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Question on how on site grading works

TrazTraz Posts: 377 ✭✭✭✭
edited April 17, 2019 8:36AM in U.S. Coin Forum

I have a full set of liberty and shield proofs I would like to get reconsidered. Does anyone know how the on site grading works? Unfortunately I won't be able to make it Thursday-Saturday to the central states show so I am wondering on how the turnaround time is. Can they ship if I drop them off there, since I can't pick up on another day?

I see it says: "All other service level submissions will end late morning Saturday April 27, 2019. Please check with a PCGS Representative at the booth to confirm the exact cut-off date and time for on-site and take home submissions. Submission acceptance dates and times may change without notice."

I'm looking more for someone who has done it before rather than specifics for this show.

Thanks :)

Comments

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 11,923 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 17, 2019 8:44AM

    The turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship. I would suggest calling PCGS for specifics.
    Curiously, under the circumstances, why are you using on-site grading?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • selling3selling3 Posts: 166 ✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    The turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship. I would suggest calling PCGS for specifics.
    Curiously, under the circumstances, why are you using on-site grading?

    50% fee special sounds like a good reason

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 11,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @selling3 said:
    @MFeld said:

    The turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship. I would suggest calling PCGS for specifics.
    Curiously, under the circumstances, why are you using on-site grading?

    50% fee special sounds like a good reason

    How would that special rate compare to the rate for Express Service, for example?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • TrazTraz Posts: 377 ✭✭✭✭

    @selling3 said:
    @MFeld said:

    The turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship. I would suggest calling PCGS for specifics.
    Curiously, under the circumstances, why are you using on-site grading?

    50% fee special sounds like a good reason

    Yep, that's why.

    Thanks for the info :) I'll give them a call!

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 31,620 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 17, 2019 12:57PM

    @Traz said:

    @selling3 said:
    @MFeld said:

    The turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship. I would suggest calling PCGS for specifics.
    Curiously, under the circumstances, why are you using on-site grading?

    50% fee special sounds like a good reason

    Yep, that's why.

    Thanks for the info :) I'll give them a call!

    But 50% of the show fees will be more than regular service. It'll cost you $75 per coin while normal express service is only $65 and normal "regular" is only $35.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 11,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @Traz said:

    @selling3 said:
    @MFeld said:

    The turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship. I would suggest calling PCGS for specifics.
    Curiously, under the circumstances, why are you using on-site grading?

    50% fee special sounds like a good reason

    Yep, that's why.

    Thanks for the info :) I'll give them a call!

    But 50% of the show fees will be more than regular service. It'll cost you $75 per coin while normal express service is only $65 and normal "regular" is only $35.

    That was part of the point I was trying to make. Perhaps I was too subtle.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • HemisphericalHemispherical Posts: 9,370 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @Traz said:

    @selling3 said:
    @MFeld said:

    The turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship. I would suggest calling PCGS for specifics.
    Curiously, under the circumstances, why are you using on-site grading?

    50% fee special sounds like a good reason

    Yep, that's why.

    Thanks for the info :) I'll give them a call!

    But 50% of the show fees will be more than regular service. It'll cost you $75 per coin while normal express service is only $65 and normal "regular" is only $35.

    That was part of the point I was trying to make. Perhaps I was too subtle.

    There’s also this quarter’s quarterly special for express service. Which reduces the fee to $50/coin.

    https://www.pcgs.com/ccspecial

  • BStrauss3BStrauss3 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:
    That was part of the point I was trying to make. Perhaps I was too subtle.

    Mark, how long have you been around here? You should know that subtle doesn't work... hitting people with bricks doesn't work... And sarcasm is wasted...

    -----Burton
    ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,355 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RogerB said:
    :)
    As I found on the internet, the "graders" are brought to a show location in a sealed, darkened van accompanied by big, black SUVs with tinted, extra thick windows. The graders are unloaded into a secure tunnel and escorted to their on-site grading room. The room is equipped with flickering fluorescent ceiling light (with buzzing ballasts). Graders are given an assortment of magnifiers, candles and other implements of the trade. All but the most senior are chained to their work tables. All must wear horse blinkers so they cannot see anything beyond a narrow field of view. (A similar mental blinker is installed in their minds so they cannot question any preconceived proclamation.)

    Once situated, the graders are given a rapid flow of pocket change, cookie cutter bullion pieces, vapid commemoratives, and related coin-like things to grade. Each item receives no more than 3 seconds of in-depth, careful examination, before being passed to the unchained grader who rubber stamps the result and sends it to packaging in slightly warped clear plastic packages.

    Of course -- I did not verify this, since everything on the internet is always true and accurate.....although I had some concern about the horse blinkers -- do they have turn signals?

