Ever heard that title before? It is beyond true in the challenge coin industry. There is a rule that even if other companies don’t say it they know it exists. Most customers, and I would guess a majority, don’t know anything more than they have been asked to come up with a design for a coin and go get it ordered from a company. Past that, they don’t know anything and certainly don’t feel like looking anything up. Research is often the Achilles heel for every customer. Why look up anything if Google doesn’t show them? Heck, most probably will never read this article even though the link is on the front of our site.
Even if this post sounds harsh, it’s not. My concern is people are spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars because a nice looking website said it was OK to trust them. I want people to get intimate with the understanding of the challenge coin industry and what there is to stay away from. This is something that is very far from ordering a blanket from Amazon. My goal is and always have been to be a positive voice in the industry and the hobby.
So you are probably saying, OK then what do I need to know? How about what the prices mean on a company’s website? Or how about what country your coin gets made in? How about that the Chinese coin factory that almost every company uses takes a 2-week Chinese New Year vacation in February…every year. Not enough? How about that the company you potentially are going to use is a guy working out of his living room because he barely can afford to remain open? Did you research that 3D metal design cannot be painted except by hand in 2 specialized locations in the United States? Did you know most companies charge 200-500% of what they actually paid for your coin to be minted? OK, then I doubt you knew because of the EPA rules that almost all minting facilities in the United States had to shut down and send all those jobs overseas. Not enough yet? Did you know that some companies claim to do all work on U.S. soil as they actually have your coin minted in the same factory we use, but we don’t like to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes…
I could go on and on about the things you would of never researched. I don’t blame you for it either. It seems straight forward: want coins, get quote, purchase, wait for delivery. If I wasn’t so involved I would do the exact same thing and there is no doubt of that. I get it and I know how it works. The question is more how much do you want to be taken advantage of?
Amazingly enough we offer tons of resources for research and hardly anyone utilizes it. The Challenge Coin Forum is a great place to start. Then again mostly the companies use it so they are in with what is going on in the industry. It makes sense as they don’t expect you to sign up and read what is going on. Now I am not calling anyone dumb or ignorant, I am trying to bring the white elephant in the room a little closer.
All I am asking is do the research. Figure out which companies are not only being forward but offer real information on their sites and not just an order form. Try to avoid being taken advantage of. Most importantly you don’t have to choose U.S. Challenge Coins, just choose what you feel the most comfortable with.
Lastly, I will say I know all this stuff because I have been doing this for years. I built my company on information and trust. This is why I am still the only company news sources come to first to ask for information, coins for pictures, and interviews. Sure other companies get it to from time to time, but ours is consistent. I personally have been on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, the Miami Herald, Washington Post, national collectors magazines, and many smaller publications. I am know as an expert in the challenge coin field. If this is doubtful, just Google Challenge Coins and Adam Mulholland. I am extremely proud to have contributed the majority of content available in the hobby and on the subject.
