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How to tell if a coin shop is a real shop
A door, a scale you can see, a bid on paper, and a person who will still be there next month. Banners are not credentials.
You do not need a decoder ring. You need a few boring tells.
Good tells
- A physical shop you can find next month. [NumisQ shops](https://numisq.com/shops) / [CDXList](https://cdxlist.com/)
- Tests on the pad. In front of you
- A ticket that matches the talk
- They let you leave with your metal. Walk away
- They can explain ID without puffing up. 8300
Bad tells
- Hotel ballroom + countdown. Traveling buyers
- “Highest prices” and no math. The sign
- They want the metal in the back while you “think”
- They get angry at a second bid. Second opinion
- Magic prices on famous keys. Fake slabs
ANA membership, PNG, a long Google trail — useful, not magic. Read reviews like an adult.
Part of the coin shop counter wiki · visitors & collectors · NumisQ Learn