Today the 2011 U.S. Silver Eagle 25th Anniversary Set went on sale at the US Mint's website. By 6:00pm EDT the following message appeared on the mint's website:
Waiting List Notice: The number of orders we have taken meets the maximum limit for the 2011 American Eagle 25th Anniversary Silver Coin Set.
It took me over five hours to finally place my order for two sets using the website. Judging from the comments on my October 17 blog, I am not alone and share many people's frustrations with the mint's website.
Readers have reported that it has taken over 30 minutes for single webpage to load. One reader actually gave up on the website and was using two telephones to call the mint's toll-free order line. Even this took several hours to get their sets ordered. The mint must realize that widely popular offerings will crush their servers. Having a background in computer technology, I know this problem can be overcome with the proper planning and investment in technology. Are you getting frustrated with these long waits on the Internet or telephone? Please let me know by posting your comments below.
Image courtesy of: The United States Mint
Comments
Amazon Web Services would make the web site problems we saw today, obsolete.
And an online auction would make the problem of eBay scalpers, obsolete.
How long do you think it will be before the U.S. Mint joins the 21st century?
took me 2 hrs and I had to go in through my e-mail from the mint
It took me over 5 hours to get through. I tried the landline, I tried the web. If I had known someone with a TTY I would have tried that too. Several times I would get to the order page and then be booted off before I would get through all the various pages.
Anyone that had a real job would have been at a serious disadvantage at getting through.
Took me 2 1/2 hours of continous redials to finally get through at about 2:35 pm eastern and place my order for 3 sets. Fortunately I had the time and desire to do so. I never was able to log onto the Mint’s online store starting at noon eastern. I’m just glad I was able to get through and pay the $299 each as opposed what it will cost on Ampex or Ebay!
Took me 3 hours of both trying to call and trying to load their website before I could place an order. It’s always the same story. Maybe, if we just gave the Gov’t more control of our lives, then they will magically become efficient. Lets try our health care next. LOL.
I waited for a little over an hour, then gave-up.
I started at 12 noon on both computer and phone for a solid hour and a half i could not connect to the mint on my cmputer the and all i got on the phone was a busey signal but i kept trying if i had any hair it would have been gone by now finally at around 3:00 i got to the check after being kicked out over 30 times so finally at 3:15 i had my confirmation number for 2 sets.what a way to spend an afternoon.the mint has to upgrade its computer system this SHOULD NOT HAPPEN there is NO EXCUSE FOR IT,GET ON THE BALL U.S. MINT you are way behind the times.
I am absolutly pissed off ! Couldn’t get through in any way. Not even one set could I order. Wish I knew the “real way” to get a set.
I sat at my computer starting right at noon, and was able to get my order in at 12:32. The pages were agonizingly slow to load (when they loaded at all!), but I’m excited to receive these coins to add to my collection.
I got my order in using the Mint’s website in about 10 minutes. Email receipt from the Mint is timestamped 12:13. There are a few tricks that help, number one is patience, number two is common sense.
I enjoy the anticipation of the purchase!
I was not able to get past the busy signal on the phone but after 4 hours I was able to place my order through the website. Not sure where I stand, It was 2 more hours before the Mint posted that sold out notice. Maybe it took them 3 hours to update! I also don’t think there should have been a limit of 5, should have been 1. Give everyone a chance not just a select few.
I placed two separate orders today.I signed in and had my first set by 12:20 and the second set took a little longer. I timed out once and placed my second order by 1:30. I did it this way so I have one set raw and the second I’ll send in to NGC and get the 25th anniversary label.I know to get the label, whatever it is, it will have to be in an unopened box.
I tried calling for 5 hours as well as online from my work computer, which is “super-fast” but all I got was busy tone and “page cannot be processed” either from excessive traffic or it is unavailable..Personally I think they got hit so hard and unexpectily or expectedly that there network crashed and their phone system was bombarded by so many calls that it could not even respond professionally.. But again, thats the government systems for you…..
After I came home from taking the wife to a Doctor appointment, I remenbered that the coin set were going on sell. I Pick up the pphone and at 1220 PM I thru on the first time caller and had my order taken for 3 sets. Then I change my order and said to go ahead and give two more sets and all of this took less than four minuntes. My order numbers where 6791 apart. That how many they had sold just while I was on the phone. I never did get on line.
