How many of you have a local brick & mortar dealer that you actually deal with?

291fifth · August 22, 2006 4:10AM

For numismatic coins...forget bullion.

p8nt · August 22, 2006 4:12AM

Nope. Mine hates slabs and passed cleaned and several problem coins off on me before I knew better. I haven't been back in over a year.

MikeInFL · August 22, 2006 4:12AM

not me

mgoodm3 · August 22, 2006 4:12AM

SOmewhat, but only for basic stuff. They don't have a lot of inventory and generally are an internet dealer in tokens.

beartracks42 · August 22, 2006 4:13AM

The closest one is 90 miles, so not much opportunity there. I do see him at small regional shows and we deal now and then.

halfnut · August 22, 2006 4:14AM

I have a local store here in Norfolk VA that I stop by once a week or so. I get to hang out and talk coins. I buy a few things now and then most of his stuff is raw.

Dan

kranky · August 22, 2006 4:21AM

I don't. Two local shows plus (usually) one out of town show a year is the only time I get to see coins.

NumisOxide · August 22, 2006 4:23AM

About once a year I go to the local shop or shops.

AlixTCat · August 22, 2006 4:25AM

I think we have a coin dealer finally. But they are in a hobby store. I've never been there because I don't have the time during their hours. I'm too busy on the weekeds. I find great deals on great coins on eBay. I've gotten a few bad apples, but not many compared to the number of coins I have bought. Their hours are better as well. I'd never buy from an auction house as their coins are out of my price range and even if they weren't, that buyer's fee is stupid. The seller should pay, not the buyer. That's one of the reasons I like eBay, I only pay when I am the seller.

Jonathan

busco69 · August 22, 2006 4:30AM

I have several some are better than others.

lkenefic · August 22, 2006 4:30AM

I do. There's only one shop in my town and they're generally pretty good to deal with. There's only one coin that I think I might have gotten a little ripped on, but the number of coins that I've gotten below FMV more than makes up for it. As far as inventory goes, they are a little thin for things that interest me. They typically stock low-end or problem Large Cents, Flyers, and IHC's...but these items are priced accordingly. I have been able to put together a higher end [AU-MS] set of Lincolns mainly using material purchased from them. At the upper end of the scale, they do stock quite a bit of gold [other than 1 oz Buffalos] and higher end Morgans...stuff that is well out of my league unless I hit LOTTO.

Leo

showmethepenneys · August 22, 2006 4:31AM

I buy coins quite often from old publo coin. He has slabedand raw oins. he's very honest, has good prices and will give discounts.
Best dealer i've seen!

123cents · August 22, 2006 4:33AM

I have one but I usually just buy supplies from them.

Longacre · August 22, 2006 4:34AM

There are a few within about a 20 minute drive from my house. I tend to go only to two of them, and only occasionally.

Prethen · August 22, 2006 4:34AM

NONE. I occassionally walk into a few shops a couple of times a year but I basically don't do any business with them. Most of them are looking for the next rip and their prices tend to be higher than any auction/bourse item you might find. I'd be lying if I said that I've never bought from any of them, but it's happened only enough times that it takes one hand to count that high.

claychaser · August 22, 2006 4:36AM

Yes!

A very knowlegable and honest dealer in Sun City, CA. Sun City Coin, also America's Coin Store on E-Bay.

SanctionII · August 22, 2006 4:42AM

Multiple. There are many brick and mortar shops in No. Cal. and the SF Bay Area. In my work travels I stop by as many shops as I can. Many I have stopped by once and only once for multiple reasons. Many I stopped by a few times and then stopped since the dealer/owner(s) wanted to have nothing to do with me once they determined that I wanted to look through their inventory to find nice CAM proof and SMS coins (I would even pay a premium for these coins and told them so, but they still were offended and put off by the fact that I wanted to look for nice stuff instead of simply buying a widget). A few I have developed a good relationship with. They call me when good stuff comes in and let me have first crack at it. Many places are good to stop by and simply talk coins, provided that I spend money on supplies and coins.

Russ · August 22, 2006 4:46AM

There are several shops that I hit regularly, but I rarely find anything worth buying. Did recently, though. Picked up some 1964 proof sets that all had halves that looked like this:

Russ, NCNE

AgMe · August 22, 2006 4:47AM

<< There are several shops that I hit regularly, but I rarely find anything worth buying. Did recently, though. Picked up some 1964 proof sets that all had halves that looked like this:

Russ, NCNE >>

You know Russ likes them... uses lube every time....

Ricke · August 22, 2006 5:00AM

I do. I know him well, and I enjoy talking with him, and he will order my supplies at no house profit - probably because I buy coins from him on a regular basis, I'm sure. He always trades well with me, and often times he sets aside pieces he knows I'd be interested in when he comes across them.

JJM · August 22, 2006 5:02AM

I do on occasion for supplies and a occasional find, right place right time sort of thing

Myqqy · August 22, 2006 5:04AM

There's two local stores in portland that I will visit on occasion- both treat me well, and I'll pick up an occasional morgan or darkside piece...... sometimes I'll find a unappreciated gem.

BlindedByEgo · August 22, 2006 5:05AM

Two out of 5 or 6 local (within 20 miles) shops are worth a darn.

Oddly enough, 3 or 4 out of 6 rip widows and orphans at will.

Cladiator · August 22, 2006 5:07AM

I've got one about 5 minutes from home. Pretty big one too, nationally known. I don't really deal with him though as his prices are on the steep side to say the least. That being said, if he had a coin I really wanted I wouldn't hesitate to buy it from him.

StrikeOutXXX · August 22, 2006 5:11AM

I have no true coin dealers within an hour drive in any direction.

I visit my favorite antique store a few times a week that has some coins, and a few other antique dealers in the area that sometimes have coins, but that's about it.

Besides those, the Internet, and monthly coin club meetings is all. There is a fairly large show in Buffalo (about an hour drive) I went to in the spring, and will be back for the fall show in October though.

bidask · August 22, 2006 5:13AM

I know a local dealer who is a friend of mind. He never attends shows, owns very little slabs, and will have his best year ever earning approximately 2 million. His secret: he has been buying gold and silver scrap at great spreads to spot and on occasion buying coin accumulations at cheap prices ( nothing fancy in those deals either). All over the coin counter through a retail coin shop. Wow!

BBQnBLUES · August 22, 2006 5:14AM

Unfortunately, the only one in Memphis has cut back on inventory to the point that all that's left on display is bullion and jewelry findings for coins ;(
A shame since the store has been in business for 25+ years..

BillJones · August 22, 2006 5:16AM

Over the years I've dealt with brick and mortar coin shops. They included Kathy Bullowa, JJ Teaparty, Nightowl Numismatics, Northeast Numismatics and others on an off and on basis. Of late I see these firms, but only at shows.

pbfloyd · August 22, 2006 5:18AM

I would take pictures of the shops . That way you could show people 20 years from now that once there were real stores who bought and sold coins!

bidask · August 22, 2006 5:19AM

<< Unfortunately, the only one in Memphis has cut back on inventory to the point that all that's left on display is bullion and jewelry findings for coins ;(
A shame since the store has been in business for 25+ years.. >>

Time for a new owner!

BillJones · August 22, 2006 5:21AM

<< I would take pictures of the shops . That way you could show people 20 years from now that once there were real stores who bought and sold coins! >>

A number of the places where I bought coins did not have ground level shops. They were in offices on the upper floor of buildings.

MadMarty · August 22, 2006 5:26AM

I have about a dozen shops I visit at least once every couple of month...

Ricke · August 22, 2006 5:28AM

<< I have about a dozen shops I visit at least once every couple of month... >>

either you travel a lot, or you live in a very competative location, or else you don't mind driving a long distance to visit a coin shop...

I would have to span over 150 mile radius to even reach a dozen coin shops!

Thenewguy · August 22, 2006 5:31AM

Used to but a few years back the owner retired and sold the place. I went there once after he sold it, was not impressed, and haven't been back since.

lkenefic · August 22, 2006 5:31AM

There's at least a dozen in the Phoenix Metro area...Leo

291fifth · August 22, 2006 5:35AM

<< I would take pictures of the shops . That way you could show people 20 years from now that once there were real stores who bought and sold coins! >>

I wish I had some photos of some of shops I used to go to in the 1960's. Some were real dumps but you could actually get some decent coins. One was a shop, devoted only to coins, that was one of the narrowest commercial buildings I have ever seen. The owner of that shop was a chain smoker to the extreme and died of lung cancer in the very early 1970's.

