Weekday Poll: What percent of the money you spend on your coin collection is spent on ebay?

I never buy coins for my core gold collection on ebay. Occasionally, I will purchase items like modern proofs and worn buffalo nickels for my son's collection on the 'bay. We sure spend a lot of time talking about ebay here. How much of our business are we giving to ebay merchants? Any comments or further discussion is (as always) welcome.
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Comments
Joe.
My EBay Store/Auctions
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
I make most of my smaller coin purchases (under $50) on eBay. But I still look elsewhere, usually to dealers I trust and other reputable auction venues, for most of the more expensive coins (i.e. $200+).
Ken
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>This excludes money spent with the intent of flipping the coin for more money. >>
This poll is discriminatory.
Russ, NCNE
I have often wondered whether you actually have (hold, keep, maintain for personal pleasure & oogling over) a collection, or if your involvement in numismatics is confined to this profitable specialty niche you're clearly so good at.
It's not necessarily my business -- but like I said, I've wondered.
<< <i>I have often wondered whether you actually have (hold, keep, maintain for personal pleasure & oogling over) a collection >>
Click here.
Russ, NCNE
I voted #2 ... but it might be a more than 20%, depending on any one period of time. Sometimes worthwhile things show up on eBay, sometimes they are found elsewhere. I just keep looking for things on my list and that I like, where ever I might find them.
Sure wish I could find a few more
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
That said, the stuff I buy on eBay tends to be the lower dollar amount stuff, while the higher value stuff I get from Heritage or other dealers. But if I saw a nice piece on eBay, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it (after reviewing feedback and all the other potential gotchas, of course).
Self Indulgence | Holey Coins | Flickr Photostream
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
0%
Never have, and never will
I have a dealer that I trust for my Morgan purchases, across the country
<< <i>where's "NONE"? >>
0-5%
As of last week, my account was hijacked, and I've since shut it down. Fortunately, I caught it before any damage was done, but that's it for me and eBay.
TorinoCobra71
Which brings up the question:
How do these people manage to get NARU'd when it took me a couple weeks worth of emails to voluntarily delete my user name??
Dave
But imagine my search criteria is limiting.
in the gold coin section, for half eagles, "pcgs -indian -198* -199* -200*"
Then among these sellers, you can find the honest dealers as well as collectors
looking to unload.
Looking among these, I judge which one I like the best, and purchase it with a money
order via snail mail.
10 coins bought so far, one on the way, no problems whatsoever.
I am picky though with maybe 12-25 coins per week to look at.
Shiny gold does not even get a second look unless it is upper MS.
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
That's one of the reasons I started the poll. I suspected that this might be the result. Given that about 40% of the people who responded buy few or none of their coins on ebay, it is amazing how preoccupied the membership is with ebay issues.