Anyone here using NGC *only* because their turnaround times are much shorter? I'm a PCGS member but some of their turnaround times are over 50 BUSINESS days, NGC less than half of that. I'm thinking of joining NGC just for that reason. I don't want my coins gone for three months...
I understand the agony associated with turnaround times, but my opinion is. . . For U.S. coins, PCGS is worth the wait and you'll be better off (on resale price) in the long run. For world coins, go with NGC.
I like and buy both PCGS and NCG. For many series, PCGS coins do bring a premium. I submit only to NGC, but I don't do a lot of submitting. If you want to max $$$, you should be patient with PCGS. You can check http://www.ha.com/ to see if the particular coins you have consistently sell for a premium in PCGS plastic vs NGC.
For what it's worth, when I'm buying, I generally do not pay differently for the holder the coin is in, or even if it is not in a holder at all. The coin determines my price, not the holder. If that doesn't tell you anything, I don't know what will. The only real exceptions are when I'm buying a coin which is commonly counterfeited. Then, the security of a holder attracts more potential buyers, but it matters not whether it is from PCGS or NGC. I am an authorized dealer for both, and submit to both with approximately the same frequency, but for different types of coins and different services . . . let's call it situational submission. To address the question raised by the OP, lead times for PCGS may exceed those of NGC by a lot right now, but not on another date. That PCGS lead times normally seem greater than NGC probably indicates more demand for their services.
Perhaps . . . As with all businesses meeting fluctuating demand, it is both challenging and unprofitable to employ enough staff to meet peak demand. Viable businesses must find a way to smooth out the workload on the number of staff required to meet their average demand, and satisfy their customers at the same time. This is a delicate balancing act, and the province of most MBA's, which I admittedly am not. The grading services publication of their lead times is their way of setting customers expectations, and the customers must make choices based on those lead times, as well as other factors, such as quality of service, and price. Both companies offer a value proposition to potential customers, based on what they perceive their respective strengths and weaknesses to be. If PCGS felt their services did not already equal or exceed the overall value offered by NGC, they would likely feel compelled to improve their lead times.
ToughCOINS - - Aren't you saying two different things here? You begin by saying that the holder doesn't matter. . . . but end by saying that there is more of a demand for PCGS service. Don't you think that the increased demand is a result (at least in part) of higher premiums being likely at time of resale?
Sort of . . . I didn't write that the holder doesn't matter . . . I wrote that the holder doesn't matter to me. That's not to say that other market participants don't favor one TPG over the other - obviously many do . . . you just can't count on every buyer being more interested in your coin, or being willing to spend more on it simply because it is in a certain holder. There is no one grading service that is going to work best for everyone in every situation.
Thanks all for the replies. I send in about a 50/50 mix of US and world, but mostly modern stuff. The non-US modern coins that I have bought recently were about 5% to 10% higher in PCGS holders, unless there was some sort of sale. Sometimes (rarely) PCGS/NGC MS/proof69 coins were less than coins in the OGP. I wish I had the money to buy one of each to compare quality and see if the price difference was justified (I will accept donations in the name of science to accomplish this, if anyone wishes to make me a grant).
