SEGS moved to a new location

[sadysta1]

It's in the same city just a different address, I got a special form from them with $7 grading fee for each coin and each 5th coin is graded free!!! Great offer expiring at the end of January - have to buy some coins now.

 

New address:

 

Segs Inc.

6402-B

Williamsburg Professional Center

East Brainerd Road

Chattanooga, TN 37421

[Merc]

You are posting an ad for SEGS on NGC's board. NGC should remove this post.

[RGT]

The NGC forum moderators are not as heavy-handed as they are at certain other TPG forums. Also, NGC is secure enough in their market position to not be threatened by posts like this. This same info was posted across the street and the moderators didn't get upset there either.

 

If NGC starts removing posts like these I think many of us will look for another place to post and share information.

[braddick]

I called and spoke with Adriane this morning and you should know that the special they're running ($7. per coin/ 5th coin free) is limited to regular submitters and those who received their flyer.

 

Outside of that though SEGS offers $10. grading (instead of $15.) for first time customers.

 

SEGS website: www.segsgrading.com

 

I honestly think those coins that end up at SEGS are coins that would never see NGC in the first place. It's almost like posting that McDonalds is running a "two BigMacs for the price of one" on a Five Star restaurant forum.

[wingedliberty-migration]

I find it hard to believe that they still have any market acceptance.

[braddick]

Wingedliberty, I just picked this one up off of eBay:

 

SEGS graded Seated quarter

 

What is the problem with the SEGS grade?

[wingedliberty-migration]

Braddick:

 

I would agree that most grading services have no problem with grading intermediate circulated grades, but the problem comes when you have a key date Morgan in 65 thats really a 63 or 64 in a SEGS or PCI holder and the novice consumer is out hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

I therefore treat third tier slabs as raw coins and apply the same standards to them.

My favorite grading services are NGC and ANACS. I no longer deal with PCGS, the customer service is beyond horrific. NGC and ANACS are large, but they are consistent and they take the time to please the average numismatist, and not just the 1000 coin a month submitter. Their policy is great service to everybody. I also believe that NGC and ANACS have done more in the area of variety attribution and recognition than PCGS has. I also like the fact that NGC and ANACS have both addressed the conservation and cleaning issues better with NCS and with ANACS net grading.

[braddick]

Even if I was desperate to find something to bicker about regarding your last post, I could not. I agree with you. I also no longer deal with PCGS outside of buying and selling PCGS coins. NGC is my first choice with ANACS next in line.

 

I enjoy buying PCI and SEGS sometimes though if the coin is right.

[Gregg Bingham]

well ...since we are are the subject....i also dont do pcgs as you are right the only cater to the 1000 coin submitter.....also i buy the coin not the plastic and i have had a field day buying ngc coins cheaper do to there being many pcgs clones who dont buy ngc coins.....but i have been afraid of this>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

since rick montgomery left pcgs for ngc.....ngc has put on the brakes with the gradeflation of coins....and in the past year...pcgs has shot right by.....case in point

 

>>>>i have been very concerned about sending some of my pcgs coins to ngc ...because once crossed they would go back...and i would have less of a market to sell in...thus i have had to sell some of my pcgs coins ( aka mistakes or boarderline coins ).......however since there is gradeflation and ngc has put on the brakes.......it has become less of a problem.....NGC WONT CROSS THEM ANYMORE.....so the problem is solved

 

i dont think everyone knows that ngc has passed pcgs...except us here and some others...however i do see more heavies buying more ngc coins than pcgs coins than ever before....so the facts are getting out slowly

 

************I LOVE NGC******

 

even though they have been no nice with my grades lately.....

 

monsterman

[jtwax-migration]

I submit ALL of my coins to SEGS. #1 in variety attributions, step grading, and top-notch holders in my opinion. Of course ALL of my coins are Jeffersons....

[James_OldeTowne]

I have bought quite a few SEGS coins over the years. To me, they serve a specialty niche in the marketplace that NGC and the others just can't fulfill, although ANACS is fairly close. That would be difficult attributions. Also, I have had a few coins authenticated by SEGS when I thought they would provide the most factual assessment.

 

As far as grading is concerned, that's a different issue, but you should BTCNTH anyway. Oh, and without question, the SEGS slab is the toughest, most durable and functional slab out there.

 

James

[SilverGigolo]

I prefer ICG and of course NGC has much to admire. Both of those two are making the biggest strides in the last year. SEGS is endorsed by the Jefferson Nickels Full Step Club so don't deride them too much particularly with Jefferson grading.

 

I read on the front page of Greysheet that ICG ranked #1 for bid levels in sight unseen bidding. They also ranked #1 last year in an unscientific Ebay coin community poll so don't throw too much [#@$%!!!] their way. YOu can have your favorites and I will have mine.

[Oldtrader3]

ICG has had some nice coins over the years. I had an ICG MS62 Saint that crossed as a MS64 with NGC.

[James_OldeTowne]

I've also bought some ICG coins over the years, but my biggest complaint is in high-grade modern coins, especially proofs. You can get some real bargains at times, but from my (limited) experience, ICG proofs over about PR-65 are about a point lower in grade than with NGC or PCGS.

 

Also, the way they call DCAMs is questionable. Just my opinion, but overall, I think ICG does a decent job, and as mentioned, I've scored some excellent hits with ICG coins.

 

James

[tempusfugit123-migration]

The majority of the coins I purchase are NGC graded because of their better resell value.

