What Has The RCM Done That Has Mad You Off?

Well.... not really what I'm talking about. Having money that can buy you stuff and getting incremental rewards based on how much you spend is perfectly fine, as long as there is accessibility for everyone.

The idea of modulating access to information based on status is troubling for me (and not just for coins!). That's all.

My biggest thing is quility control....pretty sad when I can go to the post office when there is a new release and look at 3 to 5 of the exact same coins and every one of the coins has some sort of slight defect on it and isn't 100% perfect....The ship definitely has to get tighter for me to spend again on there products.

I can't blame collectors for doing that when the upfront cost should be 50% off to begin with. The entire NCLT strategy needs to be revisited from the ground up.

Just curious, do post offices sell stamps anymore? I'm asking because I haven't been to a post office in quite a while now. I print my labels on the web, and drop off at the gas station.

Totally agree here. One word sums up my feeling with the RCM over the past year: Sad.

Depreciation of "current" NCLT issues = Sad

Somewhat desperate tone of e-mails from Masters Club Rep = Sad

Lack of interest in RCM issues on my part = Sad

Pop culture, non-relevant coin themes = Sad

Deep discount sales at Canada Post = Sad

Overpriced "special wrap" circulation coins = Sad

Discontinuation of the 5-pack film circulation packs = Sad

Overabundance of "special" non-relevant circulation coins (making them seem non-special) = Sad

The fact that I'm not supposed to order online, given that I'm a Master's Club Member (forced to order through rep) = Sad

Even the lack of activity here on the forums = Sad (remember the good 'ol days?)

My purchases are about 10% of what they were at the peak of collecting - if many people are in this same situation, the RCM has a major, major problem.

I honestly feel like I'm planning for the funeral for the golden egg goose (the killing has been done).

Understand that reps salaries are based on a percentage of their sales. If you buy directly from the RCM then they do not get any recognition. The old grumpy IT guy gets the kudos.

The RCM could have implemented a simple drop down menu on the online order form, something like "Where did you learn about this coin?" and you'd pick "personal rep" so he/she could get a cut.

Well... that's not going to happen. It would increase the cost of goods even more.

Then, this begs the question: why do we have reps at all?

In fact, shouldn't it cost *less* via the web?

While I'm not terribly upset with the RCM and agree with much of what has been said so far, the bottom line is that I can no longer afford to get sucked into the hype and loose my shirt on amazingly attractive products that will only cause me to regret purchasing them in the first place.

Some of the things that have annoyed me in recent years are attempts of coercing potential buyers into purchasing subscriptions sight unseen and cancellations of series due to lower profitability without regard to the collector. Ie: Lost ships in Canadian Waters silver plated issues in favour of the pure silver versions priced at 5x the silver value. I'm sure if I wait long enough I can buy the premium coin at the same price as the plated one that wasn't produced.

Face value circulation coins in 5 or 10 packs should have been maintained rather than scrapped given the difficulty of finding them in change to registered buyers. Many of these were set aside for friends, relatives or fellow collectors. Paying double the value and HST for a specially wrapped roll does not appeal to me unless it has sentimental reasons if I plan on be keeping it for awhile and in hopes of receiving my investment in return.

Truth be told the RCM needs to make a decent profit to justify their expenses and ground breaking achievements by not alienating their best customers and blindly assuming that the public will swallow whatever line they feed them.

I really hated to sell off my early Canadian proof sets (1981-1996) for a substantial loss having fallen in love with them, suddenly realizing the perceptions of value had changed too much to make them worthwhile hanging on to.

Challenging and difficult years are ahead for the RCM if it wants to maintain a large collector base who just want to be appreciated, heard and recognized. Sadly we may have only ourselves to blame but we are not gullible experiments who will easily forget being burned.

Far too much of the hobby seems focused on monetary gains and losses versus educational benefits echoed numerous time in the past particularly during the early 1960's when silver prices escalated and demand for mint product was high.

2 X

Normally, to keep the product alive and to get some money, the mint supposed to continue with the FV packs, and to sell current "Collectors Cards" with coins for CAD 15-20.

Collectors could choose - raw coins or nice display/presentation.