Coin show preparation and participation educational thread. Important information for everyone.
wingedliberty
Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭
With alot of newbies joining and posting everyday as well as useful information contained herein for seasoned collectors, I decided to do this thread based on my attendance to many shows over the last twenty three years. I hope its help full to everyone in some way. I think shows are a great way to share your passion with fellow collectors and meet new dealers. I highly recommend it as a way to enhance your hobby experience. The social factor alone is great. I call it the great equalizer. From janitors to doctors., once at a show, everyone speaks a common language and the community experience is great. Here are some tips before attending a show.
1. Always try to go with someone else for a number of reasons. It enhances security and makes you less vulnerable to potential attack and theft.
2. Make sure you have clear cut directions and fuel as well as know the parking arrangements and double check with the show promoter if the show is still on. (exceptions being large shows like FUN and Long Beach. This pertains to smaller shows with 50-200 tables).
3. Do not wear badges or anything that may identify you as a collector outside of the bourse area. Again, you may be vulnerable to thieves.
4. Some shows do not allow fire arms or concealed weapons. Doulbe check with the show promoter before hand.
5. Always wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Ie. I wear New Balance sneakers and a jeans and tshirt. I am a professional executive by day. I have no intensions to wear a suit when I am pursuing a hobby. I am not going to a meeting or to the Opera. Skip the fancy and enjoy yourself.
6. Go to the ATM before hand. Get small bills at the bank if you have to. Alot of dealers do not have change and are not good at breaking bills. Have a bank envelope with plenty of small bills so you can give out exact money. Dealers will love you for it.
7. Make a specific wantlist and budget. Stick to it.
8. Get dealers business cards, write what they specialize in on the back. Make notes about them on the back of the business card. About their mannerism and negotiating style. This will help in the future.
9. Never interupt a dealer during a transaction with someone else.
10. If you ask to see a coin and don't buy it. Say "thanks for showing it to me" , be polite.
11. Don't be afraid to negotiate , but don't offer $40 for a $120 coin. Be reasonable , but negotiate and haggle, but remember the dealer has to pay the mortgage also.
12. Always have breakfast. You can't enjoy the hobby on an empty stomach.
13. Don't advertise to neighbours or anyone unknown that you are going to a coin show or you are a collector. Don't advertise that you have coins in the house. Thieves scout shows just for that.
14. Bring a nice loope and put it around your neck, but only in the bourse area. Good optics are critical.
I recommend the Hasting and Bousch and Lomb 7x-10x, 15-25mm for grading. Zeist and Peer are also great.
15. Don't be afraid to ask a dealer questions about the coin. Its your hard earned money. You have the right to ask honest and non insulting questions. Be polite, thank the dealer for their time.
16. At the risk of being a broken record, stick to your budget, like the dealer, you also have a mortage to pay (Except for Lucy
.
17. Make sure there are no coin related items visible through the window of your car , like Coin World or empty 2x2's, again you are advertising to thieves.
18. Have fun.
19. Have fun.
20. Yes, its a hobby, so have fun!!!
I hope this is helpful in some way.
1. Always try to go with someone else for a number of reasons. It enhances security and makes you less vulnerable to potential attack and theft.
2. Make sure you have clear cut directions and fuel as well as know the parking arrangements and double check with the show promoter if the show is still on. (exceptions being large shows like FUN and Long Beach. This pertains to smaller shows with 50-200 tables).
3. Do not wear badges or anything that may identify you as a collector outside of the bourse area. Again, you may be vulnerable to thieves.
4. Some shows do not allow fire arms or concealed weapons. Doulbe check with the show promoter before hand.
5. Always wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Ie. I wear New Balance sneakers and a jeans and tshirt. I am a professional executive by day. I have no intensions to wear a suit when I am pursuing a hobby. I am not going to a meeting or to the Opera. Skip the fancy and enjoy yourself.
6. Go to the ATM before hand. Get small bills at the bank if you have to. Alot of dealers do not have change and are not good at breaking bills. Have a bank envelope with plenty of small bills so you can give out exact money. Dealers will love you for it.
7. Make a specific wantlist and budget. Stick to it.
8. Get dealers business cards, write what they specialize in on the back. Make notes about them on the back of the business card. About their mannerism and negotiating style. This will help in the future.
9. Never interupt a dealer during a transaction with someone else.
10. If you ask to see a coin and don't buy it. Say "thanks for showing it to me" , be polite.
11. Don't be afraid to negotiate , but don't offer $40 for a $120 coin. Be reasonable , but negotiate and haggle, but remember the dealer has to pay the mortgage also.
12. Always have breakfast. You can't enjoy the hobby on an empty stomach.
13. Don't advertise to neighbours or anyone unknown that you are going to a coin show or you are a collector. Don't advertise that you have coins in the house. Thieves scout shows just for that.
14. Bring a nice loope and put it around your neck, but only in the bourse area. Good optics are critical.
I recommend the Hasting and Bousch and Lomb 7x-10x, 15-25mm for grading. Zeist and Peer are also great.
15. Don't be afraid to ask a dealer questions about the coin. Its your hard earned money. You have the right to ask honest and non insulting questions. Be polite, thank the dealer for their time.
16. At the risk of being a broken record, stick to your budget, like the dealer, you also have a mortage to pay (Except for Lucy
.17. Make sure there are no coin related items visible through the window of your car , like Coin World or empty 2x2's, again you are advertising to thieves.
18. Have fun.
19. Have fun.
20. Yes, its a hobby, so have fun!!!
I hope this is helpful in some way.
0
Comments
Robert
1. One inconspicuous travel bag. One NGC box, One PCGS box, 2 slab caddies. and your loop.
Also one note pad. two pens.
Here's my contribution to it:
1. NEVER bid on an ebay live auction. The action is fast, the technology is slow, and more likely than not, like me, you will act on impulse and end up with:
1870-S 2-1/2. Well?, worse things have happened to people!
Although, you can enjoy the hobby on an empty stomach
Jeremy
PS- Cherrypick the hell out of dealers... it's fun
3. If you are in a live auction setting, in person or over internet, pick just a few lots to bid on that are ideally spaced apart. That way, when you lose a lot, you will not reflexively bid on the next lot, just because it is available and you are desparate to "win" something.
I also made the mistake of not eating breakfast, and got so wrapped up in things that I realized it was 2:00pm. Well, my head was spinning and I was cranky. People get kranky when they are hungry. Thats no way to enjoy the hobby, so tommorrow when myself and forum members meet for the Tampa show, it will be at the Village Inn. I will have a Belgian waffle and two eggs over easy.
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
I would add that basic common sense will help you avoid risk of theft. However, the greatest risk of theft comes from people who know you or know what you collect. Coin shows [Long Beach included] love to get people on mailing lists for drawings, freebies and newsletters. If you want to reduce your profile stop using your real name and use a PO Box instead. Isn't it interesting how it's always a major collector who gets ripped off? Never a state quarter collector? There is a reason. Fear those who know you not the creepy guy hustling quarters on the corner. They don't know 1913 dime from a full step Jeff.
Doing shows with a buddy is great fun regardless.
Dealers are much more likely to accept an offer for a little item if it's presented with the coin
in one hand and exact payment in the other.