KOTCT
Medallion Quests => 2008 Medallion Quest => Topic started by: TwoShadows on January 30, 2009, 09:44:10 AM
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If you have placed an order for 2008 Medallions please take the time to read this posting and respond as quickly as possible so that the medallions can be mailed out immediately.
Last spring we began our efforts towards the 2008 medallion quest. If you remember, as most of us do, precious metals were surging to levels we have not seen in years and years. My/Our fears were the medallion quest would be an extremely expensive program to pull off. With high metal prices I (just me) made the decision to raise the price of the silver medallions to $35.00 which was up $5.00 over the 2007 prices. The price of the copper medallions would remain the same. We eliminated the brass offering in 38mm and instead opted to add the 63mm pewter medallions which Daniel Carr had GIVEN as a GIFT to members who ordered the 2007 medallions. They were well received by the membership and many requested we add them to our list of offerings. One thing I/We did not count on was the additional costs for 63mm engraving and sculpting but with donations to the Royal Treasury at a good level I figured we would be covered if our orders for the medallions were similar to the 2007 medallions. For the most part things went very well but production was delayed by Daniel Carr during his set-up of his coin press during the summer months. Daniel kept in touch with us but requested we remain silent about his new venture into the actual striking of the medallions. We agreed with his request and were fully aware of the huge undertaking he and his business were going through. It would be a long labor of love for Daniel and a unique opportunity for us to have our medallions struck on a piece of history from the Denver Mint.
I posted a cost breakdown late last fall here in the forum and was eagerly keeping track of our total order and monies coming in.
No one here had any idea the price of precious metals, especially silver and copper, would make a drastic drop before Daniel would be ordering the blanks for striking. It was a huge saving for us but it did not alter the costs for design, sculpting, engraving, striking, or edge lettering and numbering. I was still concerned about the two payments I would be making to Designs Computed for their work on our medallion quest. My first payment of $2,000.00 was sent out around Nov. 20, 2008 (also $4 charge for Cashier Check) as I wanted to get Daniel paid for the basics, which included design fees, sculpting, engraving and also for the price of silver blanks while the price was at such low levels. We would be looking at one final payment based on the amount of medallions struck, amount of medallions that would be edge lettered, the total amount of copper and pewter blanks needed to fill our order. It was my personal opinion, as I monitored the orders that came in, we would fall short of the monies needed to sustain these payments BUT with the donations which poured in throughout the year I knew we had a safety net to cover the last installment due to Designs Computed. We were indeed going to make it. My/Our only goal, regardless of the cost of each individual medallion, was to raise enough money to make the medallion quest a reality. Also our goal, after talking with various members throughout the year, was to offer a wide range of medallions so that everyone, regardless of their income could afford to participate in this program. I feel we have done so.
Now, after crunching numbers, we have been notified we have over charged on the silver medallions, as well as, the copper medallions. Also we have under charged on the pewter medallions (actually quite a bit) due to the cost of engraving and sculpting 63mm dies. But in the end we can STILL pay our balance which should have been $3,300 for the entire medallion quest.
We have now been informed by Daniel Carr that he would be waiving the fees for the engraving and sculpting fees as a gift to KOTCT. So now we have a $1,050 gift or extra on hand. A Knight has requested we offer each and ever member who ordered SILVER MEDALLIONS a refund based on the actual cost of getting them made.
So, at this time, I am asking everyone who ordered a SILVER MEDALLION(S) to email me personally to request your refund. I am chosing to offer these refunds in this manner to avoid any embarrassment or hesitation on our members part. You have a choice to REQUEST the refund at this time or to REFUSE the refund. If you refuse the refund at this time the money will be held in the KOTCT Royal Treasury for use in the 2009 Medallion Quest or as the membership determines at a later date. I need to hear from every one of you who ordered silver medallions NOW!
Based on quanities and costs for each medallion we will offer the refunds as follows;
ONE silver medallion.....................$10.00 refund
Two silver medallions or more.........$17.50 per medallion
I can send out the refunds to U.S. members by PayPal or mail a personal check after depositing the funds in my checking account. Please keep in mind PayPal will charge fees.
Non U.S. members must receive their refund by PayPal to the address in which they made the payment. Many Aussies used Nevol as their method so I would be sending the payments back to her. Also keep in mind PayPal charges a fee.
I know no other way, at this time, to make this more fair as our intentions were NOT to make a huge sum of money on any of our quest, whether it be medallions, woodies or something else down the road. Our only needs are funds or donations to keep this forum up and running and our domain names properly registered and owned by us. From time to time we will offer special awards (we are behind here) which will come out of our KOTCT Royal Treasury.
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I had to continue here due to a 6,000 word maximum!
You can email me, with NO questions asked, concerning these refunds at crystalk64@hotmail.com or use the forum's email feature to get in touch with me. ALL I am asking is for each of you to take the time to let me know and to do it very quickly if possible. I only want to wrap this quest up and look forward to the 2009 Medallion Quest which has already started. (nothing to announce yet)
Thank you all for your time, efforts and understanding. I/We do appreciate your participation, not only in this medallion quest, but in our everyday operation here in our home at KOTCT. Thank you for making this place what it is today---A Home!
