What recourse do I have when PCGS fails to properly attribute variety?
georgiacop50
Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭
In the course of the last year I have had on three different occasions submitted Franklin Half Dollars 1950-D variety FS-501 for grading and variety attribution. Each time the coin was straight graded sans having the variety properly attributed. I am 100% confident of MY attribution (there is no possibility that I was mistaken, these coins were absolutely FS-501) and I paid the going rate fee for the attributions I did not get.
My question is:
If I send these coins (now PCGS graded but not properly attributed) to a recognized variety expert such as James Wiles or John Wexler and they confirm in a letter that the coins are indeed the requested variety, can I return the coins to PCGS along with the letter and have the variety attribution added to the insert?
If the answer is yes, will this be done at no additional charge to myself (having already paid for the service that PCGS failed to perform?)
I will be asking PCGS Customer Service these questions... but was curious if any forumites have "been there--done that"?
My question is:
If I send these coins (now PCGS graded but not properly attributed) to a recognized variety expert such as James Wiles or John Wexler and they confirm in a letter that the coins are indeed the requested variety, can I return the coins to PCGS along with the letter and have the variety attribution added to the insert?
If the answer is yes, will this be done at no additional charge to myself (having already paid for the service that PCGS failed to perform?)
I will be asking PCGS Customer Service these questions... but was curious if any forumites have "been there--done that"?
1
Comments
I hope you have better luck than I have had over the years with this. And yes, I have sent coins to James Wiles and then on to PCGS for attribution. They were Lincoln varieties. Yep, I paid again.
I usually send an email to Mike Faraone and Don Willis and cc David Hall.
I recently sent in and paid for a 1968-S Kennedy DDO FS-101 for attribution and the attribution did not occur. After I sent an email, I received a reply to return the coin for attribution at no charge other than my shipping. I included a receipt for the mailing fee's and was expecting a reimbursement check but instead received a voucher for a free (actually $29.95 which is 10.00 handling fee plus $19.95 return shipping) Economy Grading.
It's a business. They make mistakes.
The name is LEE!
I would give PCGS Customer Service a call and ask for further guidance on resubmittal due to mis-attribution that you have paid for but feel that it was overlooked. Be polite and non-accusatory and see where that gets you.
What I find funny is that NGC does not recognize the 1950-D RPM FS-501.
Do you mind disclosing the grade that PCGS placed on it?
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I believe you have already emailed info@pcgs.com with this quaestion, we are in the process of replying to you.
If you ever feel that PCGS has mis-attributed or mis-identified a specific coin or variety you should first call us so that we can review the cert/order notes to see if the coin was mis-attributed or if in fact our grading and variety experts feel the coin does not qualify for the variety you have asked for. You can then send the best images as possible of the obverse and reverse of the coin and the PCGS label to info@pcgs.com letting us know what you feel the error is. We will work with our grading and variety staff to review and correct the issue as quickly as possible.
Yes, we will correct the issue for free, if it is in fact labeled incorrectly. We will also reimburse you the shipping fees that you were charged to send the "mechanical error" submission back to PCGS for correction.
Although we do value the opinion of outside consultants or experts, you also have to keep in mind that the final grade/attribution is at the discretion of our grading staff.
If you have documentation from any outside source that you feel is relevant you are more than welcome to send it in with the original submission, or if need be with the mechanical error submission.
With the volume of coins that PCGS grades on a daily basis we will make a few mistakes here and there, we will do our best to correct them as quickly as possible.
When in doubt, give us a call!
You do not need to contact Don, Mike or David to get these types of issues corrected, this is what our Customer Service staff are here to help you with. You are always welcome to send either of them a note or email but it is not necessary.
If you feel that we may mis-attribute or mis-identify something I would recommend calling us when you receive the email stating we have started to process your order, you can ask us to place the order on a "ship hold," we will not allow the order to ship until you give us the OK. Once you receive the grades email you can then review and make sure everything is correct, if it is not give us a call. Please keep in mind that if you ask us to place an order on a ship hold we will not ship the order until you contact us to let us know it is ok to ship.
