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How to undermine your own credibility as a TPG
EXOJUNKIE
Posts: 1,609 ✭✭✭✭✭
I personally detest gimmicks like this. Why go to this level? Come on!
coinweek.com/education/coin-grading/pawn-star-rick-harrison-sign-ngc-labels/
I'm addicted to exonumia ... it is numismatic crack!
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
2
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Next up...advertisements on labels.
Lance.
I'm with ya...authenticating / grading is one thing but gimmicks like this can diminish a brand name for possible short term gains in sales.
K
Although I agree that this is a gimmick, there are many collectors of autographs as well as coins. Rick Harrison has become a TV personality who has quite a following. I guess if you collect both, this could be attractive.
I'd pay for Rick's "scribbles" on some gem Roosie dimes.
I have no idea why they pull this malarkey on collectors. If it isn't broken don't fix it, but then you have the marketing hotshots coming out of certain schools that want to try new stuff.
I agree gimmicks like this will only show a short term increase in sales and it can end up hurting in the long run. I like the show, but for it's entertainment value.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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I thought this about CAC stickers when the first came out. I was wrong.
Apples and oranges IMO. TPGs have no control over what CAC -- or what anyone else -- does to the outside of their holder once it leaves their control. They are, however, accountable for everything inside the plastic.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
There are worse things ... like putting straight grades on coins that should have "details grades."
But, yes this is a gimmick. I am not aware that Rick Harrison is a grading authority.
He may not be, but he has "a buddy" he can call if you can wait around for a little while.
It does make the coin seem cheap in a way.
My YouTube Channel
AFAIK, for many years the folks in charge of marketing at TPGS have done things to reach more collectors and increase business. The first I can remember along these lines was the PCI "Signature Series" and the PCI red label for problem coins. Say what you wish but those red label slabs eventually forced the big TPGS to quit raking in money with "body bag" decisions. PCI even tried % of white on the label and I just read on CU that NGC even tried "W" and "T" in imitation for a short time. Then came custom labels and + and * and multi-coin holders. One thing is for sure. It will not change.
I'd rather have Chumley's signature!
It goes along with their business model of trying to supply encapsulated coins to mass marketers. They obviously have an appetite for doing business with HSN or QVC or Coin Vault. Nothing new here.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
Of course not. That would be Chumlee.
I remember the episode where Bob Dylan is rumored to be "in town". Hoss sends Chumley out on a mission with an originally-sealed Freewheelin'. Somehow (GPS?) Chum and Bob hook up, and "Sure man, how do you want it signed?" Back at the store we hear Hoss telling our boy that the "To Chumley" inscription was not the point.
Back on point: I would be happy to learn that a charity was pre-assigned some of the proceeds.
trash
BHNC #203
Chumlee is an expert on sneakers. When we start grading and certifying those, his mug can go on the label.
Good grief!
Interesting! I bet they will sell thousands though, watch....
I wonder how long it will be before this thread is nuked like the last NGC thread.
So where should they (or any TPG) draw the line?
NGC Rick Harrison Authentic Hand-Signed Labels are the latest collaboration between the coin grading service and the famous Pawn Star. NGC-certified coins encapsulated with these labels will be available from GovMint.com this summer.
Yippee. It's govmint.com. Can't wait for the next catalog with pawn stars on the cover.
My mom knows nothing about coins. I do. She has purchased numerous "collector" coins for me over the years from TV and print sources. You cannot argue with the success of these gimmicks.
Just like other silly labels I don't want, I'd discount the value of the coin by the cost of a reholder.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
@messydesk said: "Just like other silly labels I don't want, I'd discount the value of the coin by the cost of a reholder."
Look at it another way. While you own the slab with a gimmick label it will be a thorn in your collection. However, if you live with it, you will save the grading fee and that "thorn" will have many more people interested in owning it when you sell.
I don't think Rick Harris has any prominence for seeking coins from, nor for re-labeling.
Like I posted ATS, I don't personally care for signatures of any kind on slab labels. Just keep it professional and skip the cheap, commercial marketing gimmicks. I can see some allure to directly-coin-related signatures like Moy, Goodacre, etc., but partnering with Hollywood personalities crosses a line and IMO it adversely affects the credibility of a TPG.
