Hey, Mint! Time for a Lottery

messydesk

Seriously, if you're going to have a limited run like this and you know your website is going to feel like its under a DoS attack, causing you to temporarily lock out your customers with new and untested infrastructure, it's time to have a lottery for these issues.

morgansforever

Totally agree, emails selected randomly inviting you to purchase one of each. Did manage to get a sliver version though.

Bochiman

What's really sad is that they could get AWS, Azure, or whatever the heck they use, to allocate them more bandwidth during these times. I used to work at a company that did stuff like that and there is a lot they could do, behind the scenes, to handle short term traffic increases, if they properly estimated/prepared.

jedm

@Bochiman -that's all Greek (or is it Geek?) to me, but any idea is better than what they have now.

TurtleCat

@Bochiman said:
What's really sad is that they could get AWS, Azure, or whatever the heck they use, to allocate them more bandwidth during these times. I used to work at a company that did stuff like that and there is a lot they could do, behind the scenes, to handle short term traffic increases, if they properly estimated/prepared.

I bet they aren't using a cloud host. So not only would it be better for them on a scale basis it would probably be a lot cheaper in the end. But they would still mess up and include their authentication key on an about page or something.

Bochiman

I believe they are using cloudflare (I don't know much about that company), as that was part of the 'banned' message many of us got for the traffic.

Whoever is doing their IT is really bad but, hey, government employee, right?

Bochiman

@jedm said:
@Bochiman -that's all Greek (or is it Geek?) to me, but any idea is better than what they have now.

LOL.....sorry.
Basically I'm saying that they are using 1 lane of the freeway and driving like that 95yo grandma....when the other 3 lanes are available, IF they want it, most likely.

JBK

@messydesk said:
you know your website is going to feel like its under a DoS attack,

This is essentially what is happening. No excuse by the mint.

jedm

Ok, that I can understand... thanks for the translation.

TurtleCat

@JBK said:

@messydesk said:
you know your website is going to feel like its under a DoS attack,

This is essentially what is happening. No excuse by the mint.

Especially since this is a recurring issue. Plenty of ways for them to resolve it. They must want it on some level.

Downtown1974

I don’t buy from the mint, but isn’t their an ASE program where collectors are sent new coins at the time of issue? If so, collectors enrolled in the program should have first cracks at it. I’d be so frustrated if I was collecting the series and couldn’t obtain one because I lost out to flippers looking for a quick buck.

cmerlo1

I've had a silver one in my cart since they went on sale and still can't checkout. I made it all the way to the payment part a few times now and I get kicked out.

3stars

One thing about increasing bandwidth - many government contracts are structured so that if you double bandwidth for a small period, you are stuck paying the higher rate for a year.

ricko

@3stars .... I do not think the cost is the consideration... I believe, based on all I have read and understand, it is a lack of understanding what is available and what is needed....Cheers, RickO

Desert Moon

By now folks should realize that the US Mint could not care less about their customers and won't change to make it better. We have seen this for decades. They know they are going to sell out limited editions, so what is their incentive to improve their customer relations and ease of use for ordering during the IPOs? None. Don't like it? Well then don't buy their overpriced bullion, instead there are millions of great coins out there where you don't have to deal with the mint.......

Best, SH

Coinosaurus

The Mint could (and should) do a better job, but keep in mind that 99% of the complaints about this are coming from buyers who were going to immediately flip anything they were able to acquire.

MsMorrisine

this topic has been brought up recently -- https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1046416/should-the-mint-try-a-lottery-for-low-mintage-high-demand-coins

the general thought is those who have large friends and family networks will simply stuff the lottery box. the odds for getting a coin will be the same as those with a working web site.

the only solution:

mint

to

demand

Mgarmy

@Coinosaurus said:
The Mint could (and should) do a better job, but keep in mind that 99% of the complaints about this are coming from buyers who were going to immediately flip anything they were able to acquire.

That is not what I have been seeing on FB mint page. Now granted they could by lying but most appear to be collectors that are fired up.

