GoldDabbler

7 minutes ago, MLNCoins said:

They sent me a scratched 2022 bullion sovereign, and are unwilling to replace when they have stock. Here's the full conversation for full transparency:

Hi there,

 

Thank you for fulfilling my order last week. I've had a bit of time over the weekend to take a look at the coins and I can see there are what look like scratches on the queens cheek on one of them. I'm aware that you're out of stock of these at the moment but would it be possible to exchange one in better condition, when you have stock again? 

 

If you could let me know my options, I'd really appreciate it.

 

The reply

 

Hello Max.

 

Thank you for your e-mail. The coins we sell are bullion coins, so they ought to have some imperfections and minor scratches. The Royal Mint has an explanatory website for this https://www.royalmint.com/discover/coin-collecting/striking-standards/.

 

For this reason we are unable to exchange the coins as they are all going to be similar quality.

 

Kind regards,

 

Priit Rinken

 

A bit of a shame, especially with new coins, so be mindful of this when ordering new stock. As it looks like they don't QC their new coins.

 

I left a fair review to reflect the experience.

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to write this. I only buy bullion and wasn't too fussed about the condition when I started. That said, the bullion I've already bought, to my eyes at least, is pristine (2022 sovs) and I want to continue that trend.

I might start a new pile of old sovs and put the knackers in there.

3 minutes ago, ArgentSmith said:

bullion dealers gonna deal bullion 🤷‍♂️

Fair point.

2 minutes ago, SovereignBishop said:

Mine have always been perfect

I'll take a punt on a sov and see what its like when it turns up. 

Just now, SovereignBishop said:

Tavex have been the best service and price for me hands down. 

I'm on their website now. Best prices I've seen in weeks. Have you any info on the condition of the sovereigns they send out? 

3 hours ago, Orpster said:

https://tavexbullion.co.uk/gold/great-britain-elizabeth-sovereign/

Tavex QEII sovs, currently cheaper than any 'best price' sovs I can find anywhere else

Great prices. My current go to retailer is charging £380 quid a sov. They can sod off until they come down a bit.

1 hour ago, Bigmarc said:

My only tip is only purchase something with the view of "how am I going to sell this?" Otherwise you will end up paying over the odds only to sell for scrap. 

That's the reason I've not got into proof coins and other collectables. I'm sure I can offload bullion as and when but waiting for and finding the right buyer to sell on a collectors piece seems like a gamble, esp if you want to liquidate fast. 

I’m new to stacking myself but in answer to your question I’d say don’t go crazy. It’s all so easy to get wrapped up in growing your stack that other areas of your finances may suffer. Buy what you can comfortably afford without draining the bank balance or skimping elsewhere and over time your stack with grow easily. I think @Gordy has a great byline. Something like “It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop” Great advice, go slow, and don’t stop. 

I've just realised I haven't answered your question at all. I don't know  Silver is big, bulky and heavy. How about getting into gold instead?  

9 hours ago, Smiler999 said:

10 best value brits from Atkinsons, got 2021s all look to be mint 😃

My all time second favourite coin! They look so desirable. No 1: Gold sovs, no 2: silver Brits. Love 'em.

Nice. When you get the rest of it you can build a golden gun.  

4 hours ago, Timberwolf said:

Thanks for reminding me about Costo, I'm looking to get a membership just for the bullion.

 

Out of curiosity, how much of a fanfare is it buying bullion there? Hoping it's quick/easy/discrete, to avoid other shoppers seeing and knowing what you've purchased, following you back to the carpark etc...!

 

Also, assume they still need name/address (via your membership card?) so purchases are tracked on their internal database in some sort.

Apparently you'll need to be an employee of banking, government, or the emergency services to get membership. That said, most of the people I see shopping in there look like they own takeaways, so I don't know how that works.

Once you've got membership sorted Costco will state their current price on gold and you'll agree to go ahead with the purchase. It's customary at this point for whoever is serving you to yell full force into their walkie talkie that a customer "WANTS TO BUY A GOLD!" This will get a manager running towards you and every customer within earshot interested in your business and staring at you. Some may even come over and casually peer over your shoulder as you're filling in your name and address on the form they have you fill in. After a few visits you develop tactics like staring at people until they go away/ learning to write so small no bugger can read it/ doing a bit of creative writing on the spot that's unintelligible/ or telling the Mrs "I'm not quite over Covid and I'm about to have a coughing fit and * my pants" Anyhoo once the paperwork is done Costco take payment and get the manager gives you the gold. After you've paid and the gold is handed over that's it and it's up to you to get out of the store without getting mugged. 

I did 'insist' the first time I did a Costco gold transaction that it was done in private but the answer I got back was 'It's either done here (in public) or not at all' I suppose the Costco staff need to be mindful of their own security too. 

I'm used to buying gold in the Costco ruby scrum now although sometimes I feel it'd be easier getting gold from underneath the sleeping dragon Smaug. There's definitely a sense of achievement getting your gold out of there in one piece

2 hours ago, James32 said:

Once you put a big scratch down lizzys face "it matters" lol. Only explanation I can give is when it happened to me,the coin must have mistaken the callipers for a crocodile or something, and decided to jump to safety 😃

I bet that hurt 😕 Not as though you can buff it out either and give it a bit of a wax. Hope it was bullion and not one of those proofs. 

