Beware Of Westminster Mint From Madison Wisconsin

And again I state-

1- Jacob who took my order was not going to tell me there was a surcharge for using a credit card only after I asked him why my total bill was larger than the amount I had planned on going off THEIR Ad.

2- A honorable business places all inclusions, exclusions and fees in the fine print. It is bait and switch to offer one price in an Ad and then when the consumer calls to place the order, add the surcharge without informing them.

3- Westminster Mint has many complaints similar to mine on the Better Business Bureau web site, simply input Westminster Mint on google or the BBB web site and you will see complaints regarding Westminster Mint and also see Ripoff Report on the Internet.

4- My complaint is not over being refused service or the placement of the order. The issue is Westminster Mint must plainly state in its Ad its terms and not assume that everyone expects to be charged a surcharge.

Mr. Clay, I'm sorry, but to me this sounds like a pile of you-know-what. Even on television ads you'll hear the fast-talking advertisement announcer say "some additional charges/restrictions may apply" so you know that when you call in, you may get those extra fees or blips on the radar. It's an advertising standard.

Even if it's not legally required, basic courtesy would seem to say that you should include it. Have you considered, for example, that an older purchaser who does not often use a credit card may not know such a fee exists? If my grandmother was the one answering your ad, you'd catch her completely blindside--and she is not a rich woman to whom six dollars is chump change. She's also not a stupid woman--just a woman who for most of her life used only cash, and got her first credit card in her seventies so she could rent a car. Your practice is unfair to people who may be new to using credit cards, and also to people who are new to bullion purchases. Shady hidden fees--and like it or not, that is precisely what this is--only turn people off to the hobby.

It wouldn't kill you to include a small line, "additional fees for credit may apply" or "a $1 surcharge will be added for credit orders." If it would, perhaps you should reconsider that basic idea I mentioned above: COURTESY. It isn't necessary to mention this fee. It's also not necessary to hold the door for a person with their arms full of packages. But in both cases, if you don't do it, you come out looking like a jerk.

Just something to consider.

I don't want to start an argument, but I just have to state what I'm feeling right now.

I think that, IF the Westminster Mint tried to charge more than the advertised price, that is wrong. HOWEVER, I find it extremely unlikely that there was not some fine print in the ad. If they did this often, without warning, they would not last long. Nearly every ad, including coins, has fine print of some kind, and it can be easy to miss. But I'm sure it was there.

Also, I get that it's not the money, it's the principle, but it really doesn't seem that way here. If the OP was upset about the extra charge, he could have complained to the Westminster Mint and to the BBB. But it really seems like the $6 is the issue here.

And finally, the Westminster Mint doesn't seem like a shady operation. Just the fact that they actually bothered to post here and try to resolve the situation tells me that they care about their customers and their reputation. The Westminster President's post could have been pure lies, but it says something good about a company when they really try to resolve a situation.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Get over it man. Life ain't always fair. Move on.
Merry Christmas and Happy New year!!

Again this is about being truthful in advertising.

No honorable business Advertises their product without putting some sort of fine print with inclusions, exclusions and surcharges.

If you are going to charge extra for using a credit card it should be plainly stated.

If everyone else wants to be an ignorant consumer thats fine by me but I am not going to pay a dime more than what the Advertised price is... period lol :D

Bullion Billy, I say the need for courtesy ends at what I would call "full effort." An example unrelated would be an old lady needing to cross the street, carrying a package and using a cane. You say, "Ma'am, may I help you across?" She says "yes," and you do it; or, she says "no thank you," and you say "all right; we're crossing at the same light, so let me know if you change your mind." You have done your due diligence; the lady knows she has an arm if she needs one, and that if she doesn't change her mind but stumbles in the crosswalk, you'll help her.

So, I would say it is part of the company's due diligence to report "additional fees may apply." You don't have to spell out what they are; once the customer knows they're there, it's the customer's duty to say "By the way, the ad said 'additional fees may apply'--what does that mean?" so the seller can say "we charge a fee for credit to cover our overhead" or "if you ask for faster shipping, the rate charged will increase" or what have you. But you can't ask about something you don't know is there.

This is not a discussion about credit card fees or senior citizens.Someone started this thread and dissed Westminster Mint. They also posted on scam report and wrote to the BBB. It seems like a lot of hype and trouble to go to since the company did nothing wrong and the customer is not out of pocket! What is he warning us about?
He talks about bait and switch. In bait and switch scams the company tries to sell you something they make a big profit on. Westminster Mint does not make money on credit card fees VISA do.

Going fishing.

I have been following this thread since it started. IMO the OP is correct. I believe because they were going to charge him/her without even mentioning the fees. They could of mentioned the extra fees as soon as the OP said he/she would be using a cc. At the very least the WMM should change their add & this would save them the hassle of complaints the BBB & other reporting agencies. Not to mention their reputation. If the WMM does care about their reputation & customer satisfaction, then they should rewrite their add. I would like to hear more from the WMM pres. on the above mentioned complaints.