Subscriptions to particular items you feel you must have are the best option (if available) I have learned. Is there some method or formula the Mint uses to limit the number of subs on a particular item in order to have stock on announced release dates?
@NJCoin said:
"Weak" is relative. I'm sure the waiting room is on autopilot, and kicks in when site traffic hits a certain level. Now that the word about 7:30 releases is out, with all the people hitting the site at 7:30 looking to grab something, it's not surprising the waiting room kicks in.
The waiting room was apparently a cheap fix to a clunky website that couldn't handle the traffic that the mint was capable of attracting. What they did was restrict the number of users instead of increasing capacity by locking out most visitors.
Also, the waiting room works differently depending on how many browsers we use. I got in after changing settings, with different times for different browsers. This suggests the mint does not use IP but cookies to do this.
There are many out there that probably know how to go around the mint waiting room and get to the front of the line. The "honest abes" meanwhile never get in.
Whatever. If they didn't do something to slow things down, "honest abes" would just be crowded out by bots, as always happened in the past.
No pleasing everyone. But I can tell you that, to date, I have not used any workarounds to avoid the waiting room, and have always been able to enter the website and buy what I want before sellout.
I can't agree with you with this one. This last release, I was not able to see the add to bag button at all. I was logged in half an hour early and all ready to go. They still had me locked in a waiting room for about an hour after sell out. At least with the old crashing mess, I felt like I always had a fighting chance.
@NJCoin said:
"Weak" is relative. I'm sure the waiting room is on autopilot, and kicks in when site traffic hits a certain level. Now that the word about 7:30 releases is out, with all the people hitting the site at 7:30 looking to grab something, it's not surprising the waiting room kicks in.
The waiting room was apparently a cheap fix to a clunky website that couldn't handle the traffic that the mint was capable of attracting. What they did was restrict the number of users instead of increasing capacity by locking out most visitors.
Also, the waiting room works differently depending on how many browsers we use. I got in after changing settings, with different times for different browsers. This suggests the mint does not use IP but cookies to do this.
There are many out there that probably know how to go around the mint waiting room and get to the front of the line. The "honest abes" meanwhile never get in.
Whatever. If they didn't do something to slow things down, "honest abes" would just be crowded out by bots, as always happened in the past.
No pleasing everyone. But I can tell you that, to date, I have not used any workarounds to avoid the waiting room, and have always been able to enter the website and buy what I want before sellout.
I can't agree with you with this one. This last release, I was not able to see the add to bag button at all. I was logged in half an hour early and all ready to go. They still had me locked in a waiting room for about an hour after sell out. At least with the old crashing mess, I felt like I always had a fighting chance.
I can't help the way you "felt." I can only note that I was never successful in making it all the way to confirmed purchase in the good old days, and I have never not been successful now.
Because I don't have to compete with bots that can't navigate their way in and out of a waiting room, and because I am no longer handicapped by DSL level internet. I also not that "feeling like I always had a fighting chance" is not the same as actually having a chance. I kept trying, but, like Charlie Brown with the football, never could compete with fast internet and bots.
The fact that you now know as soon as you are told that you have an hour plus wait that you won't be successful, whereas before you were allowed to maintain false hope until site traffic cleared, does not change the result. I will also note that waiting room times jump around significantly, based on how things move along once people enter the site. I have seen times drop dramatically while waiting myself, and got in when I thought I wouldn't. So there's that.
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
Didn't seem to make a difference to me. Even after the items were sold out and I was stuck in the waiting room for another 40 minutes, I tried refreshing, I closed the tabs and opened new tabs, etc. It always went back to the same waiting time. The only thing that changed the waiting time was changing browsers.
@NJCoin said:
"Weak" is relative. I'm sure the waiting room is on autopilot, and kicks in when site traffic hits a certain level. Now that the word about 7:30 releases is out, with all the people hitting the site at 7:30 looking to grab something, it's not surprising the waiting room kicks in.
The waiting room was apparently a cheap fix to a clunky website that couldn't handle the traffic that the mint was capable of attracting. What they did was restrict the number of users instead of increasing capacity by locking out most visitors.
Also, the waiting room works differently depending on how many browsers we use. I got in after changing settings, with different times for different browsers. This suggests the mint does not use IP but cookies to do this.
There are many out there that probably know how to go around the mint waiting room and get to the front of the line. The "honest abes" meanwhile never get in.
Whatever. If they didn't do something to slow things down, "honest abes" would just be crowded out by bots, as always happened in the past.
No pleasing everyone. But I can tell you that, to date, I have not used any workarounds to avoid the waiting room, and have always been able to enter the website and buy what I want before sellout.
I can't agree with you with this one. This last release, I was not able to see the add to bag button at all. I was logged in half an hour early and all ready to go. They still had me locked in a waiting room for about an hour after sell out. At least with the old crashing mess, I felt like I always had a fighting chance.
I can't help the way you "felt." I can only note that I was never successful in making it all the way to confirmed purchase in the good old days, and I have never not been successful now.
