Collectors Club Changes - No free submissions for Gold Level?

Oney · January 9, 2005 10:03AM

Did anyone else notice, maybe I was asleep or something, but free submissions were removed from the GOLD level Collectors Club amd are only available at the Platinum level....

K6AZ · January 9, 2005 10:22AM

Yep, no free silver membership, no freebies with the gold membership. You have to fork over $179 now to get eight "free" submissions.

Oney · January 9, 2005 10:24AM

They better make it 10 freebies.......

nwcs · January 9, 2005 10:31AM

Wow, didn't see that. Well last time I re-upped (last summer) it was for 2 years. So I won't think about that for a while. Maybe things will change again in '06?

ddbird · January 9, 2005 10:44AM

Well, NGC just gained more business....

Coulport · January 9, 2005 10:49AM

<< Well, NGC just gained more business.... >>

And that's the truth.

robertpr · January 9, 2005 10:55AM

Boom · January 9, 2005 1:23PM

Something just occurred to me. I changed to the Platinum level spring of 04 and I received my SAE for 04. Since it's a 2 year membership I am now wondering about the 05 SAE. Do we get one?

ms70 · January 9, 2005 1:48PM

That's a bunch of crap.

ms70 · January 9, 2005 1:50PM

I guess I won't be re-upping. And I won't be subscribing to the POP report separately either.

MFH · January 9, 2005 2:06PM

I believe its $199 for the Platinum level ---for ONE year, and you do get eight submissions, plus the Quarterly POP report and either the book on counterfieting or the SAE.

In essence, its twice the price as it was last year. Of course I let my membership lapse last October !

Cladiator · January 9, 2005 2:08PM

<--- will not be renewing membership to PCGS when current one runs out.

Edited to add:$99 for a year member ship and 5 free submissions across the street is looking mighty good to me right now.

Boom · January 9, 2005 2:17PM

Found it.... Before my membership (Gold) expired I was contacted about renewing and on 5-24-04 I paid for a PCGS CC 2 YR w/ UPGGRADE membership. I had asked for the book they were offering but was mistakenly sent a 2004 SAE. My question is, since it's a 2 yr membership what about this year's SAE?

BTW...edited to say that Customer Service found my order and DID send the book as well. I suppose the only way to find out about this year's Collector's Club Eagle is to call Cus. Serv.

itsnotjustme · January 9, 2005 2:29PM

Boom--you only get one SAE. I don't think that changed.

MFH--199 for Platinum is not double, it was $179 last year.

It's really the gold Silver and Gold levels that took a hit.

Bear · January 9, 2005 2:37PM

It would seem..........NO FREE LUNCH TODAY!

What will tomorrow bring?

ElectricEye · January 9, 2005 2:48PM

This will be the first year that I do not renew my Gold Membership. I might join at the Platinum level in the future, but have no plans to do so yet. If I need to submit and do not have a membership, there is a dealer locally or other board members to help.

LucyBop · January 9, 2005 2:51PM

more PCGs for me!

Boom · January 9, 2005 3:27PM

I know Brian, but mine is a 2 year membership. Why should I be shorted the 2nd years SAE?

If you follow my logic, the yearly Collector's Club Eagles make up a collecton (of sorts) and if I have a two year membership then my CC collection will be out of whack if I do not receive one for the 2nd year!

Gonfunko · January 9, 2005 5:48PM

So what happens to the submission I sent in with the free silver account that they received Dec. 20th? Are they gonna try and take me for another $50?

Outhaul · January 9, 2005 6:40PM

Well...I guess I won't be forking over any dough this year. I think PCGS just shot themselves in dafoot.

Steve27 · January 9, 2005 8:20PM

" It would seem..........NO FREE LUNCH TODAY!"

There never was any free lunch and now it costs more.

ms70 · January 10, 2005 6:51AM

I'm surprised there hasn't been more posts to this thread.

littlejohn · January 10, 2005 7:24AM

some are scared to said anything,because ,than you get very bad grades.

Fairlaneman · January 10, 2005 7:28AM

A good chunk of the extra money PCGS is charging will be saved just by not driving the 80 miles round trip to the nearest dealer who I do not know from Adam. Heck there is always the alternative of driving 390 miles round trip to see the next closest dealer, who I do know.

The price increase is trivial for myself.

Ken

Outhaul · January 10, 2005 7:34AM

<< It would seem..........NO FREE LUNCH TODAY >>

Without the free submissions I don't see value for money. Pop reports? Big fat hairy deal. I don't consider statistics that are totally inaccurate and impossible to maintain as a benefit.

PCGS: Load gun...chamber round...point gun downward...shoot foot.

Cheers,

Bob

pharmer · January 10, 2005 7:34AM

<< some are scared to said anything,because ,than you get very bad grades. >>

No worries here, then, my grades are so low I might start winning the lowest known contests without trying.

ksteelheader · January 10, 2005 7:34AM

<< some are scared to said anything,because ,than you get very bad grades. >>

Some are scared to say anything because then you get very bad grades.

RYK · January 10, 2005 7:38AM

I am a rare submitter (four to six coins each year), so any changes do not affect me greatly. I will bump up to the platinuim level only if the eight submissions can be submitted in two groups of four.

tmot99 · January 10, 2005 7:40AM

The price for Platinum DID double. Not monetarily ($179 vs $199) but it went from a two-year deal to a one-year deal.

