(Silly) Frustration Dealing w/APMEX for a "Classic" PCGS Coin

winesteven

Each evening I conduct several different searches looking for coins on my Want List. Last night I found a potential one on APMEX, a "classic" coin, graded by PCGS, with a CAC sticker, in the grade I want, and the price was fair (but I'd still negotiate).. They have not yet posted a photo, as that might take a week or so. The cert # is not shown, either in their Product Details or Specifications. Their Product ID # is NOT the cert number.

Naturally, I won't buy a coin without seeing photos. I called them, and was surprised they will not have someone go to their vault to retrieve the coin to provide the cert number, so I can then research to see if there's a True View, and/or prior auction sales so I can then see a photo and make a determination to buy or pass.

Ugh!

Steve

bsshog40

Sounds like they don't care if they make a sale or not to me. That's customer service with todays businesses nowadays.

lkenefic

Wait... what??? You're asking someone to DO something?!! ...how unreasonable... lol.

Yeah, this is what passes for Customer Service these days...

LanLord

If this is how they treat a customer trying to spend money, think how poorly you’d be treated if something didn’t go right in the purchase.

This is just them telling you how they feel about their customers.

alefzero

I stopped buying from them because they use stock photos; you never know what will arrive. If you do varieties, like me, or are fanatical about certain presentation qualities, that is pretty much unacceptable. Even if there is an on-apptoval return guaranty, it takes time and diverts attention from alternate specimens.

ReadyFireAim

It's a bullion company.

As far as they are concerned, graded coins are interchangeable within the grade.
They used to use Hansen TrueViews as "file photos" and wonder why people were upset because they didn't get the pictured coin.

(Hansen was one of the 1st to make nice coin pictures readily available to the public)

TrickleCharge

If it has a CAC sticker are you sure that you even need to see the coin?

pmh1nic

You would think that when they received the coin in that the grade, tpg and cert. number would have been recorded. It makes no sense the way the list coins in high grades (65 and higher) that they wouldn't show the actual coin. I'm with you, wouldn't touch it.

PeakRarities

Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Goldminers

This exact thing happened to me. No photos of what I was interested in buying and no actual certificate details that I asked for, so I did not buy it. This policy has nearly eliminated all my purchases there and I used to buy many thousands of dollars a year.

winesteven

@alefzero said:
I stopped buying from them because they use stock photos; you never know what will arrive. If you do varieties, like me, or are fanatical about certain presentation qualities, that is pretty much unacceptable. Even if there is an on-approval return guaranty, it takes time and diverts attention from alternate specimens.

Actually, it seems as of late they started using photos of the actual item being sold, but one has to make sure of that for that item before buying! I bought a Type coin from them 1-1/2 months ago, and they used a real photo of that coin.

Steve

winesteven

@TrickleCharge said:
If it has a CAC sticker are you sure that you even need to see the coin?

Ha! Yes, go ahead and make fun, it's ok

Steve

winesteven

@DeplorableDan said:
Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Dan - thanks, that's great! See the pm.

Steve

PeakRarities

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:
Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Dan - thanks, that's great! See the pm.

Steve

Got it, I just made a call. Stand by.

winesteven

@DeplorableDan said:

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:
Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Dan - thanks, that's great! See the pm.

Steve

Got it, I just made a call. Stand by.

Dan - Please PM the cert #, rather than post it here.

Steve

Barberian

@winesteven said:

@alefzero said:
I stopped buying from them because they use stock photos; you never know what will arrive. If you do varieties, like me, or are fanatical about certain presentation qualities, that is pretty much unacceptable. Even if there is an on-approval return guaranty, it takes time and diverts attention from alternate specimens.

Actually, it seems as of late they started using photos of the actual item being sold, but one has to make sure of that for that item before buying! I bought a Type coin from them 1-1/2 months ago, and they used a real photo of that coin.

Steve

But one can never be certain with them. They once had an NGC VF30 1855/54 half that was mislabeled as an 1855 normal date for sale for the price of the overdate. Will they send the mislabeled overdate, or will they send an actual 55 normal date worth 70% less? When informed of this needless buyer uncertainty, they did nothing.

DisneyFan

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:
Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Dan - thanks, that's great! See the pm.

Steve

Got it, I just made a call. Stand by.

Dan - Please PM the cert #, rather than post it here.

Steve

Yea! Given that @winesteven wants it, it's a good one and somebody might try to steal it out from under him.

lermish

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:
Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Dan - thanks, that's great! See the pm.

Steve

Got it, I just made a call. Stand by.

Dan - Please PM the cert #, rather than post it here.

Steve

Then how are we supposed to snipe it???

pointfivezero

I've contacted APMEX for similar scenarios and they have provided the cert number. I'm a VIP member so I'm not sure if that weighs into their decision making process.

Good luck with your quest.

Tim

airplanenut

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:
Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Dan - thanks, that's great! See the pm.

Steve

Got it, I just made a call. Stand by.

Dan - Please PM the cert #, rather than post it here.

Also, if @winesteven likes it, tell your contact I'm in at $1 above Steve's top offer, Bob. I mean Dan.

Proofmorgan

I believe a lot of their inventory is consigned from a large dealer(s). If you could locate the source, you may be able to save some money.

PeakRarities

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:

@winesteven said:

@DeplorableDan said:
Steve, if you want to send me the details I’ll get you the pictures. I have someone there that could help…

Dan - thanks, that's great! See the pm.

Steve

Got it, I just made a call. Stand by.

Dan - Please PM the cert #, rather than post it here.

Steve

Don't have the cert number yet Steve, but i pmed you quality photos of both sides of the coin

alaura22

Why would it take "I have a guy" to get information on a coin that they are selling???
When I see their posts on Ebay I just keep going,
Sorry Steve, I hope that Dan is able to find the info you need/want, but keep in mind, do you really want to do business with that company?

PeakRarities

@alaura22 said:
Why would it take "I have a guy" to get information on a coin that they are selling???
When I see their posts on Ebay I just keep going,
Sorry Steve, I hope that Dan is able to find the info you need/want, but keep in mind, do you really want to do business with that company?

+1

winesteven

@alaura22 said:
Why would it take "I have a guy" to get information on a coin that they are selling???
When I see their posts on Ebay I just keep going,
Sorry Steve, I hope that Dan is able to find the info you need/want, but keep in mind, do you really want to do business with that company?

Mike - I understand your point, but I don’t want to cut off my nose to spite my face. I’ve been searching for a potential upgrade for my existing lovely coin for quite a while. I have not yet looked at the photos Dan pm’d, but chances are, if I had to guess, I’ll end up passing as I did on over a dozen of others I’ve seen.

Steve

winesteven

I saw the photos, and I’ll be passing, as I like my current coin’s eye appeal better, even though my coin is a plus, lower than the higher whole grade of this coin.

DD, greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Steve

lermish

@winesteven said:

@alaura22 said:
Why would it take "I have a guy" to get information on a coin that they are selling???
When I see their posts on Ebay I just keep going,
Sorry Steve, I hope that Dan is able to find the info you need/want, but keep in mind, do you really want to do business with that company?

Mike - I understand your point, but I don’t want to cut off my nose to spite my face. I’ve been searching for a potential upgrade for my existing lovely coin for quite a while. I have not yet looked at the photos Dan pm’d, but chances are, if I had to guess, I’ll end up passing as I did on over a dozen of others I’ve seen.

Steve

Steve - You are 100% right as usual... but I did indeed choose to cut off my nose regardless. I had picked up a few coins from them but they sold me a chopmarked trade dollar and did not disclose using a stock photo (and hadn't used stock photos on prior chopped T$ purchases). Anyway, long story short, I am now blacklisted and can't buy from them.

lkenefic

I've inadvertently ended up with two APMEX coins... the first coin is a 1794 Liberty Cap LC PCGS VF20. I recognized the coin when I saw it at a Baltimore show on JJ Teapartys table. APMEX had it on ebay for $2200 and I had it on my watchlist for a couple of months... I got it from JJ Teaparty for $1800. The second coin was basically a bullion piece on ebay for around $100 over melt at the time... 1924 $20 Saint MS65... widget... its accurately graded with decent luster and a very common date... yawn... but it's real.

