Beware Of Westminster Mint From Madison Wisconsin

So, given that it's been only a few hours, instead of giving them the chance to make it right - or cancelling your order - you immediately registered here to complain about them?

Just so I have my interpretation of the situation correct, you know.

Well my post was to let others beware of Ads placed that do not have surcharges in the fine print. What would be wrong in posting about that?

I politely let them know I wasnt going to accept the charges and have put a complaint with the BBB even tho it wont do much.

Again, my point is. if you place an Ad and and sdvertise a product for a certain price and do not mention surcharges and aren't upfront, why not honor the advertised price?

Instead, I was told by the VP that they cant put everything in their Ads and that was the cost of their doing business. ... and again I say, it is bait and switch to offer a price and then when you respond to the offer it turns out its higher. I was not aware they did this, Westminter Mint out of Madison Wisconsin.

Probably gonna be controversial here but buying bullion on credit is just not smart anyway. That extra 3% that the credit company charges the seller can be the difference between profit and loss for the seller...margins are slim enough on silver for dealers....just saying.....

Thats a fair point, but something the seller should take into account on their own. If they accept credit thats their decision

I can see how people would view it that way. I pay my credit card off every month but use it for everything. I see it as free money with the cash back rewards

yes same here, I have no cash and dont write checks anymore, just use cards for everything pay the bill in full. and furthermore, my cards have offered me 0% apr fixed for the balance of 2013 so one card I have used to purchase a few proof coins. when the zero apr is up, iam done paying in full :D

I have always taken it for granted that when you see an advertised price like this, it is always a "Cash" type transaction. I.e., Cashiers Check, Personal Check or Wire of funds. Every company that I have purchased coins/bullion from have two prices, one for CC and one for cash.

To answer some of the posts above about using credit cards, I buy with my check card which is treated like a CC by the sellers. I very seldom write
checks to anybody, don't like the idea of using "Wired" funds and have to pay for Cashiers Checks anyways so the extra $1.00 or so is really not
a bone of contention with me if it is what I really want.

You hear it "All The Time" on this site, if you like it then do it, it is your coin/bullion anyways.

Happy Holidays all.

Looking at this from a business owners perspective:

1. When I sell you an item with a HUGE discount and then you pull out plastic, it makes me cringe. If I'm only making 8-10 percent on a sale and then I have to surrender 2.5-3.5 percent to a credit card company, this is why I cringe.

2. These coin dealers are working off a very minimal profit margin. Add that same 2.5-3.5 percent and they are breaking even or maybe even losing money.

3. I sell my stuff very cheap so I decided to NOT take credit cards. You can go the the ATM next door and get cash. You won't get a cheaper price elsewhere. In 6 years I've lost 3 sales because I wouldn't take their charge card ( I'd be willing to bet the bank they had no money anyways). I still sold the item and I never lost a minute of sleep. Keeping the overhead to a minimum allows me to keep my customer a big winner (or whiner depending on whose side you're on). I don't do phone orders so I don't need to rely on charge cards.

4. Let's not forget about charge backs. My son/daughter/neighbor/cleaning lady/dog/cat/pool boy/scammer.....used my card and it was unauthorized. Not in my store.

Maple leaves (leafs) carry a premium over spot anyways. You'll make it up when the coins are in your hands.

However, I do see your point. The company should have been upfront about the surcharge before the transaction. The way the auction companies work here (and in many other places) is they tell you there is a discount on the buyers premium if you pay with (good) check or cash. All others pay the full buyers premium (meaning charge card users).