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20th Anniversary Sets: Mint screws up confirmations!
53BKid
Posts: 2,181 ✭✭✭
If the phone call I just had with the mint is a good indication of how they have been handling the orders for the Anniversary sets, there are going to be a huge amount of angry customers!!!! Putting aside the mint's deceptive marketing of the sets to include the "specially burnished" uncirculated coins--a supervisor in Dallas just informed me that the mint has significantly oversold the mintage of the 3 coin-gold Anniversary Set.
Despite my formerly confirming on 8 seperate occasions that I would DEFINITELY receive my order--I was just informed that my order was actually part of a wait list formed in case credit cards orders are unable to be fulfilled, or if checks bounce.
The mint oversold the sets substantially!
DECEIVING their customers!If this bad-faith business practice occured in the securities industry where a dealer failed to inform customers that their syndication of a new issue had been oversubscribed, the National Association of Securities Dealers would issue substantial fines and suspend the syndicate managers. Oh, but this is the government, they can do whatever they want with impunity!
For the first time since the coins went on sale, the supervisor I spoke with tonight in Dallas actually was able to provide me a lot of information on the filling of orders and was willing to spend over ten minutes talking with me about the delivery situation. She said that many orders were placed on a waiting list...I asked hundreds?, but she said more.
She also said there was an aweful lot of screaming, gnashing of teeth and even crying going on as customers were informed that their credit card orders had been declined or their checks had bounced. Despite my disappointment, she reassured me that there have been so many rejections, that there still was a very good chance of my order being filled. However, there hasn't been a determination made yet by mint officials in Washington at what point these orders will be cancelled, allowing them to begin filling the orders of those on the wait list...
She shared with me that she spoke personally with a woman who had been declined who had used a debit card issued by FEMA in order to aid those devastated by Katrina
LOSER!Guess what, just as I've maintained in previous strands the mint did this with the 3 coin silver set as well! Everyone on these message boards have been wondering why the issue hadn't sold out....people even mistakenly cancelled their orders...they've been oversubscribing that issue as well!!!
If the mint's objective was to create a lot of anxiety for many of their best customers they've succeded!
HAPPY COLLECTING!!!
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Comments
Thanks for sharing your experiences...
Eric
I agree that they should not have told you that you would definitely receive them though.
I doubt it would help to apply for medicaid and get some good meds in time, though
I sense your frustration. Aren't the boards great for bouncing off the wall ?
Joe
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
my status still says....2 units backordered. Expected to ship on 10/06/2006.
Still no confirmation other then in progress
back ordered , ship 10/6/06.
This does not look good nor kosher to me.
Camelot
Bear, I'm in about the same situation as you.... ordered the gold on the 30th at about noon; my status shows in progress but that's it. Oh well, wait and see......
I do think I will keep my orders now for the 3 piece silver..... no telling what the true demand really is for these.
As for the Katrina credit card being used.........
AE 20TH ANNIVERSARY 3-COIN GOLD RBU SET 8 $2,610.00 $20,880.00 8 units backordered. Expected to ship on 10/06/2006.
This posting of status has remained constant since I ordered .
Later that evening I ordered another 2 sets. However this confirmation initially posted shipping to be expected on 9/25, then 9/26, then 9/27, then 9/28, then 9/29, then 10/2, 10/4 and finally last week 10/6. I asked this past weekend once again to see why there had been a discrepancy between the two confirmations, and was told by a representative in Atlanta that the second order may have been placed on a waitlist originally, though I would definitely be receiving all the sets. I asked to speak with a supervisor to confirm this, and was told that in deed, this was the case.
fengk: the supervisor I spoke with tonight wouldn't state exactly how large the waiting list is, but suggested that it was very long to ensure that all coins were sold.
Given the reassuring comments of the supervisor tonight, I am still fairly confident that my initial order will be filled- however I am still very disturbed at the bad faith the mint has shown in dealing with collectors.
If the 2001 Buffalos and the 2006 Franklins sold out within hours, why in the world didn't the silver anniversary sets?
I won't be the only customer this happens to, that's for sure.
