"your shipment was entered on"... what a crock!

DennisH

As if Economy turnaround times recently taking a jump wasn't bad enough now it's getting tough to get the darn clock to start running!

I dropped off two Economy batches in person on 11/22/04... one for 8 crossovers and the other for 13 raw coin gradings. PCGS still hasn't sent me any "Thank you for your order" e-mails, so I checked the website to make sure they'd been logged in -- and I got a frustrating surprise:

One was entered on 11/23/04
The other was entered on 11/29/04

K6AZ

Seems like they are going downhill again. I'm on day 47 of an economy submission, and from what I have heard recently it may be a while longer.

longtimecollector

Mine were mailed the 17th of NOV............ Still un-entered......... Should we take up a collection and buy PCGS a letter opener????

DennisH

Craig:

No they're not, but I'll go PM him right now.

MORGANHUNTER2

mine were entered 10/21. When I last spoke to the office- it was stated that they are holding to the 45 days. but as DennisH asked good ol David in the q&a, it looks like econo is going to be bumped up...I called them this afternoon- look for econo at about 90 biz days or in english, my order should be here in late Feb. 05. and that does not mean it won't get bumped again.

pharmer

My submission forms and raw coins are sitting here as I am frozen with indecision whether to go back to economy, because of the number of coins, or cut down the number and still go regular. Then I read these horror stories, and procrastinate even more. Finally sent in my NGC/ANA submission app, guess I will send some toners to NGC since sale prices seem about the same as PCGS when toning is the main attribute.

Conder101

And remember, in a few weeks they will be getting swamped by huge quantities of 2005 silver eagles which will push the economy submissions way back again. And quite possibly delaying the regular submissions as well.

MassFullStepper

My first attempt at submitting was sent on the 17th like you, Longtimecollector. They received it on the 22nd (according to the tracking at USPS.com) and still not entered yet...not a real good sign in my opinion, and doesnt want to make me send in anything anytime soon....though I really dont want to go across the street, are NGC's delays that much shorter?

Baley

You're at their mercy! You're DYING for your order! They've got you right where they want you!!

Muhahahahahahahaha~!

jdimmick

It doesnt appear that they are entering shipments while in Baltimore either. The Post office said it was delivered in long Beach on friday, yet no entering of the system still as of today.??????

This has prompted me to use NGC on the next two that I am packing up as I type.

jim

PTVETTER

You have to like it when someone signs for a shipment and then enters as recieved 2 or 3 days later

LeeG

I'm new and only been posting for four month's now but NGC and ANACS has to be loving this. I've seen a dramatic increase of folks posting grades here from NGC and ANACS. My humble opinion say's PCGS out of business if turnaround times don't improve. Customer Service has to be Priority #1. Lee

MORGANHUNTER2

Just a FYI- I sent an order of 10 moderns to anacs- they are offering a break on cost for their 15 day turnaround. I sent it priority so it would be there before Turk day- it's there signed for, so tomm. I'll call to see what type of time I'm looking at. I'm sure randy wants to have his customers coming back, and he will probably make as many efforts to get stuff out, but I do realize that everyone is sending so they can get it back by xmas.

I was hoping that my order to pcgs would have made it back by xmas

UncleWiggly

It looks like PCGS has got itself stuck in some sort of abyss. I look for the turnaround times for the other service levels to eventually lengthen as well except for possibly the $100 Coin Show. As more and more people give up on Economy and even 15 Day Regular Service to move up the ladder, those levels will become "full" creating a backlog to the point the turnarounds will have to be lengthened for them. As people move up to the quicker and more expensive service levels, don't think that will alleviate any current problems in Economy. The same amount of coins will still be pouring into PCGS keeping the graders swamped. Stop doing shows? Maybe a solution, but not an option it seems.

I wouldn't be surprised to see all the service levels changed or a couple combined in turnaround time and cost. I just don't believe PCGS is sitting around saying to themselves that's it's no big deal, just keep increasing the trunaround time for Economy and eveything is hunky dory. I can't offer any intelligent solution.



Jerry

segoja

Hire more graders!

Cladiator

My latest 3 submissions all arrived today....guess I'm looking at mid Feb. at the earliest for results.

Boom

Here it is, for all intents and purposes, the 2nd of December. "They received it on the 22nd (according to the tracking at USPS.com) and still not entered yet...not a real good sign."

No, but a sure-fired way to once again weasel out of GUARANTEED turnaround times.

Someone once mentioned that a grader spends an average of 6 seconds on a coin. Let's be lenient and say 5 coins a minute...300 in an hour, 2400 in an 8 hour work day. With the kind of revenue generated for labels with "opinions" on them, surrounded by plastic, you would sure think they could hire not only more graders but a few people to enter when orders are received!

C'mon PCGS, the natives are restless.....again!!

Bochiman

Graders are an obvious part of it, but as David Hall has repeatedly said, the number of qualified graders that will relocate there and accept the price is few and far between.

From some of the complaints, I think PCGS could do some improvements by hiring more staff at the Customer Service level and in tracking/streamlining, the process since many people complain about when they are entered and where they are in the system.

tcmitssr

<< <i>Seems like they are going downhill again. I'm on day 47 of an economy submission, and from what I have heard recently it may be a while longer. >>



Eric lives!!!!

I know this is a longshot question, but, are you coming to Baltimore?

UncleWiggly

Boom, let's be even more generous and say a grader does 2500. Two graders 5000 coins. Is it just one coin-one grader? Or is every coin seen by at least two graders? I was under the assumption that two graders saw each coin and if they disagreed, then it went to the final grader. Would someone please straighten me out on this? I would like to know.

