I Tried to Buy $70 Silver... Here's What I REALLY Paid! video by Silver Seeker.
Summary:
You went to multiple coin shops after silver dropped to $70 and found out what it actually costs to buy in the real world, including premiums and price differences across dealers.
Here's a video that coin collectors, or stackers, should view.
Here's the video's description:
In this video my bullion dealer Silver Dave of Local Silver Mint shocks me with his claim that more and more local coin shops do NOT want to buy back stackers' gold and silver. Why did TWO coin shops close to Silver Dave refuse silver sellers when they tried to sell their bullion? What will happen when the spot price of silver rises dramatically? What happens when dealers close their doors and won't buy back silver and gold? Watch as Silver Dave and one of his more vocal customers shares their thoughts on what's coming with stacking silver and gold and the best exit strategy to have with one's bullion. Are YOU concerned about selling your silver back to a bullion dealer? Join Silver Dave and I as we dive DEEP on his shocking warning and what to do about it! Never before has stacking precious metals been as important to do as it is today. Protect yourself from out-of-control governments, evil central banks, and the failing US dollar's grip as the world's reserve currency. Make sure you build a stack of silver rounds, silver bars, silver coins, and gold coins as essential barter and wealth preservation!
Be sure to read viewers' comments!
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| Above, yours truly with Roger Wyatt. |
It is hard to believe that I was at the "ripe old age" of 45 when I attended my first G-FEST in 1999 in Burbank, California.
Although I am in relatively good health at age 70, the old stamina is not there anymore. I have to sit and rest periodically (especially my feet).
The new convention hotel, the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, is much bigger than the Crowne Plaza, but it appears that the convention is getting too big for even it. I am only guessing, but it looks like 7,000 (or more) attended today. What's next? A football stadium?
I would also guess that the attendance was helped by two Godzilla movies, Godzilla Minus One and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, in generating more interest and more fans.
One thing I also noticed, in looking over the toys the dealers had on display, there are a lot of of them on the tables I already have.
The photos herein are what I shot today. It is a good thing that my phone takes good photos as I found that Canon Powershot S3 camera is not working. I just get a black screen. It is known as the "Black Screen of Death". Maybe I can find a repairer. I decided to use it instead of my Canon Rebel as I have some downloading issues with my computer.
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| Above, a fan-made Mecha-Godzilla. |
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| Above, Boris Karloff as the Monster in the Dealers Room. |
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| Above, yours truly and a friend. |
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| Above, lots of toys at the Radioactive Toys tables. |
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| Above, Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolf Man in the Dealers Room. |
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| Above, Dojo Studios Godzilla suit. |
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| Above, my Winnebago on La Mesa RV's lot. La Mesa RV photo. |
When one buys an RV, be it a motorhome or a trailer, the walk-through with the dealer is usually part of the sales transaction before one drives it off the lot.
I purchased two Class C motorhomes and each time the dealer gave me a walk-through the unit explaining each system and feature. I have never been charged for such. I videoed the first one for future reference.
When I bought my current Winnebago Class C, the dealer (La Mesa RV) even picked me up at the airport in San Diego, gratis!
I was perusing RV Travel this morning and an item caught my eye. A Camping World dealer decided to charge a customer $2,500 for a "dealer prep charge".
Here's what was written:
Charge for a walk-through?
Joseph W. was buying a Class C and the dealer was going to charge for a walk-through! He wrote, “We were looking for a Class C and were ready to spend over 100K. The Camping World salesperson told me that there was a $2,500 dealer prep charge. When I asked, she said it included the walk-through. I told her I was walking through the door right out of the store. I found a dealer who does not charge for a walk-through. Guess where we will buy?”
I would have done the same.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, a 2023 American Silver Eagle. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Back in November I posted a list of coin dealers I regularly purchase from. All of them are reputable. I am re-posting the list.
Since silver is down to the spot price of $22.495/toz (at this writing), now is the time to buy more silver. I just did from one of the following dealers. Prices vary, so shop around.
So, here is the list of dealers:
Universal Coin & Bullion (they advertise in NRA's American Rifleman magazine)
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| Above, the sign that greeted me upon my arrival at the dealer. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
How far did you travel to buy your current RV?
That is the topic of a poll in RV Travel.
For me, I traveled a little over 100 miles but under 300 miles to find the RV I wanted. None of the Winnebago dealers in the Los Angeles area had what I wanted, but an RV dealer in San Diego did. After negotiating on the price and paying the deposit, I flew down to pick it up. The dealer, La Mesa RV, picked me up at the airport and brought me to the dealership.
