yes, I agree. My husband just informed me that he has heard that promise before...that they were shipping the certificates out. In the past, however, it was a response to an inquiry that we made...this time, they contacted me directly. I am cautious....we will see if we get the currency back next week. I will update this so that you know.
Either FB page was put back or I looked for an incorrect page...anyway...it is there....PCGS Currency. The discussion is still there. Someone looks at something!
Well, here we are....Monday close of business and nothing from PCGS....nothing....NOTHING! Not a phone call, not an email (as promised), not an update on my submission page. No vouchers but most importantly....no currency! So, I guess the phone call was one more diversion. My letters get mailed tomorrow! I would strongly recommend you think twice before utilizing this crowd. Their customer service is lousy. Currency submitted in November! I promised that I would take back my former comments if they honored their promise....they didn't, I'm not.
They are not. As an update to my original post. . . . I did finally get through to a real live person at PCGS Currency. Imagine that!!! Basically the same story we've all heard. . . Growth has been much greater than they ever expected, they've hired more graders but the training process will take time, "special" submissions take longer than regular submissions, etc., etc., etc. Although I went into the conversation hoping to hear something that would lessen my concern and make me more comfortable sending them my Notes for grading, it didn't happen. I'm just glad I found this out BEFORE I sent my Notes.
P.S. A Coin Talk member pm'd me last week the e-mail address of the VP/Operations of PCGS Currency. I e-mailed her the same day with some questions. The "live person" I talked to wasn't her. . . If you can believe it, she has not yet responded to my e-mail :desk: :axemeethead: :headbang:
How did you send the currency? Did you do a discount pricing for the grading. Because them and NGC are very behind on grading right now and the discounted ones are going to be the last to get done as that's the way they were paid for. As for "fishy". I think you have nothing to worry about with them closing the doors and keeping your notes as they seem to not only have all the work they can handle but more then they can...thus plenty of money to keep them solvent. Just a lack of good enough graders to get the work done. As for me I'd rather wait then have them hire lamo graders that would get it wrong IMO.
IMO, you're missing the point. I completely understand that unexpected demand causes a backlog. What I don't understand is what appears to be a very consistent lack of customer service. The need to train more graders is no excuse for not returning phone calls and emails (and in some cases not even answering the phone).
One last suggestion. . . PCGS should do a better job in managing customer expectations. Where/when are they telling customers and potential customers about backlogs that apparently approach 8 month wait times?
You know, we were not the ones that made the "first 15 free" offer. The offer was simply to entice new customers. We sent in currency out of curiosity because we have had a good relationship with PCGS coins in the past. We were hoping that this would be a responsible company as well. We would be happy to pay the charges that come with submission....but that is not what was offered. I think it would be wise for PCGS COINS to re-consider the association or lack there of with PCGS Currency. Currency continues to use the logo and is riding the wave of the PCGS Coin reputation. We have a lot of currency to be evaluated but must say, it worries me that I may have to depend upon this company.
Thought I would share my 2 cents with my experience with this topic.I had come across a very rare and valuable note in recent months.After calling many dealers and big players in the industry to learn and have a good understanding of what I had I was referred to call the VP at PCGS as she is a good friend of this dealer.After a period of over 3 weeks I gave up trying to reach her.she either wasnt there or not in the office or was traveling which is understandable but I left contact info and never got a call.
I don't currently collect paper but if i were to come across a note worth getting graded, PCGS would be off the list of graders for sure. I will not do business with a company that doesn't have the common courtesy to respond to their customers or send out a simple email notice to those waiting for notes to be graded updating them on the status. I could tolerate a delay, but I won't tolerate poor communication.
Well no offense all but between mcrow, bonniview and Allen you guys have a total of 130 posts and 26 of them are in this thread. It almost seems that a new person or 2 decided to come here and either: 1. push a PMG agenda (which I like also but is also very behind). 2. or maybe are with another currency certification group But either way to me it looks like a personal agenda. I will repeat my opinion that PCGS currency is a good company (even though not affiliated with the Coin part) but is behind the curve for now. And does seem over worked. Look at it this way, would you want people to be wasting time returning lame questions and emails about this bill and that bill or trying to help out where their backlog is and get some darn notes graded? Is this a black eye and makes people think twice about sending product to them for grading...yes. But in this case that is a good thing for awhile until they get more caught up. And as for some specials, hind sight is 20/20 and I'm sure they wish they would not have run that or what every specials they did. I will back out of this thread now. Respectfully, Duke
Thanks, Duke! Bye for now! Just to note....I don't know where you got the 130 notes posted from but I account for only a few on this one and most were very small corrections to the spelling used in the initials of the company. I came to this thread to see what others had to say about the company and I found out what I had already come to believe. That said, I am wondering who has the personal agenda....you sound like you work for them! If you are willing to accept lousy customer service...so be it....have a good time! Poor customer service not only reflects on the leader (Bradford) but implies poor management, poor leadership and poor ethics. Sorry, I can deal with a backlog but outright lies about service? No go.
