Let me tell you a very sad story
ModCrewman
Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
So I came to work the morning of November 14 not having paid any attention to the upcoming release of the 2019 Enhanced Reverse Proof Silver Eagle. Upon checking the mornings happenings on the PCGS forum, I noted that this may be a good money making opportunity. Having two college aged sons having their own mailing address who could certainly use the money, I let them both know of the upcoming release as well.
I dutifully logged in to my US Mint account and updated my credit card information all ready for the 11 AM CST release. As 11 AM nears, I have multiple browsers open and logged in ready for the gates to open. Once the clock chimed I fervently started to hit refresh, and successfully got a set into my cart on both browsers, I then battled the same frustrations at check-out that so many others had also experienced. Alas...at about 11:12 my order went through. I rejoiced...like so many others my boys both got skunked and were not able to get through checkout.
A few minutes later my order confirmation shows up, subsequently followed up on November 24 by the shipping notification. I'm excited as I watch the Ebay Sold Items pricing continue to climb for several days while I await my order.
So where is the sad story you ask?
Several days pass as I await my order...which must have been on the bottom of the pile finally it is on its way to me on November 25. On the 26th it is already in town and "Out for Delivery".
I arrive at home that night...no package. Oh well...must not have gotten to the house in time or my wife was out spending money.
The next day I don't check the tracking as I was swamped with pre-holiday work in preparation for the long holiday weekend. It doesn't show up on Wednesday...I am annoyed, but not particularly concerned...my kids are home for the weekend and I'm loving life. I may have even gloated to my boys ribbing them about how much money I was making on the deal while they had missed out.
Friday morning, I have the day off, "Great! I'll be here when the mailman comes." I'll just check the tracking again to make sure it's out for delivery again. And then I see it. A "Delivery Exception has Occurred." Oh the humanity!
It says "Return to Sender"! Crap, how could that happen, I finally read my order confirmation email. Alas, the shipping address shows my old office address from which we moved 17 months ago. OH NO...what are my options now? I promptly log in to the FedEx tracking and see they have a redirect option and I fill out a request for it to be rerouted and held at our local FedEx facility should it go back into their hands from the USPS.
I then got he USPS website and get a customer service number to see if I can do something there. There is a phone number for redelivery...maybe I can take care of it there. I call the number and go through the process to request redelivery, since I'm on a smart phone, it takes me to an on screen interface in which I complete the information for my redelivery request...it looks like it took...sure enough even an email confirming my redirect request shows up shortly after.
I check tracking again. It says "Redelivery scheduled" for that day's date! And it says it is in my hometown post office.
Oh how fortunate! I actually asked that the package would be held at the post office for pick-up...so I am promptly in my car and on the way to the post office. I get there, explain my situation to the counter agent, and he goes back to locate my package. He can't find it, so he pulls up the tracking and sees it is also scheduled for delivery that day and goes back again to search for it...several minutes pass. He went above and beyond literally searching through every parcel bin in the back for my package only to return empty handed. I leave him with the routing number and my cell number telling him, I'll run down whenever it shows up, just call.
Monday morning after the weekend...I return to the post office to try again. Different counter agent...also goes above and beyond searching for my package in the back, believing tracking says it should be there.
Alas...it is not.
Yesterday, hope is fading...in fact, I have conceded that I made a $1,500+ screw-up. Thankfully, not life changing money, but who wouldn't appreciate a few extra dollars in December? Ultimately, this morning the email I had feared arrives.
In one final last ditch effort, I call customer service at the US Mint this afternoon to see if they could arrange for my product to be delivered to me again. "No, you will need to place another order." I provide the agent with the product number...he says, "Oh that is showing as sold out." "Yes, I know. But one just showed up in the warehouse today!" was my reply. He empathizes with me, but is unable to arrange for me to receive my coin back.
And THAT is my very sad tale for the day.
Comments
Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed.
His story is similar to yours other than his has a happy ending and yours, not so much.
That sucks.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
I wonder who the new lucky recipient will be when the Mint ships out your 2019 enhanced silver eagle
Ouch! Such an unfortunate story but thanks for sharing it.
