Anybody ever hear of a company called Benchmark Ventures?

Russ

Is this a board member here?



<< <i>Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 10:48:48 -0800
From: Peter Cabral <pwc@bvcoins.com>
Subject: Want List
To: Russ Kent <one@tacube.com>
Organization: Benchmark-Ventures LP
X-Mailer: GoldMine [5.70.11111]
X-AntiAbuse: This header was added to track abuse, please include it with any abuse report
X-AntiAbuse: Primary Hostname - seattle.dnsvault.com
X-AntiAbuse: Original Domain - tacube.com
X-AntiAbuse: Originator/Caller UID/GID - [0 0] / [0 0]
X-AntiAbuse: Sender Address Domain - bvcoins.com
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by www35.web2010.com id NAA18954

Hi Russ.

I was wondering if you have a wantlist of coins for me to work? Please review our website, and tell me if there is something you like.

Thanks,

Peter Cabral
email - pwc@BVCoins.com
website - www.BVCoins.com
(800) 209-9444 x105
(949) 443-9712

Benchmark Ventures LP
34270 Pacific Coast Highway
Suite F
Dana Point, CA 92629 >>



I don't remember ever doing business with this one. eMail address is the one I use here, and whomever/whatever they used to grab addresses thinks my city of residence is my last name, so they definitely grabbed it here. Anybody else get this mail?

Russ, NCNE

kranky

I don't recognize the name (not that that means anything). Their site is a little too glitzy and "investment-oriented" for my taste. Plus, any company that has a phone number with the word GOLD in it is a red flag for me.

But just in case they read the board, you guys need to fix something on your website. On the pages that have the lists of coins (for each denomination), showing the price and grade, you don't show if the coin is CAM or DCAM unless you go to the coin's detail page. It needs to be right next to the grade on the listing pages.

dpoole

They apparently deal with low pop high grade coins. I just got a nice DCAM 3CN from them. Only dealing I've had with them so far. They apparently are emailing Registry Types now with their wares.

kieferscoins

www.BVCoins.com

Cameron Kiefer

nwcs

I bet it's against the rules to spam registry people. But nothing can be done about it. That's one reason why I make my email invisible on the registry and here. Cuts down on numispam.

Russ

They didn't go through the registry to spam me. That's not the eMail address I use in my sets.

Russ, NCNE

UncleJoe

Russ, I just received an e-mail from the very same person asking if I was interested in a 1955 DD he has for sale. He obviously got that info from this message board.

Joe.

goose3

I rec'd an email from this spammer about an MS65 8/7 FE cent. I ran it through spamcop.

DesertLizard

My "spidy sense" tells me to trend carefully with this one. Any firm that spams and claims a BILLION $ in transactions....well if that is their true volume do they really have to resort to spam?

Almost forgot, any dealer who claims his wares are an "investment", run, don't walk away! Coins are not an investment. Repeat after me, "Coins are...".

dpoole

I don't mind numismaspam so much myself, so long as they identify the source and respect "opt out" directions from me. I've found out about some items I've actually wanted and was having trouble locating that way, as in this case.

The spam all of us hate and loathe is the junk we get all the time that advertises stuff we obviously don't need, like Viagra.

FC57Coins

<< <i>The spam all of us hate and loathe is the junk we get all the time that advertises stuff we obviously don't need, like Viagra. >>



Spoken like a manly "Franklin" man!

Russ

Personally, I hate any and all spam and flatly refuse to do business with any company that uses it for marketing. I don't care what they're selling, they will never get my business. I'm buried in over 150 spam mail a day.

Now, if a board member is cruising through the reg sets, grabs my address and drops me a note about a specific coin, I like that. That's why I have my address in there.

Russ, NCNE

FC57Coins

Gee Russ - your anti-spam thread got spammed! LOL

Russ

Frank,

You have an excellent brain, and it's not just because I was thinking the same thing.

Russ, NCNE

Pushkin

grip

Pete,
You can email me anytime with new stock(merc's).I also would like to thank you for your help on the 25 Merc,keep in touch.Al

merz2

Russ
I just got home and had the same E-mail.I think they are useing the PCGS Registry E-mail info to send these out.Just my opinion.

DesertLizard

Perhaps they need a definition on what SPAM is?

Don't you just love those who lurk & then ask for your business? More humungous egos.

