How would you handle this with PCGS?

dpoole · January 30, 2007 5:00AM

Under the Heritage Legacy program, I submitted two 2006-W Plat $100 UNC coins on a walk-through while at FUN this year (I submitted on Thurs and they didn't get them back to me before I had to leave Sat at noon, but that's another story).

I put the MS69 up for auction on Ebay. The guy who is the lead bidder emails me through Ebay with a day or so to go, telling me that he checked the cert number under Cert Verification at the PCGS website, and found that the number corresponded to some $10 bullion coin! He was asking me if this were some sort of counterfeit.

I emailed PCGS, asking them to make a correction. They emailed me back, asking for front-and-back scans of both coins (both coins, as it turned out, had bad cert numbers). I sent those in.

Today, I get an email back, telling me "You are going to have to send these coins in for us to correct. There is no fee and you will need to submit it under Mechanical Error."

Needless to say, this is a major hastle, and created considerable jeopardy in that Ebay auction.

I'm sending the winner a duplicate, although unfortunately the duplicate is a First Strike, while the one I auctioned was not. So I think the winner will be happy, and I won't get a Neg. But it's possible that the First Strike would have drawn higher bids (this seems to be happening, however, inane you and I may consider that fact to be).

Has this ever happened to any of you? Did PCGS work out any arrangement about shipping costs or any other sort of compensation?

I've emailed them in reply asking those sorts of questions, but I'm wondering what's been your experience.

Russ · January 30, 2007 5:06AM

I think you need to move up the food chain at PCGS. This is a simple matter of a database correction and should not require the coins to go back to them.

Russ, NCNE

dpoole · January 30, 2007 5:08AM

Russ,

I'd presumed this was some type of entry error, but apparently there're two other coins out there ($10 golds) that have the same cert numbers in the slabs. SO...either those or mine have to be cracked and fixed. And since I showed up first....

quattrocoins · January 30, 2007 5:09AM

<< But it's possible that the First Strike would have drawn higher bids (this seems to be happening, however, inane you and I may consider that fact to be). >>

David,

Can you edit your auction, stating the problem, and that the coin has the "First Strike"designation, and provide the correct cert #?

Can you add a picture of the "First Strike" coin?

What a PITA!

Good luck

Russ · January 30, 2007 5:11AM

<< I'd presumed this was some type of entry error, but apparently there're two other coins out there ($10 golds) that have the same cert numbers in the slabs. >>

Is that what they told you? It seems to me that the database should not allow duplicate entries.

Russ, NCNE

dpoole · January 30, 2007 5:14AM

<< Can you edit your auction, stating the problem, and that the coin has the "First Strike"designation, and provide the correct cert #?

Can you add a picture of the "First Strike" coin? >>

Unhappily, the problem became apparent and the auction ended Sunday on a day PCGS was closed, and well before the complexity of the "fix" became known.

Update: Customer service offered to reimburse me the shipping fee if I mailed them a copy of the receipt for shipping.

tmot99 · January 30, 2007 5:18AM

I agree with Russ that this should be able to be handled without sending in coins. A duplicate certification number crumbles the whole process. My experience with CS agents at PCGS is they don't always have the right answer.

I personally would just explain to the buyer the situation rather than sending a First Strike. Tell him it's a PCGS error and he can either wait for PCGS to correct the problem or you can refund his money in full. I would not give away something you feel is higher in value.

Editted to add: You should also be asking for compensation for their error. Something along the lines of free vouchers or the like.

goose3 · January 30, 2007 5:26AM

<< Update: Customer service offered to reimburse me the shipping fee if I mailed them a copy of the receipt for shipping. >>

they can't read the amount on the package?

dpoole · January 30, 2007 5:29AM

<< Is that what they told you? It seems to me that the database should not allow duplicate entries. >>

Further clarification from Customer Service:

The problem is not the cert number. The reason they came up on the database as 2007 $10 gold bullion coins is because my two coins were mislabeled with the wrong coin ID numbers. That's why they have to be sent back in for relabeling.

messydesk · January 30, 2007 5:35AM

I suppose you could say it was also mistakenly not labeled FS.

410a · January 30, 2007 5:48AM

PCGS made the mistake. They buy coins don't they? Have them make up the difference in $$ period ask to get higher up the food chain ask for David Hall. This is BS have them pay all associated costs or make requests known to them.

Leave the gun, take the Canoli.
Clemenza

coppercoins · January 30, 2007 5:52AM

You could contact the buyer and let them know that the problem was unbenounced to you at the time the auction was started and they could either get a full refund of the purchase amount or wait for the problem to be corrected. I wouldn't supplant more valuable coins because PCGS made a mistake. If I were the buyer I would understand, and in fact be greatful that you were willing to clear up the mess before sending the coins to me.

BECOKA · January 30, 2007 5:53AM

This has happened to me, I sent in 15 coins for re-grade, they all came back with new serial numbers. Only one got registered.

It is a lot of work to scan in 14 slabs front and back when all they had to do was look at my submission and register the numbers they forgot to put in the system.

clackamas · January 30, 2007 6:15AM

Insist that PCGS give you first strike designation, we all know when these were shipped and they all shipped with in the dealine.

dpoole · January 30, 2007 6:18AM

Messydesk, Goose, Clack:

Thanks for the inspiration.

Customer Service has agreed to pay shipping both ways (WITHOUT my sending my receipt), relabel them correctly and with First Strike designations on both coins at no charge, and provide two free submission coupons.

I cc'd Homerunhall, but it appears not to have been necessary.

I'm happy with the outcome.

Thanks for your help! You people are all great, as usual.

IrishMike · January 30, 2007 6:20AM

Hey Don I guess the lesson here is to check the cert #'s when you get the coins back. Then you could have auctioned them off in the error section on ebay.

How would you handle this with PCGS?

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