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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2366 Posts |
@commems I've only been MC for about 4 years but have never seen anything exclusive to MC in that time. @wildflowerAB It only takes purchasing a few items per year these days to maintain that MC threshold. I also agree with what you say but I still pick up a few items from the RCM on release just to make sure I get them so I'm still in the MC kind of as a side-effect. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3690 Posts |
Commems, I can't add anything much other than to say that those two items you mentioned are the only exclusives that I know of in many years of Masters Club membership. I did get a free standard BU SD when I got a rep a few years ago.
Edited to remove the rest of what I wrote since it wasn't really addressing the point of this topic.
Edited by CC-Ottawa
05/31/2015 7:55 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
871 Posts |
One time I got an email exclusive from my rep for a Birks silver necklace with a minimum $400 purchase. I got 20 x $20 for $20 coins and a necklace for my daughter to appreciate when she is older.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
  United States
12309 Posts |
@CC-Ottawa/kuh_85: Thanks for the info on your experience. It looks like the RCM stopped the "exclusive" coins for MC members quite some time ago. It seems doubtful that they'll revive the practice, but I suppose it's possible. @wildflowerAB: I've been a MC member for three years. The primary benefit I derive from the membership is free shipping (which adds up considering I'm in the US). It's been nice having access to each release a bit ahead of the general public, but as I rarely buy the "hot" coin (if a given release has such a beast), this perk hasn't been a big deal for me. My intent in starting this thread was simply to learn about past exclusive offers to MC members that were available before my MC time. I was/am curious about the "exclusive access to products" benefit mentioned in the other thread and wondered if the RCM might be considering the return of an earlier MC benefit. It appears, however, that the benefit was rather limited. I agree the goal of the RCM is to turn a profit on its operations - I would expect nothing less. Regarding the RCM's interest in the secondary market for its products - I agree that it does not appear to be a primary concern, but I believe they are fully aware of the need for a secondary market in order to help maintain the sale of new/future issues. I believe this awareness is the driver behind the reduced maximum mintage figures it has set for many of its latest releases. I also believe the biggest mistake the RCM has made with its coin products is its offering of far too many different coins - practically one per day this year. This high number of coin releases has split the pool of potential customers to the extent that little to no momentum builds behind any particular series. If a significant group of collectors do actively pursue a given series upon release, it is very likely that no serious secondary market will develop for it later on. IMO, this is the primary driver behind value reductions for RCM products in the secondary market. Of course, too high initial mintages and overly high release prices also play a role. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2366 Posts |
Quote:
I believe this awareness is the driver behind the reduced maximum mintage figures it has set for many of its latest releases.
I always thought they were reducing mintages so they could brag about a higher number of sellout coins....  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2124 Posts |
In which year did the Master Club start?
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Valued Member
Canada
261 Posts |
@arianzo ... Masters Club began in 1998. @commems ... I haven't been an MC member since 2009 so can't confirm this, but didn't RCM give a Silver Dollar to MC members a couple of years ago? I remember being told about it at the time. I was a member from 1998-2009, the only free coin I remember was the medallion you mentioned. I did get a nice colour catalogue one year showing all the NCLTs. Also have an RCMP lapel pin and $10 Calling Card with picture of a Toonie on it, but I have no idea if they were from MC or some other promotion. Edited by McNickel
06/01/2015 09:20 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
The silver dollar was just a previous unsold silver one oz. coin from old inventory, as for limited mintage for super members maybe a mintage of less than 100 to revive the collective interst
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Rest in Peace
Canada
1360 Posts |
The only reason I got the M/C status was for the free shipping. The only 'free coin' I received was a 1/10th oz Platinum - it was sort of a reward back in the 90's for a subscription being late (if I remember correctly) The only 'Exclusive' offer specifically aimed at the M/C was an offer to purchase one of the first One Ounce Palladium coins.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
6768 Posts |
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The only 'Exclusive' offer specifically aimed at the M/C was an offer to purchase one of the first One Ounce Palladium coins. This sounds attractive and should be done on annual basis for Platinum (or any other MC) |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2845 Posts |
I don't know if anyone happens to notice the trend in RCM mintages over the years but I find it absolutely astonishing > down, down, down, down > because it indicates to me a vast decrease in e hobby of coin collection in general. Especially to consider the increase in population and additional interest by U.S. Buyers, for example some random years of Proof-Like sets sold: 1965: 2,904,352 1970: 349,120 1980: 169,390 1990: 170,791 2000: 186,985 2010: 43,074 2015: 60,000 I think these statics are indicative of the declining interest in coin collecting in general. The children of the wartime generation who were handed down those collections took no interest in carrying on the hobby. RCM did nothing to recapture their interest - bulky proof sets with no means to display, rotting backing of early 1970s Custom Sets, increasing prices. Instead what did RCM do? They turned their focus to spattering out endless specialty theme issues - birds, animals, scenes, characters, whatever. Most of these issues have lower secondary market appeal, and the markup in silver designer coins is a very poor bullion investment. I'd suggest that RCM is partially responsible for the declining interest in coin collection overall because it seems to me their eye in only on short term profit. Furthermore, it's real difficult for me to get excited by advertised mintages of 10,000, 5,000 or even 3,500 because it only serves as a reminder that such as minuscule interest in coin collection presently exists. I think RCM would be far wiser to direct its efforts toward recapturing the interest of its entire customer base as opposed to believing it can sustain its profits from only "the cream of the crop". This might not be quite on topic, but it does somewhat relate. |
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
I have to wonder how many of the RCM reps are coin collectors themselves and how many are just employed by the RCM to work as reps and also how many of these reps are part of the team or meetings that happen to determine and decide what new releases and designs will be undertaken by the mint . I would like to think that because the reps have direct communication and access to the actual coin collectors that they would be like on the front line of what the market is wanting , expecting or desires to collect so that the mint would produce product that is directly related to what is wanted by those who buy . Also how many non mint people ( such as Steven Bromberg ) are involved in coin desire planning as I think that with the new mint program they would invite the high level buyer/collector to partake in the design and mintage decisions of the new releases as well as the reps who communicate with them . |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
The former VP of the RCM when the silver Jacque Cartier coin was the first foray into commission coins, this started the ness we are in today with endless useless themed commissioned coins. Regarding reps, talking to my rep and other collectors, most reps seem to have very little interest in numismatics they are just good salespersons. At one point my rep agrees with my thoughts on too many releases but as he points out, there is about 2/3 sellouts, hard to argue, just keep producing a coin a day overpriced and the public keep buying. We are in a way adding to the problem by purchasing all these endless coins. The revamp of the masterclub is just another example of how the RCM doesn't listen to the collectors, I can't believe we ask for this tiered system of nothingness. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2019 Posts |
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I can't believe we ask for this tiered system of nothingness. It has only one goal, to get collectors to buy more so they can get to the next lvl, with a few questionable perks thrown in. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2124 Posts |
@wildflowerAB
I'm not convinced that the Proof-Set sales are base to indicate that we have less collector in the hobby.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,193 |
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Posted 05/31/2015 3:59 pm
