Scratched holders--why don't shops fix them?

logger7

I've been at a lot of coin dealer shops and almost none of them I know clean up their scratched holders with relatively cheap products. Why don't they?

messydesk

Some combination of not noticing it, not caring, and not knowing how.

BAJJERFAN

Originally posted by: messydesk

Some combination of not noticing it, not caring, and not knowing how.

I'd say that based on the way that I've seen dealers handling them that it's largely a case of not caring. There's probably little or no advantage to them to do so and they run the risk of ruining the slab or making it worse.

Walkerfan

They leave it up to the buyer.



Personally, I wouldn't want anyone fooling with my slabs before I bought them.



Minor scratches don't bother me at all.



They would have to be very bad and occlude the view of the coin before they'd be an issue for me. JMHO.

topstuf

I want CLEAR plastic.

It's too easy to use some Simichrome gently and remove the scratches.



IF they're minor.



Couple minutes effort.



It's not caring.

grip

Originally posted by: topstuf
I want CLEAR plastic.
It's too easy to use some Simichrome gently and remove the scratches.

IF they're minor.

Couple minutes effort.

It's not caring.

I agree.

astrorat

To do right, it takes time. Time is money. Why waste either if it does not add to the bottom line?

Has a scuffed slab ever stopped a coin purchase? Have you ever paid a premium because the slab didn't have scratches?

BryceM

Scuffed slabs are just like poor photos. They have stopped many, many purchases and have prevented people from buying many perfectly nice coins. JA has said that he will not sticker coins that can't be adequately viewed due to scuffs & scratches. When lot viewing, I've passed on more than one coin because I just couldn't see it well enough.



I just got the Jon Alan Boka 1794 large cent catalog from HA and the huge photo on the cover shows the starred reverse coin, hiding behind a scratched slab. Surely someone could have spent 30 seconds to clean that up prior to taking the photo. It's bad enough anytime, but as the cover photo for the whole auction? I'd be embarrassed.

LindeDad

Simple buyers accept them scrated, just try saying no thanks it's scrathed a couple of times.

BillJones

For a coin shop it would be a lot of work, time and effort to polish slabs. Most collectors don't seem to be bother by scratched holders although they bug me.

I've learned how to fix them auto headlight polish, a towel and elbow grease. Some guys use a drill and polishing attachment, but I'm not very handy.

logger7

Shop A has many coins in their showcase, some PCGS certified worth thousands--with scratched holders which could be fixed with one of the products readily available, I told the owner and he smiled and thanked me not sure if he will do anything. He has sold over 1500 items on ebay since starting last fall, I would think they would do what is necessary for maximum quality. Shop B has clerks who spend a lot of time between customer service, doing little, it would be so easy for them to at least try to improve the holders, though few of them are coin collectors.

keets

I take the time to clean slabs when they have glue residue or dirt on them and always try to place a price sticker in an unobtrusive location. to clean every slab in even a small shop to remove all their scratches would be a major time investment that would pay nothing. additionally, it would be ongoing.



I think the bigger question is why don't more collectors and dealers handle their slabs better???

1Bustcollector

I purchased a $39 RYOBI bench grinder at Hone Depot.



I removed the wheel guard, tool rest.



I purchased a "string buffing wheel" from Eastwood. (I used to restore antique cars and this wheel is specifically meant for plastic instrumentation dash panels and Taligent lenses).



It takes me 10 seconds to polish a slab. 98% of my slabs turn out beautiful. Some slabs you just cannot help. It might take some dexterity at first but once you get used to it you don't want to manually polish again.

coinhack

Originally posted by: keets

I think the bigger question is why don't more collectors and dealers handle their slabs better???

Amen

BillJones

Originally posted by: coinhack

Originally posted by: keets

I think the bigger question is why don't more collectors and dealers handle their slabs better???

Amen

That gets hard to do when people are going through boxes at the auction lot viewing and at the shows. You can't put plastic covers on everything and take them off each time someone views an item.

1Bustcollector

Just an observation:



Some of the problem with scuffing might be attributed to the slab design tolerances? If you lay a straight edge across the slab you will notice a range of clearance differences - compare the outside plane to the center plane. The center of the circle of the slab appears to have a slight outward "bow" (which might be as designed), but is actually on the same plane as the outer raised rim that supposedly(?) protects from it from rubbing. Sometimes the front (obverse) of the slab has a clearance of about .010" while the back (reverse) has no clearance - then visa versa.



Most slabs have sufficient clearances on both sides of about .015" - .020" of an inch.



I did check my NGC slabs and found likewise similarities.



Sliding these things around all day can take a toll.

TheDukeK

Why don't collectors clean and take care of their coin slabs.
eheheh

BAJJERFAN

Originally posted by: 1Bustcollector

Just an observation:



Some of the problem with scuffing might be attributed to the slab design tolerances? If you lay a straight edge across the slab you will notice a range of clearance differences - compare the outside plane to the center plane. The center of the circle of the slab appears to have a slight outward "bow" (which might be as designed), but is actually on the same plane as the outer raised rim that supposedly(?) protects from it from rubbing. Sometimes the front (obverse) of the slab has a clearance of about .010" while the back (reverse) has no clearance - then visa versa.



Most slabs have sufficient clearances on both sides of about .015" - .020" of an inch.



I did check my NGC slabs and found likewise similarities.



Sliding these things around all day can take a toll.

I've had new slabs come back from PCGS that are cloudy or abraded in the viewing/lens area.

topstuf

Replaceable glass panes!



Wait, I think I can see a fault in that.

Nic

Have folks ever viewed auction coins where the slabs were scuffed on purpose? Sad but true. Does not work.

knightem

Reholders should be done for "expensive" coins, but that term is subjective. I can understand that if the coin is "cheap", it's not worth it to reholder as the fees would eat up the small profit they are probably making. Another reason if it has a CAC sticker; the dealer would have to get it reholdered at PCGS and then restickered at CAC.



Edited to add: That's assuming that polishing the slab doesn't work and the coins need to be reholdered. As the OP mentioned, at least the dealer could try to rub it out with PlastX or something, which doesn't cost much money or time.

Kccoin

Originally posted by: messydesk

Some combination of not noticing it, not caring, and not knowing how.

I agree with this.



As an aside, I have revealed one or two coins that were much nicer that I had bought them as after a little Plastix

logger7

I often use some ScratchX when shipping out a certified, it improves even good holders, plus the fresh plastic smell is a winner, like the new car smell.

asheland

Originally posted by: Walkerfan
They leave it up to the buyer.

Personally, I wouldn't want anyone fooling with my slabs before I bought them.

Minor scratches don't bother me at all.

They would have to be very bad and occlude the view of the coin before they'd be an issue for me. JMHO.