Whether you’re buying coins or the selling them, you want a coin dealer
you can trust. Unless you’re an expert yourself, there will always be a
certain leap of faith involved in finding such a person. But there are
things you can do and qualities you can look for that will make
developing that trust much easier.
Whether you’re in the buying or selling market, you want a coin dealer
you can trust. Unless you’re an expert yourself, finding such a person
will always require a leap of faith. But there are things you can do and
qualities you can look for that will make developing that trust much
easier. Unless you like the idea of getting ripped off, it is highly
advisable that you follow a few guidelines before you picking your
supplier. Of course, that’s not to say that the field is filled with con
artists- far from it. But they are out there. And unless you know what
to look for, you could easily be taken for a ride.
Experience is probably the number one thing to look for. Every coin
dealer has to start somewhere, but it shouldn’t be with your collection.
Make sure the guy you find has years of experience in the bag. It will
make dealing with that person an enriching experience for everyone
involved. You’ll learn, you’ll be treated with respect, and you won’t
wade through a lot of hemming and hawing to get the answers you want.
This plays into another area, as well. Someone with years of experience
in the business is not going to randomly decide to rip someone off
today. They have their reputation to watch out for, which is worth far
more than whatever your collection might have in store.
Speaking of reputation, it doesn’t hurt to make sure a coin dealer has
one to speak of. Has anyone ever heard of this guy? What can you find on
message boards about him? What do people have to say? Have they been in
business for more than a few years? Of course, having a bad reputation
is even worse than no reputation. And you can believe that any person
out there who has ripped off customers will be talked about. People
can’t wait to let others know that there is a shark in the waters. If
there are negative things to say about any particular person, chances
are you’ll be able to find them.
Finally, do you feel like you’re being treated with respect? It’s not
unusual to find a coin dealer who has little patience for people who
don’t know much about the hobby. Perhaps you’ve watched Antiques
Roadshow or Pawn Stars. Maybe you’ve seen the excitement and enthusiasm
the experts on those shows have when they deal with a customer. Even if
the piece the customer is bringing to them is a fake, or worth far less
than the customer would like to hope, they are more than happy to
educate and inform. Unfortunately, not everyone is like that. Many make
cursory examinations, offer a lowball price, and leave it at that. Look
for an enthusiast who is willing to treat you with respect and engage
you at a professional level. It’s the least you deserve.
