ModernCoinMart Claims Free Shipping -- But I Call BS

I was in the market for some 2016 Perth Mint Koalas and decided to compare prices among Apmex, Provident and ModernCoinMart. Here are the prices for a single 1 ounce Koala, using Paypal:

Apmex 19.94
Provident 19.09
ModernCoinMart 22.30

ModernCoinMart claims to have free shipping, but you don't have to be Stephen Hawking to see that is not the case. At best, it should be touted as "shipping included" not "free shipping". Hopefully, they will correct their terminology eventually. Similar to PCGS putting the words First Strike on some of their labels. I have always wondered how they can determine which coins were struck first and nobody else can.

 

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First day on the planet?

 

So, why don't you send them a polite note asking them about their pricing policy? What good does it do to complain here?

Chris

 

so how much is that same 1 oz at apmex and provident with shipping?

 

Great idea...and it is actually a shipping and HANDLING (checking order, packing order, etc. They may even take the packages to the PO.

At one time, NGC had a "personal post office" inside their building in FL to handle the in/out mail. Anyone confirm this still going on there?

 

Just order $99 worth and you get free shipping at either Provident or Apmex. TC

 

MCM is doing nothing wrong here. This is how they have chosen to do business. They are under no obligation to follow the same model as their competitors. There is nothing misleading here, they give you the bottom line price with everything included delivered to your door. Besides shipping, there are other things buried the cost, such as advertising, insurance, etc and nobody breaks these costs out.

Now of course, you as the customer have the power to decide if you prefer to deal with this business model or not. All is good

 

Wasn't that when NGC was in their old office in Sarasota?

Chris

 

They do have free shipping, there is no additional cost beyond the listed price. (everyone business cost is included in the item: shipping, handling, advertisement, paying your employees, risk of fraud, ect.)

If you are buying only 1 coin their price is $2-$3 cheaper than Apmex/Provident (about the cost of shipping!). If you are doing $100+ purchases then Apmex/Provident have free shipping and are cheaper on just about every item.

 

Prices at other bullion dealers are irrelevant to your claim.

If you wanted to prove that MCM was charging for shipping, then you should compare their online shipped prices to what they charge if you bought and received your order in person.

 

If you buy just one coin (or less than $100 worth of stuff), MCM is cheaper as the other guys will add at least $6 in shipping to small orders. If you are buying in a more modest quantity, then others have better volume pricing and free shipping. It just depends on what you are buying and how much.

 

I completely forgot about that building! Yes, NGC has had two Sarasota locations. Both had personal post offices.

 

That's easy to get around too.

Free shipping for online orders.
Discount for in person sales.

The discount could be justified by the reduced risk of fraud instead of their reduced cost of shipping.

I see it as a benefit to the buyer to embed the cost of shipping into the price of the item because many places that don't will not refund the cost of shipping in the event of a return.