Help Needed!!!

[Phughes]

Hello all, I've been following the boards for about 3 months now and have started purchasing pms about 2 months ago. I have read many posts on here about getting as much silver and gold for the least amount of expense. After doing some research and reading about different places to go for my metals I found I was going to get the best bang for my buck at Provident Metals. My first 2 purchases went off without a hitch. Here's what I am curious about. My third order for silver was placed on Dec. 28. Nothing huge, a tube of ASE's and some junk. I was notified they had recieved my purchase order and I was then notified on 1/7 that my order was complete. A tracking number was issued and an expected arrival date was given as 1/9. This was over a weekend and I didn't expect it to be in my po box on that date, no biggie. Well to make a long story even longer, another week goes by and still nothing. I called Provident and spoke to Justin. He stated that I needed to wait 30 days and then send them a letter explaining I had not received my purchase. At that point they would put in a claim and I would be reimbursed. He did a very good job of calming me down. I'm not that thrilled about having $700 spent and no metals but things happen. My question is, will they ship me the silver or just issue me a check? The reason I am curious is that if you care to look, the spot price on 12/28 was $27 and some change. Spot is now well over $31. I would really like to have that tube at the $27 price but I'm not sure if they are bound to that price. Any answers or advice would be greatly apprecitated. Sorry if this is such a newbie question but I'm trying to get on a buying schedule and I am hitting the date on the calander where I would buy again but it's hard to throw good money after bad if that's the case. Thanks in advance and for all the valuable information here

[Tinbox]

I'd be pissed and demand the metal rather than a check, which is it what it sounds like he says your going to be getting if your reimbursed. Never bought from provident before but I have heard mostly good things about them.

Did you save an email or print the confirmation of your order from provident? As long as you have some evidence I would think you should have no problem getting your metal eventually if Provident is as good a company as I've heard.

[Phughes]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I have a copy of the purchase order that has the ASE's priced at $30.03 each. I hope that is enough for them to send the metals instead of a check back. Thanks again

[glockngold]

I called Provident and spoke to Justin. He stated that I needed to wait 30 days and then send them a letter explaining I had not received my purchase. At that point they would put in a claim and I would be reimbursed. He did a very good job of calming me down.

Sounds to me like their position is that they shipped your coins.
After 30 days of you not getting them, they will put in a claim for insurance with their carrier.
The carrier is "hired by Provident" so Provident gets the amount of loss that is insured.

Provident probably will then mail you a check for your loss.

I can't speak to how customer friendly they might want to be.
Keep us updated on how you are treated throughout this.
Stuff happens.

[Lawrence]

Does your tracking show it as delivered? Ask the PO and police if anyone's reported package thefts in your area.

[ttazzman]

if it is determined to be a shipping loss .....you should expect to be reimbursed for the value of your loss was insured for......the shipment should be insured for what it cost you.........the market had no bearing on your reimbursement market up or market down doesn't matter you should be refunded your cost.....Provident did not lose the order the shipper did...you paid a insurance fee based on the value of your order no more or no less.

If Provident does more than just refund your money they would be going far far far beyond their obligations

If silver had gone down would you be sending them the difference back or expecting them to send extra coins......

[Phughes]

I have a post office box so I'm not worried about theft from there. Plus it required a signature. Tazz is right the market has no bearing on the transaction, it's just a tough break on my part. I should have thought that through I guess. That same tube is going to cost me $60 more now :banghead:

[Weatherman]

Does your tracking show it as delivered?
Perhaps more important, does the tracking number show that the carrier entered it into their tracking system? If the carrier did enter the number into their system, double check on the delivery address because it could have been shipped to a different location. If the carrier does not show the tracking number in their system, tell Provident that they never did ship the silver you bought, but only sent you a number instead. Then you can insist that they ship the silver that you purchased. Good luck!

[Rollie Free]

I am not sure I understand. Is there a tracking number that this parcel can be traced to? Seems to me an obvious solution.

I feel your pain in that as of right now there is $700 of your money up in smoke. Waiting 30 days... nuts to that. If it is any help I ordered something from them recently and they were very slow about getting it to me and evidently others were experiencing the same thing judging by the feedback on here. What I did receive was billed as un-circulated but it had a some nicks in it which I found significant enough to complain about in an email. I received no follow up from them. Maybe I should have pursued the matter but I was on the fence about it to begin with. Just a little irritated they blew me off.
There seems to be some problems on their end with shipping. I say you are the customer and when they have your money in hand they hustle to get the product to you.

Their prices and service had been pretty much impeccable up to this point though. Maybe they are having a few issues like any other business.

[Phughes]

Let's see if I can clear up the shipping for you all


Dispatched to Sort Facility



January 07, 2012, 5:18 pm



WYLIE, TX 75098



Expected Delivery By:
January 9, 2012



Signature Confirmation™


Proof of Delivery











Electronic Shipping Info Received



January 08, 2012

















Acceptance



January 07, 2012, 12:15 pm



WYLIE, TX 75098













Shipment Accepted



January 07, 2012, 10:11 am



WYLIE, TX 75098

That was copy and paste. I did not put the tracking number in there for obvious reasons. Straight from the usps website. Not an ouce of activity since it was sent to the sorting facility in Wylie. I've never seen anything like it before

[AguA]

I'd definitely make some noise about this to both Provident and the USPS.