PonyExpress8 · August 22, 2006 5:38AM

Yes. Folsom Coins and Currency is always a nice place to check out. I have been fortunate to get a few goodies over the years although now that I am more specialized not nearly as many opportunities.

lsica · August 22, 2006 5:38AM

Premium Quality Coin in Minneapolis. Bill's a good guy. Probably won't be seeing much of him since I won't be working downtown anymore.

SmallTownCoins · August 22, 2006 5:50AM

All you folk's that don't / won't / can't / , that's really to bed...
Some of my best memorie's are from coin shop's from the 60's and 70's....
I remember how this one guy would grade lincoln's,..... New and Used... Worked for me... Haaaa
Oohh the stuff that slipped thru my finger's...
Those good connection's is what drove me to open my store 24 years ago...
I keep my store "fun", guy's come ang go all day, some do biz, some chit chat, it's all good....
When it stop's being fun, I go home....

kiyote · August 22, 2006 5:55AM

I do..

Doogy · August 22, 2006 6:00AM

I won't say never, but i certainly won't be going to any brick-and-morters anytime soon. The ones i've been in around Phoenix here are rude at worst, and apathetic at best. Besides, I like the wide open marketplace and haggling of Ebay, Hertiage and others.

WhiteTornado · August 22, 2006 6:08AM

I just moved to Maryland, so I haven't visited any yet. But, I've gotten some information on which ones would be worth the trip, so I'll get to them eventually.

I've gotten one too many coins off eBay that were either misrepresented or else just didn't look as nice in hand as in the picture. I'd like to do more buying in person for a while. At least I get to examine the coin before plunking down my hard-earned money.

clw54 · August 22, 2006 10:26AM

There is one in San Diego that's pretty good. They actually try to grade the coins correctly. They don't always identify a cleaning, but few do. I've bought a raw 1916-D dime and 1889-CC Morgan from them and both slabbed at the same grade they sold them as. AG3. Overall, can't complain.

majorbigtime · August 22, 2006 11:28AM

There's one here in Dallas (Forrest and Inwood) that isn't too bad. Nice folks, but few coins of interest to me.

Heritage ain't a brick & mortar dealer and, while their showroom is impressive, they have virtualy no offerings diaplayed.

tsacch · August 22, 2006 11:41AM

yup, I have a place, but I only try to cherry pick some stuff once in a while, sold some bullion too, but just junk......cash in gift certs from family and friends.......no big dealings.

etexmike · August 22, 2006 11:49AM

Nothing around me close to call local. Wish there was, I would be there every weekend.

-----------

etexmike

a039 · August 22, 2006 11:54AM

We actually have some really good coin shops in this area of Southern California, good ones in Chino, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, Laverne, Covina and Glendora. There are some real stinkers too....

librtyhead · August 22, 2006 11:57AM

I try to visit as many as I can in a 100 mi radius.

..........better ones 200 mi rad...........now thats a Saturday cruise!I have meet many dealers through E-BAY,this forum,shows, many have respectable holdings.Some even actually have collections...............to hold the coin is allways nice.

Gemineye · August 22, 2006 12:43PM

I have been to many many shops out where I live.I sometimes go to the local shows now and then.

Russ · August 22, 2006 12:47PM

<< I would have to span over 150 mile radius to even reach a dozen coin shops! >>

Marty frequently spans a much larger radius than that. The stuff he finds doesn't just fall in his lap. He works his ass off.

Russ, NCNE

Elcontador · August 22, 2006 1:21PM

There ARE a number of shops within a 25 mile radius, but I haven't bought any coins from any of them in many years, and haven't set my foot in the door for at least two years. Last time was to unload some MS 65 CC Morgans in PC 5 holders at IMO ridiculous prices received.

How many of you have a local brick & mortar dealer that you actually deal with?

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How many of you have a local brick &amp; mortar dealer that you actually deal with?

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How many of you have a local brick & mortar dealer that you actually deal with?