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Message:: [QUOTE="Lehigh96, post: 784608, member: 15309"]While I appreciate the intention of the OP to carve out a niche market in the TPG playing field, I don't really think that being the cheapest service is a feasible niche. Every potential customer would have to consider the cost benefit of sending their coins to him as opposed to PCGS, NCG, ICG, ANACS, DGS....etc. If the OP's submission price is $20 less but coins in his slab sell for $25 less on average, it will be a short lived venture for the start up TPG. This thread has provided many reasons why it will be extremely difficult to avoid that from happening. The TPG business is all about consumer confidence, reputation, and guarantee.  I believe that there are niche markets available in the TPG arena. Dealers with highly specialized knowledge and respected reputations could create their own TPG's. Rick Snow comes to mind. How many IHC collectors would send their coins to him if he owned a TPG. I think his graded coins would fare very well against PCGS and NGC graded coins. The reason is that his numismatic reputation for grading in his niche is more respected than the professional graders of the major TPG's in that same niche. Likewise, if a toning specialist like Ron Sirna were to create a TPG with it's own standards for evaluating toning, I think it could be successful, although very risky.[/QUOTE]