And the Mint really DOES have some NOT SO BRIGHT people working the phones!

Now, I had a bad experience recently buying some supplies from a "mint named" place, and the phone reps clearly had never collected coins before, nor used any of the supplies, and even told me so.

Today though, after reading some posts here on the boards about the US Mint being unable to fulfill orders for several weeks due to "severe weather" in the area of their warehouse, I visited their web site to see for myself, and to check on my orders to see if any had "made it out." Remember, I'm that storm cloud guy after all.

At the same time, I saw what is auspiciously being hailed as a new product:

"American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin (BA3)"

This is where things go awry.

Even though I am about to tell you what is missing, check it out for yourself.

After reading and re-reading the Mint's description of this rather expensive numismatic item, I was left with a couple of questions:

1. Is this a PROOF coin or a Mint State/Uncirculated coin?

2. What is the Mint Mark of this coin? Where is it produced?

Normally, that is mentioned, I mean, is the Mint NEW at this thing, this "selling coins" thing?

So, I figure I will call and ask. I call today, 1-800-USA-MINT, it sounds so reassuring, just the letters to reach them, doesn't it?

They even have a prompt that if you're calling about the American Buffalo Celebration Coin, press whatever - a special prompt, clearly, they are aware of this coin, or are they?

I speak to a representative, who shall remain nameless to protect the not-so-innocent. I ask JUST my first question:

Q: "I read the web site description very thoroughly, but it didn't specify, is this a Proof coin or a Mint State coin?"

A: "Neither. It's a BULLION coin."

Me: "I realize that the Gold Buffalo is a BULLION coin, it has been since it was introduced in 2006, but the question is whether this version being offered is the PROOF version, or a MINT STATE/UNCIRCULATED version." "A bullion coin," I said, "can be either proof or mint state."

Representative: "Well, this one is neither. It says so right on this paper. The paper says it is a BULLION coin."

Me: [in very a calm voice] "You don't know very much about coins, do you? Because the two are not mutually exclusive."

NOTE: I said this in a very calm voice because once, recently, when a representative at the US Mint Product Ordering Service recently refused to transfer me to a supervisor for a task that he could not complete, he told me "Oh, so you're going to be difficult about this." I replied "No, it seems YOU are going to be difficult about this." At which point he SCREAMED "QUALITY CONTROL: CUSTOMER IS ABUSIVE! TERMINATING CALL! At which point he hung up on me.

So, I took a cue from that Mint representative with THIS representative today who doesn't realize that coins are, typically, produced either as PROOF coins, or MINT STATE coins and this is what happened:

Representative: "Sir, you can't talk to me like that, the paper says..and you don't know what you're talking about..."

But before she could get it all out, I spoke OVER HER and said

Me: QUALITY CONTROL! REPRESENTATIVE IS INCOMPETENT AND ABUSIVE. I AM FORCED TO TERMINATE THIS CALL.

I am just dumbfounded at their complete stupidity! I mean, first of all, put it on the web site! Seriously, it's not their first time at the rodeo! Secondly, give the reps the right information! And if you did, fire the ones who are too stupid to pass basic reading comprehension classes and absorb the information!

I called back in about ten minutes, talked to someone else, and posed the same question. I got a very simple and straightforward answer, without a hassle:

1. It's a proof coin.

2. It just won't have a mint mark (which of course is atypical of some of the proof issues).

3. I THINK (but don't quote me on this because I was still irritated), that she said that despite the lack of mint mark, that it was being minted at West Point.

I told this representative about my previous call, and she was very apologetic, took my name, and took the previous representative's name (I ALWAYS get names). I've worked in insurance for 17 years, taking names is second nature!

She also indicated that they've gotten a number of inquires because of the lack of info on the web site - fancy that. All this from a woman whose first language was clearly not English. I'd guess her to have been Eastern European, but just a hunch.

Probably the easiest call she had all day too. Despite my username here, I am not really a BULLY, it's just a play on words, I am actually quite mild-mannered. I just don't have a lot of patience for incompetence in customer service.

***********You may read the description from the Mint yourself (below) and see if you have any question about the coin, especially considering its price tag********************

http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&mpe_id=10101&jspStoreDir=ConsumerDirect&productId=14399&intv_id=10551&evtype=CpgnClick&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&ddkey=ClickInfo

The United States Mint is introducing a new initiative titled the United States Mint Celebration Series, and will be offering various numismatic coin products that are packaged and positioned to celebrate special gift-giving occasions and celebratory events. The United States Mint?s Celebration Series is an outreach initiative to non-traditional coin collectors and will be available to all collectors and non collectors alike.

The American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin is the first product to be introduced in the series and is being launched in time for the 2008 Lunar New Year ? a traditionally important gift-giving time of year for Asian-Americans.

This coin is an American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Bullion Coin and contains one ounce of 24-karat, .9999 fine gold. Each coin is packaged in its traditional protective covering and placed in a bright red, plush-lined gift box with a custom-designed foil-stamped outer sleeve.

The American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coin?s obverse and reverse designs feature images originally prepared by noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, for the redesign of America?s 5-cent coin (nickel). A custom-designed Certificate of Authenticity features the signature and chop mark of the Director of the United States Mint. The weight and content of the American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin is backed by the United States Government.

To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, any order placed prior to the official on-sale date and time (February 5, 2008, 12:00 Noon ET) shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored.

Product Limit: No set product limit.

The American Buffalo 2008 Celebration Coin is expected to begin shipping in late February. If paying by credit card, please be sure your credit card information remain