Pcgs/Ngc grading is a form of gambling

[trout]

If you're buying coins from crappy images on the internet expecting to get high grade coins you're gambling in the same way a punter does. Sure you might be able to minimise your losses but there's ALWAYS going to be a large degree of uncertainty regardless of the quality of images. Because an image will NEVER convey the same information on the condition of a coin that in-hand examination can.

Well said Mark and I agree with that sentiment 100%.
However for a large number of us the internet is the only way we can get our coins and as you say that IS a gamble.
I would dearly love to purchase my coins by an "In hand" appraisal but for me that is a forlorn hope and I have to rely on the coin TAB and take a punt.
The only way to get good coins is to deal with reliable and honest sellers on the net and that is a trial and error thing (that's where the gambling comes into the equation) people like Both the Eigner brothers and The Purple Penny along with many others come to mind for me, also many private sellers as a source of quality coins.

That is only the "Acquiring" the coin stage for us on-line buyers.
The really important part is finally getting the coin in hand and making a call on how the coin will grade and IF it is worthwhile sending to the plastics factory.

Anyway getting coins slabbed isn't all about making a quid, a great deal of my submissions are the coins I hold in my collections , especially after seeing the $1 Coins Feathers put up in slabs that look far better than the coins in 2x2's :ok:

The real beauty with slabbed coins is you can just grab them and do whatever you like with them and there will be NO damage to the coin, unlike having them in 2x2's :angel:

[markn]

"sitting on a bundle of inventory that is just an unrealised loss"
well that's me to a tee because I liked them when I bought them but I figure stuff will go up eventually so i shouldn't lose money in the end

That describes my collection quite accurately.

"If you are actively trading coins (which you are) then you're a coin dealer"
 then everyone on this site would most likely fall into this category,

Like it or not most collectors deal in some form or another.

it is my opinion that a coin dealer is one who trades numismatic for a living something that I do not.

We don't trade for a living.  Not even close.  But it's hard to say that "The Purple Penny", the stock it sells, the face it puts to the outside world would constitute anything but a coin dealer.

i know i may be arguing a bit but i just disagree with your definition

I don't mind if you disagree with me as long as you don't mind that I disagree with you.  Don't feel too special though, I disagree with most people.

[serial]

i am surprised, i thought that the purple penny has one of the best, if not the best websites i have ever seen and it presents as a very successful business that should make someone a good living given its presence online.
i would love to have the time and experience to do that for a living but i just don't think of myself as qualified/experienced enough to be a coin dealer
i prefer to think of my self as a collector who buys stuff he shouldn't have sometimes and needs to get rid of it. like a bad car or spare laptop that i don't use.
problem is i buy a lot of stuff that i later don't want especially when i see something else that i do.
but back on topic, every coin i have sent to get graded i thought it might hit a certain grade but never really knew. i was surprised with my results but the more i handle coins the more i feel i can get it right. i know that i will never be 100% which is why i feel it is a bit of a gamble but i am reducing my odds by getting to know the coins better.
having said that i consider graded coins as something that will be expected of all sellable coins one day in the future so i like the stuff i intend to pass on to the kids be graded hence why i get stuff graded. but other people grade then flip the coins in the hope it will increase the coins value. that is gambling in my opinion because the coin hasn't changed at all, you are just hoping that the slab increase its value

[markn]

i am surprised, i thought that the purple penny has one of the best, if not the best websites i have ever seen and it presents as a very successful business that should make someone a good living given its presence online.

Thank you, I am sure PPH will be pleased when she reads that.  We try hard with what we do and she likes to know that our efforts are being seen in the correct light.

other people grade then flip the coins in the hope it will increase the coins value. that is gambling in my opinion because the coin hasn't changed at all, you are just hoping that the slab increase its value

It's not hoping.  It's choosing coins that will grade as expected by PCGS.  PCGS graded coins are valued differently that raw coins graded by Australian dealers.  Sometimes they are valued lower (see choice UNC Parliament florins vs MS64 Parliament Florins), and some are graded higher (see MS65/66 florins vs gem CV's).  As far as I can see that's just regular arbitrage which is the key to all business.  The skill is in choosing coins that grade well by PCGS.  It's not gambling or hoping at all.  It's education, experience, and a good eye.

[trout]

I don't mind if you disagree with me as long as you don't mind that I disagree with you. Don't feel too special though, I disagree with most people.

Mate , I will have to make the effort one day and catch up with you in Adelaide .
You could be a lost brother of mine  :yahoo:

[proof27]

way to heavy :kez_15:

[trout]

I think that by definition 99% of collectors are coin dealers in one form or another.
It's just that most of us really aren't very good at it :ok:

[robbiegal]

vest pocket dealers

that is what we call ourselves
all of your stock - fits in your vest pocket

[stevo1962]

vest pocket dealers

that is what we call ourselves
all of your stock - fits in your vest pocket

Some of us must have deep pockets RG

[accumulator]

I think that by definition 99% of collectors are coin dealers in one form or another.
It's just that most of us really aren't very good at it :ok:

Excuse me, why say that most of us are'nt any good at it ?
How would you know that ?
Have you been bending the elbow a little too much today Trout ?

[trout]

I think that by definition 99% of collectors are coin dealers in one form or another.
It's just that most of us really aren't very good at it :ok:

Excuse me, why say that most of us are'nt any good at it ?
How would you know that ?
Have you been bending the elbow a little too much today Trout ?

By the very fact that most of us have jobs to go to that have NOTHING to do with coins to make ends meet
Some of you mob may do ok but does it pay the rent and the bills for you?
If you answer YES then you ARE very good at it BUT if you answer NO  then I will let you make your own conclusions