I said it on other posts, this is a crock. They are requiring double the money (yes you get twice the amount of submissions). I don't typically have 8 coins to submit at once. I'm not sure what the average collector has to submit. I'm sure for some, this works out just fine even though the cost doubles. For that fact, why even offer 3 different levels of membership. There really isn't a big deal between the silver and gold. They also better start offering another "gift". THe book has been out long enough where people will be forced to have duplicates. Maybe give the wood boxes away.

nwcs · January 10, 2005 7:45AM

<< I am a rare submitter (four to six coins each year), so any changes do not affect me greatly. I will bump up to the platinuim level only if the eight submissions can be submitted in two groups of four. >>

It already was 2 forms of four freebies. Although I don't know if that will change.

Coinhusker1 · January 10, 2005 7:45AM

You do not get a choice of the SAE or the book anymore, just the book, even at platinum. Not helpful if you already have one. As Boom said, that screws up any "Collectors Club" SAE collections.

littlejohn · January 10, 2005 7:48AM

sorry,that why i don't say much!!
==========================
Some are scared to say anything because then you get very bad grades.

LeeG · January 10, 2005 7:53AM

I don't see the value for the money. I joined at Platinum last year when it had value. Will have to think hard about this come renewal time. Lee

nwcs · January 10, 2005 7:57AM

<<

I don't see the value for the money. I joined at Platinum last year when it had value. Will have to think hard about this come renewal time. Lee >>

That's basically my take. But if this really does put a dent in their submissions they'll change. I'm still submitting, though, during this time I've already paid for.

Steve · January 10, 2005 8:09AM

It seems to me that PCGS is working hard to improve their turn around times. The collectors club is a big hit on productivity because most orders are small. They are well aware of the fall out from this, but their main business is from dealers and big orders. Remember, if you are NOT a collectors club member you can NOT submit directly. You must go thru a dealer. All membership levels when renewing are for ONE year. Many current members will NOT renew. I'm sure PCGS was well aware of this when they made this new policy. I had written to David Hall in the Q & A to ask him to comment on these new rates.

Bottom line. You either do business with PCGS or you don't. As long as PCGS is considered a top grader in the business, and as long as business continues as well as it has the past few years, PCGS is going to do what it feels is important for its MAJOR customers and its MAJOR source of income. Those of us who spend less than $200 to about $500 a year with PCGS will find that a one year subscription for the Platinum level including 8 coin gradings for $199 for the year is a "good deal". JMHO and subject to change next year if the market tanks, the dealers' submissions drop 50%. THEN PCGS will be offering collectors freebees like you never saw before! It's all about M O N E Y Steve

robertpr · January 11, 2005 10:04AM

I just noticed the changes to the Silver level. If I remember correctly, you used to be able to join at the silver level for free but you would only get the ability to submit, and only under a 30-Day, $30 per coin level. It seems the old Gold level is now the new Silver level, but $50 cheaper and without the free gradings.

If so, it's still a decent value, although without the free submissions it is still not as good a deal. Still, not as bad as I had originally thought...

DRUNNER · January 11, 2005 10:51AM

Wow . . no I hadn't noticed . .

Used to just submit through a dealer friend at dealer rates . . . then joined at "Gold" due to the free submissions. Now, it looks like just re-upping when necessary at "Silver" and submitting . . . one decent 'hit' and you make up the 49.95. It appears you can submit to all tiers at 'Silver' . . . unlike before.

If they improve turn-around and it just costs me the freebies . . . I guess I can live with that. I'll have to.

DRUNNER

ar18 · January 11, 2005 11:02AM

you have to remember, for any business, growth is the most important thing, even all the dealers in Dallas that I go to(friends) won't submit to PCGS anymore, they are tired of it, almost all coins are going to ANACS or NGC, the only NEW PCGS coins I see come from private people, CU just hurt themselves bigtime!

stev32k · January 11, 2005 11:20AM

I will not be renewing my gold membership because of the minimum submission requirements. When I joined there was no minimum submission limit for regular service. Now there is a five coin limit. Since I only have five or ten coins per year to submit I'm not going to wait until I have the minimum. I also think PCGS has been over grading coins. The last three I've submitted have been one or maybe two grades over what they should have been. So I will be very careful about buying PCGS graded coins in the future.

The business at ANACS should pick-up quite a bit in 2005.

spy88 · January 11, 2005 1:28PM

I'm surprised no one mentioned the fact (at least from my free submissions) that even tho they are free, you'll be very lucky to get the grades the coins deserve. It seems to me that PCGS wants you to crack out the freebies when they come back 2 points lower then expected so they will cost you when you re-submit.

As far as I'm concerned, the free submissions where and still are just a gimmick that you'll pay for one way or the other, so no loss not getting them.

LeeG · January 11, 2005 3:08PM

My first coin sent in to PCGS was in October of last year as the Quarterly Submission. It was a 1921 Morgan I got from one of those "Lot Sales" on eBay. I got it for $1 and it came back MS-64. Was it luck or was it a nice coin and graded as such

Lee

jonesy · January 11, 2005 4:34PM

<< 

<< Well, NGC just gained more business.... >>

And that's the truth. >>

Less time for me to wait.

Collectors Club Changes - No free submissions for Gold Level?

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