Typical coin show payment options?
oneor11
Posts: 208
Good morning all. Newbie question, but what are typical in-person payment options at coin shows? I dropped by the Houston Coin Show very briefly back in November but quickly found there were no ATM machines and such. Do people normally walk into there with hundreds or thousands of dollars in their pockets to buy coins? Seems archaic. I felt like traveling for a coin show as a little vacation, but don't want to walk around with a bunch of cash on me. Are there any credit, PayPal, or other electronic payment options?
Thanks.
Jacob
Thanks.
Jacob
0
Comments
-Paul
When we are set up at a show we can accept cash, checks, money orders, etc. If you'd like to send the money via PayPal or use a credit card, we can do that on a week day, but it is more difficult over a weekend. It always helps to have other dealers that can vouch for your personal checks as well.
Of course, if you purchase a coin and arrange payment that weekend or later, most dealers would be happy to ship the coin to you upon returning home as well.
Best of luck in your collecting!
President of David Lawrence Rare Coins www.davidlawrence.com
email: John@davidlawrence.com
2022 ANA Dealer of the Year, Past Chair of NCBA (formerly ICTA), PNG Treasurer, Instructor at Witter Coin University, former Instructor/YN Chaperone ANA Summer Seminar, Coin World Most Influential, Curator of the D.L. Hansen Collection
World Collection
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<< <i>Do people still use Travelers Checks any more? We used to get them when traveling for the military in years past and they were accepted almost world wide.
Now that is a payment method I don't think I have been tended in years! I used to get quite a few but don't recall receiving 1 in well over 5 years!
<< <i>Cash or your first born. >>
I have a 14 month old boy. Anybody have greysheet ask? He is about EF40
And check if you have references and/or know the dealer well
The coin business is a low mark-up industry by in large. When a dealer is making a gross margin of 10 to 20 percent, it's hard to give 3% to the credit card company.
<< <i>The overwhelming majority of sales we make at shows are paid by check. >>
The vast majority of my coin purchases are made by check, surely every one over $100. I rarely have more than $100 in cash on me anywhere, including at a coin show. As my son learned when he wanted a Gatorade at his basketball game yesterday, I often carry no cash whatsoever. He drank water instead.
<< <i>Do people still use Travelers Checks any more? We used to get them when traveling for the military in years past and they were accepted almost world wide.
Last traveler check I used was in 1993 in CA. My first visit in the US of A! Ah, memories...
I like cash, but going back to the OP question, would it make sense to have some Postal Money Orders?
They are safe and can be reported if stolen.
Do dealers accept them?
MM
<< <i>
<< <i>Cash or your first born. >>
I have a 14 month old boy. Anybody have greysheet ask? He is about EF40 >>
I'm skeptical that he's an EF40. I tried getting my son graded but he came back with a Genuine, 92 - Cleaned. I guess Johnson & Johnson's No More Tears leaves a noticeable residue.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Cash or your first born. >>
I have a 14 month old boy. Anybody have greysheet ask? He is about EF40 >>
I'm skeptical that he's an EF40. I tried getting my son graded but he came back with a Genuine, 92 - Cleaned. I guess Johnson & Johnson's No More Tears leaves a noticeable residue. >>
EF40 just means that he is eating food 40% of the time.
<< <i> EF40 just means that he is eating food 40% of the time.
LOL! I guess that's better than grading VF35 (vomiting food 35% of the time).
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.