The US Mint probably thought they were doing a good thing...

I have a much different story than Robert did, even though my FedEx brought my Platinum Eagles from the Mint early as well.

I believe my coins arrived on XMAS Eve with a ring and a knock from the FedEx driver. I was expecting a number of things from the mint that would require a signature, and they weren't supposed to be shipping the Platinum Eagles until the end of the year, so I innocently OPENED the package. Much to my dismay, it was the 10th Anniversary Set, not my Dolley Madison Proof or anything else that is MUCH LONGER backordered! Why would the mint ever process things in order, that would make too much sense after all. They are too busy producing 2008 coins in 2007 than issuing 2007 items that are backlogged for months. Is it just me?

My heart just about fell out. The mint has this habit of sending emails to tell you that they are SHIPPING your item the night after they are DELIVERED; a very efficient system they have. Considering the price, and knowing I can't get the Pedigree from NGC on both coins, I returned them to the mint -- now I just hope I can get another set, if they aren't all gone. It just about killed me to return that set, it was STUNNING. The box is beautiful, the inside of it even props itself up to make a display case for the coins, which just GLEAM!

Now, I am not opening ANYTHING from the Fulfillment Center without carefully checking "My Account" online first! Including a $7.95 State Quarter Collector Spoon which arrived on Saturday that the Fulfullment Center spent $10.15 to send to me via Registered Mail because one of my 2007 subscribtion spoons was never delivered and they had to replace it, so presumably, they wanted to REALLY make sure they got this one here. They don't even use Registered Mail for the Platinum Eagle 10th Anniversary Set, but for a $7.95 state quarter spoon, well...! Is something amiss?!

So, I am of the opinion that the mint was probably of the thinking that they were doing a good thing to get these sets to people BEFORE Christmas, rather than shipping them on New Years Eve like the order status said. But, instead, they just destroyed the potential re-sale and investment value for the future, because of the rules for grading, for someone who might innocently open a package they weren't expecting for another couple of weeks. No good deed goes unpunished they say, and I'm the victim of this one.