11,000 Miles 8 Months and a Letter From JT Stanton. UpDate

1tommy · August 10, 2015 10:30PM

I won this 1949 d Quarter from a Heritage Auction late last year. When I saw the listing I was surprised it was the FS 501 Un attributed.

I contacted 2 other members who are specialist in this series. Both told me I was right and good luck on the auction. Of course someone else saw what I did, and after a bidding war I won the coin for 650.

This is normally a 60 dollar coin in MS 66 without Variety, I submitted the coin at the Fun Show in Jan for Reholder with Variety and Truview and After 3 weeks the grades all posted and I noticed the 1949 d was Not put in a Variety Holder.

I called and stopped the shipment of 5 coins. I was told at first that the coin was not one done by PCGS. I informed the girl that there was one already in MS 65 in Coin facts and even had a picture.

She called the next day and said nope your coin is not that coin. I explained again that there are 4 pickups points that are only found on the FS-501 and that I was willing to pay the Variety fee for the guy to compare them again.

I even told the girl to pass my email or phone number to the grader, 2 weeks later the coins were shipped back to me and of course they said no on the Variety. But I was charged for the Variety and Reholder and Truview.

Now since I have a Registry Set I knew who owned the MS 65 one that was pictured in Coin facts.

I contacted this member and he mentioned he was sending coins to JT Stanton to look at and if I wanted he would include his 1949 D FS 501.

Now that in itself was pretty cool to offer without any cost to me. I contacted JT and of course he said No Problem send them both and I will look.

Now after feeling sick that our host kept telling me it was not the right coin I had already accepted that I was buried in a regular coin.

I mailed off the coin 5 weeks ago and 3 weeks ago I received an email from JT telling me that it was in FACT the FS 501.

He sent the coin back and included two copies of a letter informing our host that it is the coin in the CPG.

I called and was told that I would have to resubmit for Reholder and Variety and if and when they decided it is the 501 we would talk about what charges I would incur,

Now I already paid for the service once and told the girl the submission number and she said that I would still have to submit with my card.

UPDATE The coin was finished Last Week and Variety FS-501 on the label. I noticed my bank account was hit for precharge 70.95.

So I called and once again Talked to Stephanie, she told me since I did not order the New Truview they would take the 10 dollars off, I reminded her that I already paid Once for this coin in Feb and that I should NOT have to pay again.

She informed me that she would forward my concerns to whoever but I could tell There still planning on charging me the 59.95 for Reholder and Variety.

Really? I should have to pay twice even when I had to send the coin to JT and pay for that service? Plus the postage going back in again?

This Coin has Traveled more than 11,000 miles and has taken over 8 months of Time to finally get in the Right Holder, Should I have to Pay Again?

I do want to thank JT For taking the time and to the other member who sent his coin to JT to Verify. Enjoy

<<

>>

Updated Talked to David Today and they are Going to refund the 70.95 Thanks PCGS............

oih82w8 · August 10, 2015 11:00PM

Your attribution journey definitely took the scenic route and I agree that you should not have to pay to have it (re)attributed since our host missed the Pick Up Points of your variety. I would think that you should receive; round trip postage, attribution and Secure Holder (which includes TrueView imaging, it looks like you already have that), as a "oops, we messed up" customer retention package.

keyman64 · August 10, 2015 11:07PM

If calling and getting a supervisor and then get that person's supervisor does not work, I would send a PM to Don Willis at this point.
And of course send a link to this thread along with your account details. I too have had to correct PCGS on their Mercury Dime
Varieties a couple of times but never had this much trouble. Good luck and of course congrats on sticking through the fight to get
this coin in the right holder.

ModCrewman · August 10, 2015 11:28PM

From the PCGS Variety Attribution Q&A page:

7. Is the Variety Attribution guaranteed?
Yes.

Either it is or it isn't...seems pretty cut and dried to me.

Edit to add this from the Q&A also (don't know if you got 1/2 price the first time or not):

11. Will I be charged if my coin does not qualify for Variety Attribution?
In the event the coin does not qualify for a variety or is not a variety PCGS currently recognizes, PCGS will still charge a fee of $9 per coin. PCGS graders must examine the coin and research to determine whether or not a variety is appropriate. Thus the service is still provided. As a result, PCGS will only charge 50% of the original Variety Attribution fee.

AMRC · August 11, 2015 12:05AM

<< From the PCGS Variety Attribution Q&A page:

7. Is the Variety Attribution guaranteed?
Yes.

Either it is or it isn't...seems pretty cut and dried to me.

