It was one of the best and most exiting thing to come the forum when the
RCM rep made an appearance. Unfortunately it did not last. This is understandable, I suppose. Given the point questions some of us threw at the rep, we can't really expect her to remain active on the forum while balancing being personal and personable with staying professional and officially representing
RCM in its entirety. The consolation is, given the recent sting on publishing Masters Club pictures ahead of general release, it seem the
RCM is still keeping an eye out here. So, it's with this in mind that I started this thread and welcome fellow forum members,
RCM die-hard fans, and collectors to contribute constructive suggestions to the
RCM team
I'll begin with what I feel is a problem that the
RCM can address with no real investment or negative consequence:
The Back-Story:
I am lucky to have an
RCM dealer I can frequent locally. This dealer is personable, very helpful, knowledgeable, and yet remains very humble; properties that embodies the Canadian, and what feel should also be the
RCM, spirit.
The Good:
One of the things I love about this dealer is that even though he trades in low volumes, he always, and I mean Always, sell at issue price the coins he is allotted through the
RCM. The only time prices are adjusted upwards is for coins he purchases on the secondary market. True collectors, not hoarders and speculators, really do appreciate being able to purchase
RCM products at issue price around release time.
The Problems:
1) There's nothing more off-putting to find a beautiful coin sold out before it hits the market, only then to see Authorized
RCM dealers inflate the price of of coins they would've profited on at issue price anyways.
2) The
RCM seems to be trying to slowly push smaller dealers out of the market. Lower volume dealers, like the honest one in my town, are allotted a certain amount of coins to sell based on past sales records. However, the
RCM is now cutting back on the allotment, subsequently reducing the ability for the dealer to qualify to even maintain the same allotment for the next round of coins.
- I understand that it is likely more profitable for the
RCM to sell via their own website as oppose to go through dealers. But, if the
RCM plans to continue distributing through dealers, there is no reason to give the advantage to large, opportunistic dealers like gatewest and colonial acres. These dealers will only bring volatility to the market and turn away collectors... Understand that this is not the secondary market.
RCM dealers are front line distributors of
RCM products, yet these larger dealers appears to abuse their position... The secondary market will determine and settle on fair prices for
RCM products, but not with large dealers holding large volumes of low mintage coins and selling at inflated prices from the get-go.
The Suggestion:
If it is in the
RCM's plan to end dealerships and restrict retail sales through
RCM only avenues, I don't feel there can be any constructive objections. If, though, the
RCM have no plans cut dealers, I strongly feel that the
RCM should reconsider their strategy to the distribution of coins. While dealers should have the right to adjust their prices (all the more since dealers do buy back on the 2ndary market and need to be able to adjust resale price), the
RCM really should reconsider awarding large volumes of low mintage coins to large dealers that inflate prices. Not much effort is required on the
RCM part to take care of the small-timers, and it's the small-timers that give
RCM products a good name.
Posted 05/23/2012 09:21 am
