Bodybagged Coins?
BAJJERFAN
Posts: 31,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
If PCGS bags a coin for PVC, wouldn't it be wise of them to ask the submitter if they would like it conserved before returning it? Just askin. The coin may not be worth it, but if would grade with the PVC removed, it would be nice to have the option.
theknowitalltroll;
5
Comments
At least one service calls customers for permission to remove PVC (for free). Another sends back a note that the coin should be returned for conservation (not free).
Apples/oranges. When a company is doing many thousands of coins a day versus five to seven hundred it probably does not make sense to call. Easier to just send it back. Anyone have experience with ANACS conservation practices or that of our host?
I agree with the OP with them contacting the submitter about PVC.
Not all problems, just PVC
I get that PCGS wants to go fast and streamline as much as possible. But I also feel, when shelling out $50 or more for grading (all costs included), that there ought to be a little extra effort for something like the OP described.
Furthermore it seems like an excellent way to build their conservation service.
A slight deviation from the workflow...for a phone call, email or text message, would help both parties. And it would probably result in happier customers which every business wants.
Lance.
ANACS does 500 to 700 hundred coins a day? That really surprises me. Certainly couldn't tell it by the number of their slabs at the coin shows. PCGS and NGC slabs outnumber them at least 100 to 1.
Just sell it so some one can dip it and have it come back graded MS66+.
Hoard the keys.
It would also surprise me!
Some member here must have an idea of their daily volume. As for slabs, it depends on what part of the country you live in. In FL I'll bet the ratio is closer to 500 to 1!
Insider is talking about ICG I believe. Nice that they remove it for free!!
When it comes to PVC, I believe it would be a nice service to remove it.... even if a nominal fee is included. Certainly when done for free, it is a notable - and commendable - customer service. Cheers, RickO
I imagine PCGS could handle this without disrupting their workflow too badly, I imagine. On the submission form, have a check-box to opt in to PVC removal if necessary. Any coin rejected for PVC on the surfaces would be forwarded to conservation for PVC removal only, as if that had been selected on the submission form and then graded. The customer would be charged for conservation for whichever coins had to be treated. Other types of conservation would not be considered in this case. If a coin has PVC damage (scarring) after PVC removal, it could still be bodybagged or holdered as genuine.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Sounds completely reasonable BUT absolutely not practical due to the volume of individual submissions they process. Please...do I need to give an example?
Where I work, I see each submission first. Any problems with the order that were not handled before reaching the grading room (conservation, customer requests to talk with a grader, etc.) I take care of it before passing the order on.
Most ANACS coins are bound for TV,
that's why you see less of them at shows
than PCGS/NGC
Everything's practical if the price is right. Currently, you can select specific coins to be routed through TrueView if you want. I imagine this process would be similar. I find it hard to believe there isn't a solution that would save the submitter time and money, relieve the submitter from having to figure out how to remove PVC safely, and make the grading service a few extra shekels in the process. As it is today, the big winner is the post office.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
The coin in question probably isn't worth the effort, but it would be a nice touch if they'd at least have offered to fix it., assuming it actually is PVC based. They've had the coins since FUN as it is.
In this day of computerized everything, a simple press of a button would send a computerized text message to the owner offering this service. I cannot imagine anyone who would not take advantage of a small additional fee, when they will lose their total $50 or so investment. I understand it would create a bit of realignment for shipping unless a quick deadline was adapted to allow for just such an instance. OP has a great idea, in my opinion.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Keeping the coins together is the tough part but it looks like at least one TPGS figured how to do it.
If you are talking about raw coins your best friend before submitting is acetone. Problem solved with no BB or loss of money.
Ken
Had a very nicely toned morgan for a customer once. Submitted it to our hosts only to come back PVC. Took it to another dealer and there was a very slight white haze on the obverse which could be the only thing we could find that could possibly be deemed PVC. We let it sit in acetone and did the Q-tip roll procedure and most of it came off.
A call, email, or anything would have saved the trouble (TIME, MONEY, AND FRUSTRATION) of sending the coin back to be graded (NGC this time).
If you are unable to identify PVC on a coin, you really should not be sending coins in for grading by the way! The fix, as stated above, is so simple and inexpensive, with about zero chance of damaging the coin.
I can confirm that PCGS isn't TOTALLY against contacting the submitter....
I sent in some crossovers that I neglected to take my own attribution stickers off of. They emailed me asking if I wanted the attribution on the holder (for a fee, of course). They COULD have just processed by the paperwork, but took an extra step...
So, I don't think it's impossible to contact the submitter about those few that would benefit easily from conservation....
Some PVC can not be fixed because has already caused pitting below the green glob. Why would they want the risk of having to remove it and still not gradable (environmental damage).
I agree, learned my lesson on two coins that were part of a world economy submission ATS. I acetone dipped the ones with "obvious" PVC and they sailed through just fine. Should have dipped them all just to eliminate any question.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
With NGC you get a conservation option email after the invoice is in the grading room sometimes, so all the coins get held up waiting for the coin to come back from conservation if requested. ICG has the most friendly system; Anacs lets you pay extra on an invoice to conserve coins, let's say your silver dollars have ugly toning, they will take care of it:
"What is ANACS Conservation service?
What is it? ANACS Conservation Service is an add-on option to our coin-grading services, in which you give us permission to perform conservation on coins where we deem it necessary or desirable."
http://www.anacs.com/contentPages/FAQServices.aspx#jump54
PCGS could have submitter friendly systems; I would sure check a box to give them carte blanche to do what was needed.