Because I don't have to compete with bots that can't navigate their way in and out of a waiting room, and because I am no longer handicapped by DSL level internet. I also not that "feeling like I always had a fighting chance" is not the same as actually having a chance. I kept trying, but, like Charlie Brown with the football, never could compete with fast internet and bots.
The fact that you now know as soon as you are told that you have an hour plus wait that you won't be successful, whereas before you were allowed to maintain false hope until site traffic cleared, does not change the result. I will also note that waiting room times jump around significantly, based on how things move along once people enter the site. I have seen times drop dramatically while waiting myself, and got in when I thought I wouldn't. So there's that.
False hope? At least it was hope. In my case, other than one time in 2019, it normally turned into success. I guess it all depends on how you use your "fighting chance". I had more success with the older method. There is still lots of frustration and swearing going on, just for a different reason. The new method will sometimes make you sit in time out with no chance to scratch and claw an order through while others log in last moment and score a win.
@ProofCollection said:
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
Should a person who arrives 5 seconds prior to the release time possibly go to the front of the line to purchase the coins and get right in over those who "waited" for 45 minutes and never got in?
Yes, as stated above; the waiting room que is randomized, whether if you've been in there for 45min, or for 5 seconds.
If a purchaser him/haws around for the full 10 minutes (or even 5) that you're allowed to be on the site to make your purchase, the chances for the next guy being successful go down. Now multiply that by 500 of him/haw shoppers hanging out. The phone-in orders at the Mint affect availability as well.
@ProofCollection said:
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
Should a person who arrives 5 seconds prior to the release time possibly go to the front of the line to purchase the coins and get right in over those who "waited" for 45 minutes and never got in?
The mint could just have everyone subscribe to the coin and be done with it, no waiting room required.
They did allow subscriptions for the congrats ASE. Not everyone wants to subscribe.
I think the random placement is better than the alternative - forcing everyone to login the day before and hit refresh every 10 minutes to preserve our place in line.
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
I don't know about hitting refresh after the launch time, I wouldn't touch it after that. It could reset the time on you.
@ProofCollection said:
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
Should a person who arrives 5 seconds prior to the release time possibly go to the front of the line to purchase the coins and get right in over those who "waited" for 45 minutes and never got in?
The mint could just have everyone subscribe to the coin and be done with it, no waiting room required.
They did allow subscriptions for the congrats ASE. Not everyone wants to subscribe.
I think the random placement is better than the alternative - forcing everyone to login the day before and hit refresh every 10 minutes to preserve our place in line.
lol. I know. Could you imagine.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
@NJCoin said:
"Weak" is relative. I'm sure the waiting room is on autopilot, and kicks in when site traffic hits a certain level. Now that the word about 7:30 releases is out, with all the people hitting the site at 7:30 looking to grab something, it's not surprising the waiting room kicks in.
The waiting room was apparently a cheap fix to a clunky website that couldn't handle the traffic that the mint was capable of attracting. What they did was restrict the number of users instead of increasing capacity by locking out most visitors.
Also, the waiting room works differently depending on how many browsers we use. I got in after changing settings, with different times for different browsers. This suggests the mint does not use IP but cookies to do this.
There are many out there that probably know how to go around the mint waiting room and get to the front of the line. The "honest abes" meanwhile never get in.
Whatever. If they didn't do something to slow things down, "honest abes" would just be crowded out by bots, as always happened in the past.
No pleasing everyone. But I can tell you that, to date, I have not used any workarounds to avoid the waiting room, and have always been able to enter the website and buy what I want before sellout.
I can't agree with you with this one. This last release, I was not able to see the add to bag button at all. I was logged in half an hour early and all ready to go. They still had me locked in a waiting room for about an hour after sell out. At least with the old crashing mess, I felt like I always had a fighting chance.
I can't help the way you "felt." I can only note that I was never successful in making it all the way to confirmed purchase in the good old days, and I have never not been successful now.
Because I don't have to compete with bots that can't navigate their way in and out of a waiting room, and because I am no longer handicapped by DSL level internet. I also not that "feeling like I always had a fighting chance" is not the same as actually having a chance. I kept trying, but, like Charlie Brown with the football, never could compete with fast internet and bots.
The fact that you now know as soon as you are told that you have an hour plus wait that you won't be successful, whereas before you were allowed to maintain false hope until site traffic cleared, does not change the result. I will also note that waiting room times jump around significantly, based on how things move along once people enter the site. I have seen times drop dramatically while waiting myself, and got in when I thought I wouldn't. So there's that.
False hope? At least it was hope. In my case, other than one time in 2019, it normally turned into success. I guess it all depends on how you use your "fighting chance". I had more success with the older method. There is still lots of frustration and swearing going on, just for a different reason. The new method will sometimes make you sit in time out with no chance to scratch and claw an order through while others log in last moment and score a win.
Understood. I'm just saying that, for me, under the old system, likely due to limitations with my internet speed, I could never fight through the traffic all the way to a successful checkout. Now I can. So this works better for me.
YMMV. But it doesn't matter, because this works for them, so they are not going back. The site no longer crashes, and they sell out pretty quickly. Increasing capacity to sell out even faster does nothing for anyone.
