Has anyone else noticed that QC is all but non-existent on mint products recently (since late 2010)? They are sending out products that would NEVER have made the cut 2 years ago.
I think you'll find threads on exactly the same topic going back to the beginning of this forum in 2002. And if you searched other forums that existed before that, there are only 3 that I can think of, you'll find most threads with the exact same discussion that are even older. I guess what I am trying to say is that this topic has been around for as long as the mint has been selling collector coins. If you stop and think about it there's a lot to be learned from knowing that. It's kind of like the saying - "the good old days". Pretty much anybody you talk to, about any subject you choose, will tell you that things used to be better in the past. What that should tell you is that that attitude is a human condition and not an accurate reflection of reality. Probably from the beginning of time people have held the attitude that things were always better in the past. But that has more to do with people as a whole being resistant to change and personal taste than it does to things actually having been better in the past. People always seem to like things "the old way" better than they do "the new way". This is even indicated by what can be perceived as a general belief that coin designs of the past were better than coin designs of today. And yes you can count me among those believers as well. But like I said in the beginning, the mere fact that such widespread beliefs exist indicates they are a human condition and not an accurate reflection of reality. And if you limit the thinking to just one subject like the quality of mint products it tells you something else. That being that no matter what, there will always be some products that turn out better than others. That means that somebody is going to get the products with lower quality. And when they do, they are going to compare that quality with the quality of products they had received in the past. That of course causes posts just like this one to come into being. Of course then somebody is going to say that everybody knows that craftsmanship and pride in your work has gone the way of the dinosaur. That in today's world nobody cares anymore. And again I would be hard pressed to dispute that argument. But yet when you actually look at things from an unbiased perspective it's pretty hard to argue that things are not better today than they were in years past. That kind of brings us right back to where we started. My way of looking at it is this - the "good old days" are right now, today. And in the years to come, that's exactly what people (future generations) will say about this particular period in time. I guess to sum it up you have to accept that there's always going to be good and there's always going to be less than good. Nobody's perfect, not you, not me, and not the US Mint. And that condition has been with us as long as we have existed and will be with us until we no longer exist.
Doug- I have been buying from the mint since the 1980's and I have NEVER had to return the same product twice. 2 of the spouses I bought this year I had to return (one returned twice) and a proof set had a blemished cent (i did not return that one because I have to pay postage). I just want to see if I am just unlucky or if they have in fact cut back on QC (as confirmed by the experience of other forumites).
QC has never been their strong point ever since I have been buying from the mint. I have never returned anything though. Probably should have a couple of times.
Many order a higher quantity of a particular item so that they get enough "keepers" and return the rest. QC at the US Mint is non existent. Since there is no profit motive you have to wonder WHY the Mint's managemet doesn't have more PRIDE and initiate an effective QC function.
When you retunred your item did you return it to a US Mint facility or did you return to a contracted service facility that does nothing more than package, store, and fill orders? The folks at PBGS don't make the product but they do facilitate the distribution of products and from what I've hear, the packaging as well. The picture goes like this: US Mint makes coin. Coin gets shipped to PBGC for packaging and shipping. Damage/mishandling occurs during the packaging phase (not a new concept) Buyer orders product. PBGS ships product Buyer receives, inspects, then returns product. PBGS receives returned product, shi9ps out replacement. PBGS then inspects product and if it meets their standards, they repackage the product then put it back on the shelf for the next buyer. Low mintage items that get returned eventually get resold to other customers. So....... if you buy something and get a lemon, you can return it for a replacement but you have a better than 50/50 chance of receiving someone elses lemon in return. The chnaces are directly related to the quantity produced. I don;t believe that US Mint QC has gone down hill but I DO believe that packaging and distribution of their products has gone downhill.
Duh! What's the difference? If the Mint contracts with someone to provide a service and The Mint doesn't Manage their performance then The Mint is at Fault because they are the responsible party.
Many would agree with that Seriously though, if that is the case, then during what time period was it good ? Ya see, that's the problem. Because no matter what time period you pick, you can find reports and complaints from that very same time period where people were complaining about how bad the quality had gotten compared to previous years. When it comes right down to it, quality has always streadily improved over the years. And that's true for pretty much everything in our lives.
There are 2 U.S. Mints.... one was dismantled in 1964. The one today is a different animal. My $ .02 (in Zinc!!!!)
I don't disagree with you Doug! The other thing people are generally guilty of is they think they could do it better. Once you have the opportunity you find there is more to it than you realized and sometimes you make more money by accepting a small percentage of issues. Balance and honesty go a long way in life.
the thing is that it is the coins themselves not packaging- so the initial need to return is the fault of the mint-from what you say that fulfillment company seems to have some shady processes.
IMO: Quality is the responsibility of the Mint. When our customers receive products I cannot ever blame a supplier. I have to have the programs set up and monitored at our facility and any suppliers facility that insures quality. We have no idea what contractually the distribution facility is expected/paid to do. In a situation like this I would bet there is extremely clear language from the mint on how to handle returns. My company manufactures products for a very large company and the contract is unquestionably clear.
I just got the Eliza spouse coin back and guess what- big blemish on obverse! this is getting ridiculous!
I don;t know about the rst of you, but I have looked at a good many proof coins from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and 20's and all have had similar quality problems. MOST from the 60's, due to quality problems of either hairlines or blemishes, will not grade over PR67. A good portion of them will not make CAMEO or DEEP CAMEO designations. I've also looked at a good many Mint Sets from the same years with the same exact observations. I expect that there REALLY is no problem at all other than folks getting used to and expecting to receive consistent PR69DCAM or PR70DCAM coins of which there are plenty out there to choose from, its just that they didn't get them. Heck, there are some 1968-S PR70DCAM Kennedy Half's I wouldn't mind owning. Whatever. Your points are all good Doug I just think that the expectations of the collectors has risen in which case there's always going to be complaints.