I tried to place an order for the set, between 12:00 and 6 PM, using both phone and computer. My account at the US Mint could not be accessed and I received a message that the account was disabled and would be restored after 8 hours! I did use the right information to access the account. Finally, I was allowed to order from the catalog, as a guest, on-line, just before 6 PM. I do not even know if the transaction was accepted as there was no confirmation of the order. Hopefully the US Mint will give me response soon. I shall consult with my credit card issuer tomorrow… I keep wondering if the set was worth the frustration I experienced!
You know, I’d leave a message right now but I’m going to sleep on it because all I could post right bow would be pure venom and paranoia! I tried for over 5 hours on computer and 2 hours on phone simultaneously; needless to say I didn’t get one but I’m sure plenty will be available on ebay and tv sales shows! FWIW I’m going to register my dissatisfaction at the mint – Like they care!!!
Wayne
WOW!! I can’t believe the mess that the mint has created.
I think a limit of “one per household” would have been fair.
Jim
————————————-
James Bucki
About.com | Need. Know. Accomplish.
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I logged on at 11:30 am and when 12 O’clock came, I clicked to the previous page and I was logged out. I tryed again for hours with no luck. Finally around 3pm I got through and I ordered a set. It said it was backordered. Hopefully I’ll get it. The mint must update their ordering software because there are alot of customers like me who are not happy.
Steve
It took me and wife 1 hr. 40 mins using two computers and three phones. I started at exactly 12:00pm. My question is that why does the US Mint have contracts with private vendors to sell them hundreds of sets when there is a limit on Taxpayers? Who gives out the contracts between the US Government and private vendors that are allowed to profit by huge mark-ups after the sell out? Who at the US Mint is allowed to pick the winners and losers, and what grade level is the US Mint representative that does it.
Sales should exhausted to individuals prior to for profit companies.
No change from mint. Over 4 1/2 hours on web and phone. Nothing on phone. The mint takes in plenty of $. You would think with unemployment rates this high they could hire more people to answer the phones for a few hours so it didn’t take up a probable 100,000 hours of our time. Bet the folks that handle the sales of bullion for the mint didn’t wait 5 hours. If they did 1 per household, it would be well into 2012 before they got it sorted out, and that would take to much of their coffee time!
I agree — this is not the correct to sell these. It makes it literally impoosible to buy one or fives sets..I was very aggrievated becuase I was at work trying to buy a set!! Who knows, maybe with all the overflow of request, they will produce more sets to meet the demand — but again, that takes away from the value of this set…You can’t win!!!!
I got through at 2 minutes past 12 noon, and the person who answered the phone told me that the sets had not yet been released.
I asked when they would, and she told me that it would be at any minute; — However, she was “not allowed” to take an order from “someone on the phone before the sets were released” even tho’ I waited until 12 noon to call!
She said I had to hang up, and call back.
From 12:05 until after 4:30pm, I tried BOTH their phone and their website CONTINUOUSLY.
I got only busy signals on the phone, and webpages that refused to load on their website.
A little after 4:30pm I gave up. I was just too disgusted to continue.
I knowed this was gona happen,told the wife the same.I’m PISSED,.this aint right,.
It took me all afternoon to get through. Very bad organized. And now? if I want to buy my set I will need to spend 3-4 time more the value of the entire set. I check already in eBay……and you will understand wht I am talking about……
What a mess ! I started right on the dot of 12 noon and finally got through to my account at 6pm. I ordered 5 but a message came back that I had exceeded the limit per household and could order 3. This I did and then was told that I was on the wait and see list. I was so disgusted with the Mint that I almost put my fist through the monitor. I did get an order # tho so we will see what happens.
I just saw 25 sets on ebay from the same seller. What happened to the 5 set limit?
YES! YES! YES!
However – the Mint posted on Facebook –
We apologize to those of you having difficulty getting through to place orders for the 2011 American Eagle 25th Anniversary Silver Coin Set. Our ordering system has been running at capacity – in fact, orders were placed for approximately 25,000 sets during the first hour of sales.
We are committed to improving your online ordering experience and have recently awarded a contract that will result in a new, state of art order management system. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we work toward implementing this new system in 2012.
I had the same problem with Internet Explorer it took an hour and a half, I was reading a coment about Firefox working better then IE . I had Mozilla Firefox on my compute\r, it worked much better and I got the order done in about 5 minutes at 1:30pm. Firefox waited thru all the delays with no kick outs. I still use IE , but this is a great backup. I hope this helps in the future.
I missed out…again. No problem though. I can just wait and buy one for the 250 or 300% markup that is sure to follow, now that a bunch of the U.S. Mint’s elite dealers bought them all out…again.