Camelot
mine is 23147450 and I still can't find a time. I think it was before noon on the 31st.
<IMG src="i/expressions/Waytogo.gif" border=0> LOSER!>>
That friggin loser should be tossed in prison for life. I wonder how many other Katrina debt cards have been misused and abused this way?
<< <i>not sure where I can find the time on my order but it was a few hours before anything was changed on the website.
my status still says....2 units backordered. Expected to ship on 10/06/2006. >>
Goose, I confirmed just moments ago that JTS was handling your order.......
Randy
<< <i><<She shared with me that she spoke personally with a woman who had been declined who had used a debit card issued by FEMA.....
That friggin loser should be tossed in prison for life. I wonder how many other Katrina debt cards have been misused and abused this way? >>
lots - a buddy of mine was in New Orleans when it hit and when he told FEMA he didn't suffer any losses they basically forced him to take $2000. He tried to refuse it (not hard enough, I know) but they said the money's there, take it.
ANYWAY, I just talked to a girl at the mint and she said in a nutshell if you ordered on 8/30 you're ok. 8/31 orders were apparently cut off even before the notification went up on the site. My 8/31 A12 order status went from backordered to item not available. 8/30 order status is still good and she said that one should be no problem.
has seemed to really lost control over the situation.
No one seems sure of anything including how many sets
were sold, when and to whom. It would appear, that some heads
will role over this matter.
Camelot
In my experience this is nothing new. Until you have their product in your hands, you don't have it.
I have friends that ordered with Debit Cards (used as a charge card) and had well in excess of the amount necessary to cover the sets - but - many banks have daily spend limits regardless of your balance!!!! The mint gives you three strikes and they move on. My friend had 2 strikes and then he called and surprised the call center supervisor - who changed credit cards, split the charge between two cards, and executed the payment. Alot of people who arent paying attention will not be getting sets because of billing problems - this will tee them off!
<< <i>... many banks have daily spend limits regardless of your balance!!!! >>
Chase seems to have an overly zealous fraud protection unit. Even though I charge lots on my Chase cards, they'll flag any big money transaction. I tried purchasing a big money camera online. Three Chase cards and one Citibank card all rejected the transaction. My AmEx went through without a hitch.
<< <i>
Putting aside the mint's deceptive marketing of the sets to include the "specially burnished" uncirculated coins--a supervisor in Dallas just informed me that the mint has significantly oversold the mintage of the 3 coin-gold Anniversary Set.
Despite my formerly confirming on 8 seperate occasions that I would DEFINITELY receive my order--I was just informed that my order was actually part of a wait list formed in case credit cards orders are unable to be fulfilled, or if checks bounce.
The mint oversold the sets substantially!
Based on some of the order numbers from a previous thread,
I would guesstimate (unscientifically estimate) that the mint
processed (either successfully or unsuccessfully) approximately
7,000 orders in the first hour. I would assume most of these
would contain (at least 1 - 3-coin gold set). If this is the case,
I would suggest this set sold out possibly in the first hour and
almost definitely in the second hour. I hope I am wrong,
but that is what it looks like to me.
SoundPoint
New Forum Member
It may very well be just me and my donuts, sitting alone
in a dark room sulking.
Camelot
<< <i>If true, there goes my gold three piece set out the window.
It may very well be just me and my donuts, sitting alone
in a dark room sulking. >>
Same here . . . Just hoping for the best and
expecting the worst!
SoundPoint
New Forum Member
The Mint has a well-earned reputation for having different people tell different stories. Like fishcooker said - when it shows up at your door, then you know for sure.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
If what everyone is saying here is true, there is a major organizational leadership problem with the Mint/contractors.
Maybe this way we can get the Mint to Change their practices or at least hold these people accountable.
Looking for Denmark 1874 20-Kroner. Please offer.
<< <i>One of the best things you can do is inform your Senator and Congressperson. They will take action albeit at a lower level. >>
Part of me is saying that would be a good idea. Part is saying "Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences."