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One FINAL note; CoinCrusader has the medallions in his possession now and the mailing process will begin the first of the week. Also each and every member (37 members) who ordered medallions will receive a special gift from Daniel Carr and Designs Computed as he has provided a special medallion to be included with your order.
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Although a reply is not needed, I would like to comment.
I want no refund.
I knew how much I was paying at the time, and felt what I received in return was well worth it.
It feels good to think that any excess will go for the 2009 medals, and/or renewal of our domain name.
:) :) :) :)
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I also require no refund.
e-mail sent.
I would like to thank Daniel for yet another gift he has bestowed upon us.
He is truly a wonderful person.
Thank you Daniel. :) :) :)
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I have NO problem with replies. Actually I hope everyone replies in a timely manner so we can clear this issue up and move on. Actually I feel better putting $35 bucks into our medallions and supporting Daniel Carr and his new Moonlight Mint than I do feeding the bottomless pit we call the U.S. Mint. I wish Daniel nothing but the best in his new venture and do hope we will be supporting him and his business for years to come!
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For the 2009 medals, if we use the same reverse dies as the 2008 issue with a newly designed 2009 Dragon obverse, the silver and copper issues should be a little less overall, and the pewter significantly more.
But taken together, the combination of those three different medals, as a set, should just be a few dollars more than the equivalent 2008 issues.
The way to get the best price on the medals is to make the order large. The larger the order, the less per medal charge.
That's how we accomplished the 2007 medals. But in 2008, the silver and copper medal orders were down about 30% and pewter down 40%, and since we didn't order brass medals in 2008, the overall order (the number of total medals minted) from 2007 to 2008 is down about 52% overall.
We will be getting an earlier start this year and hopefully we can effectively communicate and do the proper outreach in order to get the largest order possible, thus saving everyone a little bit of money, keeping the program going and aiding Daniel Carr in the development of his innovative minting project.
But I'll tell you right now, that if we only get the same number of pewter medals ordered in 2009 as in 2008, then the price per pewter medal will be over $32 each.
And at that price, some folks who ordered in 2008 may not reorder in 2009. But the pewter blanks themselves only cost three dollars each, so you can imagine that if we doubled the order for pewter, it would cut the cost per medal in half.
Let's learn from our experiences.
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Terry,
You already know my feelings about refunding any money to me and the subject in general. I PM'd CoinCrusader yesterday with my request to seal the deal on my order. Keep up the good work my friend!
If anyone else would like to know my personal overview on the subject, all you need to do is ask.
TKO
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I have heard from nine members who ordered medallions already this evening. Looking forward to hearing from the rest of you soon. Thanks!
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I don't want a refund. I'm not sure how the forum email function works, so I PMed you. I hope that works.
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I don't want a refund. I'll simply make a few comments:
- I paid a price that I was comfortable with, and am getting a product that I am looking forward to.
- The only real beneficiary of a refund is Paypal and my feelings about that organisation are not printable. >:(
- You can put the money into the Royal Treasury, to aid in the running of the forum
- Or, you can earmark the amount as a discount on my 2009 Medallion Quest
- Or, you can buy some US Territory Quarters and send them to OZ for distribution
- Or, you can get Daniel Carr to add something to the package; like (say) an Amero. I don't know the cost of one, but you get the idea.
- Or, get something numismatic for local school kids
- Or, simply give it to charity
Twoshadows and others involved.
Thank you for the work that you have put into this venture. Do with the refund what you will.
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No refund for me, please ....... can be used for whatever purpose as summed up by Yass above!
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I agree with above.....no refund for me........keep to assist running costs for the castle.
;D ;D
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pm sent
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No refund wanted
Indeed let's not let paypal make any more money on this .
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I will say, at this time, I will make arrangements in the next week to get some long overdue and long approved AWARDS made. When they are done TKO will photograph and post them. The expenses will be listed in the KOTCT Royal Treasury. I/We will have more to announce at a later date.
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No refund.
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Just a quck note to let everyone know the FINAL payment towards our 2008 Medallion Quest is NOW in the mail. Together as a group WE have done it again. Thanks to everyone who participated in this quest!
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No refund for me. Keep however much money I would be due in the treasury for next year's go-around.
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No Refund for me. Happy to be a part of the castle and the upkeep of the moat.
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I will have an announcement sometime in the near future concerning where some of these "extra" funds will/are being used. Due to the circumstances the moderators had to make a decision in the past few weeks which will be shared very shortly. I think everyone will be pleased so stay tuned!
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No refund for me too. I wish to treat it as a gift and donation to KOTCT.Ta. Davidson.
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I WILL AWAIT FUTHER INFORMATION IN REFERENCE TO THE MEDALLIONS---I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE BUT I HAVE FAITH IN THE LEADERSHIP--YOUR SERVANT--THE TEMPLAR