There, we completed the paperwork, payment and insurance and I drove it home.
RV Travel begins their poll with:
Nowadays, it can be hard to find the RV of your dreams (or, maybe in reality, the RV you’ve settled on). Dealer lots are empty and new RVs are accounted for sometimes years in advance. If you find the RV you want, it’s best to snatch it while you can… even if you do have to drive a ways to get it.
Did you buy your current RV locally or travel farther away to get a good deal, or maybe a specific brand and model you really liked?
After you vote in the poll, please comment below and tell us exactly how far you drove (and why and where!) to buy your current RV. If you can remember, that is…
To vote in the poll, go here.
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| Above, La Mesa RV dealership in San Diego. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Just before and during the pandemic, it was a dealers' market for RV dealers. There was high demand for new RVs at the time of short supply.
Now, it appears to be the other way around. Dealers have full lots but demand has tapered off. It is now becoming a buyers' market.
According to Mike Gast at RV Travel:
There is more evidence of late that the shortage of new RVs is beginning to shift. That’s good news for consumers ready to buy but could spell trouble for RV dealers and manufacturers.
The Wall Street Journal recently published a story that said the meteoric rise in stock prices may be a memory for Thor Industries as well as Camping World Holdings. After Thor stock doubled in value and Camping World stock tripled in value in 2020 and 2021, shares in both companies have dropped an average of 30% in 2022.
Experts point to a plethora of reasons for the declines, including general economic malaise, rising interest rates, climbing fuel prices, and the recovery of the supply chains. Less attractive financing suddenly makes cruise vacations and trips to European destinations look like a bargain.
RV dealers, who suffered from low-to-no inventory for much of the early pandemic, now find themselves with overflowing lots at a very inconvenient time. A recent survey by the firm Truist found that nearly 70% of RV dealers claimed demand for new rigs has slowed “noticeably.” About 40% of the dealers surveyed said they expected sales volumes to decline, compared to 5% when they were surveyed in February.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, RVs waiting for repairs at a dealership. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Over the years, I have seen complaints in RV forums about the RV dealer industry where unfair and dishonest practices took place such as "bait-and-switching" and excessive repair times.
Many states don't even bother to investigate or prosecute these dealers for their practices. But, according to an article in RV Travel, at least New York state has taken action against a couple of dealers. Other states should make note of this and protect consumers similarly.
The article begins with:
Two major national RV retailers have been hit with strict orders and one with a $50,000 fine by New York state. RV One Superstores, Inc. and RV Retailer East, LLC signed off on agreements after the New York Attorney General’s office investigated complaints by consumers. The two outfits were found to have cheated customers in multiple ways. They also dragged their feet when making repairs to customers’ RVs.
RV One Superstores previously owned Albany RV in Latham, New York, and Buffalo RV in West Seneca. The big outfit sold both of these dealerships to RV Retailer in December 2018. Even before the sale, consumers raised a hue and cry that both Albany and Buffalo cheated customers. The complaints were made both to the Attorney General and to the Better Business Bureau.
To see what these dealers did to customers and what actions the state took, go here.
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| Above, The Beast on the dealer's lot. |
One of the things new RV owners are finding out is that quite often new units sold have a myriad of problems due to shoddy workmanship. I was lucky. I only had one first-year problem, a glued shut roof vent that was repaired under warranty.
Obviously, the blame goes to the manufacturer for shoddy workmanship and the dealer for not catching any problems (or catching them and not saying anything) before making the sale.
A new article in RV Travel lays some blame on buyers.
They start it with:
Over the years we’ve heard from countless frustrated RVers. The story goes something like, “I bought a brand-new RV and hardly got to use it the first year. It spent most of the time getting repairs made, right from the start!” The rants about nearly every RV manufacturer are myriad. Yes, even RV dealers admit the quality of RVs they’re selling is often lousy, and they point the finger back at the manufacturers. But hang on, are RVers responsible, in part, for the junk being dumped on the market today?
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the Albuquerque Camping World. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
If you think Camping World is just another RV dealer, one where you can get a great deal, then think again. While you may get a good price, it may be far from a good deal for you after all is said and done.
Here, in part one of a two-part series on the RV Show USA, an ex-salesman reveals the tactics salesmen use to get as deeply into your pocketbook as possible.
Watch part one of the two-part series: We’ll have part two next week.
