Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are the differences between coins, rounds and bars?

 

Bars and rounds are  produced by private mints. Privately minted bars and rounds have low premiums over spot and are widely available from many companies. Due to their availability the value over spot for bullion pieces is pretty low. (With the exception of “art bars,” intricately designed bars, which carry a higher cost over the spot price of the metal)

 

Coins, in comparison, can only be produced at national mints because of their function as money. Because of this, they tend to have higher premiums. Their mintage is controlled by the country’s government, this sometimes restricts them to lesser quantities. Although certain silver rounds look like existing coins, please note these are not legal tender nor do they possess any face value. (Note if you have a round that looks exactly like a coin, it does not have to be an exact duplicate, and could be confused as a real coin, it must be marked "COPY" or "REPLICA")

 

In the United States, since 1973 and the passage of the Hobby act, any copy or replica of any regulatory produced coin or currency (species or script) that is made to look like the real coin or currency must be plainly marked "Copy" or "Replica". Any examples of such coins or currency made to look like the original, and not so marked are "Counterfeit" and carry the same penalties as any other counterfeiter or distributor. Any of these examples brought into our shop will be turned over to the Secret Service, along with the source and person presenting the same. The Secret Service will investigate and determine if the person presenting this material is simply a victim or a perpetrator of fraud and counterfeiting.

 

 

Why do coins have higher premiums?

 

The higher premium on coins, as opposed to other pieces of bullion, can be attributed to several factors. Some collectors’ coins were released as special edition art pieces with only a limited mintage. Others bear a great deal of historical value because they were minted during a significant time. Still, the primary reason that coins have such a high premium is that they are legal tender pieces of currency and are minted only by legitimate national mints.

 

What are “certified” coins?

 

Certified coins reference any coin that has been certified and graded based on their condition by reputable grading agencies, including NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) and PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service). Certified coins are placed in plastic slabs and feature serial numbers which can be confirmed with the grading company to affirm authenticity and grade. Besides attesting to coins authenticity, grading companies also provide grades on a scale of 1-70, 70 representing a perfect mint-state coin. Graded coins with 67 or higher grades typically will carry a higher premium due to rarity and condition.

 

The Tier one grading companies NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) and PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) stand behind their grading and will guarantee the authenticity, condition and will replace or reimburse any coin or currency found to be not what the slabs state that they are, the exception is for those slabs that have been tampered with is some way.  To our way of thinking this is very inexpensive insurance that what you’re seeing on the holders is what you’re getting.

 

 

What is shipwreck silver?

 

Shipwreck silver is any silver bullion piece which has been recovered from a sunken vessel or boat and resold to the public.

 

What are COBs?

 

COB is an abbreviation of Cut Off Bar, when the early extraction of silver and gold was being mined in the New World a way to inventory what was being produced and shipped was needed by the Crown Governments to be accountable to the king. So a bar of partially refined metal was cast and when cooled, a portion was cut off and weighed. The excess weight was clipped off until the piece weighted close to an ounce. It was then Cold Stamped (which explains the poor strike of the design) and then counted as to how many were in each chest, ship, fleet. When these ships sank the material went down with it, and is now being located today, raised and sold.

 

 

What are bullion bullets?

 

Precious metal bullets, most are made of silver, are a form of bullion which has been modeled to resemble real ammunition cartridges. They are typically minted from .999 pure metals and can range in size from 1 to 100 ounces.  While most of the silver bullets are based on actual pieces of ammunition, they are NOT capable of being fired. To load them into a weapon or firearm, and then to pull the trigger will only break your firing pin as these are solid metal and do not have the give normally associated with a brass or copper primer.

 

What are silver dollars?

 

Silver dollars and Gold Dollars were originally the only from of currency authorized by the constitution, as they are Species, coins, and Script, paper currency, was not authorized for Congress to producce until the 1860's during the civil war. Prior to that time only banks produced  Script notes as "Bank Notes or Letters of Credit" as they are really known. Although the term “silver dollar” is often interpreted as any silver colored dollar coin, 90% pure silver dollars were last produced in 1935.

 

Most silver dollars refer to those large silver dollar size coins produced by the US Mint, beginning in

• The Flowing Hair Dollar from 1794, through 1795

• The Drapped Bust Dollar (both Types) from 1796 through 1804

• The Seated Liberty dollar from 1840 to 1873

• The Trade Dollar form 1873 until 1885

• The Morgan Dollar from 1878 until 1921

• The Peace Dollar from 1921 until 1935

• The new American Silver Eagle silver dollar was begun in 1986  and continues today.