I comport 100% about the incompetence of the US Mint regarding the sale of the Silver Eagle 25th Anniversary set. I would click the tab and would either be shown that the site was not connected or the page would not change to the next page to further the ordering process. I even had the site processing when I received an e-mail stating that my order had been accepted.
The Mint must be run by morons. As those who are computer knowledgable asserted, the problem with the Mint’s web site not responding can be fixed easily. How many times must this nonsense of web site problems occur before the Mint’s dumbells address the issue?
It’s a beautiful set. The mint would have sold out even if the mintage was 200,000
at 12:00:10 pm as soon as it appeared i clicked ‘add to cart’ on order screen for my account, where it locked up and did nothing. i had to watch for about 40 minutes before i had to abandon it and go. i tried then and all day to get thru by phone, dialling about 100 times, from several different places: as soon as i pressed 1 for order or 0 for rep, got a busy signal. Last week a rep at us mint told me not to worry, there’d be plenty and i could get one late if not early. not so. i am very disappointed, just wanted 2 or 3 sets. something is very wrong with this order system.
Jim, sorry to say that your suggestion about the Mint limiting orders to one is sadly not a workable solution. Much of the problem is that dealers and others try to corner the market on limited issue coins and sets. Some simply instruct employees to work the phones/web. Others do it by paying bounties to friends, customers, relatives, etc. The proof of this will be the large numbers of sellers that miraculously will have many more than five sets to sell next month.
The problem is with order limits, and to change that, someone needs to lead the charge on legislative lobbying. A likely choice would be ANA and the trade (print) media, but they have not shown a great deal of leadership in this area.
Of course, the Mint and its vendor, Pitney Bowes Gov’t Solutions also share the blame. They administer and staff the customer service function, and are both quick to blame, but slow to effect meaningful changes.
This whole mess was (and is) unavoidable. Forget the PR puffery on the Mint’s Facebook page. They could change things for the better with 10 simple steps … and they could do it overnight. The problem is there is no incentive for them to crawl meekly, let alone step boldly, out of the warm, bureaucratic muck that is the hallmark of our federal government.
Same story, all day on the phone no luck, and never did get on line with the pc. My lady friend was making fun of me all t this time it was happening. Good thing we not married or we would be split up, or my butt in jail. Oh, lucky I have no hair.
I placed about 200 calls but kept getting a busy signal. I tried to order thru online but the site would not load finally after 3 hrs I finally placed an order for 3, should of did 5 but…Even tho I have an order number I’m not holding my breath as the disclamer stated that in case of over sellage they have the right not to fullfill your order. I think that the US Mint as big and powerfull that they are should of had a better way to handle the large amount of calllers and fortified their internet hub! I have a feeling that they will be making more before the years end, I just hope they don’t flood the market.
This problem at the mint is so old we dicussed this on this blog a few years ago. I and a friend sugessted a limit per household, to give regular folk a chance at new offerings before the big money dealers scooped up everything in site. Soon after, they went to a limit per household. If you think their not listening, they are. Just not doing us any good. No matter what they come up with, theres always someone out there that can find a way to circumvent the rules. If the mint did a better job at policeing, they should find the hucksters and penalize them. Something in the legal area with stiff penalties. With teeth in it so it bites. It “might” give pause to the reckless, to think twice before scalping.
I tried to make an order around 8:00 P.M., first order in a few years from the mint. I had a feeling this would happen. I know i was way to late with my order. I thought it was me on my end when the web site started acting up. I waited about 10 minutes. Then left the site. Either i got a few sets, or i didn’t. No biggie. There will be others.
coiny
I started calling at Noon, and hit re-dial 183 times,until #184 came through. I figured the web site would crap the bed, and it did several times. I got my one set, and hopefully my friends got theirs, lol!
I had the same problem as most people and i was using two computers. Thirty minutes to load a single page only to throw you out each time. I finally called, that took me thirty minutes also but i did get my order. The US Mint definetly needs to improve their ordering procedures, JR.
I live in California and thought I would be one of the first buyers at 9AM PST. Well, it took me until 1:30 PM PST before I finally got my 3 sets ordered. I also tried calling 7 times. The phone was always busy. I just hope I get my sets. It was hard work. I never thought buying coins would be such a hassle!