    The "buzzing ballasts" was a nice touch.

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Checking the internet again, I discovered that turn signals are only used on horse blinkers at small-stakes tracks. This includes infamous races such as the Kentucky Chicken and Biscuit Derby, Phreakness at Pamlico, and the Bellmount Steaks & Ribs. (One of these is also famous for Susan's "Blackeyed Gravy Biscuits" but not sure which one....)

    There was also a cryptic about not ordering a hamburger at Santa Anita..... ?

    PS: When a coin show is over the graders are returned to their communal living tubes.

  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,722 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Roger, the corridors of your mind are littered with some truly bizarre stuff.

  • TrazTraz Posts: 377 ✭✭✭✭

    I guess my question wasn't specific enough.... I should have just asked what the turnaround time is, since I can only be there one day, if they can ship after grading or do I need to pick them up there.

    :P

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 11,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Traz said:
    I guess my question wasn't specific enough.... I should have just asked what the turnaround time is, since I can only be there one day, if they can ship after grading or do I need to pick them up there.

    :P

    As I mentioned previously, the turnaround times vary and yes, they can ship.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 31,620 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Traz said:
    I guess my question wasn't specific enough.... I should have just asked what the turnaround time is, since I can only be there one day, if they can ship after grading or do I need to pick them up there.

    :P

    We understood the question. But if you're going to wait a week or more for delivery of the package, why pay extra for show grading when 5 day Express would be much cheaper?

  • selling3selling3 Posts: 166 ✭✭✭

    Perhaps the OP does not want to lose their coins in shipping. Seems to be a daily occurence on this forum.

  • BStrauss3BStrauss3 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You can drop off your coins for any of the normal services, this saves you shipping/insurance to PCGS. However, if you are tight on time, remember that the package will be shipped back to the site on Monday after the show and so it will take a few days to get your coins into the mill.

    -----Burton
    ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 31,620 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @selling3 said:
    Perhaps the OP does not want to lose their coins in shipping. Seems to be a daily occurence on this forum.

    But they are being shipped back to him

    And don't let a few stolen coins make the problem seem worse than it is. No one posts when their coins get through.

    I have had one lost package in 2 years using mostly just 1st class and priority and that represents global shipping if 4000 to 5000 packages.

  • selling3selling3 Posts: 166 ✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @selling3 said:
    Perhaps the OP does not want to lose their coins in shipping. Seems to be a daily occurence on this forum.

    But they are being shipped back to him

    And don't let a few stolen coins make the problem seem worse than it is. No one posts when their coins get through.

    I have had one lost package in 2 years using mostly just 1st class and priority and that represents global shipping if 4000 to 5000 packages.

    That's true. Maybe the stress of the tracking nightmare being only one way is it, Most folks here may not be sending 5K packages. I have inside knowledge of USPS working and prefer to drop my coins off in person because of the stories I've been told.

  • TrazTraz Posts: 377 ✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @Traz said:
    I guess my question wasn't specific enough.... I should have just asked what the turnaround time is, since I can only be there one day, if they can ship after grading or do I need to pick them up there.

    :P

    We understood the question. But if you're going to wait a week or more for delivery of the package, why pay extra for show grading when 5 day Express would be much cheaper?

    Would have to see the shipping insurance for them are. The total cost is roughly $380,000. Not sure but I think ship and insure is .20 for every $100 and max value is 75k a package.

    It’s more of a convenience thing than anything. I’m not worried about losing packages I’ve sent 200k Stella before and wasn’t worried.

    It’s just a pain in the butt :)

  • WingedLiberty1957WingedLiberty1957 Posts: 2,960 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RogerB said:
    :)
    As I found on the internet, the "graders" are brought to a show location in a sealed, darkened van accompanied by big, black SUVs with tinted, extra thick windows. The graders are unloaded into a secure tunnel and escorted to their on-site grading room. The room is equipped with flickering fluorescent ceiling light (with buzzing ballasts). Graders are given an assortment of magnifiers, candles and other implements of the trade. All but the most senior are chained to their work tables. All must wear horse blinkers so they cannot see anything beyond a narrow field of view. (A similar mental blinker is installed in their minds so they cannot question any preconceived proclamation.)

    Once situated, the graders are given a rapid flow of pocket change, cookie cutter bullion pieces, vapid commemoratives, and related coin-like things to grade. Each item receives no more than 3 seconds of in-depth, careful examination, before being passed to the unchained grader who rubber stamps the result and sends it to packaging in slightly warped clear plastic packages.

    Of course -- I did not verify this, since everything on the internet is always true and accurate.....although I had some concern about the horse blinkers -- do they have turn signals?

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Ahhhh...you got one of the secret ID photos of a grader. Not that the mustache is always drawn on with marker.

    :)

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