On 12 Feb 2004 05:07:53 -0800, (Michael E.
Marotta) wrote:

(ahem)

Do you have a cold.

Just an excerpt from the PNG Website ...
------------------------
September 5, 2003
eBay Rare Coin Bidder's Survival Guide:
Beginner to Expert in 12 Easy Steps
http://www.pngdealers.com/public/ebayProtection.cfm
By Barry Stuppler (eBay ID VERYPQ)

Barry Suppler is a really good guy, and this is really good advice ...
for the most part. Some comments:

5) Make sure seller is a PNG and/or ANA member

Not good advice. Many collectors sell their coins on eBay. Sometimes
they've upgraded to a higher graded coin of the same type, year, and
mint. Other times they're just selling off. You can get some really
good deals this way (no middleman). But you have to be careful, of
course. And just because a collector isn't an ANA member doesn't mean
he's not knowledgable or honest.

6) Do not be deceived by a coin's certification

True, to an extent. But the first-tier grading services do provide a
valuable service, and with pricey coins, they can be well worth the
premium that you pay for a coin in a PCGS or NGC slab. Coins in other
slabs too can be worth considering, depending...

9) Check online pricing guides

Not necessarily good advice. The pricing in them is generally inflated
compared with the prices in Coin World and other retail guides. The
online price guides can still be a good reference, but savvy buyers
factor out the "optimism."

--

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Coin Collecting: Consumer Protection Guide: http://rg.ancients.info/guide
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