I started trying to Log in at 11:50 AM. The web site was so congested that after 2 hours I finally got logged on and placed my order, however when I hit the quick “Checkout” button it threw me off the web site. I finally got back on about 3:55 PM and my earlier order was in the cart so I did another quick checkout and about 13 minutes later I received my confirmation number for the product.
The mint needs to look into there Web Site Customer Service Problems and come up with a better solution.
I received an offer from a coin dealer to pay me $300 over the cost of the 5 sets if I sold them to him. I asked him if he had gone to Ebay and seen how they were selling unforeseen for $1200 at auction per set. That’s $4500 profit, not $300, I told him. Why should I sell to him? Besides I am a collector, not a scammer.
It took over 3 hours to get a set ordered. The problem is that the order page must reload at each step as you change the quantity, confirm address, confirm payment, etc. Many times I was dropped when I was part way through the order. Amazon has a feature of “quick order” where one click and its ordered and billed to your account. The mint needs to get real and fix their web site and streamline their ordering process. Its an example of government services at their worst.
It’s amazing that the US government, mint, does not have the technology to handle calls and/or emails for ordering popular items. The frustration of having to wait over six hours! to place an order for the American Eagle 25th Anniv. set is suncalled for. This slsower than snail pace preavented a lot of persons from acquiring a set.
the web site did go dowm just before noon l had to spend about thirty minutes calling over and over again before i did get a operater, but i did order two sets!
I was loggedin and ready toclick at 11:59AM. At 12:00PM i hit refresh andwaited, and waited, and timedout. This happened for over an hour. I got so far as to actually have the set in my basket butwhen I clicked to check out the system timed out. This happened at least 4 times. I then went to the phone. I called the number and kept getting the press 1 then a busy signal. This went one for about an hour when i finaly got through and made my order. WOW what a mess. If you have something you expect to be a big seller then RAMP UP YOUR SUPPORT!
I was glad I got one as I missed out 5 years ago.
I also had great difficulty getting an order placed on the website. After 2 hours I was finally able to get my order into my shopping cart but it wouldn’t let me checkout. Fortunately I was speed dialing on the phone simultaneously and was able to get through, place my order for (5) sets and get my confirmation number.
It is not often that such a demand is placed on their services so in my opinion save the money from a once a year inconvenience and keep prices as cheap as possible.
PS:It took me 1 1/2 hours with a lot of frustration …for sure!
I got mine at 11:16 central time. There was a trick
to getting it, you had to be signed in before they went on sale, and then add to wish list and not cart.
I was then able to access the wishlist quickly since
not many were on that page. So happy to get mine.
adam-mnpls
Hi,
At 2:30 pm the mint via phone old callers that they were putting people on a “waiting list”!
I had to dial for 2hr and 4 min.to get my order in and when I completed their servey, I gave them a “1″ the worst numberfor their service
Coinut
I started at exactly 12:00 Eastern time. Same results as others had. By 1:15 PM I did get my requested order pulled up and then the site crashed. After four attempts I finally got my order request printed. Then it showed “backordered”. I should have expected it. Unfortunately the genera public seems to always get the shaft from he mint when it comes to ordering anything. I never get through on the phone line.
All of the above applies to me except what really got me was the operator on the phone said I had been selected to complete a survey after the order, Let me order first I will than be happy to complete your survey.I gave up after almost three hours of computer and phone time. I tried again later on the computer and by some miracle I was put right on and breezed through the process ordered five sets. This was worse than when I ordered the Lincoln coins and Chronicles set which they only made 50,000 of and had a limit of one per household.
After trying for 4 hours plus to place an order for the new coins, I gave up at about 4:15 PM EST when I saw the posting about being sold out. Over 10 times I got to the final page of the order form only to be kicked out afer waiting over 30 minutes for the page to respond. The Mint should have know better as what was going to happen and should have been prerpared. I am now without the coins I really wanted and I only tried to order one set.
I was on the internet and on the phone for over an hour before I completed my purchase of one by phone. The internet would not respond!! I Logged in this morning to discover I have 2 sets in my Shopping Cart. What do I do with the 2 in the shopping cart? The Mint is going to ship them Via UPS, because the total value is over $300.00. They have never done that before.
I tried calling from noon through 5pm (ET) as well as trying to get through on the computer and could not get through either way. A few times I actually got to place an order on line but it never got processed. Typical US government….Totally Inept!
I connected to the website numerous times only to be summarily dumped back out after waiting 20 -30 minutes per page to load. I was finally able to complete the process to finish only to have been put on backorder after 5 hrs. of continuous frustration.