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>out of curiousity....what are your order numbers?
mine is 23147450 and I still can't find a time. I think it was before noon on the 31st. >>
Goose, You will find your order time near the top of the page on your order confirmation from the Mint's web page. There seems to be something strange in the order numbers here. My order number is 23127XXX and I placed it at 12:36p on the 31st. It sounds like you placed your order before mine, yet my order number is lower...
I ordered after the announcement of the sellout. My ship date was initially 9/15, then 9/16.... and has been holding steady at 10/6 for the past few days. Looks like its random if anything will show up in the mail or not. I think at this point I'm relying on the credit cards of others being over the limit...
Eric
That would explain a lot.
emergancy credit cards?
Camelot
However, my set still hasn't shipped and I ordered within the first few hours on the 30th.
<< <i>Will the MINT now strike more Anniv sets to avoid disappointing what nowl ooks like to be many customers ? >>
Don't even go there!!!!
Joe
Box of 20
JJ
I've seen two three coin silvers sell for more than issure on ebaY using Best Offer for one and BIN for the other. There is not much action on these, but I'm keeping the four sets I ordered for right before Christmas. I'm hoping to sell three to pay for the one. We'll see how things pan out. Nobody else do this, okay? I don't want the market flooded.
I would not be surprised if the mint strikes 10,000 more of these. I mean, if they kept it quiet, who would know? There is no way other than their inept bookkeeping to know how may of these there really are. No body is going to have their coins counted. Unless EVERYBODY cracks theirs out and has them graded. It would look kind of funny if there was a pop of 69's over 10,000. But that ain't going to happen.
Jonathan
Edited to add second paragraph, in my own paranoia.
Box of 20
<< <i>
<< <i>... many banks have daily spend limits regardless of your balance!!!! >>
Chase seems to have an overly zealous fraud protection unit. Even though I charge lots on my Chase cards, they'll flag any big money transaction. I tried purchasing a big money camera online. Three Chase cards and one Citibank card all rejected the transaction. My AmEx went through without a hitch. >>
I have Chase too. Also Discover and AMEX. They ALL will reject a big ticket purchase, which protects me, I'm glad.
What you have to do is CALL the credit card company if you are making a big ticket purchase, traveling out of town or adding a new vendor.
Give the credit card company the name and address of the company you want to make the big ticket purchase from and tell them the amount. They will then gladly approve that particular purchase.
It's fraud protection that works in your favor should your card ever be lost or stolen.
I've bought thousands of dollars of equipment for my job using the company credit card. Probably 200purchases over $2000 each. You don't have to call every time if you just add the vendor to your list with the credit card company. We had a vendor list of 50+ vendors in our credit card file.
I sure hope my three coin silver sets get to me just fine. I'm thinking to buy a three coin gold set for $3695 on ebaY. I think it will be a good purchase. I want one. Couldn't get one from the US Mint. Looks like a lot of people will be buying them on ebaY from the sound of the OP's post.
Jonathan
The Silver sets are fine. The orders are slow enough that they can stop selling at anytime, without notice.
The notice came up on the Gold set because of unpresidented demand, it probably caught everyone off gard. They probably figured a sell out, but not in 12 - 24 hours.
As for American Express or other CC's. If you ususally only spend $100, and a $20,000 charge comes in, it will ring a bell. If you've charged 5 or 10 grand, and paid it, then another 10 or 20 grand purchase doesn't ring as many bells. It's all on your past spending habits.
As someone who also ordered multiple 3-coin AEG sets...and received them all (thank God)...wouldn't it have made more sense for the Mint to have first evaluated all the orders they had in hand, before shipping ANY out?
Then, in light of the increadibly fast sell-out, they could have possibly decreased the 10 set limit to maybe 5...to spread them around a bit more equitably. I remember order limits being retroactively decreased for past offerings.
IMHO, a 10 set limit (and you know some people have multiple accounts and were able to order more than 10), for a set with a total run of only 10,000, was too high to start.
And don't get me started about the waste of money and postage spend to mail brochures out to the Mint mailing list, long AFTER the good set was already long gone!
Box of 20