As always, if you have any other questions please feel free to contact us via phone Monday through Friday 7:00AM to 5:00PM PST at 1-800-447-8848 or info@pcgs.com
PCGS Set Registry Manager
<< <i>Hello georgiacop50,
I believe you have already emailed info@pcgs.com with this quaestion, we are in the process of replying to you.
If you ever feel that PCGS has mis-attributed or mis-identified a specific coin or variety you should first call us so that we can review the cert/order notes to see if the coin was mis-attributed or if in fact our grading and variety experts feel the coin does not qualify for the variety you have asked for. You can then send the best images as possible of the obverse and reverse of the coin and the PCGS label to info@pcgs.com letting us know what you feel the error is. We will work with our grading and variety staff to review and correct the issue as quickly as possible.
Yes, we will correct the issue for free, if it is in fact labeled incorrectly. We will also reimburse you the shipping fees that you were charged to send the "mechanical error" submission back to PCGS for correction.
Although we do value the opinion of outside consultants or experts, you also have to keep in mind that the final grade/attribution is at the discretion of our grading staff.
If you have documentation from any outside source that you feel is relevant you are more than welcome to send it in with the original submission, or if need be with the mechanical error submission.
With the volume of coins that PCGS grades on a daily basis we will make a few mistakes here and there, we will do our best to correct them as quickly as possible.
When in doubt, give us a call!
You do not need to contact Don, Mike or David to get these types of issues corrected, this is what our Customer Service staff are here to help you with. You are always welcome to send either of them a note or email but it is not necessary.
If you feel that we may mis-attribute or mis-identify something I would recommend calling us when you receive the email stating we have started to process your order, you can ask us to place the order on a "ship hold," we will not allow the order to ship until you give us the OK. Once you receive the grades email you can then review and make sure everything is correct, if it is not give us a call. Please keep in mind that if you ask us to place an order on a ship hold we will not ship the order until you contact us to let us know it is ok to ship.
As always, if you have any other questions please feel free to contact us via phone Monday through Friday 7:00AM to 5:00PM PST at 1-800-447-8848 or info@pcgs.com >>
As long as folks understand that "We will also reimburse you the shipping fees that you were charged to send the "mechanical error" submission back to PCGS for correction." means that you'll send them a grading voucher instead of a check for the actual fee's, then we're in agreement.
The name is LEE!
Cashback from Mr. Rebates
One thing to remember is that some of these varieties are so rare that PCGS might not have seen an example recently. This, combined with the huge volume of coins PCGS grades, can result in a missed variety designation. As David Talk states above, it's simple, contact PCGS with appropriate documentation, and they will reevaluate the coin.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
<< <i>If you feel that we may mis-attribute or mis-identify something I would recommend calling us when you receive the email stating we have started to process your order, you can ask us to place the order on a "ship hold," we will not allow the order to ship until you give us the OK. Once you receive the grades email you can then review and make sure everything is correct, if it is not give us a call. >>
Normally, that is what I would do.
But the three coins in question were submitted to PCGS via GreatCollections. So,by the time I am notified of the grades and lack of proper attribution, it is too late to intervene, the coins have already left PCGS premises.
Here is one of the unattributed coins I am referring to.
It is very clearly an FS-501, the diagnostics for this variety are quite easily seen.
I can't beleive the same "mechanical error" would be repeated three times on three separate submissions. I believe that it is a case of PCGS's variety attribution staff not knowing the diagnostics.
BTW- I never did receive an email reply from Customer Service?
Also, I recall that this year a new policy was implemented at PCGS that said something along the lines of, "If a coin is submitted for Variety attribution and PCGS does not assign the variety, customer will only be charged half the attribution rate ($9.00 instead of $18.00). Is this correct? And would Great Collections have been reimbursed $9 for the above linked coin which was an attribution fail this calendar year?
Has anyone ever had a situation where John Wexler attributed them incorrectly and said it was not a variety....and then when you send it out to the TPG, they attribute the variety you thought it was?!
Is he ever wrong basically, like PCGS and NGC are often times....unfortunately.
Just curious......??
Thanks!