a certain level of confidence in the coin...

MrEureka

I prefer to collect coins that are so difficult to find that I can't be choosy about where I buy the coins.

mgoodm3

I prefer specialists with decent photography because I have to buy most things over the internet.

tradedollarnut

I prefer to collect coins that are so difficult to find that I can't be choosy about where I buy the coins.

Trime

Large or small is not an issue when selecting which dealers I buy from. I am interested in quality coins (within my areas of interest) at "fair" prices. What determines who I deal with is the integrity of the dealer. I may not always agree with a dealer about the subjective qualities of a given coin but I want to be confident that the dealer treasures my business, respects my interests, and has lomg term committment to servicing my account. I have found these qualities and business plans in a very few small, medium and large sized coin dealerships. There are thousands of others that either don't fit the bill or are untried.

aem4162

small dealers

jbsteven

<< <i>I prefer to buy from smaller dealers, vest pocket dealers, dealers who don't specialize in what I'm looking for, and even foreign coin dealers >>



Kind of a bummer you won't SELL to smaller dealers.

UncleJoe

I usually buy coins from smaller dealers.

The larger dealers don't usually sell the kind of "junk" I collect.

Joe.

EvilMCT

I buy my coins from the dealer who has what I need. I don't care what their status is as long as I need the coin and can afford it.

Ken

Conder101

Usually from specialist dealers. Most dealers don't have the material I am looking for, and the large dealers almost certainly don't. Other than specialist dealers I have the best luck with the small dealers, especially the foreign coin dealers.

majorbigtime

The "mega dealers" have high overheads, and that is usually reflected in the pricing. That is why I prefer smaller dealers who often have decent coins at fair prices.

BAJJERFAN

I prefer the small dealer or even better the folks on this board for buying OR selling.