Merit feedback
As a new Merit customer, there were a few things I liked a few things I didn't:
The Bad:
1) Their website, while pretty and informative (with respects to sales price, what they have, etc.) sucks in terms of back end tech such as being able to sign up, build a cart, and order. You can't do it. When I went to place my first order, their site was down in terms of being able to even create an account (not that making an account allows you to do anything anyway) JM Bullion on the other hand, you can actually place an order (a CC "holds" the order till you can confirm wire info). Though on my first order it didn't take my card for some reason. Didn't tell me why. Just told me to call. It was after hours so I couldn't. They lost out on my large order because of that.
2) You HAVE to order via calling your rep, then sending in a wire to fund your account, then call to confirm. It's a dumb process. Meaning you can't place an order, have them tell you a price, and send a wire for that (or send a wire via info online). For me (and people like me) that's a big turn off. Just let go online, build a cart, hit "order", supply my info, and be done already. Geeze.
3) You can't log in and see info such as what you ordered, when, at what price, where it is in the shipping process, etc. I really hate that.
4) The shipping time is way too long. My first order took just over two weeks to ship. And after ordered I got no confirmation, no updates, etc. I guess the time value of tehir holding money for the weeks it takes to ship adds to their ability to charge little
5) They do try to bait and switch a bit. Though I don't blame them as this is likley how they are lower on the 'commidity' PMs. When I placed my gold order, they REALLY tried to talk me into upgrading to more costly 'rated' (?) gold. I passed. But that's my guess as to why they can charge so little: They make $ when you have to call as they likely upgrade several customers to higher margin items
THE GOOD
1) They have good prices. You said they are secret but everything is there. The exception is junk silver which they don't show the price of. But at least they have it. It is out of stock at a lot of places and the premimum is going up over spot all over the place (side note: Buy as much now while you can -- IMO)
2) You get your own rep who, when I've called, knows who I am and is very helpful.
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So would I order again? Sure. If you're going to buy a LOT of silver/gold, then I'm fine to put up with their "old skool" way of doing things as it means I'm going to save $$$. I like the way JM Bullion does business more wrt their site and ordering, but they're a bit more. If I were just going to buy a small handful of coins, I'd use JM. If you're buying a LOT, use Merit.
