Beware Of Westminster Mint From Madison Wisconsin

Yup, I for one appreciate the information. I'm sure it happens more than I'd care to think, but don't typically pay attention to it. I'll be a little more aware of future purchases.

While I can clearly see the point that the OP is trying to make by posting this thread, I can't help but think that there is a bigger picture lesson to be learned here.

Buyer beware. Period. When you go to engage in any consumer transaction, be informed and don't assume the business has YOUR best interests in mind. Be it a car dealership, a coin shop, the phone company, or an ebay vendor, you can bet situations like what the OP described will arise all of the time. Stay informed, be vigilant, and good luck.

Well Libertad, what he is doing is against his merchant agreements and completely unfair to all other merchants that do abide by the rules. I would have reported him to his CC company already if I was the OP. I do it all the time.

Just recently a new drug store opened up near my house. Went to buy a bag of Halls and use my Paypal card, guy told me $10 minimum on MasterCard and pointed to a sign. I told him he wasn't allowed to do that. He responded, "Look buddy, no one can tell me how to run my business." I said "OK then, give me 25 Vicodin too, that should get me over $10." Whaddya know, now all of a sudden someone is allowed to tell him how to run his business. I reported him when I got home and the next day the $10 minimum sign was gone.

Ya, you got me, I work for a Wisconsin mint.... It's an ad, not a contract.

Look guys-

I have been involved in owning a business, I have been a partner. I have owned a business that had membership in the BBB, I have had legal paperwork and offers vetted to make sure they are in accord with state laws.

A business has margins, they have costs. They have surcharges. I dont think for once I have said they cant charge what they want. I could care less what they charge.

My issue is, an honest and ethical business establishment, what they put in print is binding and should be honored. WHENEVER there are exclusions, they are to put in the Ad in some shape and some manner, no exclusions.

SO, if WestMinster Mint is honorable and upfront, they can fit in their huge Ad a disclaimer regarding fees for using a credit card.

I would like to talk to a consumer who enjoys responding to an Ad and is told he has to pay more because there's a surcharge that wasn't disclosed up front.

That's my whole point regarding Westminster Mint. If they had said there was a credit card surcharge in the Ad I would have purchased the coins. But, since they were not upfront and honest I don't trust them. This was small, what happens on bigger orders? What other problems would a consumer have?

They can charge whatever they wish and make as much money as they want. I am all for that. BUT, disclose the terms up front, don't bait and switch and lead consumers on.

As a member of the coin collecting community, I feel that at least I must mention my experience. I have no axe to grind, just consumers should be careful and be aware.

no, he did not tell me there was a surcharge.

I found out he was charging a dollar more per coin because of the total he gave me versus the total I had in mind with the Ad. It was more than the total I had figured based on their Ad.

AGAIN- The Ad states, a very large Ad- 33.95 per coin plus $2 S and H. so my total(getting 6 coins) based on their Ad was 203.70 + $2 = 205.70. After I had given him my credit card info, shipping and billing and confirming the address he tells me the total on my card was going to be 211.70, a dollar more per coin. and why? because there's a credit card surcharge.

Again I will say it. You can charge all you want and how much you want. I do not care. But if you have a very large Ad in USA TODAY and it states in big letters 33.95 plus $2 S and H.... then that's what the cost is to me. Period. Don't be untruthful and tell me you are charging more on the phone after I have given you my credit card.

AND this Ad has plenty of space to display a warning about credit cards. After all, they can fit on the Ad and disclose that there's a minimum amount of coins you can order so why not include the credit card surcharge?

So again, Westminster Mint should and does have the obligation to tell me right off the bat that to qualify for this order I cant use a credit card.

Its very simple to understand. I would like to see and talk to a consumer who would gladly pay for a surcharge after you see in your local store flier an advertised price and then upon payment you are told "oh theres a charge for using your credit card".. but yet it isn't found anywhere on the flier.

To turn a blind eye to deceptive advertising and accept it doesn't bode well.

So they're asking you to pay an extra dollar per the 33 if you use your credit card... I understand your point OP but do you really have to put a "Beware"? lol

My name is Ian Clay I'm the president of Westminster Mint. At no time was the reader refused the opportunity to buy coins for the low advertised price. No unauthorized fees were charged to his credit card. He could have made payment by check or by money order.

The reader objected to paying a $6 fee for making payment by credit card and was upset that the fee was not posted in our advert. We like most bullion dealers accept payment by check, money order, bank wire and credit card. Because it is a common practice for bullion dealers to charge a fee for processing orders on a credit card; we do not post the terms of payment in our print adverts nor do any of our major competitors. We have advertised without mentioning a credit card processing fee since 2001 and have received no complaints prior to this one.

The terms posted in our adverts are: The offer is valid while supplies last, that no additional purchase is required, that the price is subject to change and that we offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

Westminster Mint is an honest and ethical business and is not involved in deceptive, false or misleading advertising. Our adverts are approved by our legal department and meet all of the disclosure requirements of the publications in which we advertise.

Further, Westminster Mint is an advocate for the small customer. Unlike many bullion dealers who offer four levels of volume discount pricing for big buyers, Westminster Mint posts our single best price everyday. We give everyone the same access to the market and do not offer volume discounts to anyone. We hope that members of this forum will find this posting helpful.