PCGS, NGC or CAC?

I'm leaning towards letting my membership renew at PCGS this time around. While I wasn't happy with the turnaround times, their grading is accurate (even though I would have liked my 83-CC Morgan to get higher than a 58) and and there is definitely a market for PCGS slabbed coins regardless of specifics. I am thoroughly enticed by the "new member" perks of other TPG's, such as "X amount" of free submissions. That certainly attracts my attention and makes me want to send stuff in to get graded, but then I have to pay the additional costs for whatever service beyond their "free" offer includes. I'm kind of torn here lol!

Who knows... maybe I'll go with CACG? I've got a little while to think about it still, so at least I've got that going for me. Maybe the best bet would be to do the old dart throw? I've got a dart board that I can hang different labels on, then turn the lights off and let one fly. That would certainly solve my dilemma, as the result would be wherever it lands!

 

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I've only sent in about 10 coins for grading. All world. NGC did the first six well, can't complain. I sent in another two in August though and have a long list of complaints. The coins just came back today.

1. Their turnaround time for the service selected was (and still is) listed as 40 business days, but it took over 60.
2. The coins came back with a scratch on one holder, and both sides of another holder covered in sticky, nasty gunk (like the glue left behind from tape) that I struggled to remove, and which left hairline scratches in the process.
3. Poor communication. No updates whatsoever.
4. One came back in a piss-poor grade (AU53) when it should've been AU58 or higher based on my own judgment, comparisons, and the auction description. This one is subjective of course but it doesn't excuse the other three.

Compare that to the two I sent to PCGS in late Oct.

1. They came back within two weeks.
2. The slabs were immaculate, and wrapped in either small foam holders around the slab or with a plastic film around the slab surface to prevent scratches.
3. I was informed of every step along the way. Coins received, coins moved to next phase, coins imaged, coins shipped, etc.


I'll never use NGC again.

 

I certainly appreciate that feedback, as I am (or was) seriously considering NGC. Maybe it was a one-off that they sent out such crappy slabs, but their running late on orders seems to be a more widespread issue. You're not the first that I've heard that from. Actually, the owner at the LCS I frequent recently told me he's having a similar issue, and he sends in a lot of coins when he decides to grade.

Two weeks from PCGS sounds like you paid for their expedited service (I don't blame you one bit for that) so that's might be an unfair comparison to make. Either way, getting a damaged holder wouldn't sit well with me, just as an additional 50% wait time wouldn't.

Thank you for your reply and sharing your experience. Maybe I'll take a more serious look into CACG... they can't be much worse than the competition! LOL!

 

Put me into the ANACs column for submissions, although I will buy PCGS and NGC slabbed coins, no problem. I've submitted over 80 Morgans to ANACS and I've noticed something that is fairly consistent. Their graders seem to be much more stringent with grades in MS and often put sliders into the AU58 grades instead of MS. (judging on similar conditions with PCGS and NGC side by side)

That being said, even though they cost less, their service isn't quick either with the economy option. PCGS seems to be the gold standard with auctions but if I get a really nice (and valuable) coin slabbed by ANACs, I'd roll the dice and have it cracked out by PCGS and regraded. Looking at the slabbed coins from PCGS, NGC, and ANACs, I think ANACS has a chip on their shoulder and is loathe to overgrade anything, which doesn't help me in any case. I can't say I trust IGC, but it depends on the coin, like everyone says.

 

Just earlier this morning I went onto their website and essentially canceled my membership. Technically still active for another 10 days or so, but I think I'll be done with them unless they want to offer me some grading credits / free submissions.

I took a closer into CACG and I'm pretty sure I'll end up signing onto their annual membership. They have reasonable rates, especially with economy stuff (even though it's unlikely I'll send any of my Morgans in), they're definitely a well-regarded party, and they're East Coast based so one would think at least the shipment times would be slightly faster. I like to try out newer places, too, so they fit the bill on that.

 

Does CACG have something similar to True Views?

 

I just bought my first CACG slabbed coin this week. It's a non key date Morgan that I'm just filling an empty slot with. I was not seeking that TPG out, it just happened to a coin I needed and wasn't overpriced like I would have expected from that grader, in fact, was less expensive in graded book than PCGS or NGC.

 

I guess I should rephrase.
Yes we know GC has great photos (pun intended), but CACG seems to have NGC style web image scans only, though they are better.
But NGC has their private true view style photos that are only sent to the folks getting stuff graded. Does CACG have something similar?

 

CACG appears to be adhering -- at least at this point -- to a pretty strict Technical Grading approach that some of our veterans and some of the mods here favor.

The biggest issue is not in any 1-point swings lower....it's in coins previously graded Mint State being dowgraded to AU status for wear/rub/friction (a subject we have debated here every few months/years here in some lengthy threads). Worse, some coins coming back with Details grades.

Alot of concern from registry players, folks with highly-graded coins, and those wondering if they are going to suffer a big loss of monetary value.

 

Why should the CACG Grading be described as '"worse", if the opinion is "technically" accurate? Isn't that good for the Hobby?

Why encourage negativism, and support of investment value over Hobby enjoyment, because of the opinions of disgruntled individuals....and I would proffer that the majority of the dissatisfied individuals praised to high Heaven the establishment of CAC and CACG by JA.

 

Yeah you're right, those are great. I only have a couple CACG coins and they just have the scans in the slab (see below). But I think I'm with you, I might switch to CACG when my PCGS membership expires.

 

I've only submitted to ANACS so far, quite a few actually, probably 80 submissions so far. Don't all TPGs offer you the option of not cracking out a previously graded coin if the new end grade is less than the holder that it's in? You still pay the grading fee but they send it back intact in the same holder it arrived in? I believe this is true of ANACS but I don't know about the others.

 

Although I complain about poor photos from some TPGs, it’s of no concern whatsoever in deciding what TPG to use. Coins can always be photographed later in the slab. And I’m not a dealer or into flipping coins, so turnaround times aren’t a big deal. I still complain about those too.

What really matters is whether the coin got the grade I expected and that the market respects the grade. I belong to PCGS and NGC and will keep it up. Lately, most of my activity has been crossing world NGC coins to PCGS. Belong to CAC and occasionally send coins for stickering … semi-successfully. I have no need for CACG. I’d much rather have a PCGS or NGC coin with a CAC sticker rather than a CACG slab. I also enjoy PCGS and NGC registry participation, but a CACG-graded coin can’t go into a PCGS registry.

Cal

 

Price guide for a 21D is $75 for AU58? I may have to think about selling a few dozen.

 

Charley, not sure you were referencing my post...but I never said CACG was "worse" or better or anything.

I just gave my opinion on what I have read and the main concerns/debates I have seen on other forums.

 

Regarding photographs - ANACS did a wonderful job with my submission of Canadian silver but their images are atrocious. This was a couple years ago now so I don't know if they've improved. It was only $3/coin but a total waste of money. I can do better with my phone. As far as technical grading I feel like they may be on a par with CACG. Almost all of the MS62 grades I received I think would get 63 at the other two TPGs.

On that issue, are people buying CACG coins to resubmit to NGC or PCGS in order to get that one grade point higher? I can see a motivation to do so.