Congress and the Mint need to increase the allotment for these very popular and special issues. It was easy to predict the very high demand for this product.
I, too, worked in I.T. (both computer and phone systems), and there is no excuse for this. If they are going to continue to be in this business, they need to be prepared to support the demand both technilogically and product availability wise.
I have scaled back my collecting efforts because of these issues. I am sure others have as well. I will not pay the inflated costs of trying to obtain these issues from 3rd parties.
Considering the current economic issues, you would think the government would welcome some additional income from sources like this…
Please feel free to use my comments to urge the Mint and Congress to make this right…
I had two computers going and started 5 mins before opening bell, one computer never did complete an order and the other succeeded after 1 1/2 hours of messages telling me to start over, web page lost, server problem, loading problem, etc etc.
I also agree they could have and probably did expect the surge of orders, but you must know they don’t care about your frustrations as you can see we all hung in there until we got our sets ordered. They know you aren’t going to not buy just because it;s difficult! I feel lucky about not having been at work and could take all the time necessary to finish the challenge!!
I was on right at 12:00pm I tried for over an hour with a phone and on the computer at the same time. The phone was always busy. Not once did I talk to anyone. The computer was rediculous. I got to the site several times and it would time out when I tried to add 2 sets to my cart.
I finally got through at 6:00pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I’m on a wait list!!!!!!!!!!!! What a joke. The Mint should ony give out one to a customer until they satisfy all those on the wait list. I should have had one in the first 10 minutes.
It took me from 12:00 to 6:30 to get on the waiting list by phone. I am highly disappointed and the mint should set up a better system or I will not be ordering from them again. One person announced publicly that he quit collecting coins due to this incident. I wasted over 6 hours just to be told it was sold out.
The mint will only process orders made until 6:00, then if there are no more sets left they will fill in orders from 6:00 onward until the sets run out. There should really be a 1 set limit/houshold so all the dealers and flippers do not gobble up all the sets before we real collectors do.
I thought I was going to get shutout on this one. I put the price about what the mint had offered it. Then at Noon, I attempted to buy some sets. It kept coming back stating “web site unavailable”. I kept trying for about one half hour and finally got two sets ordered. But the problem was it always came back stating web site unavailable. I stuck with it until I finally got my order in and received my receipt. When I got that, I knew I had got them. It was frustrating no doubt but my persistence paid off. Thanks. FRM
The mint should have used the subscription service. The phone is never a good way for thousands of callers. Jeff sessions needs to know about the lack of service at the mint. The coin dealers had everyone they know calling the mint to get the sets to sell at god awfull prices.
I never did get to place my order for the Silver Anniversary set, as I was unable to access the order page, and by the time I did get through to them, their supply had sold out. I had no idea how many sets were being offered, but I know I didn’t get even one!!
I was not going to order, but then decided to give it a try. I started after 1pm. I figured it would take a while but just kept at it. Took about an hour to get my order placed. I’m not sure what the solution is to satisfy the “true collectors” vs “the dealers” but I like the qty limit of 5. I guess part of the problem is just being lucky enought to get into the system in the first place. Does anyone know at exactly what time the sets were sold out?
I just read thru all of the comments. I know demand was high and ordering was going to be a nightmare with this limited quantity. My husband was eventually able to place his order. What I noticed with many comments was many buyers tying up both the internet and phone lines at the same time while trying to place their order. Right or wrong this did not help, it only made it worse. If thousands of other buyers were also doing this, well………………….! I don’t have an answer on how to fix it unless the mint limits it to 1 per order, but that might not be the answer either.
I had to be out of town that day however, my fantastic wife & son (he also wanted a set) called. Yup they had to use two phones, 1 landline & 1 cell phone. It took them 1 hour & 45 minutes to get thru. Then they informed my wife she had to open her own account. ( I have three ways to pay for items I purchase on USMINT.com) She did; but was informed she might not be allowed to get the two sets she ordered since she is a new customer!!! WHAT? I’ve been a customer for DECADES!!! (YES, I’m OLD) I hope she I mean I get the two sets ordered. I could go on and on however, you get the picture, same boat as everyone else. Want to save the USA? Hire us/ we the people and put us into those management positions we’ll get this country straightened out because we started at the bottom & worked our butts off to get where we are. Blood,Sweat & Tears not no SILVER SPOON!!!!!!
Confine initial purchases on limited items to ONE (1) PER CUSTOMER, with secondary requests entered on an “if available” list after a set period of time (perhaps 48 – 72 hours).
