What is the number one asset you look for in a dealer in purchasing a coin.....

Knowledge and integrity is the winning combination. I think the other stuff flows from that.

Other than price those other attributes take time and conversation to gain an understanding of what another individual is like; you can get a quick sense of someone but not a true assessment of their character. And when dealing with on-line transactions you have no way to know anything about the other party thus price is the most important thing.

Honesty, Integrity & Knowledge!

Honesty is the first thing I look for in a person that I deal with and if I find that the person is not honest, I will keep on looking for someone that will be honest!

Integrity, if the person I am dealing with can not keep their word, I will not deal with them for long!

I hope that if I am dealing with a person about a coin that I might not have a whole lot of knowledge about, I would hope that the dealer would be knowledgeable about it. If he does not know a lot about the coin that I might be interested in, that he just be honest and tell me that they don't know a lot about the coin and we can look into the coin and gain some knowledge about it together!

At'e Logo, Joe

The coin.

The dealers base prices. If I’m looking for something that should run say, $200, and the coin has a $500 sticker I’m outta there because I know there’s going to be absolutely no way we’re likely to find common ground.

Honesty and integrity, yeah that’s great, but I endeavor to educate myself before making purchases so I have a good idea what I’m going to deal with regardless of said dealers attributes.

Personality & Ease to talk to.
Just like a woman who makes you feel comfortable by doing this, a dealer can "look" so much better by these traits.

"No pressure sale" feeling.

I know what I'm looking for in a coin I'm considering buying. If I am inquiring more about said coin it's because I am really considering making a deal. If dealer tries to over talk it(why?), I'm out.

If he has "no time for me" I'm gone. Too bad. I was ready to work a deal.

I may look like a nobody to some dealers but I have enough cash to throw down for the coin I am asking about. Your loss.

Next up gets my business.

I try to gauge how excited / passionate they are about the hobby.

Not sure I can describe one quality but as Justice Potter said " I know it when I see it." When I talk to a dealer I usually know if he or she is what I'm looking for fairly quickly.

@BLUEJAYWAY said:
...OTHER than price for said coin(s). For me: Personality. If that is lacking, I keep walking. Don't need a coin that bad. Other positive traits probably are:Knowledge,Availability,Location, Referrals, Shirts w/o mustard stains.

I enjoy buying coins from people I like, and I do my best to show my appreciation, but I would buy a coin from the devil himself if it belongs in my collection.

This isn’t a direct answer with respect to purchasing a coin from a dealer. However, it can be extremely important for a dealer to have a good understanding of a client’s numismatic tastes, likes and dislikes.

@shorecoll said:
MrEureka said "but I would buy a coin from the devil himself if it belongs in my collection".

I had a national online dealer switch a coin on me (raw in a flip) at a Baltimore show in 2006. They often have coins I need, but I haven't bought a thing from them since. I don't name them as I have no evidence, but I know they did it...they dropped the flip on the floor in their booth and then picked up another and handed it back. 1919-S Buff in strong AU. I didn't look closely at the coin they handed back until later and it had magically transformed to a VF. The drop on the floor was the only time it had left my sight.

They are not a dealer that is often discussed on here, one of the old line buy as AU, sell as Gem places.

You said you have no evidence, but at the same time, that you “know they did it”. And then you provided your evidence. Which is it?😉

What were the odds that they would have had the same date and mintmark coin, in relatively similar condition, and close enough at hand to be able to switch coins so quickly? If you have a good answer for that, there’s your evidence. But if not, you can’t know they did it or even have a reasonable basis for thinking they did it.

Number one...do they have what I am looking for. Second, price. Third - either a deal or I am gone. Cheers, RickO

Knowledge and integrity

I like follow though and look for integrity and the heart of a teacher.

Quality. Too many dealers try to pass off cleaned and /or altered coins to the public as good. If I see too many of them in the case, I'm inclined to believe that the dealer isn't being a good actor.

That dealer I desire, is the one that doesn't mind me asking to check out many items. Knowing he/she is not losing their patience or starting to get angry when going through their inventory. Now I'm not talking spending over an hour or so. I'm talking about 30 minutes or so. Esp. If it is slow for them that day. I go to this one shop where she actually allows me to check behind the counters! She trusts me obviously. Sometimes, I'm in her store for more than an hour. She doesn't mind at all. I think she enjoys the company or she feels safer while I'm there? This is what I love in any dealer. Not the fact to allow me behind there cases, but to have more patience and the courtesy for a customer. I have spent 100's of dollars there. Where the woman trusts me.

Either they have the coin at an agreeable price or not.

My skill set and focus has improved enough to avoid most problem coins.

I don't need a background check on the dealer.

Though mostly reserved, I appreciate occasional friendly banter at a slow table.

Weakest part of my game is getting to know dealers and remembering their names,

Deleted didn’t seem positive.

@Outhaul said:

@MFeld said:

@Outhaul said:

@stman said:
My Sig line covers it. 😆

I agree. I don't care how much you paid for it. I don't want to hear that you're losing money at that price. I don't care if you dragged your butt a thousand miles across broken glass. Just give me your price and I'll say yes or no.

While understandably, many potential buyers don't care what a seller paid for a coin, such information can be quite useful. That is especially true in the case of certain, more esoteric items, coins for which there are no recent published comps and fast moving markets.

Of course, the knowledge level and veracity of the seller are extremely important. Even if you choose not to purchase the coin, you can still benefit form the information.

To an extent. For instance, if there is a REAL provenance to the coin, I would certainly want that info. But I really am not interested in the sellers life story.

Kind of like that London Olympics medal you purchased from me many years ago. It could be traced right to the recipient. I provided photos and news coverage, etc. THAT'S valuable info, not just hearsay or a story.

Cheers

Bob

Bob, I didn’t say anything about a life story or a story of any type.

And I’m sorry to say, I don’t remember purchasing a London Olympics medal - that doesn’t sound like something I would have purchased.

Usually how much can they bench press is what I’m looking for

m