Why do you think PCGS' turnaround times are so good right now?

Bochiman

People keep posting that their submissions turnaround very quickly (they may not be liking the results though).

Why do you think the results get done so quickly?
* Less coins going in?
* More graders?
* Graders are being quicker?
* The economy is causing folks to submit less (see first bullet)?
* Others TPGS' are eating their lunch?
* CAC effect?
* Being overly strict has caused a lot less submissions from the big boys who submit the most?

cheezhed

Overly tight and less coins being sent in.

commoncents05

Less submissions because of the economy and the slight downturn of the market and their overly tight grading lately.

-Paul

kieferscoins

Less coins going in by collectors. NGC and PCGS's tables seemed slower at the last two shows I attended (Baltimore ANA and Long Beach).

Cameron Kiefer

Bochiman

<< <i>Less coins going in by collectors. NGC and PCGS's tables seemed slower at the last two shows I attended (Baltimore ANA and Long Beach).

Cameron Kiefer >>



Cam, what do you attribute that to?
Other TPGS?
Too tight?
Economy so collectors' discretionary income is much tighter?

GoldenEyeNumismatics

too tight and lowsy economy.

lasvegasteddy

i'd think economy has major part to play

kieferscoins

I am not exactly sure. I didn't get enough time to talk to everyone I would have liked to. I assume tighter grading but thats my guess.

It seems these days everything is blamed on the economy and I hate how the news shoves it down everyones throat for every story.

Cameron Kiefer

NHSBaseball

You know, I almost wish that PCGS had changed their holders in some way when they recently tightened up the grading standards. Then again, I guess that'd take all the fun out of it.

I'm guessing tighter grading and a slowdown after the big Summer shows.

direwolf1972

Havent heard anyone comment in a long time about PCGS having fast turn around times.

I have two submissions on the way right now on regular tier. They should arrive Mon or Tues.

cupronik

IF,........ PCGS is experiencing a slowdown mainly due to overly tight grading and this continues for some time, will
PCGS "loosen up" their grading to attract an increase in submissions (and, therefore, revenue?)

BlindedByEgo

<< <i>IF,........ PCGS is experiencing a slowdown mainly due to overly tight grading and this continues for some time, will
PCGS "loosen up" their grading to attract an increase in submissions (and, therefore, revenue?) >>



I believe that they will have layoffs before loosening. Their reputation is too important.

Our generally slowing economy is probably at least partly to blame - that, and there really aren't a whole lot of exciting new programs able to generate interest in a population gripped with financial uncertainty.

Bochiman

<< <i>

<< <i>IF,........ PCGS is experiencing a slowdown mainly due to overly tight grading and this continues for some time, will
PCGS "loosen up" their grading to attract an increase in submissions (and, therefore, revenue?) >>



I believe that they will have layoffs before loosening. Their reputation is too important.

Our generally slowing economy is probably at least partly to blame - that, and there really aren't a whole lot of exciting new programs able to generate interest in a population gripped with financial uncertainty. >>




Maybe.... "First FIRST Strike"

WaterSport

They are fast now because I do not have a submission in!

WS

Steve27

People have been complaining about them being "overly strict" for years, so it must be the cost is driving down submissions (i.e. it's the economy stupid).

fcloud

To me the too tight thing just doesn't make sense. Why would they tighten grading just at the time people are holding on to their money? I think there are just other factors. PCGS is a publically held company and their goals would be to continue to increase profits. Sending people away by some magical tightness simply doesn't do it for me.

If by some odd chance they are tightening why now? What would they have to do with all the coins graded more loosely that already reside in PCGS holders--try to buy them off the market?

Let's see, I could buy a tank full of gas or send some coins in for grading?
I see my 401K is in the tank maybe I should hold off doing the things I love and put some money into savings?
Maybe I should pay off the credit card before I do my hobby stuff.

I think there are at least 1000 more excuses I could dream up.

OPA

No new products offered by the Mint that is potentialy gradable, translates into less being graded for the "modern junk." ... CLCT stock has also nose dived.


Now if only the "spot reviews" would pick up speed also...

keets

It seems these days everything is blamed on the economy and I hate how the news shoves it down everyones throat for every story.

