kimchi

Dear @stefffana,
I partially agree with you on the Tesla example, cause maybe I started to produce your own car that suddenly you don't want anymore. Another example, none of you has ever cancelled a hotel reservation, a plane ticket, a concert ticket or something? I guess that nobody is expecting the full amount back (in some cases the refund is even zero!).
I have also to say that, we barely charged 15% to customers, even if stated in the terms of sales. I invite all customers that wrote above to provide the order number and I can check if they have been really charged 15%... cause we get to that point when nothing else works with the customer.
We always offer a voucher to buy something else, with no expiration, otherwise we charge only 5% to cover not refundable card fees. On the other hand, if the buyer changes his mind (or is tired to wait) who has to cover the expenses created by his decision? Anyway, we compensate these small losses in many other ways, we offer worldwide free shipping for a minimum amount order, we offer loyalty points (discount vouchers) and also personal vouchers in case of unexpected problems, just to make the customer happy. I can guarantee that 5% for a cancelled order is really nothing considering all the benefits that a returning customer can have. Thank you for your thoughts!

Hello @SilverPlatinum,
the payment systems work this way: if you place an order and decide to pay by PayPal or Credit Card, the full amount of the order (that may contain coins in stock, in pre-order or a mix of both) is immediately charged by the payment system. There is nothing handled manually at order time and a shipping time.
But, let's suppose for a moment we would like to handle this manually, imagine how many customers pay by debit cards that have credit to cover the order at placement time, but could have no credit at shipping time. Furthermore, when a coin becomes available and we receive from the mint, let's say 100 pieces (average quantity for us) we have to chase at least 100 customers to ask for payments, handle refused charges etc. These are just few of the multiple issues we may have (change of minds, customers that disappear etc.).
So, for us the pre-order is fully paid and this is the only way to lock-in the price and secure the piece. We don't force anyone, if someone wants to buy when in stock, can simply come back to us when we are ready to ship and place an order then. Yes, by that time for some coins the price could be much higher or the coin sold out... that's the point of the pre-orders, pay in advance and peace of mind.
I am sure that there are many sellers that instead work the way you said, but these are our choices very clear in our terms of sale. Thank you!

@goldhunter please provide your order number (or your real name by mail or private message) so we can check what happened with your order. If the 15% fee was applied, we will offer a compensation for that because, as said, we barely strictly apply this term of sales and always try to find a compromise. In the worst case we charge just 5% cause this is the real cost for the transaction fees we are charged by the credit card payment gateway (even if you cancel your order just one minute after placement, the fees are taken by the credit card company anyway).
@GoldDiggerDave of course we will make this customer happy and now that we will participate to this forum more often, any member of this beautiful community that has any kind of problem, will have priority with a quick solution.
Have a nice weekend guys! 😊

What can I say, @PowerCoin? Well done!🤗
I am happy to see how elegant you have solved a delicate problem and how responsive you have been when a customer was unhappy.
Many thanks!
Stefan.
 

Andrew might turn state's evidence on the three adults in front of him, and become Regent

That's a very interesting topic in itself, and will be a very big debate on here when the time comes!
No, she was very popular indeed, especially after her service during the war. The biggest sales of televisions ever in the UK were for the coronation.
Interestingly, she hasn't fulfilled her Coronation Oath to uphold The Bible. In theory, if the monarchy actually means something (or else what's the point?) that calls into question the legitimacy of all the laws she's signed. Luckily the legal system all swear an oath to her, so this hasn't been challenged. But there's no doubt this is why Charles wants a different oath!

The Sovereign is and always will be gold (whatever other ridiculous gimmicks they can come up with - some of which 'work', some of which don't - both of course, to some extent, depending on your point of view). There wasn't one in silver for the Silver Jubilee, there won't be a platinum one next year. Look to the other Jubilee coins (like this year) for different variations.

The Sovereign is and always will be gold (whatever other ridiculous gimmicks they can come up with - some of which 'work', some of which don't - both of course, to some extent, depending on your point of view). There wasn't one in silver for the Silver Jubilee, there won't be a platinum one next year. Look to the other Jubilee coins (like this year) for different variations.

The Sovereign is and always will be gold (whatever other ridiculous gimmicks they can come up with - some of which 'work', some of which don't - both of course, to some extent, depending on your point of view). There wasn't one in silver for the Silver Jubilee, there won't be a platinum one next year. Look to the other Jubilee coins (like this year) for different variations.

Andrew might turn state's evidence on the three adults in front of him, and become Regent

That's a very interesting topic in itself, and will be a very big debate on here when the time comes!
No, she was very popular indeed, especially after her service during the war. The biggest sales of televisions ever in the UK were for the coronation.
Interestingly, she hasn't fulfilled her Coronation Oath to uphold The Bible. In theory, if the monarchy actually means something (or else what's the point?) that calls into question the legitimacy of all the laws she's signed. Luckily the legal system all swear an oath to her, so this hasn't been challenged. But there's no doubt this is why Charles wants a different oath!

Andrew might turn state's evidence on the three adults in front of him, and become Regent

That's a very interesting topic in itself, and will be a very big debate on here when the time comes!
No, she was very popular indeed, especially after her service during the war. The biggest sales of televisions ever in the UK were for the coronation.
Interestingly, she hasn't fulfilled her Coronation Oath to uphold The Bible. In theory, if the monarchy actually means something (or else what's the point?) that calls into question the legitimacy of all the laws she's signed. Luckily the legal system all swear an oath to her, so this hasn't been challenged. But there's no doubt this is why Charles wants a different oath!

