tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post743530643882594107..comments2024-01-16T03:42:46.705-05:00Comments on The Downward Spiral: A Sucker Born Every Minute: The Franklin Mint RipoffBill Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551954408189665078noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-76980289713192618112015-04-19T15:51:16.293-04:002015-04-19T15:51:16.293-04:00Just came across this orginal post ( Hicks 2012) a...Just came across this orginal post ( Hicks 2012) and the subsequent responses. I'm not defending The Franklin Mint but Mr. Hicks seems a bit uncharitable toward the person whose example he cites. Many (or I'd say, MOST) get hoodwinked by the constructed (advertizing) promise of 'valuable' 'special' or 'precious.' I would ask Mr. Hicks, or anyone else feeling 'superior' to the disillusioned soul who invested in the FM coins, if he has ever bought a loved one a diamond. If so, then he should consult the article written by Edward Jay Epstein entitled "Have You Ever Tried To Sell A Diamond?" --First published in The Atlantic (Monthly) Feb. 1982. Epstein's expose' carefully details how the DeBeers family/company used every possible type of advertising, from clever slogans like "A Diamond is Forever" to outfitting/draping the biggest celebrities of every era with show pieces. Diamonds were only 'rare' until the 1870's. But after the discovery of the huge diamond resevers in South Africa and the subsequent mining by the tons, the leading diamond merchant, DeBeers' recognized the need for linking the now semi-precious stone with sentiments like expressions of love and 'Keepsake.' I won't go on and on--the article can be googled. In any event, I did want to remind Mr. Hicks, et. al., that most if not all of us have been drawn in by something or other with slick advertising. It seems unnecessary to ridicule someone ("A Sucker Born Every Minute") to supposedly 'warn' others to beware. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-34439398767603858462015-04-06T21:32:47.851-04:002015-04-06T21:32:47.851-04:00I have been a subscriber to Playboy Magazine for y...I have been a subscriber to Playboy Magazine for years. I find it humorous that Franklin mint always packages a full page loose insert with the magazine. I didn't put it together until now. With all of the blood leaving our heads we are more prone to making bad decisions! Very clever!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-55326687728151507012015-02-19T18:33:30.581-05:002015-02-19T18:33:30.581-05:00You may or may not receive your "gold covere...You may or may not receive your "gold covered" coins or "platinum" covered Kennedy coin. After three inquiries of The Mint and a BBB <br />complaint I finally filed an e-mail complaint to the Sequential Brands <br />Financial Group which is the BBB indicated was the apparent owner of The Franklin Mint. Am awaiting a response from that AGENCY since I too am a prepaid subscriber since Nov 2011. Littleton Coins at least<br />seemed to send the real thing. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-19370472571853443622015-01-19T15:30:16.459-05:002015-01-19T15:30:16.459-05:00I have prepaid for the Franklin golden president c...I have prepaid for the Franklin golden president coins, do you know if they are covered in real gold? Are they going to be worth anything?<br />ThanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191523635513550026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-79828092707636819852015-01-19T15:26:21.321-05:002015-01-19T15:26:21.321-05:00I have paid ahead of time for the gold covered pre...I have paid ahead of time for the gold covered president dollars, do you know if it is real gold and will they be worth anything once I have the set? ThanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16191523635513550026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-51986794825269190592015-01-16T08:04:49.945-05:002015-01-16T08:04:49.945-05:00I just purchased an 1878 Trade Dollar. Really nice...I just purchased an 1878 Trade Dollar. Really nice For $340.00. Looks like AU. Very remarkable clear markings. After looking at auctions and buy it now's. The prices were about the same , only this coin was in much better shape. I don't think I got ripped off on this purchase, but after reviewing some comments here. I will refrain from this mint in the future. Thanks all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-88547698202469812652015-01-04T14:09:52.952-05:002015-01-04T14:09:52.952-05:00Should have purchased gold coins. A $50 Gold Eagl...Should have purchased gold coins. A $50 Gold Eagle could be purchased for about $200 dollars. Worth about $1200 dollars today!