Welcome back to another issue of "COINS - AS SEEN ON TV!". I realize it's been a while since my last write-up here on Coin Talk, and I just have to blame it on my health. When you experience severe chronic back pain 24/7, the desire to write a one or two page article takes a back seat to the pain. But enough of the violin music! My last write-up was on HSN's The Vault with Mike Meezak. The issue before that gave a thorough scolding to Rick Tomaska at RCTV Collectible Coins whereby the first "Report Card" was issued by myself based upon varying criteria for Coin TV Shows/Networks. Both can be accessed in the Search Box. As always, opinions and your review of this article are appreciated! View attachment 684823 There are coin lovers that either watch AAN-TV, will never watch AAN again, or those that have flipped through seeing just another annoying jewelry show. Only this one was AAN aka America's Auction Network. If you are a watcher, odds are you are a newer collector, young or old, and your coin buying options are extremely limited...as far as you know. I must admit I am a watcher, and have been for about 7 years now. As a buyer, I have made buying mistakes in my early days as a watcher and as a collector. They go hand in hand, no matter the Coin TV you may watch. But I still watch because I love coins, and once in a great while, I will find a diamond in the rough and see something worth buying. I know some will doubt this, but as an experienced eBay seller, I can say I saw. I ordered. I listed. I sold at a nice profit. But when it comes to AAN-TV, it's an anomaly. You've got to know your coins, or the risk of getting sucked in by the unseen TV Hosts, namely Adam, Eric, and even "I've joined the den of thieves" Shawn Lefflar, has slung the misleading and downright wrong slop, where eager new collectors, eat it up. I could list several instances of lies and misleading information aimed at viewers by AAN, but there simply isn't room here. I have documented some, and will provide details of one in particular. One trick used by AAN Hosts on numerous occasions, is the offering of "graded" MS70 1999 Silver Eagles in an auction setting. Thing is, this MS70 is graded by IGS aka International Grading Service. A faux service that regularly assigns MS70's and other, rare high grades depending on the coin. They are typically First Day of Issue, even for coins minted in China. There is no way that is possible unless coins are slabbed in China. IGS has no office in China. So much for IGS First Day of Issue coins. IGS is a joke, and reputable coin valuation services in no way recognize this cheap, stabbing company. But AAN offers out these 1999 IGS MS70's, and put on the screen that valuations for 1999 Silver Eagles in MS70 have a comparison in the thousands of dollars! Sources used the most are NGC and NumisMedia for valuation purposes. Thing is, valuations used by NGC and NumisMedia in no way use IGS "grades" for their true valuation purposes. So, the auction typically is bid up to the $350 range, plus a 10% buyers premium, and shipping. Usually there is a "Match The Bid" at $350, and more uninformed buyers jump in to buy what frankly is an MS68 or maybe MS69, instead of the promoted MS70. So your $400 coin is really worth much, much, less. And AAN knows this. I have yet to see a MS70 graded by NGC or PCGS in the same scenario, and likely never will. Pure fraud, plain and simple. About 6 months ago, AAN-TV moved to new facilities and promised a better buying experience including faster shipping, better Customer Service, and even the possibility of on air Hosts being seen on the screen, instead of just their voices. How have they done with the new AAN-TV? Well, not much except to make it worse! Shipping for Buy It Now items now cost buyers, Customer Service is still abysmal, and no on-air host appearances. But hey, they do have a new logo. Thanks for that. The thing that really burns me the most is the taking advantage of newer collectors...young and old in age. They simply don't know better. Again, AAN knows this and they exploit it to the hilt! If you're a newer collector, stay away from AAN-TV. If you are an active viewer, you have got to know your coins. Unfortunately, most AAN viewers do not. Lastly, the newer collector doesn't know the other sell venues for coins. One visit to eBay, and in most cases, you will see the very same coin that AAN is offering is cheaper on eBay and other online sources. It's an ugly report card for AAN-TV, so let's get to it... PRICE/VALUE........................................... F ENTERTAINMENT VALUE............................ D COIN KNOWLEDGE OF HOSTS.................... B HONESTY................................................. F CUSTOMER SERVICE................................. F SHIPPING TIME........................................ F VARIETY OF COINS OFFERED..................... B Not to pretty, but dead-on in my opinion. Next issue will feature updates on a variety of Coin TV shows, including personnel changes, rumors, and much more! Till then, Jeff
Very accurate assessment of AAN-TV from the few times I have caught one of their broadcasts. I would put many on air coin retailers far more honest and entertaining than AAN-TV as you correctly stated.
Thanks for the update @Norsk64 ! I realize that we can never get rid of a slime venue like this as long as the company and the TV network see money to be made. It's a damn shame. I wonder what would happen if 10 million people all logged-on and posted a bid on the very same item at the exact same time? Then, a few minutes later, all retracted their bid. Chris
PLEASE IGNORE THE FIRST PARTIAL REPLY Well, thank you. I am not a Coin TV hater, quite the opposite in fact. But if I see blatant chicanery on any show, I will call them out on it! Thanks again and be sure to search my previous issues on Rick Tomaska's RCTV and Well, thank you for your comment. I don't want to come across as a Coin TV hater, quite the opposite in fact. But if I see pure, outright lies being spouted or intentional misleading of watchers, I'm going to call them out on it! Be sure to search out my previous 2 write-ups on Rick Tomaska's RCTV and HSN - The Vault Coin Collector. Again, my thanks!
Thanks, Chris! I've got my own theories regarding their whole auction way of selling. I'll leave it at that. I can't throw allegations around without hard proof, no matter how strong my opinion is. And if your mega-bidder scenario were actually to play out, they would win big time! There are no bid retractions, and they must have your credit card on file before you are allowed to bid in the first place. Once again, the bidder loses.
I have DIRECTV. I have seen ESN a few times, but don't think they are on DIRECTV anymore. Would love to catch 'em again. Do they run programs/presentations online?
Unless I've missed something, I believe ESN Direct has been off the air since summer. They may have bitten the dirt.
Then here... allow me. I am a coin tv watcher and a coin tv hater. Nobody, and I will repeat, NOBODY should buy stuff from the people on TV! Let me bold and underline that. Anyone with any knowledge will note that everything that the tv shopping networks offer is available for approximately half of what the TV shows sells them for. You give me your story of how you made tons of money selling what they sold you, trust me, they were available for less from a dealer or other reputable source. TV coin shows are bad for people in the fact that they spread mis-information and often dupe unknowing people into investing in their common crap.
Mike Mezak was on HSN last night selling the 2017 225th anniversary 10-coin enhanced uncirculated set, graded by ANACS, for $349. It's still available from the Mint for $29.95. No comment needed on this one.
Go search the forums for ESN Direct and see the sad story of a buyer who forked over $15,000 for a set of American Silver Eagles.
It was just a wild thought! Maybe we should revert to a former Air Force tactic and "carpet-bomb" their TV facilities. Chris
It's certainly priced aggressively for an ANACS set but the raw price really doesn't matter as a comparison. Even if the Denver first day was still available from them (which is the ones I've seen him sell) and even if someone got all 70s, they would end up spending the same if not more in grading fees at the normal public rate to have it graded that way. The PCGS ANA 70 sets are mostly going between 280-315 so yes that is cheaper and the better buy as there isn't much of a shortage of those available. There's a lot I don't like with how things are presented and the grading decisions they make to cut cost because they can, I just think the examples need to be fair comparisons so we aren't leading people to conclusions the same way they do.
