Typical coin show payment options?

oneor11

Good morning all. Newbie question, but what are typical in-person payment options at coin shows? I dropped by the Houston Coin Show very briefly back in November but quickly found there were no ATM machines and such. Do people normally walk into there with hundreds or thousands of dollars in their pockets to buy coins? Seems archaic. I felt like traveling for a coin show as a little vacation, but don't want to walk around with a bunch of cash on me. Are there any credit, PayPal, or other electronic payment options?

Thanks.

Jacob

commoncents05

Cash is king. Checks are generally accepted with references.

-Paul

AMRC

Bring cash if you are new collector, and yes people do walk around with lots of cash. After a while, once a few dealers know you, they will be happy to take your checks. Once that occurs and there are no problems they are always happy to be a reference should you want to write checks to other dealers at the show who do not know you.

JBatDavidLawrence

Jacob,
When we are set up at a show we can accept cash, checks, money orders, etc. If you'd like to send the money via PayPal or use a credit card, we can do that on a week day, but it is more difficult over a weekend. It always helps to have other dealers that can vouch for your personal checks as well.

Of course, if you purchase a coin and arrange payment that weekend or later, most dealers would be happy to ship the coin to you upon returning home as well.

Best of luck in your collecting!

ricko

I always carried a lot of cash, credit card and checkbook. You should be prepared for any eventuality. Cash is not an issue if you are not displaying it and take normal precautions (awareness etc). Cheers, RickO

JCMhouston

What everyone else said. But in general there is a lot of cash floating around at shows. I use checks with dealers I know, and cash for everyone else.

OPA

Cash or gold

oneor11

Great. Thanks for all of the informative responses. Will definitely help in my preparation.

golden

Cash or your first born.

amwldcoin

I am actually considering using paypal's new credit card system. It will allow dealers to accept creditcard payments at shows. The downside is I'm not sure I want to spend the bucks for a mobile internet connection for my laptop.

LindeDad

Do people still use Travelers Checks any more? We used to get them when traveling for the military in years past and they were accepted almost world wide.

amwldcoin

<< <i>Do people still use Travelers Checks any more? We used to get them when traveling for the military in years past and they were accepted almost world wide.

>>



Now that is a payment method I don't think I have been tended in years! I used to get quite a few but don't recall receiving 1 in well over 5 years!

MidLifeCrisis

One of the reasons I really like going to the coin shows at the convention center in Baltimore is because there's an ATM in the lobby and a Bank of America right across the street. So it's always easy to use cash at the show.

crypto79

<< <i>Cash or your first born. >>





I have a 14 month old boy. Anybody have greysheet ask? He is about EF40

tightbudget

Cash, cash, cash

And check if you have references and/or know the dealer well

BillJones

Get yourself established with the dealers so that you can write checks. Anything to do with Pay Pal or credit cards means that you are paying the dealer LESS than the price of the coin, which means that he will often charge you more. Pay Pal and credit cards take a percentage of the sales price.

The coin business is a low mark-up industry by in large. When a dealer is making a gross margin of 10 to 20 percent, it's hard to give 3% to the credit card company.

ColonialCoinUnion

The overwhelming majority of sales we make at shows are paid by check.

RYK

<< <i>The overwhelming majority of sales we make at shows are paid by check. >>


The vast majority of my coin purchases are made by check, surely every one over $100. I rarely have more than $100 in cash on me anywhere, including at a coin show. As my son learned when he wanted a Gatorade at his basketball game yesterday, I often carry no cash whatsoever. He drank water instead.

nibanny

<< <i>Do people still use Travelers Checks any more? We used to get them when traveling for the military in years past and they were accepted almost world wide.

>>



Last traveler check I used was in 1993 in CA. My first visit in the US of A! Ah, memories...

I like cash, but going back to the OP question, would it make sense to have some Postal Money Orders?
They are safe and can be reported if stolen.
Do dealers accept them?
MM

oneor11

<< <i>

<< <i>Cash or your first born. >>





I have a 14 month old boy. Anybody have greysheet ask? He is about EF40 >>



I'm skeptical that he's an EF40. I tried getting my son graded but he came back with a Genuine, 92 - Cleaned. I guess Johnson & Johnson's No More Tears leaves a noticeable residue.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Cash or your first born. >>





I have a 14 month old boy. Anybody have greysheet ask? He is about EF40 >>



I'm skeptical that he's an EF40. I tried getting my son graded but he came back with a Genuine, 92 - Cleaned. I guess Johnson & Johnson's No More Tears leaves a noticeable residue. >>



EF40 just means that he is eating food 40% of the time.

kranky

<< <i> EF40 just means that he is eating food 40% of the time. >>



LOL! I guess that's better than grading VF35 (vomiting food 35% of the time).