I guess this is another form of tuition. We’ve all been there in one form or another.
I feel your pain. At least it’s not irreplaceable.
Aw man...
Collector, occasional seller
Honestly I was glad the coin that @Paradisefound graciously gave away didn't come to me. The way the mint handled this “made for collectors” issue was a disgrace. They’re public servants, hired by us, the people, at our pleasure, to facilitate commerce. It is not their job to create artificial scarcity, operate an inefficient/incompetent computer system, and pander to high volume buyers. I’m done with them.
Sad to hear your story, but - sorry - not that sad. Truly nothing against you or anyone who played the game (I’ve done it), but it’s not like you actually wanted the coin. Collectors who truly want one were displaced by flippers, just playing in a rigged lotto system to make a buck.
Gotta love the goobermint and the folks at the po.
At least you got a refund.
I didn't participate in the free for all and will never buy from the us mint again. Too much drama.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
two points --- I like Don, but the failure is apparently his(not the goobermint or po) for having a bad address for shipment. hopefully, he has changed the address so this is avoided in the future. next, I am so glad I don't care for these items from the Mint, I treasure peace and serenity in my life more than aggravation and a few extra dollars.
I had the item in the basket, paid with credit card, was at the last link when Alas! a notification pops up "Invalid credit card". Tried another card and item is no longer available. The credit card I first put in was the same one I used to purchase several items from the US Mint in 2019. Expires 03/23. How could it be invalid. It's the card the Mint has listed for the programs I am enrolled in. Needless to say I deleted all credit card numbers, opted out of all the items I'm pre-enrolled in and unsubscribed from all future emails. Today I received a pamphlet in the mail from the Mint. I'm going to call them and have my name removed from their mailing list.
Let's see....
You did not check, double check, and triple check your details prior to the starting gun.
The unthinkable happens, you made a valiant effort to recover, but the coin made it back to the mint anyway.
You were denied the chance to flip the coin for huge profits.
For people like me who did all the advance prep work and still got shut out of the one coin they wanted for their collection, I am entertained by your tale of woe and I recognize your frustration, but I just can't get too upset about it.
That's one more coin that might be sold on the mint's website on some random morning. There is still hope thanks to you.
Let's hope a few thousand others did the same thing!
That is indeed a sad story..... How frustrating. You certainly made a valiant effort to recover the coin. Cheers, RickO
Sad story. Sorry for you.
To make you feel better, a few minutes ago I picked up a 1963 OGP proof set for $8.75 containing a gorgeous DCAM cent the is an upgrade.
Once tied into a huge Musky up in Canada. As I tried to set the hook, he spit the lure back at me. So close.
At least you got your 65 bucks back.
To be perfectly clear...I realize in the big picture of life this is just a blip...certainly is tuition. Above all, it is 100% definitely my own fault. If I would have read my order confirmation any time before the time I actually did, I probably could have gotten it rerouted.
I'm not looking for anyone's sympathy in the least, as I was going through the whole self-made debacle, I was thinking to myself, this will make a great story for the forum regardless of how it turns out.
My experience is shared for nothing other than your amusement.
Sorry to hear that happened to you. I had 5- 20th Anniversary Silver Eagle sets in 2006 get returned to the mint after they got misdirected over and over. That was about $2000 it cost me in profit.
It was a learning exercise.
I'm sorry that it didn't end favorably.
Thanks, for sharing the story, in any event.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Just to be clear, are you sad because your lost $1000 in profit or are you missing a coin for your completion of ASE collection?
I have to ask since I am one of the very few collectors that focus on a complete collection of ASE on this board. If fact, I had been working on two sets for both of my daughters since the first day I joined this forum. But even if I didn't get one, this coin would still be reachable after skipping a few restaurants meals
Now , if you are sad because the disappearing of profit, there will always be plenty of other deals to be make. May be not in coins, but stuffs everyone would like and pay a higher price. Life is too short to be sad just because one single coin that you may not even care to collect.
100% just sad to have lost the profit potential. I didn't make the mint's rules and make no apologies for playing by...er...attempting to play by those rules. I wouldn't have had any more reason to apologize for making a profit from the transaction than any dealer does on any transaction...they aren't buying coins for their collection either, but to flip for profit. Just because they call it "inventory" doesn't change the motive for the purchase.
