FALL9797

No sorry if that's how it reads. The value as is now £110. My point was it should not make a difference to customer service whether the coin is worth X amount, but they have missed out on my future dealings as it could of totalled to the £1000's.If you want Bill to read your post it might be better to PM him you complete initial post as this will go to his email I noticed Bill was logged in to the Forum yesterday ... I hope he read my post. I have rang CGS and emailed countless times. When I got through the 'Manager' said it will get sorted. I hold no hope. Please everyone pass it to others that this company don't give two hoots about coins just money.... I bet we cant swear on here...but they are a bunch of _______ <add what you need [in your mind] not reply....lol Lee

No sorry if that's how it reads. The value as is now £110. My point was it should not make a difference to customer service whether the coin is worth X amount, but they have missed out on my future dealings as it could of totalled to the £1000's. No problem Lee. Just wanted to make sure as we've all seen mules listed on eBay for ludicrous four figure sums. I sat in the room at London Coins auction last Sunday and watched about ten of them pass across the block at £35-80 a time (dependent upon grade), so that's about the value right now. I do share your frustration at CGS. They really need to take their business seriously or they're just going to be sidelined. Thing is..I'm having serious doubts on the coin. I can remember certain aspects and I'm sure I took pictures. They are just disgraceful in how they treat customers and all Steven Levitt / Lovett?? is after is your cash. Nuts to the customer.

The coin is very sentimental and wanted it graded and looking spanking for prosperity. I wish I had not even looked at CGS...it is on going. I hope they go out of business.....

Hi I am new to the site and have a few problems with words due to cognitive problems so please if I make a mistake and it sound weird just work around me if possible.ta. I have been c collector since I was 9 and have gotten serious with it all since I became ill [story over with] I have a coin that is driving me mad. I have a pal in india on this also but I thought I would try you guys also. I have not got a Scooby doo. Lee

Think he meant that because they were so rubbish(i myself waited 60 days each time for return) that he will not be sending any of the rest of his collection to be graded. As a slab fan myself and after looking for other alternatives i use NGC now(didn't realize they had european sites thank you BRG ). CORRECT. NGC How do you find them.? Lee

No sorry if that's how it reads. The value as is now £110. My point was it should not make a difference to customer service whether the coin is worth X amount, but they have missed out on my future dealings as it could of totalled to the £1000's.

