query about Harrington and Byrne

Brie

Hi there

Trying to help someone out who has been buying coins from H&B.  Frankly I think it's a case of being overexcited and signing up to pay on installments and they are now way over their head.  Hence me trying to help.  So nothing needed about whether or not to buy coins, the deed is done.

So does anyone know about this firm?  How reputable are they?  And most importantly what if one can't afford the coins that have already been delivered and are, as of yet, not fully paid for?  Will they buy them back at a reasonable price?  Is it like HP with a car that if you have paid sufficient you might not get anything back but just need to return the coins?  

Harrington and Byrne | Gold and Silver Coin Experts

Zinger549

Do they have a subscription. Some of these coin collections say once you buy one they will send you others in the collection. But you can send them back if you don't want them.

Alderbank

If you haven't done so, you might enjoy reading this very similar thread from 2020

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6224228/gold-coins-harrington-and-byrne-help/p1

The OP was concerned about an elderly relative buying coins from H&B. The replies from varied, experienced posters make very interesting reading and I am sure they are all equally relevant today

gravel_2

H&B, Hattons, London Mint, Westminster Collection etc - all of these are minor or pseudo mints that produce or procure actual gold products (alongside non-precious coins) which are presented as wonderful collectors pieces. Typically the coins are fashioned as sovereigns, halfs, quarters (as they share the alloy and size spec of Royal Mint coins) etc but of extremely limited mintage etc etc. Therefore the premium charged is often crazy.

I believe some of these brands also sell genuine Royal Mint products alongside their "collectable" tat.

H&B does purport to offer a 30 day MBG which may be of use if within the window.

The reality is these companies offer "real" precious metals products, employ shady marketing and sales tactics (including the subscription model which many people feel tricked into and find it difficult to cancel), and you will be hard pushed to sell such coins at or above spot never mind achieving the same premium that these companies charge.

The H&B terms do not make reference to subscription, rather payment in instalments by continuous authority. There's no obvious literature I can find for selling coins back to H&B.

Brie

gravel_2 said:

H&B, Hattons, London Mint, Westminster Collection etc - all of these are minor or pseudo mints that produce or procure actual gold products (alongside non-precious coins) which are presented as wonderful collectors pieces. Typically the coins are fashioned as sovereigns, halfs, quarters (as they share the alloy and size spec of Royal Mint coins) etc but of extremely limited mintage etc etc. Therefore the premium charged is often crazy.

I believe some of these brands also sell genuine Royal Mint products alongside their "collectable" tat.

H&B does purport to offer a 30 day MBG which may be of use if within the window.

The reality is these companies offer "real" precious metals products, employ shady marketing and sales tactics (including the subscription model which many people feel tricked into and find it difficult to cancel), and you will be hard pushed to sell such coins at or above spot never mind achieving the same premium that these companies charge.

The H&B terms do not make reference to subscription, rather payment in instalments by continuous authority. There's no obvious literature I can find for selling coins back to H&B.

thanks - this was my worry mostly that it was like the "lovely" collector plates that always used to be advertised on the back of radio times.  "guaranteed" to go up in value because who wouldn't want a set of plates portraying the four ages of Elvis.  

There is something about a continuous payment plan in the T&Cs which looked a bit scary.  

I'll read the other thread and see what more can be done.