They've never been so backed up from what I can remember. I just tried to call and actually got a busy signal! That's NEVER happened! Pretty sure everyone is blowing up their phones wondering where their orders are. Website says these are the current turnaround times: Express: 8 business days Regular: 30 business days Economy: 50 business days Modern: 20 business days Doesn't sound as bad as it actually is. I have a regular order (@$32 per coin) that got put in the system July 27th, and still no news. But then again, with the holiday, I'm only on business day 28. Makes me wonder if they fired a couple graders, or if everyone took their 2-3 weeks vacation at the same time, or if David Hall's health/surgery (God bless him) caused the back-up.
You get's what you pay for. They have been posting on this subject on CU. I find it very hard to believe they are that busy in this economy and coin market! Fact: I know of several occasions where second/third tier services worked long shifts for several days to clear their backlog. It's good business. Too bad PCGS controls the market or you guys might get faster service.
In the early years the back up could sometimes reach as long as six months. They didn't have the different tiers back then, nor as many graders, but they also didn't have as many submissions per month either.
You know what's funny? I've sent 2 orders to NGC over the past 3 weeks, so they're getting my business. Their $20/coin economy service is faster than PCGS $32/coin regular service.
Probably like a lot of US businesses: refusal to hire enough people because they will want paychecks and health coverage, heaven forbid!!!!!!!!!
I haven't seen many of these, but that is by far the most beautiful 20 cent piece I've ever seen. Thanks for setting the bar so high when I finally get around to buying one. I am going to keep thinking back to this coin and think the one I can barely afford in XF40 just isn't good enough.
Probably customer service. When I talk to them on the phone, they sound depressed out of their minds. That's got to be the worst position at PCGS. I'd rather be the janitor. Who knows, maybe I'd sweep up a coin out of a dusty corner!
I've had a foreign economy submission in since JUNE 3. Gotcha beat. I did have a bit of an oddball piece that they had to research, but over 90 days... yikes!
Well you also have the problem that the people they need to hire are NOT readily available. It's not like when they get really busy temporarily they can call up the local temp service and ask them to send over four world class graders.
But given the usual carping about quality that's probably what they do do... just leave off the words "world class" from the job req.
I've never submitted to PCGS. Heck, I am an ANA member and I've never used my NGC privileges. Seems like too much of a hassle for me.
Maybe if they weren't so busy pointlessly grading thousands of bullion coins straight out of the mint as MS-69 and MS-70 for TV dealers and internet dealers , they'd have more time to grade actual coins.
