| Author |
 Replies: 16 / Views: 5,279 |
|
Valued Member
Canada
135 Posts |
Anyone else "drowning" in RCM releases this month? It's the 16th of the month (roughly 1/2 way through), and I have already received 6 emails about "New Releases" this month. Every single e-mail contains something different from my RCM rep - there has been no duplication. I'm finding it IMPOSSIBLE to keep up with the flow of information and new releases. 6 e-mails in 16 days equates to an e-mail every 2.7 days. I'm honestly so bombarded by RCM emails that I've tuned out... When there is too much to look at - and it becomes a chore - I simply find myself turning away. Despite more promotion, I'm spending waaaay less. What ever happened to the "good 'ol days" of one BIG release per month (or quarter, for that matter)? Anyone else in the same boat?  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5394 Posts |
Whatever happened to the good old days when the RCM issued just an UnCirculated Set (PL)? |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
No offense to Canada or collectors for RCM product, but I often use the RCM as an example of how to kill collecting and I believe that to be true. If someone spent the time to add up one of each product (note I'm not saying coins) sold in a year, that total would likely be the equivalent of many collectors gross income. A collector wanting one of each is buried. They will still collect, but instead of product they may return to collecting coins. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
744 Posts |
RCM is like the baseball card explosion in the late 1980's... You had 2 or 3 companies making cards, then all of a sudden there were dozens of them, all coming out with all kinds of "special cards", it got so overwhelming, most people gave up or even quit the hobby and I haven't seen a baseball card shop in ages. I like some of their stuff, like the wildlife, but they can keep all the glow in the dark, weird shapes and colorized coins, they don't appeal to me in the least.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
6768 Posts |
I don't like the fact that RCM issues too many NCLT. But let's take as example some toy collector (Hotwheels or Disney) - does massive production kills the hobby? And for coins, except some not relevant adds via eMail, I don't receive nothing from RCM, bought this year only 2 RCM NCLT and each and every month curious about next release  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
I collected Hot Wheels back in the '90s and early '00s. When I started, they released 2 new cars per month, plus a few 4-car sets. It was fun getting them all. By the time I gave up, Mattel was releasing 200+ cars per year plus untold numbers of sets. No way I'm going to try to keep up with that, time or money-wise. I would equate that to what it sounds like RCM is doing. I don't buy from RCM, but like their standard coin offerings (have gotten a few on the secondary market.) It can overwhelm their collector base as you said. Might be a good idea to cool their jets. "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
|
|
Pillar of the Community
568 Posts |
Coin collecting is just a hobby. It shouldn't be overwhelming or a feeling that you have to buy every single coin that the mint pumps out. You buy what you like or can afford. It should be fun and enjoyable. Just because the mint puts out so many coins every year, you're in no obligation to purchase them. Remember you are in control and have a choice. It's not a competition with the mint. Have fun. :)
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
I have often thought that the vast number of new releases has produced collector fatigue. Collectors have long ago given up trying to get everything, so they become extremely selective if they have not given up altogether. So when these products enter the secondary market, any given collector is only interested in a few, so the price plummets. At least this is my theory.
While @jimper is correct that we should not feel compelled or overwhelmed, coin collectors do tend to like the feeling of completeness (of a set or series), so the impossibility of doing so diminishes things a little.
Edited by oriole
10/17/2017 12:08 pm
|
|
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12262 Posts |
A decade or so ago, to combat the ever increasing number of RCM releases, I decided that the only series that I would collect with the goal of completion would be the commemorative silver dollars (36mm). I stray very occasionally for a historical piece that resonates with me, but otherwise I stick to the SD series. For me, this approach works. I get to add to my collection each year, the number of new coins each year is manageable and the themes of the coins are generally more traditional in nature. Collecting SDs is not for everyone, but I will echo the comments of others - be selective in what you collect and never feel you need to have it all. I would also suggest not regularly chasing after the latest "shiny" with the hopes of future profits - it will be a never-ending pursuit that will likely lead to disappointment and regret. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
|
|
Moderator
United States
188052 Posts |
Quote:
...be selective in what you collect and never feel you need to have it all. I would also suggest not regularly chasing after the latest "shiny" with the hopes of future profits - it will be a never-ending pursuit that will likely lead to disappointment and regret. Wise advice.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
What the RCM suffers of can best be described as commemorative diarrhea. They've been suffering from it for years, even decades now... |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
A lot of collectors like the feeling of the hunt in order to get a complete set (defined "complete" in their own minds). I suggest the very existence of coin albums help verify this point. When growing up, I had a "complete" set of Canadian quarters, dimes, nickels and cents from circulation starting with George VI. In other words, I had filed all the holes. Somehow it imparted a feeling of accomplishment and gave fond memories of the progress in filling the holes. It was somehow "special" to have one of "each" Canadian coin. For me the plethora of modern RCM products would never allow me to enjoy that same "done!" experience on the same scale. |
|
CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12262 Posts |
Quote:What the RCM suffers of can best be described as commemorative diarrhea. They've been suffering from it for years, even decades now... The RCM issues few true commemorative coins - not every non-circulation coin is a commemorative!  Most of their releases are simply topical/thematic with no honest connection to an anniversary date or event to be commemorated. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
Maybe not commemorative a la lettre, but still way too many issues, also for circulation, which are completely unnecessary and which seem artificial in finding new reasons for issuing new coins. Hence the term coined here. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2984 Posts |
Quote:
I would also suggest not regularly chasing after the latest "shiny" with the hopes of future profits - it will be a never-ending pursuit that will likely lead to disappointment and regret.
And yet some people continue to pursue this option. A couple of months ago the RCM released the 5 oz Voyageur dollar. People raved about it and thought it would be a big hit. Turned it was a big dud with the rest of the year's releases. The only thing that happened was a whole bunch of returns to the dealers that sold it. |
|
Valued Member
 Canada
135 Posts |
Quote:
...be selective in what you collect and never feel you need to have it all. I would also suggest not regularly chasing after the latest "shiny" with the hopes of future profits - it will be a never-ending pursuit that will likely lead to disappointment and regret. Great advice here! I find cutting through all of the "clutter" is becoming more and more difficult, however. With the prevalence of e-mail, I think that the RCM believes the more messages / releases sent, the more likely its customers: 1) are to make a purchase. 2) are to forget how much they have spent in a month / quarter / year. 3) are to find "something" they might like / can't miss like in each transmitted message. I find that this has backfired big-time for me... I'm now most often in a "hold-and'see" position with new releases. I also find that I am more likely to return items if I get them in hand and they don't blow me away. Perhaps this is another reason why we're seeing fewer sell-outs, and these sell-outs are taking longer and longer to happen? |
| |
Replies: 16 / Views: 5,279 |
Posted 10/17/2017 09:35 am