My first attempt to order was at 12 noon, page did not load. I waited about 45 minutes and logged on to the Mint’s server, place my order and was done within 5 minutes. Order number 38365xxx. just got lucky I guess.
I really don’t think that there is a solution, at least not a simple one. Part of the popularity of this set is the 100,000 set limit and eliminating that or even raising it significantly would have a large effect on the popularity. It is a solution as far as getting sets into the hands of collectors but it would not in any way reduce complaints because if there was never another coin minted that gained in value everyone who hopes to profit from this set would raise hell. A vastly faster system isn’t a solution either as long as their is more demand than supply. the sellout would just happen sooner. In fact a vastly faster system would almost certainly favor the dealers and others with above average internet access or buying networks.
So the only real solution to these kind of situations is to kill the demand by stating that the mint will produce enough coins to cover every order entered with no order limits at all and use broad advertising so as many people as possible know that they can buy from the mint at no markup. If that happens, no modern coin will ever attract anything but serious collectors and long term PM investors.
I honestly don’t think that anything went wrong on Thursday. I just think that this set was so popular, both with serious collectors and speculators that there are far more people involved and upset about not getting a set (either because they wanted it for their collection or because they were hoping to make a fantastic profit). Not a simple problem, no simple solution. Would there really have been fewer complaints if you had logged in at 12:05 ET and been greeted with a SOLD OUT banner? Would you still be dying to pay $300 for this set if the mint had said the mintage was 2.5 million with no ordering limit? All of the shortcomings of the website and phone lines acted as close to a lottery with a random drawing as any unplanned thing could be so I think that as long as there are mintage limits, this system works well.
I totally agree with you Claire. It has a lot to due with persistence and LUCK. It was in fact a lottery and I think it worked just fine. Do I feel bad for the folks that missed out… of course!! I got mine, 5 separate orders and I finally won the lottery, first time I’ve ever won anything. No matter what the mint does it’s not going to set well with everyone. I too, am unhappy with the BIG dealers but hey, it’s legal, it’s capitalism and free enterprise and for that I am thankful. To those that didn’t get a set, buy one on the secondary as I did for the 20th Anniversary. No matter what you end up paying for this set it still will be worth it. A true collector will pay whatever it costs if they truly want this set. I feel that anything less than $1000.00 is a deal. Think of what these are, they are really the most rarest coins ever (except the 95W) in the ASE program. The 93S Morgan had the same mintage. Good luck to all my fellow collectors. BTW, I am NOTR a dealer or flipper.
American Silver Eagle 25th Anniversary 5 Coin Set
I’ve been a radio technician for nearly forty years. To place an order on the said day (October 27,2011) to purchase the aforesaid set, took me nearly five hours. The browser, nor any other factor played any role, nor had any significance on purchasing quickly. Some people believe by having Chrome, it may be beneficial, but is not. There really is not much of a difference between Internet Exp 9 and Chrome. Conducted line tests, as well as collecting data to prove such. Switching ports in a connection is needless as well. The fact of the matter is that the relays were jammed, and servers overwhelmed. Depwending on where you live, where the relays are, and server are some key aspects in getting a quick connection. I personally felt that backchannels may have been prevalent here. However, the U.S. Mint states otherwise. In any event, I finally ordered after nearly five hours. Worked the phones as well, the whole time. Placed order via phone. I made many mistakes as the bell rang at 12:00 P:M. First, I could not get my items in the cart, and when I did, I lost the connection. The second time, I had to log in again, and in this case, inadvertently added an additional 2 sets, bringing the total to four sets. Unfortunately, the items were in my cart, but could not complete transaction, due to the extreme slowness of the servers. From then on, I was in limbo for nearly five hours, actually getting disgusted. I even made sureprior to ordering that there were a good amount of “cookies” retained. For some unknown reason, I cleared my system, and that is when I was practically doomed. A word to the wise, don’t clear “cookies” of significance. All in all, I have never experienced anything like this, and have been placing orders from the U.S. Mint for some time.
I got mine all said and done by 12:11 p.m.
After unsuccessful calls to order 1 25th anniv. set, I cancelled all future contact with the us only mint & will no longer purchase their over priced coins period
That will learn ‘em…….
What you had to do was this ya see… Open every WEB browser you have available, I had IE, CHROME, FIREFOX and someone that have not even been invented yet.. but really the more browsers you have open and signed in BEFORE 11:59:59. a.m. BAM I was in and out in 11 minutes….