MFeld

@MsMorrisine said:
this topic has been brought up recently -- https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1046416/should-the-mint-try-a-lottery-for-low-mintage-high-demand-coins

the general thought is those who have large friends and family networks will simply stuff the lottery box. the odds for getting a coin will be the same as those with a working web site.

the only solution:

mint

to

demand

That would satisfy the wants of collectors, who truly wish to buy and hold the coins for their collections. At the same time, it would dramatically reduce the total demand, as (most) flippers would no longer have interest.

Mgarmy

Honest question Mr.Feld, are flippers good for the business of coins vice the hobby of coin collecting?
OR
In your educated opinion are the hobby and the business one in the same?

MFeld

@Mgarmy said:
Honest question Mr.Feld, are flippers good for the business of coins vice the hobby of coin collecting?
OR
In your educated opinion are the hobby and the business one in the same?

I don’t feel that flippers are good for the hobby of coin collecting. However, these days, many “collectors” are flippers, too. Additionally, over the past decade or two, the lines between “collector” and “dealer“, as well as “hobby” and “business”, have been blurred considerably.

53BKid

They've had over a decade since the 2006 release of the 20th Anniversary Eagles to dramatically improve the process. The top administrators all approved the CATCHA element and their I.T. back tested all of it. They knew its shortcomings and didn't care in the least.

And just like everything put out by bureaucrats, the mint's response reeks of lack of accountability.

How pathetic!

Mgarmy

Thank you Mr. Feld. Concur with your assessment

Zoins

@53BKid said:
They've had over a decade since the 2006 release of the 20th Anniversary Eagles to dramatically improve the process.

I still have a set of these from the Mint. The funny thing is I've never seen the coins as feel like I shouldn't open them until they go to PCGS for First Strike.

Zoins

@MFeld said:

@Mgarmy said:
Honest question Mr.Feld, are flippers good for the business of coins vice the hobby of coin collecting?
OR
In your educated opinion are the hobby and the business one in the same?

I don’t feel that flippers are good for the hobby of coin collecting. However, these days, many “collectors” are flippers, too. Additionally, over the past decade or two, the lines between “collector” and “dealer“, as well as “hobby” and “business”, have been blurred considerably.

Things like the BST, eBay, and GC, along with the transformation of Heritage and Stack's has made it easier for collectors to sell on their own. A lot of this is driven by the move online.

Kliao

I just don't get how a lottery system is gonna solve anything. All its doing is having more people sign up that cant be there for the release hence more competition and frustration.

opportunity

Under a lottery system, the same bitter non-getters would just find another way to complain. I personally enjoy the thrill of the chase.

MetroD

@Kliao said:
I just don't get how a lottery system is gonna solve anything. All its doing is having more people sign up that cant be there for the release hence more competition and frustration.

It removes the 'tech' advantage. For example, 'bots' will no longer have an advantage over humans due to speed.

As you astutely pointed out, however, it is not a perfect 'fix' (e.g., people enter that would not have been available at release, buyer groups would make multiple entries, etc.).

Kccoin

Can the Mint legally have a lottery?

The chance or option to buy would also become an item for sale.

MetroD

@Kccoin said:
Can the Mint legally have a lottery?

The chance or option to buy would also become an item for sale.

If the potential sale of a 'winning ticket' created legal issues, the Mint could simply issue the entries as non-transferrable.

Dollar2007

@opportunity said:
Under a lottery system, the same bitter non-getters would just find another way to complain. I personally enjoy the thrill of the chase.

Exactly, lotteries are worse and will lower their chances even more. Every possible person and more will put their name in and then only a tiny amount of people who put no effort in will get them. I got a silver this time, and know people who got a gold. I unfortunately did not, but I definitely do not want it to go to a lottery system.

I could see under a Biden mint director these limited releases not being common, so this may be the last one for a while. But we will see.

Mgarmy

Based on what?

Rarity

I could not get in despite numerous attempts so I gave up. I am happy for whoever was able to get the coin. My friends managed to get 1 silver coin each, all 3 of them. I like the lottery system which will give buyers a chance to place the order and the Mint will pick out the winner randomly. Actually I wish the 75th WWII anniversary gold coin has a different/newer design than the one sold 2 days ago. Cheers

Onastone

@Rarity said:

Actually I wish the 75th WWII anniversary gold coin has a different/newer design than the one sold 2 days ago.

It does. It's a close-up of an Eagle carrying an olive branch.