How I Filled Empty Tables at a Coin Show (And What Actually Sold)

I Panicked When I Saw Those Empty Tables – Here’s What Saved My Show

There I was, staring at a half-empty dealer room two days before our local coin show. When the organizer begged for last-minute vendors, I said yes without thinking. Then reality hit: What would I sell? How should I price things? After scrambling to figure it out, here’s what actually worked when the doors opened.

The Simple 3-Part System That Kept Buyers at My Table

1. The Magic Inventory Mix

Through frantic trial and error, I discovered collectors wanted:

• 75% certified coins (PCGS/CAC preferred) – the $100-$300 range was the sweet spot
• 25% conversation starters like colorful toned coins and semi-key dates under $50
• Junk silver that sold itself – Morgan dollars and 90% silver flew off the table all day

2. Pricing Tricks That Made Sales Happen

What I learned the hard way:

• Certified coins at 5-10% above recent sales left room for negotiation without killing deals
• Raw coins priced 20% below Greysheet brought dealers back again and again
• Creating a “buy more, save more” structure moved multiple coins at once

3. How I Handled “Let Me Think About It” Customers

The silence trick worked better than I expected:

“When someone lowballed me, I’d just stare at the coin like I was reconsidering keeping it. More often than not, they’d raise their offer before I said a word.”

Other game-changing tactics:

• Keeping a well-worn price guide visible – it stopped haggling before it started
• Having three prices ready (retail, dealer discount, and cash price)
• Casually mentioning “I might keep this one” for premium pieces – suddenly everyone wanted them

Three Costly Mistakes I Won’t Make Again

Learn from my painful lessons:

• Free tables attract lookie-loos: Even paying half-price filtered out the non-serious buyers
• Running out of small bills: That $500 sale I lost still haunts me
• Getting too comfortable: Spotting a switcher mid-trade taught me to always watch hands

The Unlikely Sales Champion

Here’s what shocked me most:

“My best seller wasn’t rare Morgans or slabbed rarities – it was a $5 box of common Buffalo nickels. New collectors couldn’t resist an affordable way to start their collection.”

What I’ll Do Differently Next Time

• Balance high-end with entry-level coins – every collector starts somewhere
• Price strategically based on my goals, not just market value
• Let uncomfortable silences work in my favor during negotiations
• Bring enough change to cover a small country’s economy

What began as a panic move turned into my most profitable weekend. The real secret? Having something for every collector – from serious investors to excited beginners just catching the coin bug.

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