Don't Know What All The Fuss With The RCM Is About?

Wait until you became MC member and let's see

Overall I think I've had a very good experience with the RCM. On a side note, their web site today is FAR better than it was in the past and it keeps getting better.

But sometimes things are not so good.

The RCM has had very successful years recently because they came out with outstanding novelties but these were technologically challenging to produce. Perhaps also in part because of the flipping frenzy a lot of orders could not be filled in time. Throw in there the Rep's preferential treatment with some buyers Vs others. Most likely though, its the ever increasing variety and all the different series that is causing a strain on the production floor... They just can't keep up!

So that may explain why I've had orders that took MONTHS to arrive.

Well, yes, I'm saying that. I think they try to get as many MC members as they can, but they don't have a special customer service for the MC member. Only if you get a representative it could improve, but not the shipping times.
Even if it has not been so bad, I do consider that the shipping times is getting longer since I became MC member.

The RCM si releasing so many coins that they can't cope with it. Even the quality of the coins, we use to see now quite often coins with some kind of "damage" (error).

@ commems

I'm afraid commems I agree with CC-Ottawa's assessment.

Like both of you, I am a strictly a collector and I have never actually sold a single coin from my collection.

I am a relatively recent collector of NCLT coins, and I have only the last five years on which to base my opinion on ordering from the RCM.

During this period I have experienced incredibly long delays and poor communication. I will say that eventually, I have received every coin I have ordered.

Unfortunately, I have also seen the mint evolve from the collector focused corporation I thought it was, into to a sales oriented, marketing company where the customers' concerns are of little import.

Add to this, the mint's schemes to unload coins that did not sell well, such as gilding the 1/2 oz O Canada set, or repackaging the three Allegory coins into a phony "limited" series are two recent examples that undermine the mint's integrity vis a vis collectors' faith.

All of this has caused my confidence in purchasing from the mint to have greatly diminished.

I don't mind beating this dead horse until the mint receives the message and gets back on track.

P.S. Even the mint's once vaunted Quality Control has seemingly diminished of late.

@CC-Ottawa/NuMoosematist: Thanks for sharing your thoughts and engaging in a "respectful disagreement" - differing viewpoints always make for interesting dialogue!

I generally agree with your comments, and believe that we are more aligned than of different minds. The RCM has had many production and delivery issues the past couple of years and does what I consider to be an extremely poor job of communicating with its direct customers. I don't know why the RCM feels secrecy is a good strategy for customer service - it is clearly a very poor choice.

I will say that if I were running a business, it is likely I would give preference to my larger customers. It stands to reason that the bulk of my revenue would come from such customers and therefore it's in my own best interest to make sure I do what I can to keep them coming back. In my professional life, sometimes I have been the "big" customer and received preferential treatment and sometimes I've been the "little" guy that has to wait. One hallmark of a successful business is to never let your "little guys" feel like they are such. On this point, the RCM has failed miserably.

My comments about the source of CCF member frustration was based on my reading of many comments here over the past couple of years from collectors who stated that they had purchased one or two extra coins to sell but were worried that by the time they received the coins they would not be able to do so at a profit. Some did so with more emotion than others. I took it that these folks were not serious "flippers" but collectors who were looking to help finance their collection in a small way. I don't think I misread such comments, but I can't say for sure.

Again, thanks for the engaging discussion!

I have been buying coins from the RCM for many years. I have been an MC member for quite some time. I get excellent service from the mint. People are always helpful. The site is well designed, and while some deliveries take a while, they are in the small minority, and frankly I don't care as long as I receive them.

I tend to agree with someone who stated that possibly the only people who care about late deliveries are flippers.

Quotes from commems:




You're quite right. We are definitely on the same wavelength and share similar expectations when ordering from the mint.




Your welcome commems, and thank you! I also enjoy a civilized conversation.



fixguy said:




It's sure looking like the mint is heading in this direction.



Quote from clvlys:




I glad that you are so satisfied.

I agree that the employees who take our calls do aim to please, but they are not the ones responsible for the delays. It's a systemic problem that starts at to top.

I don't think the website is that terrific. It's clearly in need of a serious upgrade.

Also, based on the number of cases of late deliveries reported by members on this forum, it's much more than the "small minority" you believe it to be. Even the mint's site is always alerting customers on their order page on the many delayed coins. In just 2013 I was sent at least six emails from the mint warning me about shipment delays, and with most I never received any notification. I, like many customers was just left to wait and wonder.

Lastly, when you state: "...frankly I don't care as long as I receive them.", I just would ask if you are familiar with the writing of Dale Carnegie?

@ chubbycheeks

I dunno, eight weeks is a long time.

Sheesh, even those annoying TV ads for Sham Wows. expandable hoses,and "I lost 50 lbs in less than a week" promise shipping in four to six weeks. Surely the mint can at least match that.