For the dealers-- do you have a buying plan when you attend a large coin convention?

Longacre

Honestly, whenever I go to a large coin show, I get quite disoriented by all of the activity and the massive amounts of coins to look at. I always seem to be looking at everything in sight, but I never seem to accomplish anything. For the dealers--how do you approach buying at a large coin convention, like FUN? For example, do you enter the bourse with the idea that you are going to just look for 50 Morgan dollars for inventory, 25 seated dimes, and 10 quarter eagles? Or do you just wander around, and whatever catches your eye, you buy (assuming the price is right)? Or do you just have a certain number of dealers who you always deal with, and just forget about the 100's of other dealers who are on the floor?

Conder101

Opps, sorry didn't see that you were addressing ust the dealers.

Yes, I just try to find somehing I can use for my collections. Usually the first thing I do is scan all of the dealer cases for unfamiliar slab varieties. Then I'll check out the copper dealers for anything I can use in the way of early date large cents. Then I'll go around looking for Conder tokens. If I'm lucky I'll find a slab variety or two. Picking up a large cent or Conder token is unusual. If I strike out completely I'll start looking at capped bust half dimes.

WTCG

It depends on your situation. If you are heavy on inventory, then the first thing you would do is try to sell as much as you could once you get to the show. You approach the dealers you know are the best buyers of the material you have to sell. If you are light on inventory, then you would try to get to the best coins first before everybody else does with the coins that are available.

Many coin dealers, and collectors alike, are too cliquish, and only deal within a small group. I believe that finding the best coins to buy often means that it is necessary to deal with as many different sellers as possible. I will deal with anybody who has the best coins and I buy whatever catches my attention.

JSsson

Those are nteresting responses. Do dealers then spend most of their time filling their want lists, or do they buy coins that they would keep as stock?