Try again Duke. Like I said, I don't even collect paper money. I never posted about PCGS Currency, I mostly collect Nickels. I have no personal agenda, I don't even know if PMG is any good either and I don't know anyone who is involved with either company. In fact, I didn't even start collecting non-bullion coinage until a couple weeks ago. What I fine funny, Duke, is you defense of PCGS. It's much more likely that you are PCGS shill than any of us has some sort of bias against PCGS. So let me get this straight: #1- PCGS has held bills for as much as 6 months (several reports of this between these forums and PCGS forums). #2- PCGS does not respond to customer enquiries about their property. #3- PCGS CEO/President does not respond to calls/emails. #4- PCGS does not release a statment about the situation. And we're the bad guys for being suspicious? I don't know for sure what business you work in (though I have a hunch), but every type of business I've worked in customer services was a big deal and #1 priority. Keep in mind, they are holding people's property and not responding to the owners when they call about it. In many states the owner would have the right contact the authorities over this sort of thing.
Just to provide some additional perspective. I'm new over here, but not on other forums. Some disclosure: 1.) I've made several submissions to PCGS Currency in the past, but most of my collecting is buying notes that are already graded by TPGs. My latest submission came back from PCGS in the last few months. 2.) I've partaken in both their free (subscriber) submissions and several levels of paid service. 3.) I've never submitted to PMG. 4.) I don't work or shill for either. I just happen to prefer my currency graded and encased. To each their own... So, I've never had one problem in actually getting my notes back. Long, lengthy waits? Yes. Concerned about getting my notes back? Never. The reason? PCGS and PMG are THE two sources (some would argue that you could throw CGA in the mix, I disagree IMHO...) for graded currency. Heritage, who is in at least the top 3, and likely THE top auctioneer of currency, only accepts new currency IN HOLDERS. The only exception, is if you bought the note raw from them in the past...then you can then sell it raw. There's plenty of business out there and in general, people are oversubscribed to the services of both PMG and PCGS. However, I have also been unhappy with both the (lack of) return of emails/calls and timeliness of notes being graded. For special and free submissions, it's tough. There is NO set timeline defined by PCGS. They simply state turnaround time "varies with demand". It would be nice if they displayed the current turnaround times, a la PMG (http://www.pmgnotes.com/services/services.aspx). PMG is experiencing the exact same backlog as PCGS. Right now, it is a 6-7 month wait for the basic level of grading service at PMG. These two companies are the only business in town, and business is booming. Of course, that doesn't explain the customer service dilemma. I can't speak about PMG, but as I mentioned I definitely have experienced the lack of response from PCGS. When someone says "wouldn't you rather have someone grading your notes than answering phone calls and emails?", my response is "If the person answering the phones is the same person grading my notes, then there is a big problem." Having a temp, or hiring a secretary to answer the phone is a simple solution to that problem. The person providing customer service simply shouldn't be the same people providing the products. And when I do get a response, it's the inability to provide any type of specific time line for the grading of my notes. Part of the problem is that there are multiple levels of service. And everytime an "Walkthrough"/"overnight" or "Express"/"5 business day" submission comes in the door, the lower grading service levels get bumped down the queue. It's the nature of the beast. All in all though, I am VERY happy with the PRODUCT. I like their holders better than PMG (personal preference, there are many on the other side of the fence!) and it provides me with a level of comfort in providing a safer home for my collection and also providing some general ease of liquidation for me or my family down the road. So, to summarize my take, are there problems? Yes. And I think some are being addressed and some are not. Would I be in any fear of never seeing my notes again? Not at all. I feel they are a very successful company experiencing growing pains (both as a company AND in the marketplace...)