TrickleCharge

@winesteven said:
I saw the photos, and I’ll be passing, as I like my current coin’s eye appeal better, even though my coin is a plus, lower than the higher whole grade of this coin.

DD, greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Steve

I joke about buying the coin unseen just because it has a CAC sticker, but in all seriousness I admire your collecting style Steve. Here you have a higher graded coin with CAC, but ultimately it falls short of your lower graded CAC one. We have lots of tools available to help size up a coin, but as you have often said it has to also be something that you like. Without even seeing the coin, that's the right decision for you and I hope a superior one worthy of your approval does come your way in the future.

winesteven

@TrickleCharge said:

@winesteven said:
I saw the photos, and I’ll be passing, as I like my current coin’s eye appeal better, even though my coin is a plus, lower than the higher whole grade of this coin.

DD, greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Steve

I joke about buying the coin unseen just because it has a CAC sticker, but in all seriousness I admire your collecting style Steve. Here you have a higher graded coin with CAC, but ultimately it falls short of your lower graded CAC one. We have lots of tools available to help size up a coin, but as you have often said it has to also be something that you like. Without even seeing the coin, that's the right decision for you and I hope a superior one worthy of your approval does come your way in the future.

Yes, I recognized your joke, and it made me chuckle with you, hence my “Ha” in my reply.

Thanks for your kind words.

Steve

ProofCollection

Every business has its established processes and work flows which are designed to reduce screwups and increase efficiency, at least in their opinion. Some of these practices may not be customer friendly as is the case here. We can complain or suggest ways they can do things better but clearly there's a reason why they do it the way they do. Either live it it or boycott them for it.

goodmoney4badmoney

@Proofmorgan said:
I believe a lot of their inventory is consigned from a large dealer(s). If you could locate the source, you may be able to save some money.

This is true, I have done it.

logger7

They've been too big for too long to really manage quality control well of numismatics imo. I had good experiences with selling bullion to them though.

winesteven

@goodmoney4badmoney said:

@Proofmorgan said:
I believe a lot of their inventory is consigned from a large dealer(s). If you could locate the source, you may be able to save some money.

This is true, I have done it.

I’d appreciate if @Proofmorgan or @goodmoney4badmoney could teach me how to do this, if the pop of the coin I’m looking for is over 200, and no photos or cert number is provided. Once I have either, then I understand how to search, which I too regularly try to do.

Thanks.

Steve

Manorcourtman

The topic of APMEX has been discussed many times over the years. My last contact with them was several years ago. I called about purchasing a coin and asked if I would get the one pictured on the website. I asked them to verify the one pictured was the one the would get and they would not. They said I would get one graded the same. They would not verify or expend any effort whatsoever. That's the second time I asked them to verify a coin and they would not. I haven't done business with them since. They are apparently to big to care about very basic customer service.

1madman

@Proofmorgan said:
I believe a lot of their inventory is consigned from a large dealer(s). If you could locate the source, you may be able to save some money.

I know heritage is one of their sources

winesteven

But it seems to some extent their procedures have recently been modified (like L& C Coins too).

Just 1-1/2 months ago I purchased a nice Type coin from APMEX, after easily having their product specialist confirm the coin being sold was the coin showed, along with that Cert number.

Several months ago I bought a nice Morgan Dollar from L&C after they too confirmed the coin I would receive was the one in the holder with cert number shown. THAT coin was so nice, I sent it in for Reconsideration, and PCGS added on a plus, and CAC automatically restickered it.

Steve

goodmoney4badmoney

@winesteven In my case it's because I specialize in only errors. Due to the unique nature of them it wasn't too difficult. It's very rare for them to have stock type photos in the coins and currency error listings.