And, just like anyone who tries to get one of a small handful of items every morning at 7:30, you'd quickly sour on what you are asking for once you find yourself crowded out by bots. If you think you'll fix that by getting a bot yourself, you won't. Because we'll all get them, and then you're right back where you are now, entering a random lottery where you'll either win or lose in seconds. Just like when you are assigned your spot in the waiting room.
@Batman23 said:
The only thing that changed the waiting time was changing browsers.
Signed into the U.S. Mint site from two different browsers at the same time, or signing out of one then back in on another?
I try not to sign in with the same account at the same time on different browsers/devices. I have a couple accounts, they are linked together in the mint system so the two accounts together count as one HHL. But I can run them separately giving me more options, especially if I get something in the cart for the morning game while needing an option to do something else. So for things like this, I can have two devices or two browsers trying to accomplish the same goal. In hindsight here, I should have tried to use the second account sooner, not after the sell out. I wasn't trying too hard because my HHL was fulfilled with a subscription. But I would liked to have carted one for the morning game after HHL1 was removed.
But to answer your question, the other browsers were and were not "signed in to" with my account and would reflect shorter wait times than my initial browser was showing, which was in play well before release time. Three different browsers, two with shorter wait times than the primary one I started with from the beginning.
@ProofCollection said:
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
Should a person who arrives 5 seconds prior to the release time possibly go to the front of the line to purchase the coins and get right in over those who "waited" for 45 minutes and never got in?
The mint could just have everyone subscribe to the coin and be done with it, no waiting room required.
They did allow subscriptions for the congrats ASE. Not everyone wants to subscribe.
I think the random placement is better than the alternative - forcing everyone to login the day before and hit refresh every 10 minutes to preserve our place in line.
But the waiting room does not show up for use until about 30 minutes before drop time. So logging in the day before will do no good.
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
I don't know about hitting refresh after the launch time, I wouldn't touch it after that. It could reset the time on you.
It absolutely will. And, your position won't be randomized. At that point, you go to the back of the line. I'm sure plenty of people do just this, and then don't understand why they never enter the website.
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
I don't know about hitting refresh after the launch time, I wouldn't touch it after that. It could reset the time on you.
It absolutely will. And, your position won't be randomized. At that point, you go to the back of the line. I'm sure plenty of people do just this, and then don't understand why they never enter the website.
When I am waiting my turn, I won't refresh. But after I knew they were sold out, I did refresh. Didn't seem to change anything. I refreshed several times, closed tab and opened new tab, etc. Anything to try and access my order history account. Never changed the waiting time remaining, though the minutes would still tick down while doing this. So I don't know what to think about loosing my place in line, this release just seemed to be messed up and off. That said, I wouldn't risk refreshing while the game was still in play.
It is fun to watch the Waiting Room Clock though...like that waiting room has no concept of time.
Waiting time: 10 minutes....no, 30 minutes.....no wait, 15 minutes...5 minutes.....now 60 minutes...okay now it's 35 minutes.....1 minute.....wait a minute, just a minute, one minute please... finally- you're in...you now have 10 minutes to complete your purchase. Really? Are they really counting down 10 minutes or is that another sporadic timer too?
I just spent a lot of time sitting in waiting rooms this morning. I woke up a little late so didn't get signed in but was hit with 6 minutes locked in a waiting room before it would release me to nothing available. Then at x:45 I log into my computer and am locked into another 6 minute waiting room before being let out for more nothing. This mint site and waiting room thing is random and weird.
@Batman23 said:
I just spent a lot of time sitting in waiting rooms this morning. I woke up a little late so didn't get signed in but was hit with 6 minutes locked in a waiting room before it would release me to nothing available. Then at x:45 I log into my computer and am locked into another 6 minute waiting room before being let out for more nothing. This mint site and waiting room thing is random and weird.
They never used to bother with it in the morning. It's odd
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
@Onastone said:
It is fun to watch the Waiting Room Clock though...like that waiting room has no concept of time.
Waiting time: 10 minutes....no, 30 minutes.....no wait, 15 minutes...5 minutes.....now 60 minutes...okay now it's 35 minutes.....1 minute.....wait a minute, just a minute, one minute please... finally- you're in...you now have 10 minutes to complete your purchase. Really? Are they really counting down 10 minutes or is that another sporadic timer too?
My waiting room said 1 minute, It was just a really long six minute 1 minute.
@Batman23 said:
I just spent a lot of time sitting in waiting rooms this morning. I woke up a little late so didn't get signed in but was hit with 6 minutes locked in a waiting room before it would release me to nothing available. Then at x:45 I log into my computer and am locked into another 6 minute waiting room before being let out for more nothing. This mint site and waiting room thing is random and weird.
They never used to bother with it in the morning. It's odd
Yeah, at this rate I won't ever be able to cart anything. You need one carted to have a chance at checking out with it a different morning. I'm trying to figure out how this morning show works all over again.
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
I don't know about hitting refresh after the launch time, I wouldn't touch it after that. It could reset the time on you.
It absolutely will. And, your position won't be randomized. At that point, you go to the back of the line. I'm sure plenty of people do just this, and then don't understand why they never enter the website.
