Why don’t dealers post videos of the coins they are selling?
Wahoo554
Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭✭✭
There’s so much information that can be conveyed via video as opposed to static images (even if the photos are excellent). I consider a good video the closest you can get to in hand inspection. Why isn’t this technology widely utilized on dealer websites? I’ve purchased a number of coins that I would’ve been willing to pay even stronger prices for if I had seen a video.
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@Wahoo554
Could be too much work/expense/time/logistics/payroll/etc. ?
I'm not sure
Perhaps it will be the norm in a few years.
Things are changing.
boston
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
There have been advances in this direction,
but it does take time to shoot, and it may only be worth the effort for some of the high end coins.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1042862/nutilt-images-from-dlrc
Good photos are hard enough, and plenty of dealers don’t even have that nailed down. Video consumes orders-of-magnitude more storage space and someone has to do all the work shooting, editing, linking, and such. Besides, many coins aren’t valuable enough to justify it.
Finally, it’s easy to show coins to their best advantage in a photo. It’s difficult to not demonstrate every little flaw in a video, and that runs counter to the whole goal.
I’ve heard horror story’s of some people trying to video something and forgotten to record it 😎
I think it’s a great way to see the coin. I just had a deal with a board member about ten minutes ago for a seated dollar.
That is an understatement. Few dealers offer photos attractive enough to make shoppers ( me, at least) want to buy their coins. It amazes me.
Videos-at least in my opinion-are easier than photos.
All it takes is a smartphone camera and a few minutes.
It might not be great, but it helps give a better idea of what the coin looks like.
Instagram is a great platform to post and then link on your site or on here.
I know a dealer that scans all his saint and has coins up to $8K.
Almost none of them ever sell because the pictures are horrible & he has a no return policy.
It's a head scratcher.
(I took a chance on one and it is beautiful)
My Saint Set
“A few minutes” each, for dozens or hundreds of coins, is a lot of minutes. For a dealer with a large and/or fast moving inventory, that doesn’t sound like a good proposition.
However, on a limited basis, for select coins, I think the potential is there.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I guess it depend on the volume of coins passing thru and the ability/time of the seller.
boston
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I mostly agree. Many coins don't need videos, but some (especially toned coins) would greatly benefit.
Plus, there are quite a few dealers that don't have an extensive inventory. And with no shows, now is a good time to start taking videos of some of the better coins.
It is ABSOLUTELY widely used on Instagram. The platform really makes it easy to shoot a nice iPhone video of a coin under a decent light and then upload it to Instagram. The coin world is very much alive and active with flashy coin videos from dealers on Instagram.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
That's asking too much. Most hardly even give good still pics.
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As a general rule, when you (not directed at any specific poster) ask yourself, "Why doesn't a dealer... whatever?", the answer is not "Because they don't care about their customers." As noted above, there are only so many hours in a day and each dealer has to make decisions as to how to spend them. I can just about guarantee if they figured the payback was worth the cost, they'd do it.
When the market demands it, it’ll have it. As it trickles down from the price ranges it’ll be interesting to see if the coins without video get viewed similarly to non-CAC coins. If it doesn’t have it well then why not? It must be a lesser coin.
Agreed. The economics of it can’t be overlooked because it’s essentially the whole point from a dealer perspective. To calculate the economics though you need to understand the cost to incorporate. That’s where it seems like there’s potential for a disconnect in understanding. How long it takes the dealer vs how long it takes a tech savvy, college girl who ends each coin video with a cleavage shot are two different lengths of time.
Another point about the few minutes each comment: how many questions do dealers get about a coin? If a video can cut back on having to answer at least a few questions, then the time spent on making the video is more than made up in less time to read and reply to those questions. I do know some dealers don't reply at all to questions, so for those it would not save any time. And some might think there will be more questions when there is a video, so then it would also not be worth it.
In the end, if there is demand for videos and it helps sell coins (or helps increase auction results-especially in a time like now when in-hand viewing is limited), then dealers should at least explore the idea.
Some do. Mike Kittle comes to mind.
a video is only as good as the person shooting it just like a photo, and also there is low demand for such a service
Coins for Sale: Both Graded and Ungraded
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oqym2YtcS7ZAZ73D6
Harlen Berk posts videos of many of their ancient coins. They swirl them in their fingers under a light. Fingers are more acceptable in the ancient coin world.
I usually ask for videos especially on higher dollar coins. Most dealers are able to accommodate. The ones that don’t have a lower chance of me pulling the trigger on one of their coins.
Great comments. I’ve found that many dealers are happy to send video on request. I feel like part of the skill in making good online coin purchase decisions is the ability to read photos and be able to interpret what they tell you about the likely in hand appearance of the coin. Because the photography quality and style of dealers and auction houses varies so greatly, you almost have to make several purchases from a specific dealer or auction house (or have studied their offerings in hand) in order to understand how to interpret their photographs. A decent I-phone video can do so much to remove much of the mystery regarding how a coin will look in hand. @U1chicago’s post is an excellent example. His photos were very high quality, but I didn’t understand the true look and feel of the coin until I watched his video. As some have suggested, video doesn’t make sense for all dealers. But for those who deal in high quality and light to moderate volume I think there is real upside.
Videos of static objects? What do you expect them to do, dance?
Do you look at a coin under the light with it sitting flat on a table or do you rotate it in the light to see the luster and surfaces at different angles?
Latin American Collection
Videos are certainly an added resource when selling or buying coins. Instagram is loaded with coin-selling videos. I have mentioned here before that Instagram is a very busy coin venue. Also seems to be where younger collectors do business. Definitely much easier to produce videos with smart phones. If I were buying higher priced coins, I would either want to see it in hand, or may settle for a video...Cheers, RickO
While we're at it, why don't the top TPGs offer videos in addition to TV (and whatever NGC does)? Seems like they could afford top notch equipment, have a gizmo that moves the coin around automatically to show luster, and could charge an extra $5 with about $4 of that being profit.
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