I think that to a certain extent that is just a marketing ploy pushed by the grading companies to make the punters believe that the cost of slabbing can be immediately offset from the perceived gain. From my experience of Graded Coins (I am told there are over 20 'grading companies' in the USA in addition to PCGS and NGC) there is undoubtedly hype and pressure to get coins graded. One could almost suggest that in North America that collectors are buying graded coins by US firms because of peer pressure. If you want to make top dollar for a coin in North America - get it graded. I have seen British Coins for sale in NGC and PCGS capsules in the USA at prices that far exceed what Spink (and indeed most UK Catalogues) would suggest - especially scarcer/rarer items (I am fortunate to visit the USA often on business).I believe that my collection will realise a better price having been graded by CGS. Many will not agree and that is fine by me - fifteen years ago grading of coins in North America was seldom done. Now it is the norm. Perhaps if I survive another twenty years the UK and rest of Europe may follow suit or I may just be a lonely voice in the crowd of people preferring ungraded coins. Bill you mentioned that there was some sort of meeting this weekend with the CGS boys and girls. So how did it go and what was their answers to the questions raised on here? The meeting went well (not as many as I would have like) but a variety of presentations including a very informative one by Steve Lockett on how CGS arrive at the values they place on graded coins. The notes of presentations and discussions will appear on the CGS Forum website within two weeks.I did raise the matter of the 'car park' exchange and the 'lousy customer service'. There was much scratching of head over the first point in that exchanges of coins and discussions have taken place in car parks as a result of time pressures. I was assured that people deliver to their offices on almost a daily basis (apart from couriers and post office). Even with appointments promises on timings sometimes get compromised and time is snatched when about to go elsewhere or returning from somewhere. If there is a significant piece of business to conduct (for example when I may deliver 50 or more coins for grading) they prefer an appointment so that they can check my submission and give me a receipt before I leave. Going back to the head scratching, no specific instance stood out but anyone who is unhappy with such an arrangement can ask to go to their offices or be invited to return when time pressures are not as great. The comment on poor customer service was taken on board and training will be undertaken to ensure such a conversation should not happen again. An interesting observation was made to me that I have some sympathy for - normally if you get poor customer service it would be right to take it up with a Manager. When I telephone a well known mobile telephone operation (which I have done from time to time) I just ask to speak to a manager at the outset so that matters can be properly resolved. CGS does accept coins being delivered to its offices (and if there are a lot of them it is as well to book an appointment). For myself I am content with their pricing as I think the results of their service are first class (and are cheaper than the main north American companies). Unfortunately I did raise the question of how much does it cost to actually go through the CGS process and then encapsulate a coin and I suspect the margins out of £11.99 are very minimal indeed. This may lead to an upward review of prices during the course of this year. Dear Bill. I have specifically joined to talk to you. I have been collecting since I was 9yrs old. I am now 39. I have access to a vast amount of coins from my collection and a close friends collection some I guarantee would take your breath away. Recently my dad found the Mule 20p and handed it to me. This was one of the only coins that he had given to me so with out thinking did a search to find how to capsulate. CGS sprang up. After a fraught bit of arguing with Royal Pain in the arse Mail for 'Loosing' a Special delivery my mule was found and it made its way to CGS. After becoming familiar with the site I signed up with the thought of not just sending the mule but including a fair BU and Choice UN coins from the collections. As soon as I checked the CGS site ( the hour after I rang to confirm it was there) I noticed it was on a Grading Level 2 not 1 . OK it's a good mule. The Manager who's name is SC [i'm sure you know who] had spoken to me on a few occasions. A bit of a stern woman as managers go however I'm a customer and thought she was rather lacking in customer service. Time passes, one week goes, The four week arrives. So I email SC and get no where due to the second level grader just arriving back from over seas business and she gives me the information I can already see on the CGS site. On the 03.02.14 I ring just to get a bit of news on my coin as I was hoping to get this back to take on a trip to my dad's. WELL!!! The mouthful I received of the female manager was outrageous yelling and balling " I have given you the information' all the while I am calm and asking why she is talking to me like this and asking her to calm down. I had no defence. I couldn't get one in? After all the trying to ask for my info I was met with a threat. 'This coin I am sending this back to you (Overseas possibly polish ascent)' with even more anger. So the phone went down. After five minutes of shock I got a call back from her simply with ' I'm getting your coin finalised and posted in a couple of days' Phone down? Now a few weeks ago I was at a fair that CGS were at and met the owner SL in a fleeting question and can remember his voice as I also looked at the video on line from YouTube coinweek channel , - Coin Auctions & Third Party Grading in Great Britain - THE LONDON COIN FAIR. So I rang back, wanting to talk to him and he picks up...Result. However it is him but not him as he confirmed he was not there. - are you with me guys....I explained that I was not happy about the way the 'woman' spoke to me and basically he confirmed he had heard it all saying' She emailed you the information' ABRUPTLY and ending with 'You know I have not giving this anymore thought' and slammed the phone down. CGS failed me on a 20p mule and have missed out on a revenue of possible £5-6 thousand pounds they are not worth the time. if they can treat a first time customer like that then all the tea in china would not make me recommend them in the future. In fact the idea of a rival Grading Company is quite appealing. My opinion on why there is a high amount of turnaround is money. Not the expertise simply money. If you send a high value coin the turn around is in one week, My mule even though a lower value should have the same amount of care and customer service an any other client. This is backed up with the fact that the money was taken out of my account as soon as it arrived with them. As you have direct access please by all means show them this. Good practice is a thankless task but bad goes along way. Further than some may imagine. It seems that matter of customer service is a bit pointless after you have met either be it before or after my little tussle with them. and I was speaking to the manage and the owner. It has just arrived. LOOK AT THE STATE OF THIS. IT IS NOT EVEN SET STRAIGHT. I'M SO ANGRY AND UPSET. NO ONE WILL ANSWER MY EMAILS OR MOBILE. THE WONDERFUL CGS. DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE AND SEND THEM ANYTHING.