Russ

merz2,

In my case, at least, it wasn't the PCGS registry info. The address that I use in my sets is not the address the eMail was sent to. They sent it to the address in my profile here at the forums.

Russ, NCNE

grip

I dont consider it spam.As it is it's hard enough trying to locate top quality coin's before there bought up,Keep in mind looking is free your not oblagated .As you also have the power to delete your email.
Another email to me means nothing.....I will also take all the help I can get.Al

beartracks42

I guess i do not mind being spammed by a coin dealer...it is all of the other trash that I have a problem with. Everybody and his brother must sell email addresses these days.

sinin1

I'd rather get spam about coins than spam about "refinance now" or "fortunes can be made in options on heating oil". Heck how many mortgages does one need - and I'd rather have an ACG slab than an out-of- the-money option on heating oil.



Dig that photo icon - is it a webcam?

Loki

RegistryCoin

I would think that many, if not most of us have made (and received) "cold calls" in our careers. We knew that there would be "hang-ups", but sometimes a legimate discussion would unsue.
Thanks for the post Peter. PM sent.

DCAMFranklin

I've not only received "cold calls", I've made 1000's of them. I'm always glad to receive an introduction! Peter, I'm glad to know of you and Benchmark Ventures.

tradedollarnut

I see where a representative of Benchmark Ventures claims they have $12M in inventory? That's an awful lot of coins to have on hand.

I wonder if they have an MS69 trade dollar?

roadrunner

TDN, now why didn't I think of that! That's two things I should have known.

In any event if they don't have an MS69 trade dollar one can be found in short order after receipt of your good faith check. With $12MM in inventory there's gotta be at least one of those silly trades floating around. I also wonder why they advertise coins that
are on other people's web site? (the 1841 25c in PCGS MS 65 for example).

roadrunner

DesertLizard

Ahem, may I point out my 2-3 posts earlier in this thread?

The "spidysense" is never ever wrong!

tradedollarnut

$12M in inventory would mean $60k per month (!) in carrying costs - man, that's a lot of gross profit needed just to crack that nut.

Outhaul

This guy spams the crap out of me all the time. I bid on one of his coins once, and that's all it took. Reported him to eBay, but no joy...well...what would you expect?

Cheers,

Bob

agentjim007

this is not the only company that advertises a 12M inventory. so does Estate Wholesalers on page 53 of the 12/3/2002 issue of Numismatic News.

Zerbe

A very noteworthy observation. Thanks for that !!!

Russ

Jim,

According to their web site, Estate Wholesalers has a $7 million inventory. I wonder which is correct?

Russ, NCNE

tradedollarnut

Sorry, Pete. Not interested. I just bought a REAL coin - should be announced in a month.

Russ

<< <i>If you purchased a coin from me personally in the past few years, or asked me to be on our list, that is why you receive emails from us. >>



CoinPete,

Really? I have never purchased a coin from your company, nor have I ever requested to be on your list. In point of fact, I have never purchased a coin from any dealer using the eMail address where you sent the SPAM that is the topic of this thread. The only place that address is ever used is at internet forums.

In addition, if I had ever used that eMail address for a coin purchase, it would certainly not be recorded as "Russ Kent". Kent is the city where I live, not my last name. It is also listed in my profile here, making it clear that you culled the address from this forum to do your spamming.

Russ, NCNE

Edited for tone.

Outhaul

Well Pete, I apologize, you're absolutely right. I never won an eBay auction from Benchmark, never even purchased from Benchmark either. However, I did receive several unsolicited e-mails awhile ago that stated the following:

I noticed you were bidding on XXX and would like to let you know that we have this-and-that and such-and-such, fill your want list, etc....

So while you may not have done this personally, someone at Benchmark has. I did reply to "Unsubscribe", although I didn't subscribe to begin with. So while YOU may be an upstanding individual, someone else at Benchmark was trolling for business, although your name was on the sig block. That's why I have Benchmark on my list to avoid along with several others who engage in the same practice.

So, unless you are privy to all that goes on at Benchmark I think you ought to wait before passing judgement. I may have been off the mark slightly, but Benchmark, nevertheless, didn't just pull my e-mail out of thin air. Methinks Benchmark is flinging the BS.

