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 Replies: 12 / Views: 10,254 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
What does anybody know about an outfit called 1st American Reserve? There's an ad on this month's Smithsonian offering 2009 American Eagles "without dealer markup" -- silver for 12.50 and 1/10 gold for $80. "Prices may be less based on market conditions," which they will not since it says they are based on $9.50 and $720 ($10.32 and $847.50 this minute).
If there's a catch, it is escaping me -- unless it's the award-winning precious-metals newsletter (a $200 value) and also, according to the fine-print terms, "We may contact you from time to time regarding items of interest." But not sending me unsolicited items a la Littleton or Mystic Stamps.
I haven't called the number to see what the price really is. I will do that shortly.
What do we all think of this?
Jan
Edited by janknez
12/26/2008 09:42 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
595 Posts |
Well, I just called the number to ask what the real price was on a 2009 ASE and a 1/10 gold. The order taker (one Rhonda) wanted me to give her the "vault verification" number from the ad, which I did, and she said the prices were $12.50 and $80.00. I asked her what the catch was; she said there was none. I placed the order. It will be sent, insured, via USPS with signature required for delivery, no shipping charge -- total bill: $92.50. Should be arriving in two to three weeks. (Will 2009 AE's be available in two to three weeks?) She got my e-mail address out of me -- to send a confirmation and also to send me notifications of future interesting news. I suppose I can always tell them to buzz off later. I'll keep you posted. jk |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
You have just signed up with a telemarketer an will be called repeated by high pressure salesmen to buy "rare" common coins at silly prices. Your name, address and email address will also be sold to other boiler room operations who will contact you by mail, email, and maybe by phone. Expect your spam folder to get stuffed. (If you are on the no-call list the secondary operators won't be able to call, but you now have "business dealings" with the first company which gets them around the no-call restrictions.) If you can put up with the pushy annoyance for a year or more and always say no, you may come out ahead. After a year of not buying anything they may drop you off their lists.
There are almost always companies out there running promotions like this one. Sometimes you can work them to your advantage. There was a company at the beginning of either this year or last year that was offering silve eagles for $5. By using various names, addresses etc, a guy on one of the coin forums managed to get something like 29 pieces out of them for $5 each.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
thats when I use an alternate email address using a fake name like santa claus, and have the coins shipped to my apartment, where I'm moving out of soon. its pretty entertaining seeing what junk mail I get addressed to "santa claus" too bad for the person who moves in after me.
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
I've done 4 of these deals 2 with Universal Coin and 2 with First American (same call center). Three completed and another pending. I gave them all accurate info. I have received 0 zero phone calls, zero emails, and zero mailings. Good deal to me. |
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Valued Member
United States
188 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
405 Posts |
Good Find...it always pays to investigate before buying from someone your not familiar with!
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Valued Member
United States
188 Posts |
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I saw this thread the other day and in the Feb Coins mag there was an ad for both companies. What tipped me off was that both ads used the same design just different company names. Turns out that both companies are owned by the same guy, this way they can screw each sucker twice.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
So
Edited by Parklane64
02/02/2009 1:48 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
I placed the order from the Kiplinger's ad back on 1/8. After about 15 days with no charge to my cc, I called to see what was up. They didnt even have me in their system and no order to be found (even though I had the order confirmation emailed to me right after I placed the order). I told them to forget about it...not worth the hassle.
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Valued Member
United States
156 Posts |
About a year and a half ago, I signed up for a free 2007 ASE from a Universal Coin advertisement in the front pages of the Red Book. A couple of weeks later, I received a NGC-slabbed coin, as advertised. I gave them my real name and home phone number, and an e-mail address that I use exclusively for companies that I worry may send me spam. Since then, I have received four mailings and two phone calls, the most recent of each coming in the past week. I tell them politely that I am not interested in investing right now; they seem to accept that. I might do it again in a year or two. One practical outcome of the offer was that I received my first example of an NGC slab that I could examine at length. Since then, I have sent four coins into NGC for certification, grading, and slabbing. In the end, I guess that the advertisement was a better pitch for NGC slabs than for Universal Coin's products. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
So, tallbrassones, who do you represent? That was uncalled-for. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
It may have been inappropriately worded, but I don't think it was uncalled for.
As a moderator you could have removed it rather than repeating it.
I have edited the original post..........
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Replies: 12 / Views: 10,254 |
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Posted 12/26/2008 12:45 pm