I began just two minutes before the official time and it was already so jugged up that my Company connection could not be made. I contacted several friends. Within minutes 4 of us were trying to order 5 sets between us. We were calling and trying to log on and probably had 2 phone lines and 5-6 computers going. We would get part way through an order only to time-out and start again or not be able to access. Via the phone, despite several hundred attempts, we got only busy signals. After five hours two folks were successful in getting through but both were back-ordered and unlikely to get their sets. I currently work in the IT industry and say this is utter incompetence to be fully unprepared when they have been doing this for this long. The premium I will have to pay to get a set is very frustrating.
I can share the same frustration as everyone else regarding the inability to access the mint by phone and/or website for hours. What perplexes me more is during the time I was attempting to get through to the mint, I went on ebay’s website and already there was two pages of this anniversary set listed for sale. One or two vendors had the sets for sale already graded and encapsulated as MS70 and PF70 by NGC. How in the hell is this possible when, as far as I know, the coins have not even been issued. How can someone know the condition of the coins to pregrade them prior to issue? This is fraud in my opinion or at best false advertising and demonstrates totally unethical behavior by someone who has NGC grading authorization. This gives the coin collecting and grading industry a major “black eye”. I also concur with the ‘one per family’ or ‘one per person’ issue limit. This presale authorization to select vendors by the US Mint must cease on special issue products such as this if in-fact it is being allowed to occur.
The best way to do this is to subscribe for the sets every year, oops forgot this not on my subscription list. Although it does has its hazards, such as I forgot I was getting 5 proofs a year and 5 uncs a year. when they sent mine the price was 186.00 for 3, there system is really screwed up. I was lucky to get what I got. Next notice will be an immediate response for a purchase. I no longer trust there computer system
No surprise to me. I have logged onto the Mint precisely 10 minutes before the sale time for important or first release products in the past and waited at least 1 to 2 hours before completing the transaction. This one took 5 1/2 hours.
Don’t expect the mint to put the money into upgrading their Servers and order technology. Money is tight in the Government except for the Military and state Pork Projects and I am pretty sure the US Mint is at the bottom of the list for new monies budgeted by Congress. So get use to long waits. Look at it this way instead of waiting 5 hours on a line for the latest Apple IPhone, your waiting 5 hours online for the latest Hot Mint Product.
Yes, this was the last straw that broke my camels back. I have been collecting and purchasing coins from the mint for over 35 years, and now, that’s it, no more. I canceled all my subscriptions with the mint. I spend over 7 hours of my time trying to place an order, both on the web site and then on the phone line. Never got though on either. I’m TIRED OF THIS !@#$%. I called several dealers and auction houses and will be dumping my collection and buy billion, both gold and silver. The frustration is too much. When the new Lincoln cents was coming out and you could not get them, I dropped in on a dealer I know, and he had hundreds and hundred of boxes and rolls. Greed, Greed, and Greedy.
PS I noticed on one of the gold and silver dealers web site that they were offering to buy the sets for $ 499.00
I was online well before the sell time and I had two computers going. Right at 12 I clicked to order and the orders went through. that’s when all hell broke loose. I sat and waited for some time. kept refreshing pages and getting booted off. I was about to say screw it, but remembered the potential gains from previous sets so I waited it out. all told it took about 2.5 hours to place two five set orders. at least I know it wasn’t just me having those problems. I sure do hope it doesn’t take the servers that long to process the commands if we ever DO have to use those WMD’s of our own. if that’s the case, heaven help us all!!
The orders have started changing to “in stock and reserved” today. On mine, the cancel option is still available and there has been no CC activity yet but this should mean that the first orders will ship sometime this week.
Question for Larry E: How exactly did you place two five set orders? Any combination of same name, same address (shipping or billing), same credit card, etc. will result in one of the orders being cancelled. These sets can’t be shipped to PO boxes because they are going out UPS, which can’t deliver to POBs.
The shipment of 25th anniversary sets has begun. the lowest order numbers and times are reporting that they have received tracking numbers but that they are not recognized by UPS. This is typical as the mint will probably deliver batches of orders to UPS this afternoon oe evening for delivery starting tomorrow morning.
Wow!!! Got my 25th Anniversary set yesterday 11/09,only wish I had orded two sets. The mint hit a home run. Set is outstanding. I didn’t realize how large the set was going to be . They out did them self on the display box also.