I got in the waiting room at 11:54am EST, got in at about 12:06, still had to sign in. Was able to buy one, log out, log into a new account, buy one, logout, log into a new account, and buy another.
@Mr Lindy said:
Just bumped a 1776~2026 single unc set to 2 then 3 then 4 and quit at 5. Now on the hook for 15 sets at $124.50 due June 30th 2026
Are you really "on the hook" though, if you can either cancel them, or send them back if you are not happy, or they don't do anything in the secondary market? Why not just go all the way to the limit on your credit card, and get it over with? At least until the drop everyone to 1, or 3, or whatever before release.
Most people don't understand how the waiting room works. If you are on the site and in the waiting room before release time, you are then placed in a queue randomly with all others in the waiting room at T-1s. After release time, visitors are placed in queue in the order they arrive to the site.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
I don't know about hitting refresh after the launch time, I wouldn't touch it after that. It could reset the time on you.
It absolutely will. And, your position won't be randomized. At that point, you go to the back of the line. I'm sure plenty of people do just this, and then don't understand why they never enter the website.
I got in the waiting room at 11:54am EST, got in at about 12:06, still had to sign in. Was able to buy one, log out, log into a new account, buy one, logout, log into a new account, and buy another.
Yes. Once you are in, you have the run of the place for 10 minutes, or until they cancel the waiting room, whichever comes first.
You can log in and out as often as you want. The waiting room tracks you by IP address, or cookie, or whatever. It isn't tied to a log in, since you go in and out of it before you are logged in. Once you get past the waiting room, you can use as many log ins as you have access to.
This is all separate and distinct from playing yourself by refreshing the page before you are given access to the website. If you refreshed the page between your log ins, you would have experienced the same thing, i.e., being placed at the back of the waiting room.
CC space is OK. Really I just want near flawless Pennies, and as a bonus I also want near flawless unc coins. Increasing numbers delivered increases my odds of getting what I need/want. June 30th is way off in the 250th festivities future.
But will they drop everyone down to a lower number before release in 2026 ?
Congrats 2026 HHL 3 remained for subscribers after the drop to 1 HHL occurred.
1776~2026 Two Pennies with circ unc sets have no HHL, 190K Max
I won't know what happens till 4-14 tranche drops into shipping & delivery, then 4-21 ditto.
In mean time I've got a Congrats 26 ASE Philly due tomorrow.
@Mr Lindy said:
Just bumped a 1776~2026 single unc set to 2 then 3 then 4 and quit at 5. Now on the hook for 15 sets at $124.50 due June 30th 2026
Are you really "on the hook" though, if you can either cancel them, or send them back if you are not happy, or they don't do anything in the secondary market? Why not just go all the way to the limit on your credit card, and get it over with? At least until the drop everyone to 1, or 3, or whatever before release.
@Mr Lindy said:
But will they drop everyone down to a lower number before release in 2026 ?
Congrats 2026 HHL 3 remained for subscribers after the drop to 1 HHL occurred.
1776~2026 Two Pennies with circ unc sets have no HHL, 190K Max
I won't know what happens till 4-14 tranche drops into shipping & delivery, then 4-21 ditto.
In mean time I've got a Congrats 26 ASE Philly due tomorrow.
@Mr Lindy said:
Just bumped a 1776~2026 single unc set to 2 then 3 then 4 and quit at 5. Now on the hook for 15 sets at $124.50 due June 30th 2026
Are you really "on the hook" though, if you can either cancel them, or send them back if you are not happy, or they don't do anything in the secondary market? Why not just go all the way to the limit on your credit card, and get it over with? At least until the drop everyone to 1, or 3, or whatever before release.
They have in the past. The didn't with the Congratulations Set. So, who knows?
The fact that there is no HHL now, and that people like you are loading up, makes it more likely they will impose a limit and retroactively enforce it. Otherwise, they will have even less to sell at release than they did with the Congratulations Set.
@NJCoin said:
The fact that there is no HHL now, and that people like you are loading up, makes it more likely they will impose a limit and retroactively enforce it. Otherwise, they will have even less to sell at release than they did with the Congratulations Set.
I remember someone claiming that for the Congratulations set and we know how that worked out. The mint is happy they sold about 400,000 coins and think they did an amazing job. No changes are in the cards.
Didn't seem to make a difference to me. Even after the items were sold out and I was stuck in the waiting room for another 40 minutes, I tried refreshing, I closed the tabs and opened new tabs, etc. It always went back to the same waiting time. The only thing that changed the waiting time was changing browsers.
They were probably using cookies in your browser to detect your "place in line." I noticed the same thing, although I already had a Congratulations on subscription I wanted to add a dual date West Point. Switching browsers gave me a better spot by about 10 minutes -- from 18 to down to 8 minutes.
Indeed, it's a mystery, only time will tell what gets to me or instead gets altered or denied.
USMINT do seem to prioritize their "20" private dealers who get "advance release" eligible goodies. Mike CSN guy mentioned in his 10 minute 1776~2026 SILVER ASE half million Proofs HSN sales pitch video. Up till that video I had no clue the system favored the few.
