Littleton Coin gripe? ...

cmeisenzahl

A couple weeks ago I sent a request to them for a catalog. Yesterday I got it in the mail along with about $18 worth of coins that they wanted $27 for. I have to buy them or send them back at my expense.

I went back and looked at the request page and it briefly mentions being sent coins. Still kind of torques me off. :-(



Chris

mrearlygold

Throw a lot of crap up against the wall and even if just a percentage sticks,

you know.

Lot of money made that way.


Tom

ziggy29

Sounds like a pretty questionable way to do business, but also a reminder to read the fine print.

Littleton's stuff is way overpriced, anyway. If they were only charging $27 for $18 worth of coins, then they were probably giving you a "teaser rate" as a first-time customer.

BillJones

Do yourself a favor. Don't get involved with these people.

Since they had the approval thing hidden in the fine print, I'd say that you are on the hook for the coins or the postage. The Post Office says that you can keep stuff that is sent to you that you did not request, BUT Littleton got you with the fine print.

As for $18 worth coins for $27 - that is a bargain by Littleton's standards.

Bikingnut

Why do you have to buy them or send them back? You didn't ask for them did you?

ziggy29

<< <i>Why do you have to buy them or send them back? You didn't ask for them did you? >>



I checked the Littleton web site and there's a form to request a catalog. In the details of the form, it states (my emphasis added): To get a FREE copy of Littleton's 100 page Hard to Find Coins catalog simply fill out the information below. You'll also receive other fascinating selections from our Free Examination Coins-On-Approval Service, from which you may purchase any or none - return balance within 15 days - with the option to cancel at any time.

Barry

You should have read the fine print. Look at the bright side - it could have included a handling fee of $100 in the fine print, and you could have been on the hook for that too.

Send back the coins and forget about Littleton. They're up there with QVC and the occasional full-page-in-the-local-paper scammers.

rhedden

Look out! It's "coins by approval." They're going to keep sending them. You had better call now before they mail you another installment of coins you don't want.

granddad

Send the coins back. (cost $2 ) And cancel your membership ASAP.

Louis

AuldFartte

There should have been a return envelope in the package that was post-paid. I used that some years ago when I fell for the same deal and neglected to read the fine print

cosmicdebris

Tell them to send you a package with postage paid so you can return them at their cost.

mgoodm3

RUN AWAY!

coinchallenged

Send them back at your expense. Not their fault you didn't read the details. I'm sure you could've just called them on the phone and said send me a catalog.

thebeav

Hi Guys,
These guys are serious marketmakers. While we may not agree with their methods, you can't deny that they are a driving force in the market, as we know it. I can't begin to imagine the people that have been introduced to numismatics through them. Of course, many of these people have now graduated well past them.
Personally, I have sold them 100 times the amount that I have ever purchased from them. Their checks are good and so are their buy prices......
Paul

earlwbollinger

They are a good company I have no problems with them.
I have bought coins from them in the past.
Many years ago, before the internet existed, they were just about "it" for coin collecting, other than the bid boards at the local coin shop. Approval services were offered by a number of firms back then, but Littleton didn't require $10,000.00 deposit before they'd send you out stuff to look at.
They put in a lot of effort and resources into coming up with coins to sell.
I don't see any differences between them and the local coin shops.

Their approval service starts out small as they are trying to determine if you are safe or not and what your buying habits and practices are. As time goes on the coins get better and better (more expensive) as they trust you more.

cmeisenzahl

There's no question that I'm ultimately responsible for sending them back as I didn't read all the text. I was just griping about the practice in general. :-(


Christopher

Bochiman

They actually had a good deal on SAE last year....packaged and ~$5 per if I recall. I bought 5 of them
They coins they sent "on approval" were waaayyyyy too highly priced but they DID send a return envelope with them.

I sent that back, wrote on it "Cancel any further coin sends to me...NOT WANTED" and I have never gotten another unsolicited coin from them (nor have I tried to get any coins from them).

Ron

BillJones

<< <i>There's no question that I'm ultimately responsible for sending them back as I didn't read all the text. I was just griping about the practice in general. :-( >>



Coins are not like the record, tape and CD clubs that the recording companies ran years ago. (e.g. Buy 10 albums for 2 cents and agree to buy 6 more in the next year. We will send you albums on approval unless you tell us not to.)

Each coin has its pluses and minuses. For the most part the guys who send you stuff on approval will send you nothing that is really great. In fact you stand a good chance of getting the dregs because they will sell the good stuff at premium prices to smarter buyers who can tell when to pull the trigger on a superior coin. OR They NEVER buy good stuff and deal exclusively in junk.

No, advanced collectors usually buy items for their collections one at at time, and the coins are usually hand-picked.

There's my opinion on the subject.