1 hour ago, bilko said:

Just curious but what does a small safety box come in at? Asking for a friend 👍👍

£100 - £200 quid a year for a smallish box depending on the pamper and plush surroundings level. The place I use has a policy of being a verified customer accessing a deposit box escorted by a guard and custodian. Good for scenarios where someone has frogmarched you into the deposit centre to rob your gold. Ample time to give a guard the nod and get the Sweeney down while your tea-leaf is waiting to fill his pockets in reception.
 

5 minutes ago, James32 said:

Get one layer of clear tape around the ends of your calipers...Will protect from scratches to the coins ( don't ask me how I know)

Thanks James, great tip. I've been careful but can imagine one slip and the coin's defaced. I know it shouldn't really matter with it being bullion but I like to keep my sovs as pristine as possible, esp' with it being the Jubilee year.

1 minute ago, Darr3nG said:

What about the softness/taste test? Where are the bite marks?

I'm dreading the day I sell a sovereign and someone bites it. I'm not sure I've got the emotional control to not automatically thump them haha  

48 minutes ago, MickB said:

You can't get 2% cashback on gold purchases as I checked my receipt at the time but that shouldn't stop anyone buying gold with the cashback they've earned.

I'm not sure. Costco have some funny rules. Like the 2% off gold getting nobbled. I'll ask next time I'm in. I want some of that  

30 minutes ago, FourNinesFine said:

My local one had a silver bar in, last time. First time I'd seen that.

The Bairds bar was looking at it side-eyed, in a 'hold my beer' kind of way.

Haha! The Bairds make the rest of the pms look shabby by comparison. I took the Mrs to the display case the first time I bought a sov. It was the smallest pm   I almost felt embarrassed buying it as I couldn't stretch to the Brit.  

8 minutes ago, MickB said:

I don't know why Costco doesn't sell half sovereigns as I'd be inclined to buy one on a shopping trip there considering the price of a full sovereign now. I did buy one from them earlier this year and haven't bothered since but will do later this year as I've over £300 on my executive member card that gives 2% cashback on purchases. That'll make buying one easier on my pocket. 

Sadly the 2% cash back doesn't apply to gold purchases. First thing checked on the first sovereign purchased. Agreed it's a shame Costco don't sell half sovs. I also wish they sold 1oz silver Britannias. They're not quite a one stop shop for pms atm.

18 hours ago, Howie said:

BUT you have to find a BUYER!

I'm trying really hard *not* to see the beauty of these high value collectable coins. I never come out well when I let my heart rule my head. I settled on bullion sovereigns as they can be sold quickly and without much fuss. I can't see me going too far wrong there.

7 hours ago, StackemHigh said:

Just get a part time job there and it's an inside job, and you get to chat up the dolly bird!

Gold's in a safe. Manager access only. Secure as a bank probably. I just don't want to pop in for my monthly sov and find it's has been turned over. I'd end up buying the canoe to console myself.

1 hour ago, James32 said:

...marry a rich woman who treats you well.

Well i got one of those things right. And she ain't rich  

10 minutes ago, CANV said:

so you could now waste it on beer, clubs, pubs, poor quality ....etc etc.  but the back n knees have gone and the treacles  don't give you a second glance now.  😜

If I'd skipped a few relationships in my earlier years I'd be a lot better off now   Every treacle I ever knew ended up costing me more money than I could afford. And when i got a better job to pay for that, the financial ceiling went up accordingly and I wasn't any better off. Including now lol.

1 minute ago, Bigmarc said:

Depends of how much you like shopping, I would rather stick a fork in my bo**ock than go shopping in a warehouse full of people pushing oversized trollies and buying giant gazebos and inflatable canoes. Convenience is just clicking the buy it now button without even setting a foot outside and it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg in pizzas and ice-cream's on the way out. 

I'll agree it's not the nicest place to shop. It's often packed with stressed out miserable people who look like they'ed be happy to murder you for accidentally leaving your trolley in an aisle they're trying to get though. Best to keep your head down, get your stuff and get out. But there's a prize to be had and I think it's worth the effort. If you can get out alive  

20 hours ago, StackemHigh said:

I normally get sovs in my local costco at about £10 for 1 coin under normal chards, atties or a n other online prices and no p&p either.

I usually take a look at the online price before i go in.

Last couple of visits this week prices have been a little high for my liking and have bought on-line with my other gold stack purchases. 

The bairds bars are very competitive like for like though .

I too think the Baird bars are attractively priced at Costco. I'm tempted to get a small one to add a bit of variety to my stack. Appealing. I've had gold fever for three months and all I can say is, I'm glad my fever hasn't broken  

23 hours ago, LawrenceChard said:

Just to try and tempt you to buy online and save money, @ChardsCoinandBullionDealer just tweaked the prices of 2022 bullion sovereigns today, on singles, and a few of the other quantity breaks too.

When you do buy from the Royal Mint, do you schlepp all the way over to Llantrisant, or do you order online / by phone?

😎

There's little difference in price from the sellers online and it doesn't seem worth the trouble of making multiple accounts with different businesses to save a quid here and there. Convenience is king  

7 minutes ago, James32 said:

Excuse me?

You are not wrong  

3 hours ago, FourNinesFine said:

If you were really lucky, there was a magazine in a bush.  🤣

3 hours ago, Gordy said:

or a bush in a magazine 😂

The Growler Weekly. I grew up by the side of a railway embankment and the bushes were stuffed full of them.