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 Replies: 46 / Views: 4,450 |
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
Being upset with the mint is nothing new for many of us. Perhaps I have no reason to be upset. See what you think. My wife and I did a lot of financial juggling in order to find the money to order the new Jefferson First Spouse coins. On Ausust 30, at noon EST, we began trying to contact the mint by both telephone and on the internet. At 12:38 p.m., EST, we reached the mint and placed our order. Our order was accepted 38 minutes after the sale had started. Yesterday I received an e-mail from the mint stating that I was on the "waiting list," and would get the coins only if enough people cancelled their orders, or had their orders cancelled by the mint. I had learned from several sources that the mint didn't sell out until better than two hours after the sale started. So, if my order was accepted 38 minutes into the sale, why am I on a waiting list? Quite irritating, but I guess I won't become really upset until I learn for certain that I won't be getting the coins. I don't suppose there is any recourse other than just sit and wait -- and wonder what the...heck happened.  Edited by Gary Burke
09/28/2007 4:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Only thing I can think of Gary, is that although they said they were sold out in two hours, that was just an arbitrary time until they sorted through actual order time stamps. If you're order was excepted after 38 minutes, in the computer world, it may as well have been 38 days. IF that's the way they are handling it. Pure speculation of course. I think these were going to be the "hot" coin of the entire bunch, so chances are you will see them on the Coin Vault in NGC holders for $1500 very soon  . Unfortunately, I'm guessing they get first dibs and probably acquired a few thousand of them...... |
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Member
United States
3242 Posts |
Gary U can thank the Large buyer IE coin vault& folks like them that have all the power and an inside buddy at our US mint.
I say boycott them!!
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Valued Member
United States
470 Posts |
Have you tried calling them? Do you have an order number? Did you get through by phone or Internet? If the Internet, you account will show a time stamp. What time does that say? I think you need to investigate a little more. Give them a call and talk to a supervisor and you might find the closure you need.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
My suggestion is in the future set up your account and put the coins you want on subscription .
Metalman
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Pillar of the Community
United States
547 Posts |
I would also try calling the mint. I placed my order via the webiste around 2pm and my order was confirmed. I don't understand how I placed my order an hour and 20 minutes after you and I was able to receive them. My father also ordered both the proof and unc a short time after I did and his order was also confirmed.  Subscription is a great idea, but I believe (I many be wrong) that for the option to subscribe to the first spouse coins you would have had to order all four of the coins. Edited by ChristinaM
09/11/2007 10:31 am
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Valued Member
United States
101 Posts |
The subscription doesn't apply to the spouse coins. There was a mint release about it when they said 1 of each type per household they also said subscripts do not apply you have to physically place an order after the sale time starts.
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Valued Member
United States
255 Posts |
Unfortunately, this seems to be typical of the US mint. I have quit buying from them for this reason.
Ryan
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
quote:
The subscription doesn't apply to the spouse coins. There was a mint release about it when they said 1 of each type per household they also said subscripts do not apply you have to physically place an order after the sale time starts.
Ok well that shows how much attention I paid to these coins ! percentage of attention paid = 0% number of tears shed if I never even see one = 0 based on this type of sale the mint is trying to produce a rarity by limiting the number of coins ,, in my mind that is market manipulation ,,just another reason to ignore them . Metalman |
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Rest in Peace
 United States
3730 Posts |
Thanks for the posts.
I will try giving them a call.
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Valued Member
United States
411 Posts |
Metalman: I couldn't agree more. I think that the Mint's online shopping is a racket, and an addictive one at that. Last year I just happened to be online when they were selling the anniversary sets. These sets sold out so fast, they immediately became rarities. Or "scarcities." That sets up the expectation that other mint products will perform similarly as investments. Not so. Most of the coins the mint sells online are little more than face-value coins tarted up to look like "investments." Plus, even with the anniversary sets, there was an initial period when everyone discovered that these coins were going to be good "investments." So the prices shot up through the roof. Now there seems to have been a cooling off period. As evidence of this, take a look at a Coin World from say, 6 months ago. All of the regular mail-order worthless-coin warehouses were offering these "super rare" coins for hundreds of dollars more than their initial cost. This week, I couldn't find one advertisor offering these coins at any price. Hmmm. The fact is, mint products are fads. If you buy everything the mint has to offer, you may end up with an item that will, temporarily, soar beyond its original cost. But that's one out of hundreds of items the mint is offering for sale to "collectors." And fads come and go. I say it's like any other addiction: the only cure is absolute abstinence. Edited by Stephen420
09/11/2007 4:49 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
819 Posts |
The last time I bought anything directly from the US Mint, I was standing in the boutique of the Denver Mint, personally. ;) The only mint I buy from online has been the Royal Canadian Mint. Even then, it's rare. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
I placed my order at 12:28, and it's "in process" as of a couple of days ago. I agree, try calling them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
Gary, those are computer generated e-mails. Its possible they sent one to you, eventhough you may not be on a waiting list. You can get a better answer by speaking to a real person.
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
Now, I need to up-date this topic.
I am now even more irritated with the mint.
Not only am I not getting the coins that I ordered only 38 minutes into the sale, but the next door neighbor as well as a friend across town have received word they also will not receive the coins. What makes that irritating is the fact they both reached the mint in under a half hour after the sale started on August 30.
So, my order went in 38 minutes after sales started, and their orders were even faster, Supposedly the mint didn't sell out for two hours. So, what's going on?
It's probably just as well that I don't go into debt for those coins, but the way the mint handled these sales just isn't fair, and I will remain ticked off for some time to come. I'm sure other potential buyers feel the same way.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
Gary, I'm sorry to hear such awful news. The mint really fumbled this one. Its about time they got their act together.
They always seem to have problems processing orders, when a new coin comes out.
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Replies: 46 / Views: 4,450 |
Posted 09/11/2007 07:53 am
