You can call me cheap, but............

.........I prefer to think of it as being frugal!

Every year, my NGC membership renews in November, and of course with that renewal comes the certificate for five free Early Bird submissions. Since I live less than two hours away from NGC, Registered Mail would arrive there in two days. I just don't see the point of spending $25-35 for shipping and insurance when I can hand-deliver my submission to the NGC table at the FUN Show in January.

Actually, this year was a no-brainer for me because I am submitting five medals for the freebies. Four of the medals are 63mm (silver & bronze USS Enterprise and silver & bronze 350th Anniversary of Santa Fe) and are housed in Capital holders. I want to keep the holders, so how could I possibly package these medals to protect them and still meet NGC shipping requirements. They don't make flips large enough for them! Yes, I could specify on the submission form that I want the holders returned, paying for the additional service, but where is the frugality in that when there is a cheaper option?

You know, maybe it would be a different story if I were submitting something that I wanted back in a hurry to be able to flip while the "feeding frenzy" was still in full swing, but that isn't the case. Some people have even questioned why I would want to submit these medals in the first place. It's not that they have a significant value. Yes, the mintage on these was probably only 500 or so, and the combined silver content of the two is about 9ozs., but my sole purpose for submitting them is to preserve the condition of something (IMHO) of historical importance.

So, are there any other frugal people out there who will be hand-delivering their submissions (NGC, PCGS, ANACS or ICG) at the FUN Show? If so, what are your reasons for doing so?

Chris

 

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Not I since I live about 5 hours away by jet airplane and as such, it would be cheaper for me to mail them.

I have a question.

Once you hand deliver these, how will NGC protect them in transit from coin show to grading room?

 

The same way that Stacks/Bowers and Heritage safeguard the coins entrusted to them for the auctions, but that usually isn't a topic for open discussion.

Chris

 

You're not cheap. You're smart..........

And ya got a few bucks extra to spend at FUN.

 

My only PCGS submission was hand-delivered @ FUN. Part frugality, part risk-avoidance, but the real reason was the help in filling out the PCGS forms.

 

I agree. Its the same reason I take Megabus overnight to CICF instead of driving and getting a hotel. More money for what matters, coins!

Maybe one of these years personal convenience will trump more coins, but I am a long way from that point today.

 

I agree, it's not being cheap, it's being practical.

I don't get my coins graded but in the same sense, if something breaks around the house, I can usually fix it. My wife just wants to go buy a new one and tells me I just want to fix it because I'm cheap. The last thing to break was the on/off button on her hair dryer. Sure a new decent one would only be around $20-$30 but I had a screw I found out in the garage and spent about 5 minutes of my time to fix it. It'll likely last a few more years because it's already 7 years old. No reason to buy a new one so it's button can break in 5 or so years to repeat the process, I'll buy one when it no longer blows warm and hot air. So after I fixed it, she got all giddy when I told her, "See, now that I saved us $20, that's $20 you can spend on something else, like makeup or whatever it is you buy with all my money".... :smile

 

My definition of cheap would be if you buy the $15 dollar pair of shoes that will last you 3 months instead of the $40 pair that might last a year or longer, that's when one can say you're cheap!

 

Now, that's where you can call me "SuperCheap"! I hate spending money on shoes, and I will usually wear a $50-60 pair of shoes for 10 years. And, it's not that I am like Imelda Marcos. I have one black pair and one brown pair.

Chris

 

The few coins I submit for grading (more for the sake of preservation than because I care much what they'll grade) I do to ANACS which is actually reasonable driving distance from my house. They regularly come to the Aurora Coin Show which is held about once every two or three months or so, and that's an even more convenient way to submit them without having to take the time and money to package, ship, and insure them to ANACS when I can just hand deliver them in flips (which cost me about an average of 8 cents each).

Since I rarely sell my coins the fact that ANACS is the cheapest and most convenient TPG for me trumps any consideration for how marketable my coins will be in their holders. I just want a relatively affordable way to conveniently store and preserve the coins I own valuable enough to be worth slabbing. What they sell for in the future will be my heirs' problem lol...

Plus well it gives me reason to go see the coin show. It isn't very big, and the same dozen or so dealers usually come every time, but it's a way to shop around for interesting impulse items that don't show up often, or at all, at the coin shop I otherwise go to, and it's a lot more pleasant than trying to shop for coins online (which I dislike and avoid whenever I can. I prefer seeing close up what I will buy, especially if it's a significant outlay of money.). The dealers usually pick out the merchandise they think will sell well but also have a handful of old bargain stock that can have a few interesting things in it too.

 

but if you're two hours from sarasota you're also a florida guy, who actualy wears shoes?? get some flip flops!

 

I do have flip flops. I've been wearing the same pair since 1994.

Chris

 

haha i finally broke down and bought some new ones last year after having the same pair since 2001.

 

Chris,
Cheap? ... No way!
Insurance and shipping often costs more than the grading! Anything you do to circumvent it is just plain smart. If you're in Sarasota, stop in at Sarasota Rare Coins. They have walk in privileges at NGC and offer this to their customers at the cost of grading fees. They also will send your coins for to CAC and everyone shares the cost of shipping and insurance. CAC submissions are done normally once every two to four weeks depending on how long it takes for enough participation.

You're in the Cape Coral area aren't you? Work takes me there from time to time and I can make the delivery for you if time isn't an issue.

Rick

 

I appreciate the offer, Rick, but I'm not really submitting that much any more since I'm on a fixed income. Years ago, I used to take advantage of the walk-in privilege (by appointment) but NGC changed it for dealers only. I can understand why, though. I remember being there when the "suits" from Odyssey Marine were there to take possession of the gold from the SS Republic. Imagine seeing $50 million in slabbed gold stacked in boxes on the floor.

Chris

 

Flip Flops? How the devil can you guys wear those things? Sandals I can understand, but annoying, uncomfortable (with that thong of matter between my big toe and the other toe) flip flops? My old man used to wear 'em. He'd pick 'em up at W.T. Grants for 99 cents a piece. Talk about cheap.........

 

haha and those sandals are one of the easiest ways to tell a tourist. but the 50/60 dollar leather rainbows or reefs mold to your foot and they are incredible! i actually don't even own sneakers. work boots or flops with the exception of last year when i didn't feel like working it was flops everyday

 

Myself? Just moccasins for me........

 

Yep ... NGC doesn't even allow walk in for new dealers anymore. I was told that dealers must have a long relationship (5 years) established to get in now. I had called them about a year ago asking if they ever gave tours and the receptionist said no, and gave the 5 year time frame as a generality.

Can't imagine 50 million in sunken treasure being in the same room as me ... kinda drives home the point of the security they employ today ... lol!

Did you say fixed income??? Chris ... did you know you can make money buying and selling coins on the internet? More specifically ... did you know you can make money on the internet? Whether it's coins, books, or any number of other things, you can definitely make money on the internet. With your knowledge, I'm willing to bet there's a top selling e-book buried somewhere in that brain of yours.

Rick

 

My problem is I find the $15 pair of shoes lasts me about 18 months, and the $40+ pair last about 3 months. After a couple $40+ pairs I went back to the $15 jobs and never looked back.