 

However I feel ICG gets a constant barrage of unfair, negative comments. Especially from the likes of the nationally seen "Coin Vault" on the TV sales program "Shop At home" (I feel sorry for those who purchase from them as they mark up a coins value by about 100%). The show refers to ICG as just another Slabbing Service who may "put a MS65 into a MS70 case". They persistently are referring to the "fact" that if you don't buy NGC/PCGS you are throwing your money away. I think Coin Vault has all their coins graded by NGC, which probably makes for a great deal on the grading fees; but I would think NGC would have them tone it down a bit - it makes it appear as if NGC wants to shut out any competition - dead on arrival. There is room for more than just two grading services.

 

ICG's Senior Grader (Keith Love) was a PCGS grader for over 20 years, and Senior Grader (Walt Armitage) was also a PCGS grader for many years before moving to ICG, and they have many other fine graders. From research I have done, ICG offers a fine service which deserves a lot more respect.

 

As an owner of many ICG coins this drives me crazy. I spoke with a ICG representative at the Portland Money Show last year and he suggested I hold on to my coins, as this negative/false perception will be changing soon - I hope so.

 

I also have great respect for both NGC and PCGS grading services.

[Beijim]

Regarding ShopAtHomeTV's "Coin Vault," while I agree their markups are almost always excessive from an informed person's point of view, I do watch the show because I enjoy the entertainment. In criticizing them (an entirely legitimate pursuit) I think it's worthy to avoid misrepresenting reality. Here are the facts as I believe them to be true based on having watched the show quite a lot over the past three years:

 

1. I have never heard any "Coin Vault" spokesperson refer specifically to ICG in a critical fashion. In fact, I don't recall ever having heard them refer to this grading service specifically by either name or acronym.

 

2. What the "Coin Vault" folks refer to critically these days are what they like to term "encapsulation services," because they believe that in many cases these services grade coins inaccurately or not at all, produce no grade population reports for public scrutiny, and produce an excessive number of PF70/MS70 examples in modern coins. Again, while they may intend to imply that ICG resides in this category, I've never once heard them say so explicitly.

 

3. "Coin Vault" does in fact submit to NGC most, if not all, coins they originate from raw material. However, they also sell PCGS graded coins and occasionally have what they call exclusive deals with them. An example would be their recent (one week ago) offering of the flag series statehood quarters in PCGS multiple coin holders.

 

4. "Coin Vault" has offered a 30 day return privilege for years and continues to do so today. They've been around 17 years or so, and you don't survive that long by angering customers. They say time and again that if you're unhappy with your coins for any reason, just return them for your money back or an exchange. They must have happy customers and honor this commitment, or they'd be out of business.

 

I have no agenda other than honest discussion based on the facts. I have no relationship with "Coin Vault" or ShopAtHomeTV other than as viewer and potential customer. I just don't think it's fair to attribute statements to someone unless they actually make them. Perhaps I'm wrong and simply missed them.

 

Beijim

[Beijim]

Regarding ICG coins, I've purchased a dozen or so over the years. All other slabbed coins I own were graded by either NGC (the vast majority) or PCGS.

 

All my ICG examples were graded either PF70 DCAM or MS70. In examining the ICG coins closely, frequently with magnification (10x loupe), and comparing them to my hundreds of NGC/PCGS coins, I have to say that not one of my ICG examples meets the standards I've come to expect from either NGC or PCGS.

 

Let me clarify with specific experiences:

 

- I've tried to cross only 1 coin, a 1995-S Olympics Basketball 50c piece with very nice toning (the type that's typical of the Young Collector's Edition packaging) that was graded ICG MS70. I examined it closely - it had one almost invisible scratch next to the basketball player's knee on the obverse. I thought it had a chance to cross at grade, but it came back MS69 from NGC.

 

- I have a few Gold Eagle $5 and $10 coins graded ICG MS70. I'm certain that none of these would cross at grade, as each has eye visible surface flaws.

 

- I have two Sacagawea $1 coins graded ICG PF70 DCAM. I'm certain neither would cross at the same grade, as each has eye visible surface flaws.

 

- I purchased a 1996-S Olympics Swimming 50c piece in PF70 DCAM from a very reputable eBay seller. He deals in ICG material a lot. When I received the coin, I thought it had potential because the surfaces looked clean. When I held the obverse at an angle, however, I saw a LARGE hairline scratch across about 50% of the mirror field. I mean this scratch was major. I phoned the seller and explained what I saw. He told me to send the coin back, and immediately after receiving it from me called to say he saw the problem too and couldn't believe they graded it PF70 DCAM. This is a guy who makes a lot of money selling ICG coins.

 

I have no axe to grind with ICG. In fact, I quite like their cases and the fact that they offer Intercept Shield inserts. Admittedly, my experience with their material is shallow and limited to moderns. However, I know what PF70 DCAM and MS70 coins look like, and my ICG examples aren't it. The lack of public population reports also undermines ICG's credibility, in my opinion.

 

I can hear someone saying, "Buy the coin, not the holder." No argument - you're right. I plead guilty to purchasing lots of material sight unseen in eBay transactions. Given that this suits me, however, I seek an ally in major grading services I can trust to provide reliable opinions conforming to the highest standards. So far only NGC and PCGS (in that order) meet my requirements.

 

Should ICG choose to make its grading operations more transparent and earn a reputation for the highest standards in the commercial coin market, I'll certainly reconsider. As far as sight seen coins are concerned, I'd have no problem purchasing an ICG coin if I agreed with their assessment.

 

Beijim