2016 Australian Olympic Team Coin Program and partnership with Woolworths

[trout]

Regardless of how RAM distributes any of the coloured $2 coins and this goes right back to the first Red Poppy coin, It always causes a Storm of controversy and anger amongst collectors.
I personally don't think that the RAM is the major cause of this and no matter how the new coins were to be distributed there will always be this problem.
I feel that the true culprit for all this  controversy and anger is the sheer GREED of a minority of people that will always manage to  "Rort" whatever system is contrived by RAM in their attempts to fairly distribute these new coins.
If distributed fairly and evenly a mintage of 2,000,000 coins is more than enough for every Australian collector to be able to have an example in his/her collection.
Just look at the Canberra florin for example, 2,000,000 minted and there wouldn't be too many collectors that Don't have at least one of these in their collection. :ok:

So the next time you feel upset and betrayed enough to pen a complaint about the distribution of these new coins, Send it to one of the Many eBayers that have rorted the system instead of sending it to RAM :good:

[JeffH]

I think the eBay bottom feeders are a just a symptom of the problem. In this case the feeding frenzy starts at the Woolworth's checkouts.

Distribution country wide with a third party organisation could be brilliant if;
•clear rules are set (and publicised) for obtaining the coins,
•the distributing organisation is truly nationwide; including easy access to a very significant percentage (and geographical distribution) of the population,
•the staff handling the distribution are fully apprised of the rules,
•the scheme is not seen as helping one commercial entity with publicity* and
•a system is in place for those unable to obtain them at face value (or any other promotional price) from the nominated distributor to obtain them by mail order at the same price (plus postage at cost).

It wouldn't hurt either if politicians and public officials would butt out and not try to use such schemes to obtain publicity for themselves. Their generally misinformed comments just muddy the waters.

*Why not also offer the distribution to Cole, Aldi and IGA as a 'community service to promote our Olympic team only? How was Woolworths selected? I can't recall seeing any calls for tenders or expressions of interest. All the main supermarket players would reach much more of the population.
If, for example, a future scheme was distributed through primary schools it should be open to every primary school; not just government run schools or private schools or christian school or just catholic schools...you should get my gist.
To use a buzzword, the system needs to be 'transparent'.

[ausjack]

Yes 2 million sounds like a lot of coins but they didn't say every collector will get them they said every australian would get their bit of history but how can every aussie get one when there's only 2 million coins but 24 million of us and I doubt every collector would have a parliament florin as most on the younger one's couldn't give a rats about pre decimal and only interested in decimal and this shows on FB where a lot of the young people are and what was the population in oz in 1927 (6.2 million or there abouts) so more people would have got coins back then than they would today wouldn't they. So in comparison shouldn't there be at least 8 million coins or 24 million so everyone got one but then you'd need 200 million coins because of these people getting a bag or bags :angel: The amount of people posting of FB alone that they'd got multiple bags was amazing and some said they've got the back one's that weren't suppose to be released yet so how does this happen :scratch_one-s_head:
2m coins/6.2m people
2m coins/24m people

[brismike]

Well I went down to my local Woolworths this morning. I asked at the Service desk what the process was. They said they couldn't give me any and I would get one in change at the checkout after buying something. I asked if there was a certain amount I had to purchase? They said no.

So I chuffed off with my trolly and got a few things that the missus had asked me to pick up. Went to the checkout and paid for the items. I asked if I could get one of the Olympic coins. "Sorry I don't have any" the checkout lady said. WTF I said in my head.

So took my receipt to the service desk and told the person there what had happened. He then swapped 2 coins for me after looking at my receipt. So I have two of them. He had a pile of them in a drawer. So maybe that might help others who can't get one at the checkout.

Cheers Mike

[JeffH]

Another store, another procedure. Really not very good.
I bet Woolies staff haven't had any hassles obtaining some.

[purplepennyhunter]

I came home from Woolies yesterday with one blue coin I swapped at the service desk when I asked what the procedure was. She had to check 3 drawers to even find a coin. Made some purchases at the self checkout, paid separately to get $2 coins change with no luck.

I was happy with one, but it's a far cry from the bags of coins people on Facebook seem to have obtained

[humpybong]

I went to woolies this morning and was told I may get one in change.

Was told that from 27th a card with all 5 coins will be available from them.  Also the Paraolympic coins will becoma avaiable as well.

I prefer to wait until then so I can get uncirculated coins.

[Oldcoinchest]

I went to woolies this morning and was told I may get one in change.

Was told that from 27th a card with all 5 coins will be available from them.  Also the Paraolympic coins will becoma avaiable as well.

I prefer to wait until then so I can get uncirculated coins.

Yeah I heard that too. $15 for 5 coins on a card. Might be best to wait and get the 5 coins for $3 each?