Does anyone have a ballpark figure on how many coins are received each day at PCGS? I asked David Hall in the Q & A if there was any one submission that stood out in nr. If I remember right, it was a concealed sort of answer due to security, but submissions of over 10,000 coins from one, single, submitter isn't that uncommon. PCGS is swamped. Not just from what arrives daily in the mail but all the coins being submitted at shows for all levels of service. It'got to be a tremendous amount of coins. I'm going to ask in the Q & A how many coins come in daily. That might give us a better understanding of what in the heck is going on.

One last thing. Are the free submissions given to us when we join considered economy? Four of my eight came back within a week. The next four the following week. I submitted an economy the same day, Oct 8th, that should be popping up in another week or two.



Jerry

clackamas

I always use FEDEX "standard overnight" for my shipments and have NEVER not had an order entered on any other day than the day it arrived.

ALL coins are graded by at least two graders, that I am sure of, plus the finalizer.

VamCollector

Bottom line is that nothing changes in business unless the "business" is motivated to do something about it. All the while you complain about turnaround times....many more people are obviously sending in submissions to push the times out further. How is their business hurting?

clackamas

<< <i>How is their business hurting? >>

Impossible to quantify but I send in less becasue of the wait. there is too much risk that a specific issue may have a market change in the 2 1/2 months it takes to get your coins back. Maybe if they could keep the turnaround times equal they would improve business? I know they are loosing money from me, but prehaps making up from someone else????

tonyhar

I still have a submission from september somewhere in the blackhole!!!

hotpockets01

I've all but given up on PCGS for a grading service. I don't like the wait and don't like to argue with the staff over vouchers. I sent my last shipment in express and had to wait 13 days sent it in registered mail and it was not entered on the day it was signed for(two days later). Was expecting vouchers for free grading and was told I didn't count the days right and also some stupid show again. They always have a show. I've been using ANACS and they are right on time 5 days service is 5 days service. So what maybe one day people will wake up and realize that PCGS graders and no better then NGC or ANACS and maybe the prices will equal out.

MadMarty

One of the big problems is PCGS still does not have a first in first out policy! That is why some economy orders get done in 15 days at others take months!

ksteelheader

Y'all have no fear! In about two months when the coin market starts to crumble, and, crumble it will, your coins will be recieved into the system the same day they get there, and, big bonus, shipped back out the same day!

It's a'coming folks!

tmot99

I have a few points to make.

First, I sent in coins on three different orders due to different needs. I tracked them by USPS and found when they were received. I didn't get an email from PCGS like usual saying "Thank you for your order". I came online and yep, they had been received. I'm seeing it as a crumbling of customer service. This is not a good way to stay in business.

Second, we all seem to feel the same way that PCGS holdered coins bring more money. That is only going to continue, not because PCGS grading is more stringent, but because PCGS is going to get fewer and fewer coins! These holders will get harder to find. Before I get blasted by anybody, I am kidding to some extent. Yes, there are hundreds of thousands of coins already in PCGS, and people will continue to send into PCGS.

And finally, the last time a sent in a submission, I saw a thread just like this complaining about turnaround times. Even before the due date of that submission, I sent off an email to PCGS asking about turnaround times, when I could expect mine, etc. I received my 15 day submission within 13 days. As mentioned above, I just sent in a submission and now this thread appears. I'm not complaining about turnaround times until it happens to me. PCGS has been good to me with regard to turnaround times, but I don't submit very often either.

UncleWiggly

<< <i>Y'all have no fear! In about two months when the coin market starts to crumble, and, crumble it will, your coins will be recieved into the system the same day they get there, and, big bonus, shipped back out the same day!

It's a'coming folks! >>




Why do you say "In about two months..." ?



Jerry

DHeath

Some simple truths:

1. PCGS holdered coins sell pretty well

2. Every submission is intended to increase your net worth.

3. If you're in a big hurry to flip a coin, you're not submitting economy unless you're doing very inexpensive coins.

4. PCGS sees little risk in processing orders as they can get to them, as long as they are maintaining QC.

5. The market is big enough for several TPG's.


PCGS is giving away some business, but I think that's probably necessary, as I don't think they are capable of doing much more than they are to grow their capability. I sent PCGS fewer coins this year than last, but I continue to submit coins I want PCGS to holder. I also use NGC (quite a bit), and ANACS. I don't sell much anymore, so my philosophy regarding the TPG's is different than many, but frankly, David Hall invented a cash cow, and as much as many dislike the wait, PCGS will remain overwhelmed as long as there are submitters hoping to maximize their return. The most experienced collectors collect coins without regard for the holder, but the vast majority of buyers do not. Dealers prefer the most liquid holder. As long as that holder says PCGS, submitters will wait in line. I have no data to support this assertion, but in my gut, I feel NGC is gaining market share. Over the last year, many of the coins I've holdered at NGC would have (or did) cross/upgrade at PCGS. MANY modern collectors who were once PCGS die-hards have gained enough experience and confidence to see past the holder, and are buying and selling coins (not holders). This is the area in which PCGS had absolute dominance a few years ago. Five or six of my best collector friends now also submit to NGC, buy coins in their holders, and like their services. There is less difference in holder value when discussing classic coins. We'll see how the next few years go, but were I to rely on the TPG's for my livelyhood, I'd be quite content with what PCGS could currently do to enhance the value of my holdings. I like them, and I like their grading just fine, and my submissions have been handled in a reasonably timely fashion. The new collectors that returned to the market a few years ago's skills are maturing. They'll be the ones that decide the marketability of the various holders and influence the newcomers in the coming years. It'll be a fun time for all. TPG's are only important to an audience that doesn't trust their own grading. JMO