Escondido Coin & Loan Inc

Collector notes

Visiting a coin shop

A few notes before you walk into Escondido Coin & Loan Inc in Escondido, CA. 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

   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.

2. 02

   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.

3. 03

   Call ahead with a large collection or an estate

   A suitcase is not a walk-in impulse. Tell them roughly what you have and when you can come. They may want a second set of hands or a block of time. That is how you get a fair look instead of a glance between other customers.

4. 04

   One conversation at a time

   The dealer cannot price a collection, answer a bullion quote, and pull a date from the case at once. If they are mid-deal, wait. If you only need a quick “are you open Saturday,” say that when they glance up — then step back. Courtesy is remembered the next time you walk in.

5. 05

   Cash is still common. That is normal.

   Coin and bullion shops have worked in cash for a long time. It is not shady by itself. Count together at the counter. Do not count a stack in the parking lot with the door open. If you are uncomfortable carrying cash, say so and ask what else they can do.