Are Grading Services too slow? Yes or No?

matteproof

Why can’t grading services return coins much faster than they currently do? I figure that it takes, at most, five minutes to grade a coin. I’m not sure how long it takes to then put it in plastic. Let’s assume, five more minutes – totaling ten minutes per coin. Now, factor in, coffee breaks, and typical workplace loafing. Let’s say, that one grader could grade and encapsulate 7 coins per hour. An 8 hour work day would amount to 57 coins per day, per grader. Let’s say PCGS has 10 graders working for them. That amounts to 570 coins per day! Does PCGS receive more than 570 submissions EVERY work day? (2850 coins per 5 day work week?). Seems high to me (though I could be wrong). If I'm not wrong, then shouldn't we be getting our coins back in DAYS, rather than weeks? If all of my assumptions above are wrong, then forget everything that I just wrote. Does anyone know?

matteproof

Placid

I think they have to look in the photograde book and that might take some time to figure out and they probably only have one copy

Petescorner

5 minutes? You must be kidding! I believe the average coin is looked at for less than 15 seconds. Although, I believe some of the members here who have gone to the ANA grading seminars can confirm or deny this.

-Dan

kieferscoins

They grade a coin in less than 15 seconds. Most of the time it is 10-12 seconds. First impression is the key, and your gut instinct is usally right. I took the class, and they were hardly ever wrong with 15 seconds to grade a coin.

Cameron Kiefer

CharlieB

Do you think then you are doing yourself a
disadvantage submitting a whole roll or part of roll
at the same time? I know one dealer who does it and
he doesn't think so. I don't like the idea personally,
I like to submit no more than 2 or 3 of the same coin.
I am just wondering if the objectivity isn't cut down
a bit as the grading becomes more redundant.
Are they going to treat a true 65 like one of the more
common 64's in the roll for example just because the last
five were graded 64? Those of you have submitted whole
rolls, what do you think?

- Charlie B -

zenny

they should take as long as they need to to return a coin with a proper grade and no new damage.

perhaps the problem is they are too fast? :-)

nwcs

I just think they need to hire and train more graders. That would help a great deal. They could probably increase their efficiency quite a bit with more computer integration in their business practices and thus increase the speed of grading/delivery.

Neil

griffin6

Most graders at the major services grade OVER 1000 coins a day.

The majors grade over 30,000 coins a month.

You pay for speed. Economy service is $15, regular $30 and express services are $50 and up. Professionals use the various service levels based on coin value and scheduling.

You do have to understand, however, that with this system, if you just can't do the more basic services faster. It would lessen the value of the express services, and that just isn't going to happen.

Keyrock

Speed kills.....

Sorry, coun't resist. I'm not too worried about speed since you can pay to get the results faster. My only concern is consistency and accuracy.

Rich

gmarguli

I just wish the turnaround time made sense. Modern ($10) frequently takes less than Regular ($30).

Rob0126

Personally, Im reluctant to send in any coins to PCGS. Mainly because it would cost me $12-15 for the service and $12.50 in shipping costs, and to boot, would take a month to get the coin back?

Robert

jeffnpcb

It should not matter how long they take to grade, but how accurate the grade. I recently submitted 15 Roosevelt Proof Cameos and Deep Cameos for a cossover too another company. Only 1 out of 15 crossed. It was a total shock that the time and money spent for the most select coins I could find were basically worthless for a set registry in any company.
You should be leary of any grader who also pumps coin dealerships.{Any ACG nightmares out there?} It is time for ANA to reset the grading guidelines that all graders must adhere by in their grading. Regardless of the company, your FMV should never waiver because of the grading company! ANA should require and offer all grading companies a survey, like diamonds, so regardless who grades, you get what is fair. The infighting between grading companies only effect the consumer coin collectors.
It would be best for all collectors to stop buying any graded or slabbed coins until ANA addresses this issue and all our coins will be of the same FMV! This would allow all collectors to easily achieve an accurate value and not be skeptical or leary of preferred{} graders. Enough is enough and creditability needs total attention from ANA and graders. Let's all be happy regardless of the graders!