If USMINT was concerned with customers cornering the market they seem to have a short list of 20 they could start with, no ?
I typically do not collect normal coins, so in a way this is all new to me.
Been an interesting 250th coin shopping adventure that's cost me $335 for 101 coins so far.
@Mr Lindy said:
Indeed, it's a mystery, only time will tell what gets to me or instead gets altered or denied.
USMINT do seem to prioritize their "20" private dealers who get "advance release" eligible goodies. Mike CSN guy mentioned in his 10 minute 1776~2026 SILVER ASE half million Proofs HSN sales pitch video. Up till that video I had no clue the system favored the few.
If USMINT was concerned with customers cornering the market they seem to have a short list of 20 they could start with, no ?
I typically do not collect normal coins, so in a way this is all new to me.
Been an interesting 250th coin shopping adventure that's cost me $235 so far.
That is a gross misunderstanding of the ABPP buyers. You can become one. Did you know that? You just have to spend $500,000 plus per year and be willing to pay MORE than the issue price and pick them up at the Mint yourself.
Every corporation in the country favors their big buyers, usually by charging them less not more.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
If four different coins go on sale the same day (as upcoming on March 5), does that mean there are 4 different waiting rooms? Or just one room for everyone?
@cinque1543 said:
If four different coins go on sale the same day (as upcoming on March 5), does that mean there are 4 different waiting rooms? Or just one room for everyone?
One room for all. Even people wanting to get in just to check their old order status.
@cinque1543 said:
If four different coins go on sale the same day (as upcoming on March 5), does that mean there are 4 different waiting rooms? Or just one room for everyone?
One room for all. Even people wanting to get in just to check their old order status.
@Mr Lindy said:
Indeed, it's a mystery, only time will tell what gets to me or instead gets altered or denied.
USMINT do seem to prioritize their "20" private dealers who get "advance release" eligible goodies. Mike CSN guy mentioned in his 10 minute 1776~2026 SILVER ASE half million Proofs HSN sales pitch video. Up till that video I had no clue the system favored the few.
If USMINT was concerned with customers cornering the market they seem to have a short list of 20 they could start with, no ?
I typically do not collect normal coins, so in a way this is all new to me.
Been an interesting 250th coin shopping adventure that's cost me $235 so far.
That is a gross misunderstanding of the ABPP buyers. You can become one. Did you know that? You just have to spend $500,000 plus per year and be willing to pay MORE than the issue price and pick them up at the Mint yourself.
Every corporation in the country favors their big buyers, usually by charging them less not more.
@Mr Lindy said:
Indeed, it's a mystery, only time will tell what gets to me or instead gets altered or denied.
USMINT do seem to prioritize their "20" private dealers who get "advance release" eligible goodies. Mike CSN guy mentioned in his 10 minute 1776~2026 SILVER ASE half million Proofs HSN sales pitch video. Up till that video I had no clue the system favored the few.
If USMINT was concerned with customers cornering the market they seem to have a short list of 20 they could start with, no ?
I typically do not collect normal coins, so in a way this is all new to me.
Been an interesting 250th coin shopping adventure that's cost me $235 so far.
That is a gross misunderstanding of the ABPP buyers. You can become one. Did you know that? You just have to spend $500,000 plus per year and be willing to pay MORE than the issue price and pick them up at the Mint yourself.
Every corporation in the country favors their big buyers, usually by charging them less not more.
They have no return privileges.
They pay 10% over. If I recall.
They are alloted no more than 10% of the mintage, although for some reason they got 15% of one last year. No, not all releases are ABPP eligible.
Honestly, if people didn't pay more for the advanced releases label, it would generally be a horrible deal.
Edited to add: they appear to have updated the terms of the program. The ones I listed were the old program. They now can have them shipped and can get up to 25% of the mintage. That might explain what happened last year when we were all shocked that they got more than 10% of the mintage.
@cinque1543 said:
If four different coins go on sale the same day (as upcoming on March 5), does that mean there are 4 different waiting rooms? Or just one room for everyone?
The waiting room is to enter the site. Not to buy any particular item.
Once you are in, you can buy anything you want, whether or not it just went on sale. And can hop around until your 10 minutes are up and they kick you out. Conversely, if the waiting room is in effect, you cannot enter the site to do anything, including buying coins that were not just released.
@Mr Lindy said:
Indeed, it's a mystery, only time will tell what gets to me or instead gets altered or denied.
USMINT do seem to prioritize their "20" private dealers who get "advance release" eligible goodies. Mike CSN guy mentioned in his 10 minute 1776~2026 SILVER ASE half million Proofs HSN sales pitch video. Up till that video I had no clue the system favored the few.
If USMINT was concerned with customers cornering the market they seem to have a short list of 20 they could start with, no ?
I typically do not collect normal coins, so in a way this is all new to me.
Been an interesting 250th coin shopping adventure that's cost me $235 so far.
That is a gross misunderstanding of the ABPP buyers. You can become one. Did you know that? You just have to spend $500,000 plus per year and be willing to pay MORE than the issue price and pick them up at the Mint yourself.