I placed an order to Provident on Dec 14 and received it on the Dec 29. Slower than I've seen with other companies that my buds use but good enough for me.

I have seen some weird updates from the USPS website in the past 3-4 weeks on things I have bought on eBay. I had one item show as accepted at origination until the day before it was delivered to me. Another item showed received and departed at the same sorting station 2 different days in the same week, dates separated by a day and a half in between.

[Phughes]

Thanks for all your replies. Looks like I'm going to have to get back on the phone with Provident on Monday. I'm not really sure who's screw up this is. I just assumed because it was given a tracking number that it had left Provident's building but maybe it's sitting under a desk somewhere. Very frustrating I must say. I would be better equipted to handle this if it happened later in my pm purchasing career lol

[Chester-Copperpot]

USPS has been screwing up a lot this year. I ship a lot of orders out, and they are taking way too long. I just recently bought something on eBay, and I know the guy shipped it next day, via Priority mail.

Usually takes 3-5 business days, not recently it hasn't.

Check this out.

Processed through USPS Sort Facility

2012-01-22, 16:48:00, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512

Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility

2012-01-19, 17:47:00, COLUMBIA, SC 29201

Dispatched to Sort Facility

2012-01-13, 16:23:00, COWPENS, SC 29330

Acceptance

2012-01-13, 15:12:00, COWPENS, SC 29330

Still no delivery, and no idea what condition it will be in.

[Scorpio]

hey up super,

maybe they need to look in the other cow pen???

S

[newmisty]

They say the key to this hobby is patience. Obviously for more than one reason!

Best of luck with things working out smoothly and be glad you have us who understand for support. I can help the time pass more quickly. :36_1_11:

[Phughes]

**UPDATE**
Ok, here's a new one for me. So I'm sitting around with friends enjoying championship football Sunday with food and beers and what comes across my phone? An email from the United States Post Office. I sent in an inquiry when my shipment from Provident didn't show up at my PO box in a timely manner and I received this yesterday. If you don't mind taking the time to read this let me know what you think about this and any advice on how to proceed with Provident. I'm sure it's nothing done intentionally on Provident's part but I'm just curious to find out what you all think they should do to rectify this situation.


In response to your request dated 01/13/2012, we regret to inform you that we were unable to
locate any delivery information in our records regarding your item number.
If you require additional assistance, please take this receipt to your local Post Office or postal
representative.

Sincerely,

United States Postal Service


Again this is a copy and paste from my email. The item number and my personal info was deleted for obvious reasons. Thanks for the replies and any opinions you may have.

[Weatherman]

I'm confused. Your earlier post about tracking information looks like it was provided by Provident, and not by USPS. If so, then that is not the information that you need to look at. Go to the USPS page for tracking (https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction!input.action) and enter your tracking number.

If the USPS recognizes the tracking number and confirms that the package was received by the USPS, then your problem is with the USPS, and you should welcome any help that Provident offers to get a refund for you.

If the USPS does not recognize your tracking number, tell Provident that they did NOT ship your silver, but only provided a useless tracking number instead. Insist that Provident ship the silver that you purchased. Good luck!

[Phughes]

Thanks Weatherman for the reply. In order to clear up any confusion here is what the USPS tracking site has to offer me. See what you can make of it. Is it possible that a tracking number can be assigned without the silver ever leaving Provident?




Priority Mail®



Dispatched to Sort Facility



January 07, 2012, 5:18 pm



WYLIE, TX 75098



Expected Delivery By:
January 9, 2012



Signature Confirmation™


Proof of Delivery











Electronic Shipping Info Received



January 08, 2012

















Acceptance



January 07, 2012, 12:15 pm



WYLIE, TX 75098













Shipment Accepted



January 07, 2012, 10:11 am



WYLIE, TX 75098

[AguA]

Is it possible that a tracking number can be assigned without the silver ever leaving Provident?


If that was the case, then the USPS site would only show this as a status along with the date:


Electronic Shipping Info Received

All the other status info the USPS provided shows actual reception and movement of the package. That all points to a problem within the USPS, not Provident, in regards to your package. It also shows the sloppiness being exhibited by the USPS in this past year in regards to properly entered chronological info.

[Phughes]

New Update 1/23/12

Just for those that might be following this saga. I just got off the phone with the USPS and the woman I spoke to was outstanding. She took the time to explain a few things that I had questions about. The end result of the conversation was that she has put out a locator search on my lost package. It has been issued a case number and I will be hearing from my local post office within 2 days with the results of that search. Hopefully the package will be located and be on it's way shortly. Provident had nothing to do with the delay in delivery and was entered into the mail system properly. To be honest I'm glad it was not Provident's fault because as stated earlier I've had nothing but perfect transactions with them previously. :565: