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Do you tip your LCS guy, or at a show?

SuzeSuze Posts: 30 ✭✭
edited July 24, 2025 5:24AM in U.S. Coin Forum

Just curious what is the consensus, anonymously seems best

Do you tip your LCS guy, or at a show?

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This is a private poll: no-one will see what you voted for.

Comments

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,681 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This tipping bit is nothing but another attempt by ownership to pass business expenses on to someone else.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • SuzeSuze Posts: 30 ✭✭

    @DCW said:

    If you are friendly with your coin dealer, maybe send them a bottle of scotch over the holidays.

    Thanks - I should’ve added option D to be an occasional gift… can’t seem to add it now tho sadly

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,824 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The poll results so far are not surprising. :D

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • Mr_SpudMr_Spud Posts: 6,158 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It would make sense to offer a tip as a “finders fee” if the dealer located a coin you need in another dealers inventory, but it wouldn’t make sense to negotiate a price with a dealer for a coin in their own inventory and then be expected to add a tip on top of that.

    Mr_Spud

  • bestmrbestmr Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭

    If I bring a customers part to them or load it in their car, I don’t expect a tip because I’m just doing my job.

    Positive dealing with oilstates2003, rkfish, Scrapman1077, Weather11am, Guitarwes, Twosides2acoin, Hendrixkat, Sevensteps, CarlWohlforth, DLBack, zug, wildjag, tetradrachm, tydye, NotSure, AgBlox, Seemyauction, Stopmotion, Zubie, Fivecents, Musky1011, Bstat1020, Gsa1fan several times, and Mkman123 LOTS of times
  • Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,399 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What is an LCS guy?

  • bestmrbestmr Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭

    Local coin shop I think

    Positive dealing with oilstates2003, rkfish, Scrapman1077, Weather11am, Guitarwes, Twosides2acoin, Hendrixkat, Sevensteps, CarlWohlforth, DLBack, zug, wildjag, tetradrachm, tydye, NotSure, AgBlox, Seemyauction, Stopmotion, Zubie, Fivecents, Musky1011, Bstat1020, Gsa1fan several times, and Mkman123 LOTS of times
  • pcgsregistrycollectorpcgsregistrycollector Posts: 1,447 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You shouldn't expect to be tipped just because you are doing your job. That, in my opinion, is unreasonable. I work at a fast food place, and I don't expect customers to give me extra money just for handing them their order with a smile. I'm paid to do my job, and I try to do it well—that's part of being a responsible employee. Tipping should be reserved for situations where someone goes above and beyond, not just for showing up and doing the basics.

    God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️

  • skier07skier07 Posts: 4,365 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Why in the world would I tip the LCS?

    Perhaps if I was someone like Simpson, Hanson, etc. and I had a special relationship with the dealer who was finding me most of my coins I would perhaps get them a Christmas present as a sign of appreciation.

  • Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,399 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No, but if they are running a legitimate fundraiser for charity, I'll leave money in the jar...

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,208 ✭✭✭✭✭

    local coin store gent's B)

  • lermishlermish Posts: 3,740 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @erscolo said:
    The tipping mentality in this country is over the top and insane. It is not an entitlement.

    It's the same in Canada.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

  • 1Bufffan1Bufffan Posts: 670 ✭✭✭✭

    why??? they are getting more than I would "tip", from what I would buy from them in their profit margin or mark-up.

  • tincuptincup Posts: 5,396 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @erscolo said:
    The tipping mentality in this country is over the top and insane. It is not an entitlement.

    Agreed. I found it hard to believe the question is even being asked. But if someone is rather new to the collecting of coins... I suppose it could be a legitimate question. After all, as mentioned, the tipping mentality has become insane.

    It really escalated when covid was ramping up. But... after covid died down... unfortunately the tipping insanity did not die down. Of course businesses want you to pay more. Many younger individuals may have been led to believe that tipping for everything... no matter how minor or insignificant... is normal. It is normal... only if you allow it to be.

    ----- kj
  • PeakRaritiesPeakRarities Posts: 4,544 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2025 9:35AM

    Before I became one, I have actually tipped a dealer in one case, but it was auction representation where things worked out favorably and I gave extra as I ended up getting a great deal.

    Ultimately no dealer ever expects to be tipped, but there are other ways to show your appreciation if it was earned. As a collector, something I would do semi-frequently with dealers whom I had expected to do much future business with, is a courtesy purchase. It's pretty self explanatory, but if a dealer spent a considerable amount of time trying to find something for me, or took the time to give me an education about something I didn't know, I would often try to spend some money with them in the interim of a larger conquest.

    The way I rationalized it, I would pick something that I knew was easily liquid for not much less than the actual cost to me, at a small fraction of the amount of the primary target. For example, if the primary want list coin was $30,000, Id make a courtesy purchase at $3,600. This would indicate to the dealer, I recognize that their knowledge and time has value, and I have no intention of wasting or taking advantage of them. In several cases, I think these had ultimately led to being offered very desirable coins at the top of my want list, and a $200 "loss" tuned out to be one of the best "investments" I had made. YYMV.

    Founder- Peak Rarities
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  • lermishlermish Posts: 3,740 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PeakRarities said:
    As a collector, something I would do semi-frequently with dealers whom I had expected to do much future business with, is a courtesy purchase. It's pretty self explanatory, but if a dealer spent a considerable amount of time trying to find something for me, or took the time to give me an education about something I didn't know, I would often try to spend some money with them in the interim of a larger conquest.

    The way I rationalized it, I would pick something that I knew was easily liquid for not much less than the actual cost to me, at a small fraction of the amount of the primary target. For example, if the primary want list coin was $30,000, Id make a courtesy purchase at $3,600. This would indicate to the dealer, I recognize that their knowledge and time has value, and I have no intention of wasting or taking advantage of them. In several cases, I think these had ultimately led to being offered very desirable coins at the top of my want list, and a $200 "loss" tuned out to be one of the best "investments" I had made. YYMV.

    I've followed your lead and done this multiple times in my specific collecting niche and it works like a charm. The coins I seek are so scarce that any slight advantage is absolutely worth the money.

    BTW, some of your "courtesy coins" I have seen have been pretty darn nice.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,585 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I was at a coin show and a regular dealer, I frequent, tipped me off to another dealer who was looking for one of my varieties. I slipped him a double saw buck for his lead.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

    BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
  • TxCollectorTxCollector Posts: 467 ✭✭✭✭

    @erscolo said:
    The tipping mentality in this country is over the top and insane. It is not an entitlement.

    The best is that some of the self serve kiosks at my local airport now ask for tips.

  • Coins3675Coins3675 Posts: 306 ✭✭✭

    I don't tip my coin dealer, I didn't even know that was a thing.

  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,552 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What?!

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,817 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I assume the tip is figured into the price.

  • SoFloSoFlo Posts: 542 ✭✭✭✭

    You want a tip? Plant your potatoes early.

    Wisdom has been chasing you but, you've always been faster

  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 6,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No, I buy from them and make sure to occasionally sell something to them as well.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 2,419 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I make courtesy purchases to support dealers who are friends or who go out of their way to be helpful. As a collector of all sorts of things, I can often find something I can enjoy outside of my want list. Sometimes it takes me in a new direction.

  • handymanhandyman Posts: 5,437 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes I tip a min of 20% every time I buy a gold eagle. I also hope they do the same when they buy it back from me. I have yet to receive a tip other than “try next door”.

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,295 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2025 2:56PM

    Looking forward to a dealer telling me, "I need you to sign this invoice that you've received the coin, but first, it's going to ask you a question on the bottom."

  • ShaunBC5ShaunBC5 Posts: 1,793 ✭✭✭✭✭

    We probably just haggled. The full exchange was negotiated. We shake hands and trade money/goods. Everyone is happy.
    I can see if there was some extraordinary service provided (finding/representing/etc). It that would be specific case.

  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,379 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The only "tips" I have given to professional dealers is telling them about unattributed varieties in their inventory. They seem to appreciate that info.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 9,734 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2025 5:17PM

    I’ll just say this: Dealers have a huge profit margin, regardless of what they tell you. We used to know a guy who tipped at shows. I told him that he thinks with his heart instead of his head. <3:'(;)

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,552 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @SoFlo said:
    You want a tip? Plant your potatoes early.

    Jed actually said, “corn”.

    Smitten with DBLCs.

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