Are coin dealers primarily salesmen, advisors, or mere brokers?

Longacre

If you had to classify coin dealers generally, what category would you put them in? For example, do you view a coin dealer as mainly a salesman? Does the fact that collectors are generally willing to make purchases to "fill holes" and complete their collections make the coin dealer less of a salesman, and more of an advisor (i.e., "you can fill the holes with any old coins, but you should fill them with these quality coins")? Or is a coin dealer mainly a broker, whose sole job is to match buyers and sellers, and to take his cut in the process? I am not sure if there is a difference between a saleman and a broker, but maybe there is depending on how the dealer views his role with collectors and how he treats his inventory. Any comments?

RYK

I think that coin dealers wear these three hats, and often the collector hat as well, to varying degrees. In fact, the same individual can morph between these roles with various different clients and even between different deals.

howboutdemcoins

I agree with RYK. I think he wears all 3 hats and sometimes 4... the collectors hat. (He wouldn't have been a dealer if he didn't have a love of coins.) That's where it get's difficult. He gets a beauty that he loves and knows he'll have to eventuallysell it. At least he gets the satisfaction of owning it for a while.

ScarsdaleCoin

I would say it depends on the dealer......some know their coins very well and act more as a advisor.....some have the connections and broker deals and yet some sell plastic....could not tell a dipped coin from an original and simple act as salespeople.....of course this is IMHO

cladking

Most are more like brokers. They know who pays the most and have connections.

There are some who are more like salesmen or businessmen, or whatever but us-
ually these will be in a little more specialized areas. They will be the market makers
who get called when something a little different appears. If you find a roll of nice
original 1905-O half dollars you don't call the corner coin dealer.

LincolnCentMan

D. All of the above.

Most dealers play all of those rolls. The best ones, in my opinion, let the coins sell them selves.

David

Trime

Hard to generalize.
Dealers are not a uniform group in knowledge, ethics, or business style.
If you need a dealer find a good one(s).