PCGS Turnaround Times...

I recently submitted some coins to PCGS and I see that it's been received and "prepped". The current turnaround times are estimated at 25 business days. But the deceptive part that I learned today after calling them and seeing that it's been prepped since Monday but not entered, is that it takes another 3-4 days to enter the data into the system after it's been "prepped", and the turnaround time doesn't begin until the day after the order entry date!

Add to this PCGS's inability to guarantee these turnaround times, and economy tier submissions are looking at 1.5 months minimum to get back. That's at least about 1.5-2 weeks longer than NGC's economy tier! NGC starts their turnaround time at the day of receipt and from my experience of several submissions, they keep to their schedule as strictly as possible (usually 20 business days).

I'm sure that PCGS gets many submissions, but entering the data into the system takes nearly a full business week? It seems as if this data entry policy is really a means to delay the submission's grading in order to give graders some breathing room. Is PCGS trying to save on labor costs by not having enough graders on staff?

EDIT: Also, with these grading delays and without any guarantees, it seems pointless to pay a little extra for the regular submission. It's as if one should send it and forget it, or only submit really rare or expensive coins for submission at a more expedited service level. Maybe this is why PCGS has had slower business lately (IIRC from what I read around here).

 

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My last submission (a cross-over) was pending for about 3 weeks, showed the appropriate categories for about 2 weeks, and finally showed grades last Friday, albeit with the incorrect information. This was at the "regular" submission level, due to coin values.

 

I've never had one take that long to get entered. Most of mind get entered the next day and sometimes a big submission is like two days. A lot of the CS people aren't all that helpful though a couple are good, but if you ask them about anything they will overstate times generally so they don't get angry calls back saying you said it would be done in x time.

They were doing more business according to their earnings from earlier this year.

 

True, those were probably max times given and it's still way too early to tell.

Today is only Day 2 of Prepped status.

 

They might be a little slow this week with the holiday Monday, they probably spent yesterday working through that backlog.

 

I sent a regular order that was prepped yesterday and entered into the system today, 24 hrs later. Only 3 coins, though.

 

I guess my order is quite a bit more complex. Today is Day 4 of the prepped time, so the business day after (Monday) would be the latest day it should be posted.

I did send them a bunch of research for them to consider going back to assigning proofs instead of as business strikes (e.g. Isabella quarter and Columbus half). So maybe that research had to cross the decision-makers' desks before they can enter the coins into the system.

 

I hope you're right, but I'm afraid with the little guy (like me and you), they show their buddies and have a good laugh before throwing it in the trash. Still, I really hope they look at it instead of just making assumptions.

 

My last NGC submission (Modern) took just 6 CALENDAR days from dropping it off at ANA Orlando to out the door and shipped. That said, the Registered Mail took longer than that, but I knew the grades, at least.

 

Yeah, I hope they actually look at it lol. My submission includes, among other research items, a copy of the original article from 1893, in which the numismatist author and other numismatists give their first hand accounts and come to the consensus that the Columbian half dollar should be classified as "medallic or commemorative coins". This classification comes despite their negative views and overall disappointment at various design elements of the coin.

 

I try to send coins and forget I sent them immediately, then getting that email in 4-6 weeks or whatever it ends up being is a nice surprise. It's like getting free coins in the mail if you're able to really hone the art of forgetting stuff like I can.

This thread actually reminded me I have a couple coins at NGC as we speak that I sent in a week or two ago. Hopefully one will be a free 64-65 PL or DMPL when it arrives after I forget about it again.

 

This is ridiculously easy to accomplish.

1) Have a cerebral hemorrhage and be put on a bunch of meds as you recover.
2) Don't get as much sleep as you should.

Bingo, bango, bongo! What coins? I recently was filing some paperwork and came across a Stacks/Bowers invoice for coins I forgot I owned. They are now in my competitive exhibit prep for Denver. Dang! That exhibit just got way nicer.

 

I found an ancient copper in my tax papers last year. Totally forgot I owned it. Unfortunately it was only worth like $10.

 

I imagine you can kill hours of recovery time looking at just how shiny the coins are too.

 

Yup, and if you push it juuuust that little bit farther, reruns on TV don't bother you any more, you can hide your own Easter Eggs, and you get to meet new people every day.

 

It's finally entered into the system on Day 5 of "Prepped" status!

That means that Tuesday (D-Day) is Day 1 of the turnaround time.

I'm guessing that it'll get done D-Day +35 or so.

I'm not sure how I feel about the descriptions... they're very vague. Even the 1965 should have been labeled as an SMS, and the "1863 token" should be the Our Little Monitor Civil War Token. So, that gives me a little bit of hope for the 1893 coins and whether or not they're considering them as proofs, esp. since the PCGS No. are still "In Process". Or maybe that's how just how they do things.

 

That's how they do things initially with vague descriptions. Once they're graded they will get more information listed and sometimes you can see they were graded already by the info changing even if the grades aren't available yet.

 

OK, for those of you who may be interested in PCGS turnaround times...

PCGS finally posted the grades online today (this afternoon).

Invoice entry date on 5 June; grades posted online 25 July.

 

For economy? Secure plus? Variety attribution?

 

For economy, cheapest route with no mint error or variety attributions.

PCGS quoted 23-24 business days, but mine was more like 35 business days.

50 calendar days from order entry, or 55 calendar days from day of mailing to them.

EDIT: However, obviously, I still don't have these in-hand yet! So, I think it'll be more like 60+ calendar days from initial mailing until I receive it.

Overall, NGC has a better turnaround time, but I didn't mind too much at all, given the amount of research and paperwork I submitted to them lol.