Who is next to sign? Oprah? The "Yup" guy from Storage Wars"? How low is a TPG willing to go to sell a few slabs? Do they have any pride? And do they even care about how it might affect the credibility of the coins already in their holders? Probably not because those fees are in the bank ... on to the next way to make a buck!
Sorry, but this really gets under my skin. I have my fair share of slabbed coins from both top TPGs, and I just see gimmicks like this hurting their resale value.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
The mods can obviously nuke it if they want, but I think the customer feedback contained in the thread is important for every TPG to consider.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
I see no problem with it. As long as people are buying the labels, they will keep making them. Don't like them, then don't buy any.
They are also doing Red Book labels. I will try to find a Liberty Nickel in one of these. Kind of ties in with the Red Book Collection.
@EXOJUNKIE
Do you work for a marketing company. Darn, Oprah and especially the "Star Wars" label is pure genius!
Reeks of desperation
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I'd buy a holder with Chumlee, Yup Guy Dave Hester, Brandi, or "Pay the Lady" on it.
How would you grade them?
New
Used
Stinky
Oh my god throw those away already.
Both TPG's have used signature labels and other gimmicky label to promote the product, so why is one being singled out here?
Best, SH
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Harmless fun imho. Those chasing that type of label are probably not serious about the coins. It might attract new blood into the hobby, just sayin......
That proof Peace Dollar that was on Pawn Stars was cracked and reholdered in a "as seen on pawn stars label... I thought that was corny let alone this...
What makes this any different than any other signature label? Furthermore, what makes this any different than any other label that bears more than date, denomination and grade?
I'm saving up for the Bernie Madoff labels.
Won't be long before any submitter can get a custom label. . . at an added price.
Are they really this stupid, or are they destroying the dollar on purpose?
This is just a subset of what is wrong with the collectibles market in general.
It seems that something is terribly wrong when the hype of a promotional gimmick supersedes what is actually collected which in this instance is the coin.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
It will only become much worse as the grading services continue to explore new ways to generate revenue.
I guess because it finally got on my last nerve and this latest promotion is so stupid (IMHO) that I just had to rant about it.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
No worries, but I would say they are all gimmicky, commercial, and all about marketing to the non-specialist collector. I agree this one is over the top for sure.
Best, SH
Successful transactions with-Boosibri,lkeigwin,TomB,Broadstruck,coinsarefun,Type2,jom,ProfLiz, UltraHighRelief,Barndog,EXOJUNKIE,ldhair,fivecents,paesan,Crusty...
Spaceyduke is right, I'm not sure how this is any different than the lance Armstrong signature pcgs pimped out not to long ago. I agree it's ridiculous to have a rick Harrison signature on a coin label but to single out NGC is just wrong in my opinion. At least rick has some connection to coins. Lance Armstrong? Makes no sense to me.
I like the american hero concept. They need an astronaut too.
Football players.
The phrase the people used years ago, especially for less than stellar theatrical productions or poorly scripted films was "From hunger."
I think that so far as the U.S. coin market goes, NGC is headed toward the “hungry line.” Their foreign market seems to be in better shape.
The Old Man! He's wise beyond his years!
Soon the label will be more valuable than the coin...wait, that's already happened in many cases.
It would be great if the TPGs would get back to grading and authenticating instead of all these gimmicks. And yes, all the TPGs are guilty, including our host.
Joseph J. Singleton - First Superintendent of the U.S. Branch Mint in Dahlonega Georgia
Findley Ridge Collection
About Findley Ridge
As I have often said - here and elsewhere - collectors are known to collect everything. Fans of the program will likely get one of these - even non coin collectors may do so for the autograph. We have seen label fever for a long time - doilies etc.. I do not collect labels, however, if there were a coin I wanted - and it met my criteria - I would buy it with no regard to the label. (Personally, I sure hope a coin I want is not in one of these labeled holders). It will sell for a while... then, maybe, at some point in the future, command a premium...Cheers, RickO
I have a feeling that people who like it will buy it and those who don't like it won't buy it.