I think that to a certain extent that is just a marketing ploy pushed by the grading companies to make the punters believe that the cost of slabbing can be immediately offset from the perceived gain. From my experience of Graded Coins (I am told there are over 20 'grading companies' in the USA in addition to PCGS and NGC) there is undoubtedly hype and pressure to get coins graded. One could almost suggest that in North America that collectors are buying graded coins by US firms because of peer pressure. If you want to make top dollar for a coin in North America - get it graded. I have seen British Coins for sale in NGC and PCGS capsules in the USA at prices that far exceed what Spink (and indeed most UK Catalogues) would suggest - especially scarcer/rarer items (I am fortunate to visit the USA often on business).I believe that my collection will realise a better price having been graded by CGS. Many will not agree and that is fine by me - fifteen years ago grading of coins in North America was seldom done. Now it is the norm. Perhaps if I survive another twenty years the UK and rest of Europe may follow suit or I may just be a lonely voice in the crowd of people preferring ungraded coins. Bill you mentioned that there was some sort of meeting this weekend with the CGS boys and girls. So how did it go and what was their answers to the questions raised on here? The meeting went well (not as many as I would have like) but a variety of presentations including a very informative one by Steve Lockett on how CGS arrive at the values they place on graded coins. The notes of presentations and discussions will appear on the CGS Forum website within two weeks.I did raise the matter of the 'car park' exchange and the 'lousy customer service'. There was much scratching of head over the first point in that exchanges of coins and discussions have taken place in car parks as a result of time pressures. I was assured that people deliver to their offices on almost a daily basis (apart from couriers and post office). Even with appointments promises on timings sometimes get compromised and time is snatched when about to go elsewhere or returning from somewhere. If there is a significant piece of business to conduct (for example when I may deliver 50 or more coins for grading) they prefer an appointment so that they can check my submission and give me a receipt before I leave. Going back to the head scratching, no specific instance stood out but anyone who is unhappy with such an arrangement can ask to go to their offices or be invited to return when time pressures are not as great. The comment on poor customer service was taken on board and training will be undertaken to ensure such a conversation should not happen again. An interesting observation was made to me that I have some sympathy for - normally if you get poor customer service it would be right to take it up with a Manager. When I telephone a well known mobile telephone operation (which I have done from time to time) I just ask to speak to a manager at the outset so that matters can be properly resolved. CGS does accept coins being delivered to its offices (and if there are a lot of them it is as well to book an appointment). For myself I am content with their pricing as I think the results of their service are first class (and are cheaper than the main north American companies). Unfortunately I did raise the question of how much does it cost to actually go through the CGS process and then encapsulate a coin and I suspect the margins out of £11.99 are very minimal indeed. This may lead to an upward review of prices during the course of this year. Dear Bill. I have specifically joined to talk to you. I have been collecting since I was 9yrs old. I am now 39. I have access to a vast amount of coins from my collection and a close friends collection some I guarantee would take your breath away. Recently my dad found the Mule 20p and handed it to me. This was one of the only coins that he had given to me so with out thinking did a search to find how to capsulate. CGS sprang up. After a fraught bit of arguing with Royal Pain in the arse Mail for 'Loosing' a Special delivery my mule was found and it made its way to CGS. After becoming familiar with the site I signed up with the thought of not just sending the mule but including a fair BU and Choice UN coins from the collections. As soon as I checked the CGS site ( the hour after I rang to confirm it was there) I noticed it was on a Grading Level 2 not 1 . OK it's a good mule. The Manager who's name is SC [i'm sure you know who] had spoken to me on a few occasions. A bit of a stern woman as managers go however I'm a customer and thought she was rather lacking in customer service. Time passes, one week goes, The four week arrives. So I email SC and get no where due to the second level grader just arriving back from over seas business and she gives me the information I can already see on the CGS site. On the 03.02.14 I ring just to get a bit of news on my coin as I was hoping to get this back to take on a trip to my dad's. WELL!!! The mouthful I received of the female manager was outrageous yelling and balling " I have given you the information' all the while I am calm and asking why she is talking to me like this and asking her to calm down. I had no defence. I couldn't get one in? After all the trying to ask for my info I was met with a threat. 'This coin I am sending this back to you (Overseas possibly polish ascent)' with even more anger. So the phone went down. After five minutes of shock I got a call back from her simply with ' I'm getting your coin finalised and posted in a couple of days' Phone down? Now a few weeks ago I was at a fair that CGS were at and met the owner SL in a fleeting question and can remember his voice as I also looked at the video on line from YouTube coinweek channel , - Coin Auctions & Third Party Grading in Great Britain - THE LONDON COIN FAIR. So I rang back, wanting to talk to him and he picks up...Result. However it is him but not him as he confirmed he was not there. - are you with me guys....I explained that I was not happy about the way the 'woman' spoke to me and basically he confirmed he had heard it all saying' She emailed you the information' ABRUPTLY and ending with 'You know I have not giving this anymore thought' and slammed the phone down. CGS failed me on a 20p mule and have missed out on a revenue of possible £5-6 thousand pounds they are not worth the time. if they can treat a first time customer like that then all the tea in china would not make me recommend them in the future. In fact the idea of a rival Grading Company is quite appealing. My opinion on why there is a high amount of turnaround is money. Not the expertise simply money. If you send a high value coin the turn around is in one week, My mule even though a lower value should have the same amount of care and customer service an any other client. This is backed up with the fact that the money was taken out of my account as soon as it arrived with them. As you have direct access please by all means show them this. Good practice is a thankless task but bad goes along way. Further than some may imagine. It seems that matter of customer service is a bit pointless after you have met either be it before or after my little tussle with them. and I was speaking to the manage and the owner.