Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

Has anyone noticed that APMEX HOLDS coins when the price of PM goes down?

They had 2 weeks ago (gold about 600$) only one 2000 1/4 Australian Gold serie, now they have a bunch from each. The mint is sold out, APMEX does not have buy price listed so how they re-supply they inventory?


Would this be an indicator for times to come? Extra inventory for tight supply coins predicts lower prices while abundand inventory suggest higher prices in near future?


Keep on eye on them.

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

They have shut down their website in the past when silver was bumped hard.
"Due to volatility in the pm markets."

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

I usually assume that when new items appear when the price is rising that people are selling to them. They are a business, though, and I suppose it's their perogative to hold back stock or shut down in times of high volatility. Not so great for the us, though! And even if they don't shut down, their site can get hit with such high traffic during periods of volatility that it's difficult to get into it.

At least their prices usually beat those of other dealers, their service is good, and they don't appear to be holding back their plain bullion stock.

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

Whatever they do, I think is fair to disclose how many coins of a certain kind they have, BECAUSE, decisions to invest in a coins that have a premium of over 10% is based on inventory and market at that time. If two rare coins, sell both for above 15% premium and they say they have them both at the same price but for one there is only one left while for the other there are 4 more left which one would you pick?


Then two weeks later, with mint sold out, VOILA, extra coins!

It looks like it pays to bring in the coins when price is high (a 15% premium is more) and hide them when price goes down. It does not seem fair for us..

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

I don't know anything specific about how they operate their business, but if I bought inventory one day and the Comex price tumbles a Dollar the next day, why would I sell for a loss? How long could you stay in business with a business plan like that?

If it was my business, I would not sell anything at a loss. If the daily price falls below my cost, I would offer only for sale inventory I acquired at the new lower price and I would hold inventory I purchased at the higher price until I could make a profit.

You would need to have deep pockets to ride out the dips because a business can't operate buying high and selling low.

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

The purpose of Apmex is not to be fair to us. Apmex exists to make a profit. Companies of all sizes extend or withold product from the market depending on conditions, fairness doen't enter into it.

I think it would be bad business to sell at the bottom of a hard spike, just as bad as it is to buy at the top of a spike.

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

If APMEX had to go out of business because it consistently sold silver at prices lower than what it brought it for, it would be like the silver (golden) goose dying that lays all the wonderful eggs... $.02

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

They have good prices and I do not think it is wrong of them to not sell at a loss due to a bop. If you believe in economic liberty at all 'willing buyer, willing seller' is pretty basic.

Re: Help in keeping an eye on APMEX inventory
 

When I bought some coins from a local dealer a couple of weeks ago. He said he paid a higher spot for what he sold me, I asked him whether he buys at today's spot to offset what he sold. He said, how did he know that the price wouldn't drop further on Monday? Sometimes you sell it for less than you pay but sometimes more than what you paid. He makes money on the spread, whether you sell or buy from him. I sold him stuff before and the next week it went up. In the long run it evens out or else he won't be in business.

I noticed that on quite a few sites, the buy sell spread increases when volatility increases, such as a big declinee. I am sure it helps absorb some of the big swings.