Every corporation in the country favors their big buyers, usually by charging them less not more.
They have no return privileges.
They pay 10% over. If I recall.
They are alloted no more than 10% of the mintage, although for some reason they got 15% of one last year. No, not all releases are ABPP eligible.
Honestly, if people didn't pay more for the advanced releases label, it would generally be a horrible deal.
Edited to add: they appear to have updated the terms of the program. The ones I listed were the old program. They now can have them shipped and can get up to 25% of the mintage. That might explain what happened last year when we were all shocked that they got more than 10% of the mintage.
@Mr Lindy said:
Indeed, it's a mystery, only time will tell what gets to me or instead gets altered or denied.
USMINT do seem to prioritize their "20" private dealers who get "advance release" eligible goodies. Mike CSN guy mentioned in his 10 minute 1776~2026 SILVER ASE half million Proofs HSN sales pitch video. Up till that video I had no clue the system favored the few.
If USMINT was concerned with customers cornering the market they seem to have a short list of 20 they could start with, no ?
I typically do not collect normal coins, so in a way this is all new to me.
Been an interesting 250th coin shopping adventure that's cost me $235 so far.
That is a gross misunderstanding of the ABPP buyers. You can become one. Did you know that? You just have to spend $500,000 plus per year and be willing to pay MORE than the issue price and pick them up at the Mint yourself.
Every corporation in the country favors their big buyers, usually by charging them less not more.
They have no return privileges.
They pay 10% over. If I recall.
They are alloted no more than 10% of the mintage, although for some reason they got 15% of one last year. No, not all releases are ABPP eligible.
Honestly, if people didn't pay more for the advanced releases label, it would generally be a horrible deal.
Edited to add: they appear to have updated the terms of the program. The ones I listed were the old program. They now can have them shipped and can get up to 25% of the mintage. That might explain what happened last year when we were all shocked that they got more than 10% of the mintage.
OK, then I always wondered why there are 40 coin lots listed in totals, like in Morgan and Peace. So these bulk lot buyers do they get packaging & COAs, or coins in capsules, or loose in tubes like monster box tubes ?
@Mr Lindy said:
But will they drop everyone down to a lower number before release in 2026 ?
Congrats 2026 HHL 3 remained for subscribers after the drop to 1 HHL occurred.
1776~2026 Two Pennies with circ unc sets have no HHL, 190K Max
I won't know what happens till 4-14 tranche drops into shipping & delivery, then 4-21 ditto.
In mean time I've got a Congrats 26 ASE Philly due tomorrow.
@Mr Lindy said:
Just bumped a 1776~2026 single unc set to 2 then 3 then 4 and quit at 5. Now on the hook for 15 sets at $124.50 due June 30th 2026
Are you really "on the hook" though, if you can either cancel them, or send them back if you are not happy, or they don't do anything in the secondary market? Why not just go all the way to the limit on your credit card, and get it over with? At least until the drop everyone to 1, or 3, or whatever before release.
They have in the past. The didn't with the Congratulations Set. So, who knows?
The fact that there is no HHL now, and that people like you are loading up, makes it more likely they will impose a limit and retroactively enforce it. Otherwise, they will have even less to sell at release than they did with the Congratulations Set.
REALLY ? RETROACTIVELY....... Why bother having a posting that is inaccurate ?
@Mr Lindy said:
OK, then I always wondered why there are 40 coin lots listed in totals, like in Morgan and Peace. So these bulk lot buyers do they get packaging & COAs, or coins in capsules, or loose in tubes like monster box tubes ?
40 coin trays are usually with minimal packaging
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Comments
Subscriptions to particular items you feel you must have are the best option (if available) I have learned. Is there some method or formula the Mint uses to limit the number of subs on a particular item in order to have stock on announced release dates?
I can't agree with you with this one. This last release, I was not able to see the add to bag button at all. I was logged in half an hour early and all ready to go. They still had me locked in a waiting room for about an hour after sell out. At least with the old crashing mess, I felt like I always had a fighting chance.
She came a day early, and she's a beauty.
The little fleck to the left of the 'W' is not on the coin....not sure how that happened.
edited to add: I had to PhotoShop out that faux fleck next to 'W/A' 😊
Also of note, I removed the top of the capsule to capture the coin better.
I can't help the way you "felt." I can only note that I was never successful in making it all the way to confirmed purchase in the good old days, and I have never not been successful now.
Because I don't have to compete with bots that can't navigate their way in and out of a waiting room, and because I am no longer handicapped by DSL level internet. I also not that "feeling like I always had a fighting chance" is not the same as actually having a chance. I kept trying, but, like Charlie Brown with the football, never could compete with fast internet and bots.
The fact that you now know as soon as you are told that you have an hour plus wait that you won't be successful, whereas before you were allowed to maintain false hope until site traffic cleared, does not change the result. I will also note that waiting room times jump around significantly, based on how things move along once people enter the site. I have seen times drop dramatically while waiting myself, and got in when I thought I wouldn't. So there's that.
I did not know that. So I guess hitting “refresh” while in the waiting room does not help or hurt. Thank you.