Cheers,

Bob

tradedollarnut

Actually, when they saw you had posted on that printout, Greg, they all fled the office - pronto!

DesertLizard

From Mr. Pete Cabral earlier today:

If you guys are so full of yourselves that you can do nothing better than bag on others, well, I am sure all the lurkers out there can see right through your BS. If you want to buy my coins, fine. If not, fine. But don’t think your crap makes a hill of difference to me. I don’t need you to sell coins, and if you want to continue to buy OUR coins from other retailers, by all means, it’s your money. Pay them to call me, and we don’t ever have to talk.

1] Sure there are a few loose cannons on CU but they are hardly full of themselves. They contribute to the furthering of this great hobby. I have learned more from them in a few months than any other source. We do not like SPAM and self promoting messages. Maybe if your firm shared a little knowledge people would cut some slack.

2] No we don't want to buy your coins. You seem to think it boils down to paying the lowest price? Maybe your relationships do but I feel others will agree, we like to do business with nice people who don't mind sharing knowledge [i.e. Pinnacle] and without the arrogance. Ever try to nurture a business relationship?

3] Rest assured we will never have to talk, I will be talking to your competition.

The level of arrogance displayed here is greater than anyone has shown here before. The opportunity to explain was granted and I wanted to keep an open mind on the whole subject. Sadly, I think you lost a whole group of potential sympathizers, not that you really care.

The attitudes and egos in this business never cease to amaze me. The last 24 hours takes the cake.

Bulldog

Pete,

I believe that you are sincere and only offered the info in good faith.

Happy Holidays

Bulldog

tradedollarnut

As to our inventory and carrying costs – the nice part is, we own our coins. Do you consider your collection to have carrying costs?

Ouch! Somebody just got a D- on their Econ 101 midterm! And now for extra credit:

If you want to buy my coins, fine. If not, fine. But don’t think your crap makes a hill of difference to me. I don’t need you to sell coins, and if you want to continue to buy OUR coins from other retailers, by all means, it’s your money. Pay them to call me, and we don’t ever have to talk.

Ewwww! Never let them see you sweat....big time F!

It'll be interesting to see which company's strategy pays off best in the long run: Pinnacle's Mark Feld contributing time and effort in a diplomatic and unoffensive fashion; Anaconda's in your face blatant promotionism (with a twist and flair all his own - I like it! Or...I think I do? Well...I just can't help myself!); or Pete's "speak loudly and carry a big stick" bluster! Hmmmm.

roadrunner

Pete,

Yes, I absolutely own all my coins. Every one of them all paid for. I don't buy on credit. I also compete for coins at major auctions and are not aware of Benchmark. From my standpoint the largest and most consistent buyer at the major sales is Martin Paul of the Rarities Group. If Mr. Paul is associated with BVLP in some way then I'll agree with you that YOU are the biggest buyer. Otherwise, I don't buy it. I always have coins for sale but why should I offer them to BVLP? Who is BVLP?

If I really want a coin at the right price I'll go to one of the retailers like Legend and get it cheaper or get it out of auction. Specifically I mentioned the 1841 PCGS65 quarter on your website at $12,500. Now if that was the best deal around on this coin, why is it now available on Legend's web site for under $10,000? I thought you had the best price the first time around. Sorry, but your words don't seem to be supported by facts. I appreciate the fact that your website probably was not updated but the price of the coin remains what it is.

roadrunner

tradedollarnut

Well, Roadrunner, since they saved all that money on the inventory they own, they can pass the savings on to the customer! Since we know Legend makes a 15% or so markup, they've got about $8300 in the coin. That means BV had it listed at a 50% markup or more??? Is my math right?

Good thing they pass on those inventory carrying savings to us poor chaps - we'd never be able to afford them otherwise!

roadrunner

Yes, your math looks right on. But I always chuckle that retailers
(clothiers in particular) cannot EVER make 100% on an item. You and I can make 100% by buying for $200 and selling for $400. But a clothes retailer (and maybe BV too) defines that sale as a profit of 50%! And what's more $200 turned into $1000 is only an 80% profit
(1000-200/1000). This is "retailer" math. The government may use a similar method in computing the inflation indexes.

There doesn't appear to be anything extraordinary about the value BV offers that isn't available elsewhere unless having a $12MM inventory is a mandatory requirement for a potential buyer.

roadrunner