That's too bad @ModCrewman but as I would expect, you have an awesome attitude about the whole affair.
It was a very well written tale and had me reading faster and faster.
Thanks.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
The best debacles are usually self-inflicted.
(At least mine are.)🙄
The happy news is some collector may end up with it.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Or a bot,
That is a very well told story that took a lot of energy and time from you considering you weren’t in the best of mood. Thank you for sharing!
As I was reading the whole thing my thought was; what does MilesWaits think about it? Thanks Miles! Now I don't have to think about it any more. You did my thinking for me.
Just yesterday 180 days passed on an unclaimed lottery ticket worth 14.6 million dollars out of Arizona. Seriously. Someone had that ticket and never redeemed it. Can you imagine locating it now knowing the expiration date has come and gone? That's a sad story. Although misgivings for the OP, he's out $60. not $1.5K and honestly, he'll probably get that $60. refunded to him too.
I ,for one always thinks positive. As I mentioned in my other previous posts, there would be a lot of new faces in town due to this coin. It doesn't matter if a flipper, sneaker head or collector grabbed the coin. This hobby as whole, receive great amount of media exposure and excitement that we haven't seem in years.
Lets assume a 17 years old youngin did used bot to grab one of these coins to earn his first grand. The chance is also higher that he will join us with a collection of his own in the future.
I am so sorry about your experience @ModCrewman
It was just not meant to be ...... let it go 
My Mom used to tell me each and every time I found myself in a less fortunate situation ..... "Let it go" she said; "Delta cards drawn each and every day to each and all of us so let it go as one off ..... "
You can flip mine for me when I get it back from PCGS.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Just wasn’t meant to be. Sorry for your loss.
Oh - I thought your mom was going to sing out the Frozen theme song Let It Go.
Definitely a learning experience. Thanks for sharing @ModCrewman.
I forgot and didn't update my credit card number ahead of the release date, but at checkout time the correct number was in their system. How did/does that happen?
Also I was at the AAA site today and under the auto renewal option they had my current and correct CC number in their system. How did they get it? Does the cc issuer [in this case Bank of America] give it to them when B of A closes one account and re-opens it with a new number?
Have you used it anywhere on the internet? It may be your browser that is filling it in, not those websites
...And now we know where the signed #00001 certificate is at...
That is a bummer story. All one can say sometimes is "Stuff" Happens.
I suppose that's possible esp. for the mint order. I do the lion's share of transactions involving my CC thru Avast Secure Browser in bank mode. I just went in and turned off the auto fill feature for that. AFAIK AAA bills direct to the CC company which doesn't involve my browser.
WoW, thanks for sharing your unexpected turn-out of your story. Anticipation plays a big role in this," Hobby of kings".
Your debacle reminds me of my welcoming new members by posting, "Welcome To School." You taught us some valuable lessons. #1. Patience. All that driving alone took alot. #2.Humbleness. To explain and post the story to us, most would have been embarrassed to admit the wrong start you made concerning the address. #3. Sharing. Informing your sons to have a chance at making some cash. And then #4.To be Content. Sure, it's not as if you lost the farm but still.
As for trying to make a profit. Sure, why not? There's no written law in this Hobby of our's that states that we can only buy coins to collect. I too purchase or cherry pick coins to flip and make a profit. I.m pretty sure many of us here do the same thing. Even the so-called "collector's" will some time flip a coin or two in their collection to make a buck. When I first started out in the Hobby. I was gung-ho on collecting. And collecting only! I too thought to myself, "I'll NEVER sell any of my collection, NEVER!" Well, that sure changed. Nowadays, that's all I do, flip coins. In which, I still consider myself as a collector.
Once again, in this fun Hobby, we all know it's a,"to each his own" matter. Just as long as we have fun, right? Back to your inconvenient ending. In this category of flipping coins, we must remember, it's always going to be MORE difficult to get a hold of the coins we seek for. Except in your case, luck wasn't on your side. Sorry to conclude this with a cliche, 'Better Luck next time'. -joey
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.