ProofCollection

@winesteven said:
But it seems to some extent their procedures have recently been modified (like L& C Coins too).

Just 1-1/2 months ago I purchased a nice Type coin from APMEX, after easily having their product specialist confirm the coin being sold was the coin showed, along with that Cert number.

Several months ago I bought a nice Morgan Dollar from L&C after they too confirmed the coin I would receive was the one in the holder with cert number shown. THAT coin was so nice, I sent it in for Reconsideration, and PCGS added on a plus, and CAC automatically restickered it.

Steve

Now if only we can get both of them to post better pictures. I'm not sure how they expect to sell some of those high dollar coins with such lousy pictures.

SurfinxHI

I know it was said here, but APMEX is primarily bullion….and their customer service has always been impeccable for me, on the buy or sell side. My guess is if you want a full service coin dealer, then APMEX might not be for you. But if you need to buy or sell bullion, they might be a good match.

Surf

MWallace

I discovered a few years ago by pure chance that they list coins for sale with photos that are from another dealers stock, and at much higher prices. I posted that fact here with links to both sites and was berated for it. The biggest majority here saw nothing wrong with it. I do see something wrong with it.

jmlanzaf

@SurfinxHI said:
I know it was said here, but APMEX is primarily bullion….and their customer service has always been impeccable for me, on the buy or sell side. My guess is if you want a full service coin dealer, then APMEX might not be for you. But if you need to buy or sell bullion, they might be a good match.

Surf

This.

jmlanzaf

@MWallace said:
I discovered a few years ago by pure chance that they list coins for sale with photos that are from another dealers stock, and at much higher prices. I posted that fact here with links to both sites and was berated for it. The biggest majority here saw nothing wrong with it. I do see something wrong with it.

I still see nothing wrong with it. If I'm a dealer, I want eyeballs on my product. Are you also mad at the dealer that they have a relationship with?

knovak1976

@lermish said:
…………

Steve

Then how are we supposed to snipe it???

I have that new app called “Sniping coins that people won’t tell you what they are”……and it’s great! 🤪😂

Bikergeek

Um, so now that @winesteven isn't buying the coin - how's about putting a darn picture in this thread? You can't actually expect me to just read words here and not see any pretty pictures?!?!

Manifest_Destiny

@MWallace said:
I discovered a few years ago by pure chance that they list coins for sale with photos that are from another dealers stock, and at much higher prices. I posted that fact here with links to both sites and was berated for it. The biggest majority here saw nothing wrong with it. I do see something wrong with it.

I'm ok with it as long as they have a relationship with the other dealer and it's done with their knowledge. It's no different than all the drop shippers on ebay who fulfill orders through Amazon.

PeakRarities

@Bikergeek said:
Um, so now that @winesteven isn't buying the coin - how's about putting a darn picture in this thread? You can't actually expect me to just read words here and not see any pretty pictures?!?!

winesteven

@Bikergeek said:
Um, so now that @winesteven isn't buying the coin - how's about putting a darn picture in this thread? You can't actually expect me to just read words here and not see any pretty pictures?!?!

I'd prefer not to, because if someone else is interested in buying it, I don't think it's fair to the dealer for me to present publicly a negative comment on a coin currently for sale. However, I'll gladly pm it to you, on the condition that you do not post it.

Steve

ProofCollection

@winesteven said:

@Bikergeek said:
Um, so now that @winesteven isn't buying the coin - how's about putting a darn picture in this thread? You can't actually expect me to just read words here and not see any pretty pictures?!?!

I'd prefer not to, because if someone else is interested in buying it, I don't think it's fair to the dealer for me to present publicly a negative comment on a coin currently for sale. However, I'll gladly pm it to you, on the condition that you do not post it.

Steve

It's really no different than an unflattering product review...

winesteven

I see DD posted the MS67 above.

Here's my MS66+:

Steve

jfriedm56

@winesteven said:
I see DD posted the MS67 above.

Here's my MS66+:

Steve

I know you have a great eye Steve. Your coin is much nicer than the other posted.