Still confused about graders in PCB!

dorkkarl

ez solution: learn to grade yourself. then you can get the grades pretty much as fast as you want too.

nwcs

If all the grading companies were required to stick to consistent standards, an interesting question arises. What would they need to do to differentiate themselves from the competition? Anyone think it might be customer service?!?!

jeffnpcb

Discussing my problem with the graders only confirms that their guaranty is still subject to their review board!
Amazingly, I got the same answer from all three graders! All of them pointed out their standards and questioned the other companies guidelines and standards. Throw out the ANA and let them continue to do business as usual!
Have any of your coins lost value at the hands of a grading company? Check dealers and auctions, then ask why one grade deserves more money than another only because of the grading company!
Time to drop back and punt!

gmarguli

I recently submitted 15 Roosevelt Proof Cameos and Deep Cameos for a cossover too another company. Only 1 out of 15 crossed. It was a total shock that the time and money spent for the most select coins I could find were basically worthless for a set registry in any company.

We need more info. Were these ICG coins that you wanted crossed into PCGS slabs? Were they ACG coins you wanted crossed into NGC slabs?


It is time for ANA to reset the grading guidelines that all graders must adhere by in their grading.

Why must all graders adhere to their guidelines? Who says the ANA is god? If someone comes up with a better standard then the marketplace should promote that grading service. If the ANA grading standards were the best, then we would still be using them today.


ANA should require and offer all grading companies a survey, like diamonds, so regardless who grades, you get what is fair.

And if the grading company tells the ANA to go screw itself, then what? Why should the grading companies care about the ANA?

Before you go pimping the ANA you need to know a few things.

1) They sold their grading blessing to NGC back in 1995. Any survey they conduct would be extremely biased.

2) They promote Accugrade.

3) They protect bad dealers.

4) They don't care about you.

5) They are unresponsive to complaints.

6) They are liars.

7) The Board of Directors uses the ANA for personal benefit.

I could go on and on....

Rob0126

Greg,

You have some truth in your statements.

But shouldn't each company follow 'some' kind of guidelines?

What I'm saying is, companies should not have competition in an area where it costs people money.

I would like to see 1, count um 1 standard in the coin business. Then have an Independent company enforce the standard by having inspectors go around and make sure things are up to snuff.

If PCGS thinks ANA grading is not up to snuff, then they should have a gathering of grading companies.

They could have a meeting of the minds:
-Call up each company
-Tell them that we all are gonna sit down with ANA and get this straight
-Discuss the problems with grading
-Have a few third party reps. to be refs
-Make a decision
-Stick to it

Why let the consumer pay for their mistakes?

Robert

DHeath

Who in your opinion would pay such an independent company? Oh, and by the by, who would appoint their directors and decide their standard? Additionally, who would police their policy and enforce grading standards? It seems very complex. Why don't we just let the collecting community decide? Oh, that's right, we're already doing that.

gmarguli

If PCGS thinks ANA grading is not up to snuff, then they should have a gathering of grading companies.

They've done something even better. PCGS has taken their grading stndards and put them in a book and published it for all the world to see. Now if they would only follow their own standards....

jeffnpcb

PCGS is the one who recieved my NGC's and ICG's for crossover! They are the ones run by major coin dealers. NGC and ICG both promptly responded to my complaints about their grades. They would regrade or make whatever adjustments I would like to recieve. PCGS has never responded to my questions and the only answer I get on the phone is just as good as so what!!
Check who runs and controls this company and their strong ties to self promotion!
PCGS, NGC, ICG, ANACS, or whoever, a grade should remain constant for a fair market value! If you have all your coins in PCGS grades, well good for you, but why should it be worth anyless from another grader!

BigD5

Send 'em EXpress!! I received a lot of coins back form anacs in less than 2 weeks!! (That's shipped to ANACS and back to me)