True we all have a right to our own opinion but when it gets posted on a public forum there is a risk factor to consider. If the other party gets ticked off about the use of the scam word, they may very well decide to throw a few bucks at you in legal fees and let you try to prove your point. Right or wrong it's just wasted money. I learned the hard way that it's not worth the risk.
louielot: When you said, "First Strike just tells you a little more about a particular coin" I thought you meant it told you something of value, not just when it was bought. That's why I thought you were confused... My bad.
Cringly, Thanks. The mint probably doesn't listen much, but who knows how a seed might be planted. You took your time and suggested something to the mint that would be interesting to a lot of collectors. For that we should all thank you. On the new NCG slab issue. Sure they want to market new things. How about the person who just sees a 1909 lincoln cent in a window. They may not be a collector, just picking up a gift for a friend or loved one who is. But they might think it is really cool to own the first year of issue. I know some of the best gifts I have ever gotten where just simple coins. They might not have much numismatic value, but they meant a lot because the person I got them from knew I collected and bought something they thought I would like. Not just a gift card. Will there be people who abuse and over charge for these. Yes. Will they have a place with some collectors. Yes.
bodybag: Nothing that I said was libelous as I am a consumer and therefore entitled to any opinion about a product or it's producers that I have. Read more: http://www.cointalk.com/t86993-4/#ixzz0cFzeK8Qc Sure, it is. You are accusing NGC of participating in a scam. Unless you have factual evidence, you could be held libel. Of course, they would not go after you discussing it on a third tier coin forum, but if they chose to, you would be dead to rights.
I can understand your consternation, though I think the word "scam" is overly harsh. Since some collectors collect type coins by "first year of issue", such coins have a small edge. It seems odd that NGC would issue a slab like that, but I don't think it causes any harm. I see nothing wrong with NGC wanting a competitive edge vs. PCGS, who has a very strong position right now.
This place is third tier? Now who's being libelous? Some folks take themselves way too seriously......
I agreed that my choice of words may have been a bit off the mark, but I couldn't find another that embodied the same kind of disdain. Libel, I think not. In order to qualify in the eyes of the law, NGC must have been damaged by my remark. Let's just call off the dogs on this one, sheesh, people! Relax! It was just a word, a poor choice, maybe, but just a word.
I hope the NGC lawyers see it the same way. They have every right to bring something like this to court if they wish. They could also bring CT into the mess as well. I don't think they would do this, but they could. As said before, it's not worth the risk.
Meanwhile, in the offices of NGC: Let's be EXTRA careful how we word our next fad label promotion; you never know when some crazy coin collector is going to twist our words around and who knows, in this sue-happy day and age they just might get some disgruntled jury and we'll loose an outrageous amount of money, millions of dollars, just because our our fine print wasn't completely and unequivocally unambiguous.
As we just went through in another thread, anyone can sue anyone else for any reason. There are people who have been broke (literally) by being sued by someone with no proof of them having done anything wrong. However, the standards required to win by the famous and companies is way beyond anything I have seen here. They are held to a much higher proof than the general public.
Let's be a little more inclusive. How about "Last Chance Sale?" Anyone with an Adams Spouse Mule has one of those!
Mr. Noodle has full right to express any opinion he has freely. NGC could sue but if NGC sued him, it would hurt them more than him because then people like myself would be all over the internet pointing to this and what scum they are for bullying a person for an opinion. I would be MORE than happy to get the word out on every forum I post to as my feelings regarding TPGs (on the whole they are useless) in general are well known and I have never said a good word about them...but that was only on 'third tier' forums like Cointalk. I find only those who are TRULY involved in questionable business practices tend to sue for every little negative thing said about them. NGC stays going ONLY because enough people trust them to use the service, they lose that and people will rethink whether they really need a cheap plastic slab and some subjective opinion for every coin every minted.