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05408606028397406071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-2586388522960367022014-12-13T12:55:33.751-05:002014-12-13T12:55:33.751-05:00It's worth nothing.It's worth nothing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-8195740194704049182014-09-06T03:46:43.077-04:002014-09-06T03:46:43.077-04:00If you still have the Franklin Mint items, I can h...If you still have the Franklin Mint items, I can help you liquidate the collection and while it is unlikely that you will recover anywhere near your original investment, depending on what you have and whether the items remain in the original boxes, there might be some collectability to clients that I have. <br />Unfortunately, like any collectible an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. There are many Franklin Mint Sets that have gone up in value especially coins minted for Foreign Governments, coins and collectible medallions that are minted in Sterling Silver, and specific items that are attractive to a particular group, i.e. Harley Davidson items, Civil War related items, Swords and Knives. It is important to understand that unless Franklin Mint represented the items as investments and not collectibles or stated specifically in their advertisements that there was a likelihood that these items would increase in value, you would have no recourse through legal means. I sympathize with you as I know many people, especially the elderly that purchase collectible plates, figurines, and other items that are advertised in TV Guide, the Sunday Magazine, etc. that advertise that the item will only be produced for 45 firing days. Other companies that are known for their practices include the Danbury Mint, the Bradford Exchange, and other companies that take out the advertorials that create the illusion of the ad being a newspaper story and in the fine print, it states that the story is in fact an advertisement. Please feel free to contact me if you still have the items and I can at least work with you after understanding your inventory. We do this with many of our customers and depending on the company and the way the items were sold, we have had success, but the Franklin and Danbury Mints and their like companies have protected themselves by creative advertising without representing the items as investments. Eric Pepper craigslistgmc@gmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-31491706179354247602014-06-22T12:51:10.352-04:002014-06-22T12:51:10.352-04:00It's a shame that he did not go to a reputable...It's a shame that he did not go to a reputable coin dealer and invest in gold or silver coins over the years instead. With gold values over the past few years he probably would have made a large profit. Having said that we all at times get drawn in by fancy words and pictures and false promises. I feel for the writer but unless he tries something like e-bay where he may recoup some of his loses that money is gone.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-82929437244829452162014-05-20T07:15:14.857-04:002014-05-20T07:15:14.857-04:00How long is the bridge and does it come with free ...How long is the bridge and does it come with free p+p<br />Many thanks<br />SteveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-42311013029519175102014-04-24T09:56:39.645-04:002014-04-24T09:56:39.645-04:00Never mind Franklin Mint good or bad, look at the ...Never mind Franklin Mint good or bad, look at the fools that voted for Obama and his ilk. Not once TWICE! At least the Franklin Mint items are pleasing to the eye. The complaining bought into this with greed in mind. I am so glad that FM<br />made such a wide variety items. I get to buy some pretty nice items for todays prices. Talk about deflation, WOW! Except ebay people, most ask you to take it away, sometimes for free. All this could not have been possible without greed, consumer pie in the sky greed. The mass's are the ass's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-54502842369470092182014-03-16T12:08:10.719-04:002014-03-16T12:08:10.719-04:00Coin dealers are not going to give the true value ...Coin dealers are not going to give the true value of the coins. That's who they make the money. Go on "eBay". Set a price, and let people bid on it. Worked for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-71552152038115414502014-03-11T15:18:23.416-04:002014-03-11T15:18:23.416-04:00I had the misfortune of working at the Franklin Mi...I had the misfortune of working at the Franklin Mint although thankfully only for a brief moment. I hated the work and hated calling mom and pop to try to tell them about this "limited time offer" or what ever it was. There is nothing left of the company and they are now down to maybe five people. Most of their business is from the internet. It is a far cry from the time when they had a sales force of 175 people. I am sorry you got stuck. I hope you can manage to recoup some of your lost money. It like most of the other companies selling collectibles have few scruples. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-85452628983742741642014-02-19T15:29:18.875-05:002014-02-19T15:29:18.875-05:00I bought a Dale Earnhardt "sterling silver&qu...I bought a Dale Earnhardt "sterling silver" ring some years ago. Any idea what its worth?