I’m in agreement with some of your readers, I plan stop collecting, I will give what I have to the grandkids and keep the silver for meltdown, if the times get bad. I think everyone should boycott all the tv and internet coin sellers, along with the mint. The whole thing is a joke, to see tv dealers selling them by the hundreds for more than twice the value. So much for the common guy out there trying to collect coins. I am fed up with the whole coin collecting scene.
got mine today, still havent decided if i want to have them graded yet.
Hi Everyone!
I am getting emails that people have been getting notices from the Mint that their sets have shipped. I just checked the status of my order and it is expected to ship on 11/24/11 (Thanksgiving Day) . I finally got my order placed at arround 5pm that day. I guess being the last in line is better than not being in line at all.
If anybody get their set, take photos and send them to me so I can post them for everyon to see.
Thanks
James Bucki
Not tryin’ to throw fuel on this already “ablaze topic ” , but I received my 2 sets , delivered by UPS yesterday , 11/09/11 at 10:11AM . Seems strange that they could ship this package, Next Day Air for $4.95 . I’ve worked at UPS for over 30 yrs. and they don’t ship a letter NDA for that amount !! The package was in my hand before the transaction showed on my banking statement ! Go figure … The sets are beautiful and I do plan to have them graded – it only makes sense as they are for sure going to be a hot commodity in the collecting world . Marc ;o)
PS . In addition to my statement earlier , I’m concerned about this set as it was not packaged with the “tamper proof” plastic that prevented folks from “creating” a “20th Ann. Set” by obtaining several coins and putting them together as ” The Set ” when being graded . What am I missing ?
Marc ;o)
I got mine today … NICE!
I ordered 4, 1 for me and 1 each for 3 friends.
It took me 53 minutes to order mine. I didn’t order ANY extra though I could have ordered 1 extra. Hopefully it made 1 more person happy and not a speculator happy.
Rec’d 5 sets this morning (9:29 AM).Order was placed by phone @ 9:14 Oct. 27th.The weight of the box is 15.40 lbs.this seems to be awful heavy.What did some of the others that rec’d theirs weigh? Going to send in for grading to PCGS,i’m on the west coast it’s closer.Would someome post pic’s?
I didn’t want to vent any of my frustrations before I’d given this situation a good deal of consideration. I started reading every comment that people had submitted only after having fully formed my own opinion. Next I wanted to see if anyone else had come to the same conclusion. Clair Hardesty, what a breath of fresh air you were. Excuse me, but all of you, “Woe is me” and, “Can’t the mint do anything right” folks were wearing me out. Clair, I totally agree with everything you wrote. Everyone should be required to read comment #67 before being allowed to make their own. I would actually wecome further correspondence with you. You can find me on Facebook.
I intend to use this topic as a round-table discussion at our next coin club meeting.We may not come up with any solutions, but it would be an interesting debate.
A supervisor I had once told me not to ever come to him with a complaint on how something was done without having an idea of how to correct the problem. Honestly, I don’t have a solution for this situation because I’m not sure there is one or it needs one. Sure, there are lots of complaints. There will be more if the mint comes back and makes a bunch more sets. There have been a lot of dollars invested based on the promise of the limited mintage. Surely a higher mintage would have satisfied more collectors. That doesn’t mean that every collector should have one. It is an integral part of the hobby having coins that are more rare than others. We can’t all have them just for wanting them. Who would collect something that everyone has? Now the mint is going to spend billions for sure on a system that will likely benefit the profiteers more than the pure collectors. There’s more coming…read on.
I have learned a couple of things about how to better my odds of being sucessful in the next big release. Thanks to those who offered tips.
I did not make the rules of how these sets would be offered, nor would I presume to claim I could have done a better job. I know that there are a lot of people involved who have much more experience doing it than me.
I also know that, as a dealer, I have an obligation to satisfy the needs of my clients. I know that I would want to buy these sets at the lowest cost in order to pass the savings on to them. They depend on me for that.They can’t always spend the time on the computer or don’t know when the release dates are. They understand that I do this for a living. They will continue to come back to me because I will show them what the market is paying and that they will be paying far less. Yes, I ordered 5 sets. I haven’t received them yet, but they will all be for sale. This is not a set or series that I collect. I will put them in the hands of the collectors that I choose, as I always do when I come across a special sale like this.
So, I hope those who have said they are quitting the hobby will reconsider and just learn how to play within the rules you are given.
Best Regards and Silver Hoards to All.
I loved your blog.Much thanks again. Really Cool.