NICE !
Didn't seem to make a difference to me. Even after the items were sold out and I was stuck in the waiting room for another 40 minutes, I tried refreshing, I closed the tabs and opened new tabs, etc. It always went back to the same waiting time. The only thing that changed the waiting time was changing browsers.
False hope? At least it was hope. In my case, other than one time in 2019, it normally turned into success. I guess it all depends on how you use your "fighting chance". I had more success with the older method. There is still lots of frustration and swearing going on, just for a different reason. The new method will sometimes make you sit in time out with no chance to scratch and claw an order through while others log in last moment and score a win.
Yes, as stated above; the waiting room que is randomized, whether if you've been in there for 45min, or for 5 seconds.
If a purchaser him/haws around for the full 10 minutes (or even 5) that you're allowed to be on the site to make your purchase, the chances for the next guy being successful go down. Now multiply that by 500 of him/haw shoppers hanging out. The phone-in orders at the Mint affect availability as well.
Signed into the U.S. Mint site from two different browsers at the same time, or signing out of one then back in on another?
They did allow subscriptions for the congrats ASE. Not everyone wants to subscribe.
I think the random placement is better than the alternative - forcing everyone to login the day before and hit refresh every 10 minutes to preserve our place in line.
Congrautlations on receiving your congratulations set.
I don't know about hitting refresh after the launch time, I wouldn't touch it after that. It could reset the time on you.
lol. I know. Could you imagine.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Understood. I'm just saying that, for me, under the old system, likely due to limitations with my internet speed, I could never fight through the traffic all the way to a successful checkout. Now I can. So this works better for me.
YMMV. But it doesn't matter, because this works for them, so they are not going back. The site no longer crashes, and they sell out pretty quickly. Increasing capacity to sell out even faster does nothing for anyone.
And, just like anyone who tries to get one of a small handful of items every morning at 7:30, you'd quickly sour on what you are asking for once you find yourself crowded out by bots. If you think you'll fix that by getting a bot yourself, you won't. Because we'll all get them, and then you're right back where you are now, entering a random lottery where you'll either win or lose in seconds. Just like when you are assigned your spot in the waiting room.
I try not to sign in with the same account at the same time on different browsers/devices. I have a couple accounts, they are linked together in the mint system so the two accounts together count as one HHL. But I can run them separately giving me more options, especially if I get something in the cart for the morning game while needing an option to do something else. So for things like this, I can have two devices or two browsers trying to accomplish the same goal. In hindsight here, I should have tried to use the second account sooner, not after the sell out. I wasn't trying too hard because my HHL was fulfilled with a subscription. But I would liked to have carted one for the morning game after HHL1 was removed.
But to answer your question, the other browsers were and were not "signed in to" with my account and would reflect shorter wait times than my initial browser was showing, which was in play well before release time. Three different browsers, two with shorter wait times than the primary one I started with from the beginning.
But the waiting room does not show up for use until about 30 minutes before drop time. So logging in the day before will do no good.
It absolutely will. And, your position won't be randomized. At that point, you go to the back of the line. I'm sure plenty of people do just this, and then don't understand why they never enter the website.
When I am waiting my turn, I won't refresh. But after I knew they were sold out, I did refresh. Didn't seem to change anything. I refreshed several times, closed tab and opened new tab, etc. Anything to try and access my order history account. Never changed the waiting time remaining, though the minutes would still tick down while doing this. So I don't know what to think about loosing my place in line, this release just seemed to be messed up and off. That said, I wouldn't risk refreshing while the game was still in play.
It is fun to watch the Waiting Room Clock though...like that waiting room has no concept of time.
Waiting time: 10 minutes....no, 30 minutes.....no wait, 15 minutes...5 minutes.....now 60 minutes...okay now it's 35 minutes.....1 minute.....wait a minute, just a minute, one minute please... finally- you're in...you now have 10 minutes to complete your purchase. Really? Are they really counting down 10 minutes or is that another sporadic timer too?
I just spent a lot of time sitting in waiting rooms this morning. I woke up a little late so didn't get signed in but was hit with 6 minutes locked in a waiting room before it would release me to nothing available. Then at x:45 I log into my computer and am locked into another 6 minute waiting room before being let out for more nothing. This mint site and waiting room thing is random and weird.
They never used to bother with it in the morning. It's odd
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
My waiting room said 1 minute, It was just a really long six minute 1 minute.
7:30 No waiting room.
7:33 Waiting room for 3 minutes
7:48 Waiting room for 1 minute,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Yeah, at this rate I won't ever be able to cart anything. You need one carted to have a chance at checking out with it a different morning. I'm trying to figure out how this morning show works all over again.
A lot of waiting room action going on this morning. I'm not seeing anyone with stories of seeing a red button.
This was from the Army ASE release IIRC
Just bumped a 1776~2026 single unc set to 2 then 3 then 4 and quit at 5. Now on the hook for 15 sets at $124.50 due June 30th 2026
I got in the waiting room at 11:54am EST, got in at about 12:06, still had to sign in. Was able to buy one, log out, log into a new account, buy one, logout, log into a new account, and buy another.