>>

I would think the guarantee applies to coins they HAVE attributed, not those they did not.

oih82w8 · August 11, 2015 12:15AM

The variety attribution fee went up this past Jan;

"Variety Attribution (See website for listing of eligible coins and pricing information) Service Fee + $18"

PCGS Services and Fees

So does the $9 above (ModCrewman) refer to the 50% charge if it does not recognize the variety?

ModCrewman · August 11, 2015 12:29AM

Again, just going from my interpretation of the Q&A, but I'd say that if your coin does not get attributed you should only have to pay 50% of the $18, so only $9.

AMRC, you could well be right, but I would also think that if that specific variety attribution was requested and then returned as a "no", and later proved to be "yes" that they should guarantee their no as much as their yes. JMHO

Coinosaurus · August 11, 2015 1:28AM

This reminds me of those automated online training things as work. You can take the course, and even get a printed certificate, but unless your supervisor's computer says you took the course, then YOU DID NOT TAKE THE COURSE.

In this case, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure PCGS attributes the coin right. You should have gotten the paperwork from Stanton first, and then sent it in.

Not saying that's how it should work, just advising how you might be more successful in the future

Coinosaurus · August 11, 2015 1:29AM

This reminds me of those automated online training things at work. You can take the course, and even get a printed certificate, but unless your supervisor's computer says you took the course, then YOU DID NOT TAKE THE COURSE.

In this case, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure PCGS attributes the coin right. You should have gotten the paperwork from Stanton first, and then sent it in.

Not saying that's how it should work, just advising how you might be more successful in the future

WaterSport · August 11, 2015 2:45AM

These sorts of "complications" seem to always come out of "Variety Review" submissions. And I feel your pain.

I get the same BS and now have 5 coins that failed to attribute at PCGS ( but have had numerous examples attributed before).

Because of NUMEROUS past problems I send in large format colored microscope photographs of the RPM, DDO, etc, with additional die markers identified as I am not convince the variety attributers have a better microscope that my $50, 11 year old, "Digi Blue", child's microscope - (But I am willing to donate it if it will improve attribution services.)

5 coins in questions have been now sent to ANACS to "get it right".

I will wait and see what my mood is in before deciding what to do next.

I will stop here.

WS

jesbroken · August 11, 2015 2:55AM

I agree with 1tommy, this is not fair that he was billed twice for the same service. I do
wonder though why when a grading company misses factors that give a coin a higher grade
than they offer, it is shrugged off as "a bad day for the graders" and when it is resubmitted and
gets a higher grade, few complain, even though paying twice for the same service.
Their should be a supervisory section(obviously more well informed than the one 1tommy used)
that views complaints that is totally separate from the original graders/variety appraisers. This is
just my opinion, but I do feel I would be prettyPO'd if it happened to me. Hopefully, Don Willis
will view this post and offer his explanation for their procedure.
Jim

DIMEMAN · August 11, 2015 2:58AM

Boy......do I feel your pain! This is TOTALLY unacceptable! Since they got it wrong the first time.....there should have been NO charge for anything the second time! PERIOD!!!!

panther · August 11, 2015 3:03AM

Way to Go Tommy,
I said it was the right coin before you bought it from heritage. I was feeling bad that I might have given you bad advise on this one.

I am glad I was right after all.

Here is what I saw. And it looked the same. I think you should get a refund also......

airplanenut · August 11, 2015 4:25AM

Can I suggest calling back next week? With the ANA going on right now, I'm sure a lot of their staff are out of town. Once they get back it might be easier to talk to someone higher up.

DIMEMAN · August 11, 2015 5:28AM

Looking at that blow-up of the coin and the pic in the CPG.........I don't know how ANYONE could not see that it is the variety!!!!!!

As the say on NFL half time.......COME ON MAN!!!!!!!

1tommy · August 11, 2015 9:39AM

Thanks Everyone for the Replys and Will Wait till Late Next week when there back from Chicago.

Don I can't remember when they changed the prices on the Variety Fee but think I paid the full Price.

And even if I only paid half price for it not making the FS than I am willing to pay that amount...9 Bucks...

As long as pcgs charges a Fee for Varieties that are in the CPG than I do not believe I have to send my coins to a Specialist and waste there time.

I am paying for a service and I now l owe JT a Steak Dinner.

But I do Understand your Point....

Dale I truly know How bad you have felt since this started in January, I have always known you are one of the True Washington Specialist and I am Super Happy to Have this coin on its way Home in the Right Holder.