 

These dollar coins possess a silver content of 90%.

 

 

Should I buy gold, silver or both?

 

We recommend speaking to a professional finance person to help you understand your personal situation, risk tolerance, and investment horizons and time lines. 

 

Even with precious metals prices moving in tandem, most people recommend everyone to be diversified, especially when we see movement in the gold/silver ratio to the extent to what we have witnessed over the past several years. Since we offer gold products in several smaller sized pieces, an investor of any-sized budget can purchase both gold and silver for their portfolio. We cannot stress to strongly get a professional financial advisor, prior to any major investment.

 

 

Who is NC Coppers / Kris Kringle's Coins?

 

NC Coppers is one of the best places for investing in physical silver and gold bullion, as well as other precious metals and coin and currency collectables products. Our company allows informed investors and collectors to purchase precious metals and collectables on site for immediate possession; we plan to begin internet sales sometime in the next year so you can purchase these around the clock, and have them shipped directly to your door. To see what others are saying about us, read some of the third party NC Coppers reviews.

 

 

How do I buy from, or sell to NC Coppers or Kris Kringle's Coins?

 

Our company sells directly to the public at our storefront located at 1025 Blue Ridge Road located in West Raleigh at the west end of the Educational Building at the North Carolina Fairgrounds.  We are contemplating opening a separate location to allow our customers to bring in their material during the week. This office will be located near the main store for ease of locating us.

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We also provide off hours support by appointment and will come to your home or your bank (preferred location) to evaluate your material during the week and offer to purchase any material you may have.

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As several of our customers have found we can and do offer off site delivery of specific material to a select list of our clients especially during Holiday Periods to accommodate some of our customers traveling from out of town.

 

Our website allows customers to easily see and decide on their purchase and any sales of their material quickly, based on live spot prices from worldwide exchanges. We also accept orders during off-market hours, allowing customers access to pricing on weekends, at night, on holidays, or at any other time throughout the year.

 

 

What does NC Coppers and Kris Kringle's Coins sell?

 

We offer an extremely wide selection of products, including silver and gold coins from many governments’ mints, silver and gold bars and rounds from a huge selection of private domestic and foreign mints, and specialty products, such as silver bullets, certified/graded and raw coins and currency, as well as supplies, books, and more. We are always actively sourcing new and interesting products, so check back with us often.

 

 

Where do you get your products and how do I know they’re real?

 

NC Coppers and Kris Kringle's Coins purchases it's material from reputable wholesalers, trade desks, auctions or directly from the mints themselves as well as from the public. All of our products are identified and marked indicating their purity, weight and authenticity.  Many of our products also contain government documentation or certification by third Party Grading companies that represent a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for further authentication. Upon arrival of each product, package and in some cases before we purchase any product, we inspect each item carefully for condition and authenticity to make sure our products are only the highest quality available for the price.

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In the case of Gold Jewelry and high value items we employ XRF technology located at other locations and cross check all graded material received through the grading companies.

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Any counterfeit material is turned over to the Secret Service along with the acquisition information and Video recordings (all transactions are video tapped) and identities of the individuals providing such material for investigation.

 

No customer should worry about this activity as victims of a previous fraud have never been prosecuted, after assisting the Secret Service with identifying the real crooks. The only person that need worry are those attempting to perpetrate a fraudulent act in which we prosecute to the fullest extent of the law and post their identity and photographs with NCIC and distribute this information across the world (not just the US) to help others to avoid being robbed or defrauded.

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We do not sell fakes or copies in any form, as to have any would cast doubt on our other products.

 

 

What does it mean to “Drop Ship”?

 

A “Drop Ship” means that we are offering a specified product from our wholesalers to be shipped directly to your door. This means that the product is brand new or ordered before released of the item or the item is on backorder from our distributor. All drop ship items will have an expected ship date that indicates an estimate of when you will receive the product. Please note that when a drop ship item is included in your order with other products, the order will not be available until the shipment occurs. NC Coppers cannot be held responsible for delays in shipping, but will investigate if any difficulty is associated with the delivery.

 

 

Can I sell to NC Coppers and Kris Kringle's Coins?

 

Of course, we currently buy metals from individuals. NC Coppers and Kris Kringle's Coins are a licensed Precious Metals Dealer, bonded and insured with complete criminal background checks that are conducted annually on all of its employees by the State North Carolina.

 

 

 Do you charge sales tax?

 

 We do not charge Sales Tax on Coins, Currency, Gold, Silver or other Precious Metals Bullion as defined in the 2017 changes to the precious metals sales act . We do collect sales tax on all products and sales as required by North Carolina Law. NC Coppers has supported and championed legislation that would remove sales tax from investments materials by talking / lobbying State Legislative Representatives and Senators to pass such legislation. This was accomplished in 2017.

 

Contact your State Senator and Representative to encourage the Government to stop resisting this step forward for all North Carolinians.

 

 

How do I contact NC Coppers or Kris Kringle's Coins?

 

You can contact us at any time through our Contact page, emailing us at Info@nccoppers.com or you can contact us directly by calling 1-919-561-2075.

 

 

What are your hours of operation?

 

You can browse our website online 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  We are open at our retail store from 9:00AM until 6:00 PM Saturday and Sunday at "The Market", and and are now open all week at Creedmoor Rd., from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM or the last customer is served!

 

 

Where are you located?

 

Our retail store is located in Raleigh North Carolina. Our address at "The Market" is: 1025 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh North Carolina 27602, and Creedmoor Rd. at 4409 Creedmoor RD, Raleigh NC 27612.

 

You can set an appointment if you would like for any day or evening during the week from our website contact page, or by calling our offices to set an appointment. These are normally done at our offices at the Creedmoor Rd location but for special circumstances we will come to you.

 

 

What forms of payment do you accept?

 

Customers have a wide range of options when it comes to making payments. These payment options include credit/debit cards, PayPal, bank wires and paper checks and of US Currency.

 

 

Which credit/debit cards do you accept?

 

We currently accept payments made with any credit cards or debit cards accepted by PayPal.

 

 

Is there a discount for paying with cash, paper checks or bank wires?

 

Yes, customers who pay with cash or paper checks are eligible for a 2.75% discount off of the listed credit cards, debit cards or PayPal price. All of our prices have a 2.75% discount already applied

 

 

What security do you have to protect your customers from credit card fraud?

 

All Credit card purchases are processed through PayPal. In order to reduce incidents of fraud on PayPal and to protect our customers from any fraudulent credit card activity, all credit/debit card orders are manually screened prior to acceptance. This involved verification of a valid NC Driver’s License or identity card before any in store acceptance of the card for purchases.  

 

For online or off site transactions, all customers are required to create and use a “PayPal Verified Shipping Address.” Customers whose shipping addresses have not been verified by PayPal will not be permitted to make their purchases. Any attempts to provide an alternate mailing address will result in the delay or cancellation of your order.

 

Please note that this exchange is strictly between the customer and the PayPal systems. NC Coppers does not have access to any of this information.

 

 

Does NC Coppers participate in any BillMeLater programs?

 

Yes, we currently offer "BillMeLater" financing through PayPal. This program enables customers to finance their purchases up to $1,000. Contact PayPal directly or contact us and we can assist you through the process.

 

 

Are there minimum and maximum amounts for each payment method?

 

There is no minimum amount for payments made with credit/debit cards, Paypal or paper checks. Bank wires, require a minimum payment amount of $2,000 USD, wires below that amount are charged a processing fee of $35.00.

 

The transaction limits for each payment option is:

 

• PayPal payments have a maximum amount of $60,000.

• Paper check payments have a maximum amount of $40,000.

• Bank Wire payments have a maximum amount of $100,000.

• We accept only Cash, Bank Wire, or paper checks for Bullion over 1,000.00 dollars.

 

 

Why do I need to provide my credit/debit card info to make a payment via check or wire?

 

We require your credit/debit card information to ensure payments. Because the value of different precious metals and collectables can increase or decrease on a daily basis, the price of our merchandise is also constantly being altered to reflect those changes and without some security we have a huge exposure to failed transaction and Buyers remorse.

 

However, locking in a price keeps it from changing during the course of your transaction. Once a price has been locked in, it cannot be changed regardless of market fluctuation. This information also serves as a form of “collateral” for your payment until the actual check or bank wire is processed.

 

As long as payments are received within a reasonable time frame, your card will not be charged. Be advised that should your payment fail to arrive in a timely manner, you may be charged a cancellation fee of (5% or $35.00 Minimun), a restocking fee of 20% and assessed any market losses that occurred due to your purchase.

 

The message here is: “Don’t order it if you do not intend to go through with the transaction, it will get expensive for us both!”.

 

 

Do you have a layaway program?

 

Yes, for a small fee, and 25% percent of the total sale, deposit, we will layaway your purchase until you can finalize the transaction. You may take up to 90 days to make the final purchase. Should you fail to make a single payment and do not contact us within 10 business days of your payment dues date, the sales will be nullified and any deposit or payments made up until that time will be forfeited. No ownership or title, in or to, the material on layaway will transfer until final payment is received and cleared.

 

Any changes to the original agreement will be evaluated on a case by case basis, and simply calling us does not guarantee and extension of time to make your payments. All Sales are final.

 

 

To whom do I address my check?

 

You should address your checks to NC Coppers or Kris Kringle's Coins. No other form is permitted, nor will it be accepted. Any payments not to NC Coppers or Kris Kringle's Coins will not be credited to your account.

 

 

Do you accept electronic checks?

 

“Bill pay” or similar online payment methods are acceptable, provided your bank mails an actual physical check to our address. However, the use of eChecks or ACH payments is not permitted at this time.

 

 

How do I send a bank wire?

 

Customers using bank wire payments will immediately be provided with wiring instructions.

 

All bank wire payments MUST be paid in-full within 2 business day. Please note that all bank wire payments MUST be actual bank wires, which means that the money must be sent from a real bank. (This process may require the customer to visit that bank in person to request the wire.)

 

Payments made using ACH or eCheck do not constitute as bank wires and the use of such payments will result in either the delay or cancellation of your order.

 

 

How do I know my payment was received?

 

Transactions made using credit/debit cards or PayPal will receive immediate confirmation at the end of the checkout process. All other forms of payment will receive an initial email notifying them that their order has been PAID, as well as another one containing tracking information for their package if it is being shipped to their billing address.

 

Depending on your form of payment, these emails will not be sent until either a check has been deposited and cleared or a bank wire notification has been received.

 

 

How long does it take to process payments and begin shipping?

 

Transactions completed with credit/debit cards, PayPal or bank wire payments are instantly processed and are immediately shipped, if shipping is required. Please note that first time remote payments made with either PayPal or a credit/debit card must wait up to one extra business day to undergo manual screening.

 

However, transactions completed with paper checks must wait 4-6 business days for clearance before being shipped.

 

Due to increased incidents of fraudulent or fake checks, all paper checks are required to undergo this mandatory 4-6 day clearing process to ensure that the funds are acceptable.

 

 

Why do you hold cashier’s checks/money orders?

 

While cashier’s checks and money orders are considered “guaranteed” forms of payment, unfortunately we still receive fake money orders and cashier’s checks. The only way for us to fully verify payment is to wait out the bounce period. All paper checks, regardless if they are personal checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders, require 4-6 business days to clear before entering the shipping queue.

 

 

How do I know my personal and financial information is secure?

 

All personal information is transmitted using secure SSL web pages. These pages are encrypted to ensure that no personal financial or identifiable information is made available to anyone other than you, your bank, or the payment processor.

 

 

Do you accept Bitcoin?

 

At this time we do not accept Bitcoin or any other virtual currencies. We are considering this possibly in the future.

 

 

What is your return policy?

 

Our, return  policy is limited to three (3) business days from the date that you receive the item. You must notify our Customer Service Department via telephone at 1-(919) 561 2075 within three (3) business days from the date that you receive the item and follow the instructions provided to you, at that time.

 

Shipping and handling charges are non-refundable. You are fully responsible for all taxes, as well as return shipping and handling costs.

 

NC Coppers or Kris Kringle's Coins may reject any returned or exchanged item that does not reasonably conform to these terms.

 

In the case of a request for an exchange, NC Coppers and Kris Kringle's Coins expressly reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to find an acceptable replacement or refund your money should an acceptable replacement be unavailable. Returns, refunds and exchanges are subject to our Market Loss Policy.

 

Please note, that a five percent (5% - or $35.00 minimun) cancellation fee and a 20% restocking fee and any market losses applies to any and all returned or exchanged items that were purchased.

 

Any and all market gains on refunds, returns, and exchanges shall belong solely to NC Coppers and or Kris Kringle's Coins.

 

 

Can I modify my order?

 

Modifying an order requires extra effort  and cost for us, and as such we are unable to process order modifications. You would need to cancel your current order, accept the cancellation fees, and place a new order.

 

Precious Metals (Gold or Silver) and collectable coins and currency may have decreased in price.

 

 

Can I return for a full refund?

 

No. Markets are volatile, and we cannot guarantee any specific return on your investments. As such, we cannot offer refunds based on past prices. Any returned items would be subject to possible restocking fees, as well as Market Losses in accordance with our stated policy.

 

 

What if I am unsatisfied with my products?

 

If you are unsatisfied with your products, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate you, but make no guarantees.

 

How much do you charge for shipping?

 

We offer shipping and insurance rates on all orders under $3,000 at a flat rate.

 

Below are our current shipping rates, based "Total Dollar Amount":

 

• $0-$299 Orders: $6.95 Flat Rate Shipping and Insurance (USPS First Class Mail)

• $300-$999 Orders: $9.95 Flat Rate Shipping, Insurance, and Signature (USPS Priority or UPS Ground)

• $1,000-$2,999 Orders: $15.95 Flat Rate Shipping, Insurance, and Signature (Typically USPS Priority or UPS Ground)

• $3,000+ Orders: Contact us for charges: Shipping, Insurance, and Signature ( USPS Registered Mail only)

 

Please note that based on your address and order contents, we will select the most efficient carrier and method of mail at our discretion.

 

Normal carriers/methods for order sizes are listed above, but they are no guarantee that your order will ship as such.

 

 

How long does it take for my order to ship?

 

Most items will ship within 3 business days of cleared payment. The majority of orders typically ship within 48 hours of cleared payment. We put a great deal of effort into our shipping. When you purchase products remotely, from NC Coppers, you can expect to receive notice of shipment and access to your tracking information within 2 business days of completed payment.

 

The majority of orders typically ship same day as payment clearance. See payment clearing timeframes below:

PayPal – Immediately

 

Paper Check – 5 - 10 Business Days from Deposit

 

Bank Wire – Immediately, Upon notification by our bank of Receipt of Wire

 

Once your order is picked up by the carrier, you will have access to full tracking every step of the way via either the USPS.com or UPS.com websites. Orders may spend only 1-5 days in-transit or more before final delivery to your doorstep. We currently ship most orders from North Carolina, but drop ship orders from our suppliers, may come from multiple locations around the country that will affect the transit times.  

 

 

Will I receive a tracking number when my order ships?

 

For orders paid for by check or bank wire, you will be provided a tracking number for your package(s) upon shipment. All orders paid for by PayPal are not given a tracking number due to the high risk of fraud associated with this payment method. If you use PayPal, you should be able to track your package by signing into your account online.

 

 

Do you ship internationally?

 

No, we only ship to USA addresses (including APO & FPO).

 

 

Is it safe to ship valuables in the mail?

 

All of our packages are shipped securely in inconspicuous packaging that gives no indication of the contents. Your materials are securely wrapped in protective packaging, and then placed in the shipping parcel along with packing material to prevent the products from rattling or shifting during shipping. As all packages require a signature upon delivery you packages will arrive safe. If there should be some form of a problem contact us immediately.

 

 

Is my package insured?

 

Every order we ship is covered by our in-house insurance policy. If your order is lost, stolen, or damaged in-transit, we will work with the carrier to recover the package or exchange damaged products, and failing that, will file an insurance claim in order to provide replacement product or a full refund. Please note that our insurance policy only covers in-transit orders, and coverage ceases upon good delivery of the package (defined as a notice of signature or delivery from the carrier).

 

 

Will my package require a signature?

 

All Orders will require a signature upon delivery.

 

 

What if my products are damaged in transit?

 

Inspect your package immediately upon receipt for signs of damage or tampering. If your package appears to be tampered with, inform the shipper, take pictures of the damage and refuse to sign / accept the package on the basis of possible tampering with the external materials.

 

We recommend and the shipper may require you to open the package to determine if the materials enclosed match the enclosed packing slip.  

 

If your products are damaged or missing upon arrival, please notify us immediately.

 

We do require photography and other documentation to process a loss, including independent verification of loss by the shipper when delivered, Failure to have the shipper verify the loss will result in your claims being rejected.

 

Once we verify the damage, or loss we will help you through the claims process and  provide you a return label to send your products back, and will help process your replacement order.

 

 

How can I check on the status of my order?

 

You can check the status of your order at any time by your shipper's tracking number.

 

 

Do you have any minimum order size?

 

We do not have any order minimums, as  precious metals and collectables should be available to any investor. Smaller purchases should be done in person as the shipping fees will increase the cost ratio associated with your purchase

 

 

How do I cancel my order?

 

Once you have placed an order with NC Coppers, you have entered into a binding legal agreement, and cannot cancel the order without incurring a 5% or $35.00 administrative fee which ever is higher,  20% restocking fee and being charged for the corresponding Market Losses fees. After NC Coppers or Kris Kringle's Coins has shipped the product, the order is final and cannot be canceled. If you refuse shipment the product will be returned to us and you will be charged a 5% or $35.00 administrative fee, which ever is higher, a standard 20% restocking fee and you will be required to pay for any Market Losses.