2005 Uncirculated sets on HSN!!

granpagraf · June 22, 2005 3:22PM

Here I sit watching the Home Shopping Network as I speak and they are selling 2005 Mint sets from the US Mint for $39.95!!
I just got mine today from the Mint for $16.95. The same exact set!
Whats wrong with this picture??
These 2 guys just like to hear them selves talk!!
What a rip off!!
More than twice as much as one set from the Mint directly.
I don't get it. Am I missing something here?? How can people be so stupid?
Your Thoughts Please.
granpagraf

ChannelIslands · June 22, 2005 3:23PM

You are paying for the pedigreee ... direct from the HSN Hoard.

Sphinx357 · June 22, 2005 3:26PM

alot of people aren't aware that you can buy directly from the mint

bbrewski · June 22, 2005 11:28PM

same as ebay.nough said

ddink · June 22, 2005 11:32PM

<< <i>How can people be so stupid? >>

You would be amazed at how stupid people can be

joefro · June 23, 2005 12:09AM

The other day I saw them selling "Westard Journey Nickel Sets" which included one P and D of each nickel as well as a Proof S from both 2004 and 2005. They were selling for $80 plus you had to send another $20 to get the Ocean View in August to complete the set. They kept going on and on about how the mint only made a few thousand of these sets and blah blah blah.... they are over $100 a set now for the 2004 alone...

What they failed to mention was that the HSN Westward Journey Sets are not the same as the mint ones, they do not include the medal which is what makes them so desirable in the first place, right? I mean without the medal, youre just getting the same proofs that they made god only knows how many of. Youre not getting a combination of the 2004 and 2005 US Mint WJN Sets like they make it seem.

WANNABEDEALER · June 23, 2005 12:23AM

If they are using the mint terminology of the description of the set and it is not the same trademarked item, then they can and should be sued. I know of a set that will be coming out later this year that will be similar to the Westward Journey set that will have the same coins but no medal, I would guess it will sell for a fraction of that price. It will have coins of both years and put together by a large coin dealer and I am told will sell for a low price.

flaminio · June 23, 2005 1:54AM

Assuming we saw the same program, it's the Coin Vault show on Shop At Home, not Home Shopping Network.

They were also selling 2005 Silver Proof Sets in Original! Government! Packaging! for only $79.95. Robert Chambers actually said that "You will not find these for sale at this price anywhere else!" -- uh, yeah -- everywhere else will have them cheaper, including the US Mint, which still has them at $37.95.

If truth in advertising laws were enforced, they would have to rename the show "Coins for Morons".

mgoodm3 · June 23, 2005 1:57AM

<< <i>Assuming we saw the same program, it's the Coin Vault show on Shop At Home, not Home Shopping Network.

They were also selling 2005 Silver Proof Sets in Original! Government! Packaging! for only $79.95. Robert Chambers actually said that "You will not find these for sale at this price anywhere else!" -- uh, yeah -- everywhere else will have them cheaper, including the US Mint, which still has them at $37.95.

If truth in advertising laws were enforced, they would have to rename the show "Coins for Morons". >>

Oh yeah, but you you won't find them at $79.95 anywhere else.

ttown · June 23, 2005 2:01AM

I hear what everyone is saying and I agree but keep in mind all business have to make double of what they pay to stay in business. These programs have to pay for the cast and air time. It's a rip off but they aren't making as much as many think. How much do you think an average store pays for jewelery, food, and drugs? They have a huge makeup too in most cases and many of these half price sales just means they are just making double the money they have invested.

No doubt it's a poor way to buy coins and I hate the hype...........

pf70collector · June 23, 2005 2:20AM

They were actually selling a NGC PF 70 Jackie Robinson $5 Gold for $1595.00 I believe Tuesday morning which is close to what they are selling for on Teletrade and ebay. They let a few slip by and sometimes they make mistakes on their coin prices on their website and you can make out.

Smittys · June 23, 2005 2:30AM

ttown, I would love to make double what i pay for the items I sell
However that's not the case.
I have a small store and 30% is a good mark up
double would be 100% and that's just not
gonna happen.

PS I sell Mint sets for 19.95, cheaper than the mint if you're only
buying one, you save 4.95 S&H

ttown · June 23, 2005 2:44AM

<< <i>ttown, I would love to make double what i pay for the items I sell
However that's not the case.
I have a small store and 30% is a good mark up
double would be 100% and that's just not
gonna happen.

PS I sell Mint sets for 19.95, cheaper than the mint if you're only
buying one, you save 4.95 S&H >>

So how would they be making double? Any business buys a product and marks it up. After expenses in this case the cast and TV time,equipment, benfits etc.. they make a profit and 30% would seem fair. A brick and mortor business has to pay employees, taxes, book keeping, rent, electric/gas, benfits, and workers comp etc... After what seems to be a huge markup they are making quite a bit less too.
Ebay is a less expensive way to have a bussiness but still has expenses and I think you didn't quite get my point.

joefro · June 23, 2005 3:38AM

Yes, it is obvious that HSN and related companies markup their products substantially. It's the only way for them to make money and hey, this IS AMERICA!
Flaminio: Yes you're right, we saw the same show and it must have been Coin Vault.

I don't mind if a company marks up their items 1000% if people are dumb enough to buy them at that price. What DOES make me mad is when these shows are so blatantly lying about the current values of their collections. Such is the case here where they are selling about $25-50 worth of coins for $100 and telling them that the coins are "currently selling for up to $150 combined. This is a blatant lie as they are claiming their lame sets to be IDENTICAL to the mints WJN sets. This gets under my skin...

Joe

Smittys · June 23, 2005 3:51AM

ttown,
you don't understand. I markup 30% over cost, then out of my gross profits
I pay rent utlities etc. What's left is net profit. which is not 30%

2005 Uncirculated sets on HSN!!

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