MrSpud

When I was a little kid, I sent in an add for free stamps to Jameson stamp company, at least I think that was their name. Well anyway, I never got the free stamps, but I kept getting letters from them saying that I owed them money for stamps they sent me on approval. Apparently the ad was for a few free stamps along with fine print stating that there were also stamps on approval also being sent, only they got lost in the mail or something. I remember being really upset about this. My uncle looked into the matter and found out that because I was under 18 at the time that the contract wasn't legally binding. We sent them a letter stating that I never received the stamps and also that I was under 18 and they stopped sending me letters and left me alone.

wingedliberty

They are a member of the Axis of Evil. Call them up and thank them for the free coins. Tell them if they send you anymore, you will also be grateful for more free coins. Tell them if they send you a bill, you will report them to the Postal Inspector for mail fraud. Tell them they are scumbags, which they are!

magikbilly

Isn't this the Littleton Coin Co. that has been running the same sort of ads I was warned to stay well away from when I started collecting 25 years ago? I was under the impression they were right up there with the nuts on TV and other such sellers. Or am I thinking of another place with a simlar name and ploy?

Best,
Billy

tsacch

I asked for a catalog a long time ago and i never rec'd the coins or the catalog, but they were sure to bill me for it and threatened to send me to collections for items i never rec'd.

I finally talked to someone on the phone and they erased the bill.

Happy postman?

kenoshapete

Littleton, QVC and Mr. Haney from Green Acres.....

Who trys to sell you crap by both the TV and the internet?

KP

BeeMan

When I was about 12 years old I answered an ad they had in the newspaper for foreign coins on approval. They started sending US coins later, all low grade G/VG Liberty Nickels, Standing Liberty Quarters, etc. I stopped dealing with them after a year or two.
I was in the Littleton area two years ago on vacation and stopped by their facility. They give tours. It is massive with at least a couple hundred employees. Maybe that is why the prices are so high.

19Lyds

I too received some coins from Littleton and could not for the life of me remember asking to get them. I am not a big fan of receiving stuff I have not looked at or previewed and was tempted to just keep them but I don't operate that way. Plus, I was not in the mood to call them either. My package did included a postage paid return envelope so I promptly sent the coins back. If I receive any that do not have the postage prepaid, then I'll give them a call and get taken off the list.

Live and learn.......I hope I live a long time cause there's a lot I gotta learn............

Gemini

<< <i>RUN AWAY! >>

Coinosaurus

I always defend Littleton. I must be a glutton for punishment

From what I can tell, they are not like QVC pushing this investment angle crap. It's just kind of a collectibles thing for them.

Here's the question - is it ethical to have a business model with very high overhead and prices to match?

Or is it only ethical to sell coins at close to sheet prices at (relatively) low cost venues like shows?

Is it OK to sell steak in Manhattan for $20/pound when you could buy the same thing in Kansas for $5? Or should grocers in Manhattan be prohibited from selling steak?

No one seems to understand that Littleton adds value by finding newbie collectors in places you would not expect to find them. It costs money to do this. For some reason, everyone thinks Littleton should either find these people for free, or not find them at all.

LincolnCentMan

Next time, dont open the package, just take it to the post office window and tell them RTS (return to sender.) Since you didnt open it, they'll send it back to Littleton with no cost to you.

David

sliderider

I wouldn't mind using a coin on approval service if they actually charged the right price for what they send me. If I could find a place that did that, I'd probably almost never send anything back unless it was way out of my price range. Littleton charges way too much. They lure you in with either their free catalog offer, or sell you a small lot inexpensive coins for what seems like cheap and then they have you.

Billy,

Yes. These are the people who run ads like 2 Walking Liberty Halves or 3 Standing Liberty Quarters for only $5. Of course, you get well worn common dates not even worth $5 for that price, but now they have you on their approval list and you're stuck.

thebeav

<< <i>
No one seems to understand that Littleton adds value by finding newbie collectors in places you would not expect to find them. It costs money to do this. For some reason, everyone thinks Littleton should either find these people for free, or not find them at all. >>



That sums it up......This is the way I feel !!
As for their high prices.....You get Exactly what you pay for. If it's an indian cent in vg, that's exactly what you will receive. Not a rim ding or a scratch. It'll be a perfect coin for the grade. Now, come on....Isn't there something to be said for that?
Paul

Maconlock

I had the same thing that happen, I never paid the return postage,I placed the coins back in the same bag they came in and sealed it and put return to sender sticker on it,they got it and called asking if i had a problem in not paying for postage, i told them that i never order the coins and there prices are twice the standard.

They have to pay if you dont want the coins,they just make it out that they dont so 90% pay for the return postage

They never sent out anymore coins, I still get the cat, i never paid the return postage

coinchallenged

Called Littleton yesterday. They always send a return postage paid envelope out with the first approval coins, but not shipments after that.

Anyway, a Littleton thread happens here about once a month. Yawn. Big company, good company, been around for a long time and probably will be for a long while more.

Hector