Cameron, i will forgive your naivette on this matter.

unfortunately, when you live in a Capitalistic society the principal thing on most everyone's mind regarding the economy is always in the news, whether or not things are good/bad, what sector is hot/cold, where jobs are lost/created and things of that nature. certainly we live in our own little self-created bubble in the hobby of Numismatics but we aren't immune to the things that affect the U.S and World economy. what is happening right now is real and to presume that everyone would go on as if it's business-as-usual isn't realistic. i can say from my lofty perch that a good number of people are scrambling to make ends meet in today's "trickle up" world. even at a first-Sunday-of-the-month show i attended this past week it seemed as though attendance was off and things were essentially done by noon, with many regulars(including a few forum members) not attending. certainly that could be coincidental, but i doubt it.

i'll get a better view at a two-day show coming this weekend, but i expect the same. collectors may not be scared right now, but they are hesitant and worried, especially the older folks who have been through ups and downs and have memories of the Great Depression. my own father was born in 1926 and provides me with an insight of how things were.

it's only realistic to expect people to first slow down with the non-essentials and i figure getting coins graded by a TPG is included in that description. quite a few members have already admitted to changes in how they "play" in the past few months/years based primarily on the economy. it's hard not to agree with that approach. there's also nothing wrong with holding coins raw which are only staying in a personal collection which is my sense of any slowdown of submissions. i can always submit later when i feel more confident about what the bigger picture looks like.

Bochiman

I have a break between meetings here in Beijing and figured I would give my thoughts on this, from my own POV...

I sent in 1 box with 3 submissions. I have had some I wanted to put in PCGS plastic for over a year+ now, but didn't, until now. What made "now" happen? for me it is it a PCGS membership that expires early in January.

With more business trips, and holidays, coming up, I didn't think, being the HUGE procrastinator I am, that I would get them out and then I would forgo the 8 submissions that I paid $200 for...oops, I mean they were "free"

Now, having paid the prices for the return shipping, this was a chunk of change.
16 coins sent in and 9 were for "free" gradings that cost WAY TOO much for return shipping. Yes, it is just the USPS registered mail rates. That's fine.
And, I understand the business case for NOT holding to ship back together.
All that said and, as a collector, if I am not selling and needing it in PCGS plastic, then due to cost of grading (I can stomach the costs for most of them), it is actually the shipping that will prevent me from sending in for grading (in the absence of the already stated "US Mint opportunity for grading" (ie flipping)).

$14 per coin to submit moderns....ok, I can handle that.
~$35 for return shipping on these (toned SAEs)....ummm, that REALLY SUCKS

"Free" quarterly special (first one I have sent in in 3 years of memberships).....I can handle that
The return shipping for this 'free' coin valued at ~$250-$300 that I just wanted protected and potentially more saleable in the future?....WAY more than I would expect.

So, can I economically handle the cost for these? Luckily, yes. Does that mean I am ok with spending that much? Ummm....NO.
I am a cheap bastrd and when prices are way above what I could SAFELY (I feel) do myself, then I have a problem with it.

All that, in conjunction with wondering if the grade comes back to what I, and others, feel the coins are, have kept me from submitting too much which, in turn, likely speeds up the submission results for others.

PCGS did, afterall, make FDI and special designations all but impossible for the average collector a few months back (did they change it back?) so that has likely kept thousands and thousands of coins from being submitted. Would be interesting to know their average queue of coins waiting to be graded, per grader, now....

mbogoman

Fast turnaround? Not here. My quarterly "CC" special is in its fourth week as of today. It's a GSA 1884-CC Morgan - shouldn't be to difficult to grade.

I agree with Bochiman on the effect of shipping charges on the decision to submit or not, especially with the CC specials. If I hadn't got such a good deal on the 84-CC Morgan (priced way low plus the MS Cashback refund = net cost $98) I wouldn't have used last quarter's CC freebie.

StopYurWhining

small time collectors and the little guys are worried about a lot more than getting getting slabs.

lope208

I'll let you know, my submission is in it's 11th day. Quickest service level was regular, so should be 15 days. We shall see!

PerryHall

Agree with those that blame the bad economy on fewer submissions.

FullStrike

Three words.

C A C

19Lyds

I'm not particularly impressed with the current turn around times as some go through quickly while others seem to drag on forever!

I've had fast and I've had slow which is simply business as usual!

robkool

The last submission was a record for quick turn-around time. 12 days for the quarterly special, and 14 days for economy order.