ACW: Ebay recently announced that only certain TPG'ers could be listed in the titles etc. The only approved ones are PCGS, NGC and ANACS. The idea was to eliminate companies like SGS, but they also eliminated some older names. Someone will post the link for you soon, I am sure.
I have been satisfied with any PCI slabs which I have bought. Also I have crossed-over several to NGC with no problems. I, for one, am sorry to see them fold.
I don't think PCI was all that bad of a company. I think if they tweaked their model just a bit they'd be competing head on with the rest of the big guys. I have a couple of PCI slabbed items that I really appreciate.
If only this thread were titled "Looks Like SGS is Going out of Business". There would be dancing in the streets! At least on my street and it would be me.
That was the problem to begin with - they did tweak their model. There was a time when PCI was respected and they did compete with the big guys. However, they did not compete effectively - everyone preferred the others. And so they tweaked their model to give people what they wanted to hear instead of telling them the truth. That's what drove them out of business. And that will be what drives the other grading companies of lesser quality out of business as well.
There is an article in the January 7th 2008 issue of Coin World about the PCI auction. It states there is a 25% partner who is estranged from the widow of the former owner who had no idea the auction was to take place. It is not clear if the auction can proceed without his permission.
Due to overwhelming interest and negotiations in place the PCI auction has been delayed for one month.
PCI sold in its entirety on Saturday the 16th and will continue to do business with new owners at the helm.
Might be this guy. Matt Allman of Ashton, PA . He has PCI's website on his own server now. sunsetcoins.com
So how long is it going to take to figure out how the new PCI rates compared to the old PCI, and to other grading companies?
Good question that will take lots of buyer risk/money to answer. I'm nominating anyone but me to figure this out.
Announced yesterday, PCI was purchased by David Lawrance Rare Coin and will be back in operation in 30 to 60 days with apparently a new slab design. The announcement was posted on the PCI site. (They also posted a very brief history of PCI which was completely wrong.)