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Boring PCGS submissions question post.

I sent some coins to PCGS Express Special submission, registered mail.
The Post Office site says they arrived on 11/19. I've been entering the Submission Number on the PCGS site (today's the 29th) and it shows no record.
I called PCGS Customer Service.
The lady told me they got the package 11/21. Oh, well.
I asked her how come it wasn't showing it'd arrived on the PCGS site. I pointed out it was an Express Special submission, 7 business day guaranteed. My experience up to know is that when it arrived, it got posted and you got an email right away.
The real kicker: she told me it wasn't 7 business day guarantee from the time they got the coins, but 7 business day guarantee from the day they "ENTERED" it, which they hadn't gotten around to doing. Maybe tomorrow.
WTF!
You guys understood the 7 business day guarantee like that?
What's the point of spending the extra money, if they let the stuff sit around until whenever, before the ENTER it into the system. What kind of "guarantee" is that?
The Post Office site says they arrived on 11/19. I've been entering the Submission Number on the PCGS site (today's the 29th) and it shows no record.
I called PCGS Customer Service.
The lady told me they got the package 11/21. Oh, well.
I asked her how come it wasn't showing it'd arrived on the PCGS site. I pointed out it was an Express Special submission, 7 business day guaranteed. My experience up to know is that when it arrived, it got posted and you got an email right away.
The real kicker: she told me it wasn't 7 business day guarantee from the time they got the coins, but 7 business day guarantee from the day they "ENTERED" it, which they hadn't gotten around to doing. Maybe tomorrow.

WTF!
You guys understood the 7 business day guarantee like that?
What's the point of spending the extra money, if they let the stuff sit around until whenever, before the ENTER it into the system. What kind of "guarantee" is that?
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Comments
I and many others feel your pain. Welcome to PCGS random and arbitrary terms of service. The good news is they got your order....the bad news is they will get to your order when they get to it. Chris
To be honest I've about had it with 3rd party grading services. I mean, what kind of a business would do something like that. Also, the vast inconsistency gripes me. I am NOT paranoid, honest, but after having no success trying to get some coins upgraded I decided to let Heritage auction them. They suggested 3 of the 5 might upgrade and sent them in, one went up 2 grades, and 1 went up 1 grade. There was a very significant difference in price as the 1 that went up 2 grades was a 1910-S $10 Indian.
<< <i>...she told me it wasn't 7 business day guarantee from the time they got the coins, but 7 business day guarantee from the day they "ENTERED" it, >>
If that truly is PCGS's policy/practice, it is a terrible one. Theoretically, there would be nothing to prevent an "express" submission from becoming an "economy" one, with no recourse to the customer who paid extra for faster service.
I wouldn't settle for that answer/outcome. I'd call back (as many times as was necessary) and politely demand that my coins be graded as per the guarantee, or that free grading vouchers be provided. I'd also send an email to the appropriate party, let him/her know what transpired and suggest they clarify and/or change their policy regarding when the clock starts ticking. It seems that a good repairman is needed.
<< <i>but 7 business day guarantee from the day they "ENTERED" it, which they hadn't gotten around to doing. Maybe tomorrow >>
Kinda like those 29 minute guaranteed oil changes, they won't honor the guarantee, so they park the car or make you wait till they write
up the work order. Time starts from when they write up the order.
<< <i>Unfortunately, their explaination is the way it is. The days start counting when the order is entered into their database. >>
Right, this is all old news, and the way it's always been.
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
<< <i>Right, this is all old news, and the way it's always been. >>
Really? I've been submitting for years, and hadn't run up against this before. Have I just been lucky?
I figure there'd be a lot more threads on here gripping about it.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
From calling, and talking to, customer service last year that they didn't start the clock until they were entered and to right the type of service on the OUTSIDE of the package.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
There are explicit instructions on submissions. If your package is not marked express or bulk or whatever type submission it is on the outside of the package, it can delay the WHOLE process.
Just a point ! oooops Bochiman covered that already....sorry
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>... and did you remember to mark the outside of your package with EXPRESS ???
There are explicit instructions on submissions. If your package is not marked express or bulk or whatever type submission it is on the outside of the package, it can delay the WHOLE process.
Just a point ! oooops Bochiman covered that already....sorry >>
That's ok
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
<< <i>Kinda like those 29 minute guaranteed oil changes, they won't honor the guarantee, so they park the car or make you wait till they write >>
I thought the 29 minute guarantee was how long they guaranteed their quality of service.
dpoole,
Good luck, but we have all been there. I waited over a week beyond their 15 day service, I called them to request the free gradings, and they told me the coins were graded they just didn't post so you don't get the free grades. They seem to be inconsistant, and it also depends on who you talk to. I have had some very nice customer service people and some not so nice. The last go around with them--they charged me for my free quarterly grading. I guess they needed the $18 buck more than I did!
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Yes.
"If that truly is PCGS's policy/practice, it is a terrible one. Theoretically, there would be nothing to prevent an "express" submission from becoming an "economy" one, with no recourse to the customer who paid extra for faster service."
"Right, this is all old news, and the way it's always been."
"Really? I've been submitting for years, and hadn't run up against this before. Have I just been lucky?"
Yes.
"I figure there'd be a lot more threads on here gripping about it."
There's been MANY.
1 Excerpt:
"... The problem as I see it is that even if you know with certainty the day they receive the coin(s), e.g. via a FedEx tracking #, their clock on the Guarantee doesn't start running until AT LEAST the day AFTER they receive them. To me, it would seem more customer friendly and transparent to state the Guarantee as being 3, 8, or 16 days FROM THE DAY THEY GET THE COINS instead of 2(walk-thru), 7(express), or 15(regular) days from the day AFTER they got them. Perhaps no biggie either way ... but I'd prefer the first way better.
In fact, the Guarantee clock really doesn't start ticking until both of the LATER of the following 2 things occur: 1). The day AFTER they receive the coins & 2). When they actually enter the coins in their system as being received (which could be as early as the day they receive them up to several days after they receive them). The first is carved in stone. The second can be gotten around if you have proof as to when they got them but they didn't enter them in until several days later. You can get them to use the day after the day you can proove they got there as the starting point - but you'll have to - IMHO - go through some uncomfortable convincing sessions."
"Did you write EXPRESS on the outside of the package?"
I believe it helps (as well as on the shipping document something like "ATTN: Express Grading") and certainly can't hurt as well as it's required.
PM sent to you with some worthwhile advice.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
EBAY Items
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZrlamir
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
Yeah, that would piss the Pope off when you see a package come in air freight or extra fast shipping and some muttonhead doesn't have the good sense to realize that there is some urgency to be associated with it. GRRRR!!
(theyve had one a mine for 3 weeks)
What's worth having is worth waiting for !
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5