Provident Metals: No longer recommended

In the past year, I've suggested a few different sources for precious metals to readers here. Among them were APMEX, Provident Metals, Montana Rarities, and Monarch Precious Metals.

You'll note that Provident is not made hot above. I can't recommend them anymore, thanks to a business decision they made which I find incredibly distasteful. Late last summer they released the first of their "Zombucks" silver rounds, with the promise that each coin would be a limited-run item, minted only to fill orders, and never minted again. I ordered a few extra of the first two designs in the vague hopes that they may maintain some collectible value in the future.

Well, they broke that promise last month and are re-striking the rounds in "proof" versions with a higher price tag.

To hell with that. If you need silver, gold, or other precious metals, look to one of the hot links above. APMEX has a phenomenal selection but tends to run a slightly higher premium - with the customer service to match. Highly recommended. Montana Rarities has a wide selection in smaller quantities and is friendly as heck. Monarch has some beautiful unique items. There's also Silvertowne, which is great for onesie-twosie buying with their free-shipping promos.

I just emailed them and let them know they've lost a customer permanently; there are plenty of other dealers who are more than happy to take my money and provide beautiful shiny things. Below is a copy of the letter I sent:
Dear Provident:

I've ordered several times from you over the past year. I was excited by the Zombucks series and had every intention of completing a set of silver and set of copper tubes... until you released the new "proof" after initially advertising the rounds as limited-run never-to-be-struck-again items. I'm a regular over on /r/silverbugs - which I know your company has a presence on - and the bad taste you've created there is tremendous.

I'm sure you can look at my order history (all were placed using this email address) and note that I'm not a large-volume customer - perhaps the loss of that business means nothing to you. I'm also sure you know that word-of-mouth referrals are often a company's best source of new customers, and I've referred several friends to your company over the past year. I've made several references to your site on my blog, which doesn't have a huge following but does tend to bring 30-50 unique views daily.

No more. No more orders, no more referrals. I'll be spending my money with APMEX, Monarch, and NWT Mint. I'll be copying this letter verbatim to my blog.

Best,

  (real name)

Taxes: done

I have done my own taxes as long as I've been paying them. Ten or twelve years of that was using TurboTax with good results. 

This year I started punching data into it and it choked. New York wouldn't finish without Missouri data and vice-versa. After a couple hours of swearing at it I closed the windows and went to bed. The next morning I called the accountant a coworker had recommended. 

We had our appointment this morning. We had all the paperwork she needed, she found a deduction I hadn't known about, and in 45 minutes all our taxes were done and e-filed. Cost was about fifty bucks more than TT would have run and worth every penny.

Sizable refund from Feds, small from MO, and we owe NY a couple bills. Not bad overall. And it's done. 

Sorry for the lack of content. Real life has intruded. Stay tuned. Or not. 

Bug season

I've been seeing various reports on the Book of Face about people down with the crud. BRM and Wing are both down with something.

My partner at work was out all last week and is expecting to be out all this week with what I'm presuming is the flu.

One of the forums I frequent had this post (paraphrased):

Last week was our anniversary. Wife wasn't feeling great, so I took the kids out so she could have some quiet time.
Next afternoon she was complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing, so I took her to the ER.
She was dead the next afternoon. Flu plus staph.

Let me re-emphasize that:
 She was dead the next afternoon.

A husband is without his wife, children are without their mother, because of flu.

Last week we had a working-age adult patient who complained of "flu symptoms" for a few days and was found unresponsive/pulseless. That family is now doing funeral planning.

In 1918, the "Spanish" flu had an estimated 10-20% mortality rate. With modern medicine, we've cut mortality rates dramatically, but influenza is still killing otherwise healthy adults.

I missed my flu shot this year, and I'm really regretting it. I've been healthy so far (knock on wood), and I hope it continues. I really hope my partner was smart enough to call in early enough to keep me healthy.

If you share a work space, wash your hands regularly and use antiseptic wipes regularly. (I wipe down my entire console at the beginning of every shift and sometimes mid-shift.) If you're coming down with something, stay home.

Take care of yourselves. Rest, fluids, etc.

Silver trinket

I've been playing around with a few ideas of silver that can be handed to a friend, or a waitperson, or put in a stocking, etc. An acquaintance makes "dime cards" that have a 90% dime sandwiched in, and I liked the idea but didn't want to use dimes... or at least not exclusively dimes. Thus, this has been created:

The QR code simply goes to the Kitco spot price chart.

These were zipped out on our inkjet printer and I'm not entirely thrilled with the resolution/pixelation. Some tweaking needed, and maybe printing on a color laser setup.

That said, I'd like to sell the first few if anyone is interested. I've got supplies for four, I'm keeping at least one, and then ... buying more silver to put in cards. I vaguely intend to try 1g and 1/10oz rounds or bars as well.

The three that are available ... I'd like $10/ea for them, mailed in the US. That basically covers the silver and laminating sleeves and postage. Yes, they're a little rough. But you get the privilege of saying "these are the first!" And I'll do something nice for you in the future.

Drop me a note if you're interested.