You know, maybe it's that i'm getting a little older, but I tend to look at all the changing variables of CRH and I look for the opportunity. I've always been a 'glass half empty' type of guy, but I can't help but see the positives in my recent hurdles. This is news for me...I guess I'm turning into my dad.
First, regarding the bank fees, at $4-5 a box I only need to avg. one 40% coin per box to break even. The fees will stay the same, but in my opinion the silver price will continue to rise over the long run. So, my net expense per box will actually go down over time (assuming my finds stay consistent)
Second, In the 6-8 months leading up to the imposed fees, the competition was getting a little thicker around here and my box orders kept getting sniped. I didn't blame the other CRH for that, I was more disappointed that the tellers weren't looking out for me a little more, I learned a little bit about their loyalty or lack there or.
Anyway, since the fees have been imposed, the # of CRH's ordering boxes has fallen off, the fees scared the little fish away. So now, it's just me and one other guy ordering from my main supply bank. The bank orders between 12 and 16 boxes a week and they split them between us. It's actually been a very straight forward affair. Now that I'm paying the fees, it's as if I'm paying for the service of them ordering halves and as a result my expectations of service have gone up. They no longer act as if they are inconvenienced by me ordering boxes. It's a much more professional arrangement now and believe it or not the tension that once existed is completely gone.
Diggin-in-Dumps, I respect your opinion, but your statement about even being charged $1 is enough to make you quit is exactly what I'm talking about. That stance is based on principal and I respect that, but it's not based on logic or looking at the bottom line. If you mean what you say, then if you were my competition before the fees were imposed, then you would no longer be my competition in my current environment. Nothing personal, but that only increases my chances of quality finds if some of the usual hunters around here start to bow out because of fees.
Lastly, regarding gas prices, I look at the higher prices as an opportunity too. CRHs in general will be less inclined to make road trips, so in theory, wouldn't the potential for better finds increase for me if I know the little towns to the north of me aren't getting hit as hard by other searchers. Just a quick thought on that, think my argument's actually pretty week on this last point but I threw it out there anyway.
I'm not stupid, I don't just fork over the fees because I've got to feed my CRH addiction. I track my costs associated with the hobby: Gas, fees, wrappers, etc.....Yes, i said wrappers, about half of my dumps are in bags and about half get rerolled so I can get immediate turn-a-round on cash. It's a pain trying to find wrappers, many banks rarely have them these days so I ordered $100,000 or 10,000 wrappers a while back. It only cost me $30 including shipping and it's been worth it for me.
Back to my point, I will continue to work this arrangement with my bank as long as it is profitable. My loomis boxes that I get from this bank overall have been very consistent, with some bad weeks and some great weeks mixed in, nonetheless, so far the fees make fiscal sense compared to giving up.
My free Brinks boxes that I get from another branch are another story, it's skunk city lately with those guys. If that bank starts charging fees then I'll probably cancel my box orders.
-PS Last nights 3 boxes:
Bank fee $17
Box 1 2 40%
Box 2 3 40%
Box 3 11 40%, 1 Ben
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