Are you really "on the hook" though, if you can either cancel them, or send them back if you are not happy, or they don't do anything in the secondary market? Why not just go all the way to the limit on your credit card, and get it over with? At least until the drop everyone to 1, or 3, or whatever before release.
Yes. Once you are in, you have the run of the place for 10 minutes, or until they cancel the waiting room, whichever comes first.
You can log in and out as often as you want. The waiting room tracks you by IP address, or cookie, or whatever. It isn't tied to a log in, since you go in and out of it before you are logged in. Once you get past the waiting room, you can use as many log ins as you have access to.
This is all separate and distinct from playing yourself by refreshing the page before you are given access to the website. If you refreshed the page between your log ins, you would have experienced the same thing, i.e., being placed at the back of the waiting room.
CC space is OK. Really I just want near flawless Pennies, and as a bonus I also want near flawless unc coins. Increasing numbers delivered increases my odds of getting what I need/want. June 30th is way off in the 250th festivities future.
But will they drop everyone down to a lower number before release in 2026 ?
Congrats 2026 HHL 3 remained for subscribers after the drop to 1 HHL occurred.
1776~2026 Two Pennies with circ unc sets have no HHL, 190K Max
I won't know what happens till 4-14 tranche drops into shipping & delivery, then 4-21 ditto.
In mean time I've got a Congrats 26 ASE Philly due tomorrow.
They have in the past. The didn't with the Congratulations Set. So, who knows?
The fact that there is no HHL now, and that people like you are loading up, makes it more likely they will impose a limit and retroactively enforce it. Otherwise, they will have even less to sell at release than they did with the Congratulations Set.
2026 congratulations set prices raw $330
2026 proof silver eagle prices raw $300
This will not last,
I remember someone claiming that for the Congratulations set and we know how that worked out. The mint is happy they sold about 400,000 coins and think they did an amazing job. No changes are in the cards.
They were probably using cookies in your browser to detect your "place in line." I noticed the same thing, although I already had a Congratulations on subscription I wanted to add a dual date West Point. Switching browsers gave me a better spot by about 10 minutes -- from 18 to down to 8 minutes.
Indeed, it's a mystery, only time will tell what gets to me or instead gets altered or denied.
USMINT do seem to prioritize their "20" private dealers who get "advance release" eligible goodies. Mike CSN guy mentioned in his 10 minute 1776~2026 SILVER ASE half million Proofs HSN sales pitch video. Up till that video I had no clue the system favored the few.
If USMINT was concerned with customers cornering the market they seem to have a short list of 20 they could start with, no ?
I typically do not collect normal coins, so in a way this is all new to me.
Been an interesting 250th coin shopping adventure that's cost me $335 for 101 coins so far.
That is a gross misunderstanding of the ABPP buyers. You can become one. Did you know that? You just have to spend $500,000 plus per year and be willing to pay MORE than the issue price and pick them up at the Mint yourself.
Every corporation in the country favors their big buyers, usually by charging them less not more.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
If four different coins go on sale the same day (as upcoming on March 5), does that mean there are 4 different waiting rooms? Or just one room for everyone?
One room for all. Even people wanting to get in just to check their old order status.
Thank you.
As you seem to know the workings of ABPP:
Do you know if they have QC return privileges ? Like milk spotted coins or actual flaws ?
How much more do they pay for 1776~2026 ASE Proofs that the rest of us get a shot at for $173 ?
Can they buy all they want of each available issue or they limited ?
Is everything available To The 20 ABPP before public release date ?
Thanks !
They have no return privileges.
They pay 10% over. If I recall.
They are alloted no more than 10% of the mintage, although for some reason they got 15% of one last year. No, not all releases are ABPP eligible.
Honestly, if people didn't pay more for the advanced releases label, it would generally be a horrible deal.
Edited to add: they appear to have updated the terms of the program. The ones I listed were the old program. They now can have them shipped and can get up to 25% of the mintage. That might explain what happened last year when we were all shocked that they got more than 10% of the mintage.
https://www.usmint.gov/help-center/bulk-program.html?srsltid=AfmBOooQwsDMiqDbpZqzF4qJAlk_wKQmk7zqdUg3L2gDPVE2LyN9SCgU
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
The waiting room is to enter the site. Not to buy any particular item.
Once you are in, you can buy anything you want, whether or not it just went on sale. And can hop around until your 10 minutes are up and they kick you out. Conversely, if the waiting room is in effect, you cannot enter the site to do anything, including buying coins that were not just released.
I'll speculate here w/o digging deeper., I think they do have return privileges, but only if the bulk boxes or 40 coin trays remain sealed/unopenned?
Also, it is my understanding that they usually pay a 5% premium to get them prior to drop-day...
.
NBB and ABPP are different programs
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
OK, then I always wondered why there are 40 coin lots listed in totals, like in Morgan and Peace. So these bulk lot buyers do they get packaging & COAs, or coins in capsules, or loose in tubes like monster box tubes ?
REALLY ? RETROACTIVELY....... Why bother having a posting that is inaccurate ?
40 coin trays are usually with minimal packaging
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.