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-6625695532359380002014-01-24T05:30:51.649-05:002014-01-24T05:30:51.649-05:00I will tell you from experience, having bought pla...I will tell you from experience, having bought plates, jewelry, coins, gold plated stamps, dolls, figurines, and die cast models from tfm, Danbury, Bradford exchange: they are all worthless. The only value is to the collector. Frankly it is now a bunch of overpriced crap made in china (except coins, stamps). Don't be fooled that you are sitting on a payload...never happens. They make soooo many of these, they are not as rare as they lead the customer to believe. You're better off upping your 401K at work than buy this stuff. Also, whether you pay $20 or $20,000 for a doll, they all break the same way...and once they chip or crack or scratch they are even more worworthless. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-12056264133192764512013-12-18T11:20:45.830-05:002013-12-18T11:20:45.830-05:00This is why I only bought sterling silver .925 and...This is why I only bought sterling silver .925 and pure silver .999 you have to do your homework. If an ounce of silver is going for $20.00 your silver coin is only worth what the market is paying $20.00 it may be worth a little bit more because of the neat design on it, but not double the priceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-65597903453630623202013-10-21T18:15:15.748-04:002013-10-21T18:15:15.748-04:00I inherited two sets of these from my late Uncle. ...I inherited two sets of these from my late Uncle. I always suspected they weren't worth much. I'll just keep them in his memory.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01167182864755645970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-21979693860111807382013-08-11T09:08:28.815-04:002013-08-11T09:08:28.815-04:00Take whatever the weight is, multiply by the silve...Take whatever the weight is, multiply by the silver price available on kitco.com, then figure you will do well to get 80% of that, given it has to be melted, repurified and then restamped as a standard bar by sunshine or equivalent standard silver mfr, and you can figure it up for yourself. Given what silver was selling for at that time, personally, I think you did very well. More than I'd have given you, but maybe the dealer knows someone who was making an aftermarket collection of such.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-39756205873863010722013-08-11T08:49:02.522-04:002013-08-11T08:49:02.522-04:00I'd give him a few bucks for the copper coins ...I'd give him a few bucks for the copper coins as casting stock. That's about all that stuff is worth I'm afraid. Kind of sad, really, that much thrown away, and don't forget, counting inflation he's probably got more than 100K in his "valuable" collection.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-86773326222944290522013-08-08T03:16:07.972-04:002013-08-08T03:16:07.972-04:00You should of invested in American Eagles you be ...You should of invested in American Eagles you be a quarter away from a Million!MusicVisitor01noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-79882779107234287992013-08-05T17:21:06.384-04:002013-08-05T17:21:06.384-04:00I had a great uncle who passed recently. He didn&...I had a great uncle who passed recently. He didn't have much family left and the poor guy spent most of his time alone. When he passed we had to clean out his house in order for it to be sold. You would not believe the amount of stuff he had purchased and the amount of money he simply GAVE to these criminals. It broke my heart to see how they had been taking advantage of him. Had we known, we would have put a stop to it. While we were at his home the phone would not stop ringing because they would call continually knowing he would buy more of their worthless garbage.<br /><br />He was a veteran who served his country during the invasion of Normandy. I am writing this in his honor and to hopefully help spread the word to others about how the Franklin Mint takes advantage of the elderly. Help put an end to businesses like this by spreading the truth. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-27370805333751222992013-06-15T17:26:56.804-04:002013-06-15T17:26:56.804-04:00I've picked up quite a few Franklin Mint issue...I've picked up quite a few Franklin Mint issued coins, badges, etc. over the last little while, none from the "mint" itself. Second, third-hand silver coins, if bought right, can be turned for real profit. To continue buying blindly for a protracted period at full retail from professional salesmen, D.A. sadly gets his just desserts. But then, without the likes of D.A., these pro shysters wouldn't be in business to begin with, or televangelists either, among other opportunists. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-12408269472136748672013-03-06T15:14:14.521-05:002013-03-06T15:14:14.521-05:00I have a bridge for sale.I have a bridge for sale.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-79275309541241125852013-01-12T20:11:10.440-05:002013-01-12T20:11:10.440-05:00Today, I sold 50 Franklin Mint coins to a coin dea...Today, I sold 50 Franklin Mint coins to a coin dealer for $26/- Canadian each. They were from 1977 and belonged to my elder brother who is no more. I also sold 100 car ingots for $26/- each. I don't know whether I got a fair shake for both. Comments, good or bad, welcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com