What a Long Strange Trip Its Been. Thanks for all your Help and John Too.

Good Luck Bob with your Varieties and its always good to know that I am not the only one having small problems with the Varieties.

I will Update this thread Next week after talking to the Next Person........Enjoy

bolivarshagnasty · August 11, 2015 12:36PM

Customer service/ fairness does not seem to be important at PCGS. I sent this in for a reholder asking them to consider waving the reholder fee but to no avail. (note plastic at neck) Card charged 52 and change for a reholder and TrueView. I'd be ok with them winning one occasionally and me winning one occasionally but that's not how it works at PCGS. Customer always pays.

1tommy · August 21, 2015 4:55AM

Talked to David at PCGS and was Informed Today they Are Refunding the Whole 70.95......Thanks to PCGS......Happy Happy Happy.....

winky · August 21, 2015 5:45AM

This is one of those times where I didn't have enough time to read the thread. Maybe next time.

TwoSides2aCoin · August 21, 2015 5:58AM

<< This is one of those times where I didn't have enough time to read the thread. Maybe next time.

>>

Some things are resolved faster than others. It took nearly 2 years here for me trying to get that Cheerios Dollar slabbed. (2005-2007)

On a side note : PCGS did it for free.

keyman64 · August 21, 2015 6:04AM

Congrats Tommy!

MarkStephenson · August 21, 2015 6:11AM

We take customer complaints and concerns very seriously.

I am sorry, 1tommy, that you didn't have a fantastic experience with getting this coin's variety attributed in a timely fashion.

I'm glad David took care of your order in a way that exceeded your expectations. I've directed him to another order referred to in this thread to see what we can do to make things right for that customer, too.

Any PCGS customer who hasn't had a wonderful experience as a customer - please don't hesitate to contact me so I can help to make that happen. I monitor this forum constantly, just send me a message. I welcome your feedback.

CoinZip · August 21, 2015 6:53AM

<< We take customer complaints and concerns very seriously.

I am sorry, 1tommy, that you didn't have a fantastic experience with getting this coin's variety attributed in a timely fashion.

I'm glad David took care of your order in a way that exceeded your expectations. I've directed him to another order referred to in this thread to see what we can do to make things right for that customer, too.

Any PCGS customer who hasn't had a wonderful experience as a customer - please don't hesitate to contact me so I can help to make that happen. I monitor this forum constantly, just send me a message. I welcome your feedback. >>

Good job.... keep up the good work.

SkyMan · August 21, 2015 7:04AM

I'm glad things worked out right, but sorry it took such a long time to get there.

BTW, fun looking coin too!

NorCalJack · August 21, 2015 7:12AM

Tom,

Your persistence finally paid off. I know you were upset by the $70 charge, but initially you were way more upset spending $600+ on a $60 coin if it was not that variety. You have taught me a lot about this series that I did not even knew existed until you PM'd me a few years ago.

Congrats on the coin.

Jay

BigDowgie · August 21, 2015 9:48AM

This is just part of the fun we have collecting. I look at this situation as one of the many stories you will acquire over the years. We all have them!

georgiacop50 · August 21, 2015 10:07AM

Well your story has a much better ending than my similar story!

I still am awaiting an email reply. I guess PCGS thought responding to the thread made everything ok, but I was expecting an email reply and in fact, David Talk PCGS Customer Service Manager even stated in my thread that, "we are in the process of replying to you."

lasvegasteddy · August 21, 2015 10:29AM

what a debacle you had to go through there

MarkStephenson · August 22, 2015 7:58AM

Georgiacop50, I'll look into what's going on with your situation on Monday and call you.

bolivarshagnasty · August 24, 2015 11:35AM

<< We take customer complaints and concerns very seriously.

I am sorry, 1tommy, that you didn't have a fantastic experience with getting this coin's variety attributed in a timely fashion.

I'm glad David took care of your order in a way that exceeded your expectations. I've directed him to another order referred to in this thread to see what we can do to make things right for that customer, too.

Any PCGS customer who hasn't had a wonderful experience as a customer - please don't hesitate to contact me so I can help to make that happen. I monitor this forum constantly, just send me a message. I welcome your feedback. >>

UPDATE, David Talk, PCGS Customer Service Manager emailed me today. After reviewing my submission form and note attached, he is going to refund my entire charge to make things right. Made sure that the current slab is acceptable, and it is. I appreciated PCGS making things right on this submission.

11,000 Miles 8 Months and a Letter From JT Stanton. UpDate

Comments

Leave a Comment