I Love your description and appreciation of a sovereign and agree with you completely 
just a shame the reason for this Sotd isn’t so compelling as your description 😂 

To those in the know, direct from the mint sounds terrifying

That's a very interesting topic in itself, and will be a very big debate on here when the time comes!
No, she was very popular indeed, especially after her service during the war. The biggest sales of televisions ever in the UK were for the coronation.
Interestingly, she hasn't fulfilled her Coronation Oath to uphold The Bible. In theory, if the monarchy actually means something (or else what's the point?) that calls into question the legitimacy of all the laws she's signed. Luckily the legal system all swear an oath to her, so this hasn't been challenged. But there's no doubt this is why Charles wants a different oath!

I honestly can't see my self wanting to own any coin with Charles on it. I am not sure why. I think for me, the Queen is the last Royal who I have any respect for.

I almost totally agree. But i think, you can't compare the QB start with the Tudors. By the time, the QB came out, there was literally nothing else really interesting else at the RM. I guess for most of us non UK residents it was mostly bullion sovereigns and britannias. Now you have the Great Engravers, still the QB, newest the Monarchs. A lot of competition for the Tudors at their own house.
But thanks for mentioning, that almost all of modern proofs will loose over time. We all should mention this and just buy collectable coins for the reason they are made for. Collecting and enjoying your collection.

Its really impossible to say. The reality is that most proof coins lose money over time. There's been a lot of exceptions lately but I think that rule still holds true. The one thing against the Tudor Beasts series is that it has had quite a poor start where as I think the Queens Beasts had a much better start with much better designed coins coming out first and poorer designs featuring towards the end of the series once people were invested. Mintages are also an issue as @dikefalos points out.
My hope would be that they adjust the mintage down on subsequent releases and we begin to see some stronger more visually appealing designs. I think if those two happen the series will be a winner and well worth having.

Do we know this is the end of the Great Engravers series?
Despite all the stress and hullabaloo I do like the series.
There was a rumour here some time back that it isn’t the end, and the next coin is the Petition Crown or something.
I had hoped they would do William Wyon’s St. George and the Dragon… but they’ve definitely confirmed that the Gothic Crown ends the “trilogy” of his work. 😭

I see it as with the British Monarchs. Start low, get a momentum going then you can slowly increase the mintages, whilst carefully walking the the fine line.
Alternatively, if they had of went mental with the mintages, it wouldn't have sold out and potentially put the whole series on a bad footing. Think seymour panther, I don't think that has sold out yet, and the next one will be soon.
I think they will continue to increase the mintages of the great engravers series, assuming this isn't the end.
I consider the gothic coin portrait the same coin, so I am hoping they don't increase the mintages.
If they do, and they double it, that's a big number in the context of the great engravers. I think that will potentially mean future releases will slide further down the special category.
Imagine all of the great engravers were unlimited mintage ? Would there be anywhere near as much fuss / desirability ?
 
 

Right now on ebay, it would cost £960 to pick up a full set (11) based on the lowest buy-it-now prices + post for the individual coins:
Lion of England (£79.99) Griffin (£135.00) Red Dragon (£94.99) Black Bull (£82.70) Unicorn (£99.95) Yale (£124.95) Falcon (£78.23) White Lion (£65.00) White Horse (£69.99) Greyhound (£64.69) Completer (£64.70) 10-coin sets were selling on here for £650 in December.
That should set your expected price range, which isn't far away from the prices already given in the thread, so far.

He is certainly wealthy. I would say '(lower) upper middle class' in Japanese terms (a fair bit above a British equivalent in respect of money). His English - although heavily accented - is quite fluent, suggesting that he continued his language education to university level, which is not common with such proficiency among Japanese of his age (his voice and skin tone suggest a man in his 40s). Both would also suggest that he went to a university of some practical merit (rare in Japan at that time), has spent significant time abroad, and/or has fostered regular interactions with native speakers since.
£95 is a 'nice' meal out for one in Japan at a noteworthy restaurant (also noteworthy though that their £10 restaurants put ours to shame). However this is a man who both appreciates the coin deeply and yet wishes to experience it in its purest form, and via touch. He is a gentle and appreciative connoisseur - taking nothing for granted. He is of the (uniquely Japanese afaik) mindset of treasuring the moment, the transience - exploring all states of the coin. The perfection, and then the imperfection (and yet it being, in a sense, so much more perfect in its 'imperfection' state - to some he has sacrificed something, but for him he has gained everything he could have from this experience).
It's a very nuanced Japanese way of thinking, and very hard to explain. But it's incredibly beautiful if you can grasp (which I have only a few times).
Very glad to see this thank you

No email for me either.
Just a thought 💭 
What if the RM are minting more of the portraits than the Quartered Arms. 🤔 They can sell the full allocation to everyone who bought the Quarter plus double the mintage of the Portrait for those who just want the Portrait coin 😱 

They might! I once had to phone up to chase a SotD delivery and the lady had to check if it had been minted yet. I assured her it had, but bless her she wanted to double check with her manager for me!