What does Heritage do with their collectors' data?

RYK

I am one of the umpteen thousand collectors registered with Heritage as I expect most folks are on these boards. I also use their "My Collection" database to keep track of my coins. I think it is an excellent service, and until now, I thought that you cannot beat the price.

I received calls at home the last two weeks from a Heritage representative informing me that he has perused my database entries and Heritage would be very interested in having some of the coins for their FUN auction in January. He was polite and professional. I just never expected such a call.

On one hand, it is Heritage's database, and they have the right to do whatever they want with the information. It is probably no different than your bank reviewing your account activity and offering you a special rate on a CD or other premium service. On the other hand, I feel that there is a loss of privacy that bothers me just a bit. Perhaps, I am being too sensitive. Comments?

Nonetheless, I plan to make my own Excel spreadsheet to keep a database or purchase a commercially available package and remove my information from Heritage's site. Any recommendations?

wingedliberty

You raise a valid point and I use this feature also, but must admit to having had no expectation of privacy when I started using it, being familiar with their (Heritage) aggressive marketing machine, nevertheless, the service is fun. I always enjoy entering a new coin in my collection and the Heritage value index generating an -ASK- entry instead of a price! Have you had that also?

Robgetty

They promise not to sell or give your information to others; I guess that it is not that
big of a deal if they want to drool over your stuff. You must have nicer coins in your
collection than I have; I've only received letters reminding me that they would love to
sell some or all of my coins if I am interested in selling; I've never been called.

michael

they use it within reason to further their bottom line

nothing wrong with that

not good nor bad

or right or wrong just the way ti is their web site is quite a valuable free tool any collecgor can use for free

if you choose to use all their options to store your collection or put your personal proprietry information stored on a site of a private company then you should expect many to read it within the company and react LOL accounrdingly in tier own best interests

again nothing wrong with that as you have a choice to do this or not

i hope you make all the right choices as to what is best for you!!

if you put your portfolio out in the open for a vested interest for profit private concern to see of course they will contact you with proposals

they are not there as a free social insitiution bills and web page expenses and saleries have to be paid

michael

dpoole

I agree with michael and others here.

My own experience is that they will contact me from time to time about upcoming auctions, seeing if I might want to put up something. There's never been any pressure or harassment, and no bothering me otherwise. I get emails, but that's generated by my Want List with them, or are reminders of auctions they have coming up (the result, I presume, of my membership info with them, not the result of the contents of My Collection).

Based on my experience with Heritage, My Collection is a terrifically neat service they provide, by which they provide you info about sales and pops, and by which they give you a handy way to record your coins and your data about them. In exchange, they get to see what you have. And from my experience they have never abused that knowledge and access in any way.

michael

david is absolutely right heirtage is really very good about the great free site and if at any time you do not want them to ciontact you you just tell them and they will obligue

but it is fun for me to get all their e mails about coins and auctions and much information i always learn

i love their site and all the information they send me!

michael

theres is one of the besyt sites on the coin web in my opinion

ohbaby

I feel that there is a loss of privacy that bothers me just a bit. Perhaps, I am being too sensitive.

Ryk, you are absolutely right and you are not being too sensitive. I believe you can opt out from being called. I just wish companies would allow people to OPT IN versus assuming we want to be contacted.

I do not participate for the privacy issues. Not that I don't want to be called but who has access to this information?

Many companies claim they will not sell your information, but if the company is sold to another party usually all bets are off and they can then do whatever they want with the info. Or they can simply send you a fine print notice saying the policy has changed and if you want to opt out you must do so in writing. In other words they make it difficult. Just like the Federal do not call list.

I see people posting here how to be wary at shows and avoid getting ripped off. I have always maintained ripoffs are inside jobs. Someone KNOWS you have something valuable. Remember state quarter collectors don't get robbed! Ever wonder why? The "My Collection" data in the wrong hands is a road map to rip off or scam collectors.

I am not inferring anything about Heritage. They are a fine company, and a huge asset to the collecting community and set a high bar for others to compete. However, the My Collection has the potential to create problems. If you are aware of it and comfortable with that it is a nice tool.

I keep track on a coin collecting software program I designed. Safe guard your privacy and protect your safety. It's sad we must live in this type of world and we can only blame our courts and elected officials but that's another thread!