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 Replies: 18 / Views: 5,442 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1187 Posts |
Just curious what would happen if a TPG damaged a coin you sent in. Maybe they dropped it on the ground causing a gash on the coin or got a nasty finger print on it. Would they not tell you and just lower the grade? Has this ever happened to anyone? Graders are human so I'd have to imagine it happens.. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1913 Posts |
They would be legally liable for the damage. However, I don't think that's a likely way they would damage the coin. The most likely way for them to damage a coin is by a spot developing after they've slabbed it due to moisture in the air from someone breathing during the grading process. Finger prints are also a possibility (especially for silver) because they do not wear gloves. Take a look at 1:38, 2:50 and 3:00 in the video linked below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuffxI8f7wYYou'll notice that they don't wear breathing shields and they don't wear gloves. Personally, I think that's completely unacceptable. When I buy slabbed coins, I like to buy the ones that I know have been in the slab for a year minimum. If a problem was going to develop, it would most likely have shown up by then. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
If they did, and did not admit it, how would one prove it (from a legal point of view)?
I have often wondered about that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1913 Posts |
You'd have to have taken pictures of the coin immediately prior to sending it off. Then you'd likely have to sue the 3rd party grading service. It's a definite hassle unless you live in the same state as the 3rd party grading service.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Without photos of the coin at the time of submission, and being able to show it happened at the TPG and not the mail service, one might have a hard time pinning it in them. Obviously, they aren't going to simply just pay back anyone who says something was damaged as that would be a system too easy for crooks to take advantage of. Need to have solid evidence. The do have a lot of cameras, so if if happened on their premises there is a chance of video should one take it that far in a legal process. Would have to be a pretty valuable coin to take it that far. The TPGs carry huge insurance policies as a nature of their business, so have fun taking on those legal teams. Edited by Collects82
03/23/2016 6:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
There was a thread where this very thing happened a couple years ago to a CCF member. It was a big ordeal. Maybe a mod can dig it up and post a link to it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1913 Posts |
During "discovery" you could get copies of all the videos that followed your coin through their process.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Guys, I'm sure they would be honest and pay out. They have insurance for these things. That's why you pick a tier and estimate the value. That value is what they insure it for while in their custody. Now unless it's a huge dollar coin why wouldn't they pay out on what I'm assuming is the relatively small occasions where an employee damages a coin. I highly doubt they would risk the hassel and possible damage to their reputation by public lawsuit for what amounts to pennies
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
I think that there is far more risk to a coin when it is in the postal system on it's way to PCGS than during the grading .
There is always that element of risk and who is to say the damage occurred at PCGS and not when the coin is in transit?
I have had hundreds of coins slabbed at PCGS without incident and if they did inadvertently damage one of my coins I am quietly confident that they would "Fess Up" and Make Good for their blunder.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1812 Posts |
I think the post on this topic was from a collector from Australia, and the dealer that submitted his coin to PCGS had under insured the coins value (to save submission fees) and PCGS only pays out the insured value..
I could be wrong, but I believe that was the outcome of the CCF Thread.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1949 Posts |
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Valued Member
146 Posts |
When ANACS started in DC back in the early 70's, they were so concerned that people would claim they switched or damaged a coin that each coin was photographed and weighed to 3 decimal places. I have been told that all the floors were carpeted also.
Weights and photos are not necessary anymore however some TPGS do photo some coins and with the advent of "slab-view" type confirmation, most/all? probably are.
As to damage, the TPGS is responsible and know it is good business. I believe most grading service damage is in the form of hairlines that probably happened during assembly of the slab. I do know for a fact that everyone is told to report ANY damage they do to a customer's coin and it is recorded. Now, I cannot say if any "damage" (unless it is very noticeable) is reported to the customer; but if the coin is returned for something that happened to it, to the best of my LIMITED hearsay - it is taken care of in one way or the other. So put your mind to rest. Accidents happen but not often.
PS coins are tough. Buy a cheap Proof clad quarter and throw it against the wall a few times. Bet you will not see much change...
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
I know of a gem proof coin that was submitted to PCGS and it came back damaged. PCGS gave the submitter the value of the coin in grading credits. Since he submitted a lot of coins, he was ok with that. I'm sure its not an isolated incident. When you handle a lot of coins, things happen.
Edited by Andrew99
04/25/2016 10:15 am
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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
729 Posts |
Hi all. This actually happeded to me yesterday. I have, on two seperate occations, submitted a France 2001 Ultime Franc gold coin. The first got back,a SP67, all nice and sealed in a thicker slab than normal, since the coin is warped. The one I got back yesterday was in a normal slab, which made the coin touch the plastic, and when sonically sealed, made pemanent damage to the coin. This damage was made when in PCGS's care since the photos you see when you look up the cert# show a supernice SP68 with no damage on the high points on either side. I will keep you updated on what happens.... Here is the coin, slab etc.      |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1913 Posts |
Please do keep us informed. This seems pretty open and shut to me, so it will be interesting to see how PCGS responds.
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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
729 Posts |
Yeah, I hope so too.
I'm glad I didn't put a $15 value on it as the older case talked about in this thread.
Weird how it got through the final inspection, or the slabbing guy to begin with. I assume the two pieces of the slab wouldn't lie totally flat against each other when sealed. that should be a hint to get a thicker slab...
I hate the fact that it ruins not only the coin, but also the aesthetic beauty of the coin, it being matte, warped and a "clean" design without many details on it.
hmm, just noticed the small ding about 2/3s up on the left of the "1". That little ding doesn't show up on the pictures when you look up the cert#
Edited by epikur
07/06/2016 10:18 am
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Replies: 18 / Views: 5,442 |
Posted 03/23/2016 5:21 pm