[robbiegal]

The RAM has literally put these coloured $2 coins (all of them starting from the coronation purple) into the blackmarket category
and i think it sucks
there is a difference between encouraging interest in collecting to fostering the  blackmarket racket of recent issue coinage
the RAM doesn't make any money from it either

if the distribution encourages staff to be engaging in behavior that could lead to their dismissal then for God's sake what has become of promoting the Paralympics? nothing - just promoting greed

i don't really believe all the - the checkout people gave them to me stories - there are  far too many on the market to justify that. i suspect they are being moved either before they get to woolies or staff and moving them at the counter to friends etc as a lot of posters have multiples of the bags or by other means

the GST was supposed to stop the blackmarket rackets and all it did was push more cash into society with more 'cash only' deals
these coins are up there with silver and gold bullion and the 'cash only' deals

it's remarkable but my concern is that in all coins ex the ram rolls sold through dealerships, are sourced generally through what I might be inclined to consider illegal deals - i.e. how does an ordinary bloke get a hold of a whole slab of say, red coloured $2 coins then translate that to how do the very many blokes get a hold of these sealed security bags of coins? the banks aren't moving them all that much to the public but the security companies most certainly are

i am just so suss of the whole business now and the RAM has moved from being a supplier of australian coinage to a supplier of blackmarket operations and I think it is downright criminal

off to woolies to have to buy something to get my blue coin ... or going by PP's experience, maybe not

[r9453]

Too right, :i_agree: with everything she said above.

[Fulvio]

how does an ordinary bloke get a hold of a whole slab of say, red coloured $2 coins then translate that to how do the very many blokes get a hold of these sealed security bags of coins?

I agree with just about everything you said, but seeing as how I'm an ordinary bloke with both of the above, I beg to differ.

It can be done, but takes bloody hard work and lots of luck.

I chased coronation $2 for six months, eventually scoring 5 sacks of mixed coins. I spent $10,000, and I'm still sitting on all the standard designs, mostly through laziness to noodle them for errors.

Then, 9 months after release, I went into an ANZ to get two rolls of $2, got handed Coronations, went to the ATM to get a couple grand and bought almost a complete block (3 slabs plus a bit over half of the fourth one).

I also got handed a bag at woolies yesterday. As I reported, procedures are extremely uneven. Chances are I will not be able to get equal numbers of all coins.

Have I done anything illegal, immoral or fattening? NO!

Any of us given an opportunity will grab it with both hands. Where we differ is what we do next. I don't sell coins (except rarely to friends who ask). I refuse to use feeBay to either buy or sell, an even IF I was going to flog them off, I certainly wouldn't do it early, especially under an embargo or when doing so may affect processes and harm others. I would wait until a LONG time down the track. And reap the benefits too. I let a mate have a couple bags of poppies for $100 each. Now they're on ebay for a grand. But still I'm not selling. Because I'm not a trader, I'm a collector.

The stores do not have all six coins to give, BTW. They are being supplied weekly.

[trout]

I went to Woolies yesterday and stopped at the smokes counter then I went through the regular checkout, I  came away with 10 coins to my surprise.
All of them are bagmaked although it was a real "Buzz" to get newly released coins on the day of issue at face value for the first time in my life :yahoo:
I will be ordering the 5 coin sets of these from the RAM shop for the coins that are hopefully in better condition for my $2 album.
I will be keeping a couple of the coins I "Won" at Woolies in commemoration of this for me Landmark event and another 3 for my Granddaughters
The others are up for grabs for those members here that haven't got access to a Woolworths store and have missed out.

1 coin per member and first in best dressed, there are 5 of these available, just PM me your address and I will send you a coin :ok:

[Fulvio]

I think the eBay bottom feeders are a just a symptom of the problem.

Yep, and I just copied your post into an email to Ross I was writing about this. Brilliant insight, mate! :good:

[robbiegal]

how does an ordinary bloke get a hold of a whole slab of say, red coloured $2 coins then translate that to how do the very many blokes get a hold of these sealed security bags of coins?

I agree with just about everything you said, but seeing as how I'm an ordinary bloke with both of the above, I beg to differ.

It can be done, but takes bloody hard work and lots of luck.

I chased coronation $2 for six months, eventually scoring 5 sacks of mixed coins. I spent $10,000, and I'm still sitting on all the standard designs, mostly through laziness to noodle them for errors.

Then, 9 months after release, I went into an ANZ to get two rolls of $2, got handed Coronations, went to the ATM to get a couple grand and bought almost a complete block (3 slabs plus a bit over half of the fourth one).

I also got handed a bag at woolies yesterday. As I reported, procedures are extremely uneven. Chances are I will not be able to get equal numbers of all coins.

Have I done anything illegal, immoral or fattening? NO!

Any of us given an opportunity will grab it with both hands. Where we differ is what we do next. I don't sell coins (except rarely to friends who ask). I refuse to use feeBay to either buy or sell, an even IF I was going to flog them off, I certainly wouldn't do it early, especially under an embargo or when doing so may affect processes and harm others. I would wait until a LONG time down the track. And reap the benefits too. I let a mate have a couple bags of poppies for $100 each. Now they're on ebay for a grand. But still I'm not selling. Because I'm not a trader, I'm a collector.

The stores do not have all six coins to give, BTW. They are being supplied weekly.

Wow! well done - hard owrk paid off big time and by chance (although 10 grand is way out of my league)

But hey mate , you are anything but ordinary
but you are pointing out that some people get the stuff through the front door and that is the way it should be
I guess that I am suggesting that there is a lot of back door dodgey business and that erks me - that's all I guess i am just a whinger for due process but always been an idealist and believe in fairness to all not just a few

[Fulvio]

there is a lot of back door dodgey business and that erks me

It irks me too, believe me. I am NEVER going to forgive NAB for taking three and a half grand out of MY pocket and giftwrapping it for an Armaguard employee to cash in.

But then the other side of the coin is that these worthless slimeballs can only exist because we collectively let them. They're flogging these sets for $30 on eBay, and people are paying even though they can get them over the counter or by mail for $15. How stupid is that? :dodgy: