Collectors: Do you have a primary dealer?

MrEureka

If so, how did that happen? Did you seek him out because he specializes in your series? Did you stumble on him at the local shop or coin show? Was it more that he found you than the other way around? What's the story?

coinmanic

I always go to David Lawrence first. Customer service is the best in the business. Jason Smith always takes care of me and Mary Lee in accounting and billing has never made an error in 7 years and about 700 coins.

I probably first found them in a Coin World ad. My first deal was for 2, 1932-S Washingtons in AU58 (funny how the details stay with you). I dealt with Win Callender than and was extremely impressed by his low key, no pressure demeanor.

richardshipp

I'm not currently in the acquistion mode however in the past...

For my 1853 year set - I ended up finding myself drawn to Rich Uhrich, Brian Greer, and Dick Osburns sites more than any others due to their consistent ability to offer nice coins in the niche I was looking for.

For the Early Commems - I purchased more from Whitlow than any other dealer; but also used Heritage, Teletrade, and ebay to aquire coins with the "look" I was looking for.

ricko

While there are dealers I will NOT patronize, I have no 'go to first' dealers. However, there are some very reputable providers here on the BST. Cheers, RickO

tydye

75% of my purchases come from 2 local guys. One guy I have been dealing with since I was a teenager and he would purchase from me. I deal with them because they pay fair and sell fairly.

tradedollarnut

Yes. I made the mistake of feeding her at a coin show and now I can't get rid of her.

MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>Yes. I made the mistake of feeding her at a coin show and now I can't get rid of her. >>






About 3 years ago, I stumbled across a website that listed a lot of cool coins with great pictures and descriptions. I just HAD to have one of the coins they had listed, so I sent them an email. The deal went smoothly and I was very happy. They've been my primary dealer ever since.

JCMhouston

Yes I do, I found their site when looking for some very specialized coins. That original purchase went very well, then they suckered me in to another area I had not previously considered but was equally esoteric.

Fairlaneman

Playing the field is more fun and interesting. The answer is NO.

Ken

MikeInFL

"Collectors: Do you have a primary dealer?"

No, but I have a small group (4) that I frequent the most. I've met three of them through the Internet and one I met on the bourse at FUN.

lcoopie

yes, Hi Mr. X

RYK

<< <i>Yes. I made the mistake of feeding her at a coin show and now I can't get rid of her. >>



You are going to pay for that remark!

I buy most of my coins from 6 dealers and would consider one to be my primary dealer/advisor. He's the one who gets me out of trouble when I screw up.

Since we are naming names, Doug Winter has been my go-to dealer for my primary interest in rare date gold. I have also been very happy with dealings with John and Dave at CRO (Colonials, early type, gold, spoons, and other esoterica), Mark Feld (type coins), Al Adams (southern gold), Legend (patterns and type coins), and John Kraljevich (medals, colonials, and esoterica).

SpaceMonkey

yes... happy to state that CRO is my primary dealer in my series of Colonials. They have been there from the start of my collection. John was over the top helpful with a constant stream of info and answered all my crazy questions (and still does).
It took me a bit to find my focus and settle into a groove but I am immensely happy with the direction i am in.

Their eye for quality is a perfect match for my own pickiness... and a great filter for an otherwise dangerous series to go at without the right knowledge. I am learning but if I had to absorb the whole gamut of the series BEFORE I bought anything I would NEVER start the collection! But that's also what I love about collecting colonials... never ending information and neat little mysteries. I feel I have been building a quality collection that will (hopefully) be part of the family for a long long time.







-sm

Bear

Three dealers to buy and one dealer to sell.

Mowgli

At the Baltimore show in November 2006 I walked up to a dealer and asked if he had any AU Barbers. He said he did and I told him I would take them all. I spent $10K. Two months later at the FUN show I went up to his table and bought all he had (that I needed ) and spent $7K. At that point he asked me to give him a want list. He began sending me coins on approval with no money down. It took 17 months to do the dimes and 22 months to do the quarters. I now use him for other series (plus the three Barber halves I still need). I could not be happier.

In the past I have used a variety of dealers but always try to esptablish a relationship with whoever I felt provided the best knowledge and inventory of the series I was collecting.

Barndog

Teaparty, Osburn, Greer, Uhrich, in no particular order.

SmallEagle

Yes. Joe O'Connor. I'm not entirely monogamous but he's my go-to guy for an expert opinion.

BillJones

I've been a collector for almost 50 years. During that time I have had primary dealers for a few years and then drifted away from them for various reasons. Now it's more like I have certain dealers whom I see first at a show and then I check out the rest. I also have a short list of dealers who are on my “do not resuscitate list.” These are dealers who have ripped me off in the past, tired to rip me off in the past or who treated me with disrespect.

Some dealers have very successful businesses not because they charge the lowest prices in the room, but because you are comfortable with them for a variety of reasons. Honesty, respect and the Spanish word “simpatico” come to mind.

mrearlygold

Muy simpatico. Yup.

lkeigwin

Only three dealers have a "want list" from me. I stumbled onto them at coin shows, they have never disappointed me, and I'm at the point where I will almost buy blindly from them. 80% of my coin money goes their way. The other 20% goes for impulse buys (BST, Heritage, B&M, DLRC, ebay, etc.).
Lance.

VillaRica

There are only two dealers I work with. If I see a coin I am interested in on a another delaers site. I ask one of these two to procrure the coin in question for me.

Longacre

Many of the same dealers that RYK mentioned (hey, isn't he Longacre's alt?)

RYK

<< <i>Many of the same dealers that RYK mentioned (hey, isn't he Longacre's alt?) >>



Longacre wishes that RYK is his alt.

Longacre

<< <i>

<< <i>Many of the same dealers that RYK mentioned (hey, isn't he Longacre's alt?) >>



Longacre wishes that RYK is his alt. >>

oreville

I am more like the Lone Ranger.

segoja

This guy named Andy. Just can't seem to get him to sell stuff cheap enough

Justacommeman

Yes. I asked one top collector and three top dealers to recommend someone that they themselves would seek out if they were building the same series I was after. They all named the same person. Then Larry Shepherd also blessed this pick. They were all correct. MJ

FullStepJeffs

Yes, my dealers are (in no particular order): Ebay, Teletrade, Heritage & David Lawrence.

I would do more business with other dealers, but everytime I give out a want list, they can never find the coins.

Steve

littlebear

TDN -
You really like living dangerously, don't you?

Larry L

09sVDB

One that I met here about eight years ago. Since then he has corrected my mistakes and sold me some very high quality coins. My first purchase was a PCGS AU50 1921 Peace dollar