J+j Coins & Collectibles

Collector notes

Visiting a coin shop

A few notes before you walk into J+j Coins & Collectibles in Sioux City, IA. These rotate daily. They are general collector etiquette from CDXList — not this shop’s house rules. When something is unclear, ask the person at the counter.

1. 01

   What happens at the counter is private

   Do not repeat another customer’s name, address, or what they sold. Do not film the register. Shops are small towns. Discretion is part of being a decent visitor. It is also how you get treated like one.

2. 02

   Give the counter some room

   Lean on the glass, hover over an open box, or park six relatives at the rail and nobody can work. Leave space for the dealer to move trays, use a loop, and talk privately. Extra people can wait in the shop or the car unless they are needed to decide.

3. 03

   Know roughly what you brought

   You do not need to be an expert. A simple list — silver dollars, a few proofs, a bag of wheat cents — helps. “I have no idea, you tell me” on a mixed box is fine once. It is harder when the box is huge and you cannot say what you want out of the visit.

4. 04

   Ask how this shop likes to pay and get paid

   Cash, debit, credit, check, and wire are not universal. Some counters are cash-friendly on bullion. Some run cards every day. Some write a check on a larger buy. Ask before you assume. Have a backup so a good deal does not stall over the last step.

5. 05

   Online asking prices are not what a shop pays

   A listing, a completed auction before fees, and a dealer buy price are three different numbers. Screenshots of asks are not a bid. Bring the coins. Let them look. Then talk. You will get further than arguing from a tab on your phone.