CGC scam?21535
 Forum Crier
|
OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
| This was interesting. I currently have 6 books that I sent in to CGC. I put them in the "High Value" tier (value up to $1000). A couple of days ago I was sent an email that stated that 2 of the books were going to be placed in the next tier up to "Unlimited Value" and the cost was adjusted. I was charged $168 more. At first I was a little pissed about this but them I thought cool! That means those books came back better than what I thought and worth more! I'm not real good at grading books. I always think they are better than what they really are. Here's the rub. CGC is quick to charge more, in this instance for higher graded books, but if books don't make the grade that you are paying for, they won't reimburse you for a book that should be in a lower tier. One of my books I thought was going to be worth at least $1000 because of the grade I guessing. In my unprofessional opinion, I thought it was going to be at least a 9.6. It turns out it came back at 9.0 and valued at $260, well under the $1000 tier. At the time of my submissions there was a $40 difference between the "High Value" and the "Unlimited Value" tiers. Do you think CGC reimbursed the difference? Hell no! After a 15 minute phone call, this issue was resolved. It does make me wonder how many others this has happened to and gone unnoticed. The fact that itemized receipts have to be requested doesn't help. I don't get that, it should be automatic (which I requested they start doing). |
||
| Post 1 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
|
weinsteinjt private msg quote post Address this user | |
| It is a little slimy on CGC's part. It would be better to list everything under the lower $400 value tier, so they would have justify why it should be in a higher tier. You try to be honest with them by putting everything in the correct tier but it appears they have no intention of reciprocating. The only drawback is the insurance value in case of loss / reimbursement. | ||
| Post 2 • IP flag post | ||
|
Forum Crier
|
OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @weinsteinjt I agree and welcome to the forum! | ||
| Post 3 • IP flag post | ||
 You do know that the new guy brings the donuts, right?
|
DWeeB1967 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @weinsteinjt Welcome! | ||
| Post 4 • IP flag post | ||
|
Collector
|
weinsteinjt private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Thanks Bud! I also have american collectors insurance policy that covers my comics in transit. I never had to use it so I really don't know the process in case of shipping loss. They have reasonable rates $50k annual policy is $250. | ||
| Post 5 • IP flag post | ||
|
You do know that the new guy brings the donuts, right?
|
DWeeB1967 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @OGJackster That's strange that they contacted you about the upcharge apparently before they even graded the books and determined that there should be an upcharge. And people continue to use them. |
||
| Post 6 • IP flag post | ||
 I don't want to brag, but cashiers are always checking me out.
|
power_struggle55 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Id think, they'd contact you first before charging. what if the method you paid only can be charged exactly the total given. then card is either declined or overdraft which causes fees. | ||
| Post 7 • IP flag post | ||
 I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery.
|
DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user | |
| You got upcharged. Someone has to pay for all those lawsuits, fake Pokémon cards insurance claims, and banana slabs. |
||
| Post 8 • IP flag post | ||
 Beaten by boat oars
|
Studley_Dudley private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Same thing happened to me. I found out about the extra charge afterwards. If it's CGC, you know it's a scam. | ||
| Post 9 • IP flag post | ||
|
I don't want to brag, but cashiers are always checking me out.
|
power_struggle55 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| this is theft. you didn't give consent to be charged more for any reason. for all you know, they just wanted more money if there was a reason and you should've been charged more. its their fault for the mistake and let it slide. or at least contact you to see if you give them the ok to charge more. if no, then return the comics with a refund |
||
| Post 10 • IP flag post | ||
 would be nice to have a snugger fit.
|
Sigur_Ros private msg quote post Address this user | |
| This isn't that uncommon. I've seen it a number of times over the years, but I do think they should contact you first and make sure you're okay with it. Problem is that would keep their CS a lot busier than it already is. It's really just the nature of the business. If you underestimate your books' value, that's not really on them. Worst one I've seen is a movie announced after books were submitted. The price skyrockets and CGC moves it up a tier. That one is pure theft. Misjudging your own books, not so much. Quote: Originally Posted by OGJackster Is there a grading company who will? |
||
| Post 11 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
|
Rafel private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Welcome to the Forum. We all the crap the CGC does and has done, I don't understand why people keep submitting to them. Yet another reason why I will NEVER trust or use CGC. |
||
| Post 12 • IP flag post | ||
|
You do know that the new guy brings the donuts, right?
|
DWeeB1967 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Sigur_Ros But that wasn't the case for @OGJackster. CGC bumped him up to a more expensive tier but then the book came back graded lower than he had originally estimated. He submitted it in a max $1000 tier and the book was graded at a 9.0 which, according to his post, valued well below that $1000 cutoff. If the value of the book based on the grade received was more than the maximum for the tier under which it was submitted, I think we'd all be okay with the bump to the higher tier. But that doesn't seem to be what happened. |
||
| Post 13 • IP flag post | ||
|
You do know that the new guy brings the donuts, right?
|
DWeeB1967 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Rafel Money. I think it's simply because of the higher sale price (whether actual or perceived) that is expected when the book is sold. |
||
| Post 14 • IP flag post | ||
|
I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery.
|
DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DWeeB1967 That and some people are dumb. |
||
| Post 15 • IP flag post | ||
|
would be nice to have a snugger fit.
|
Sigur_Ros private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DWeeB1967 Yeah. I was just using some varying examples after I read other comments about theft, etc. |
||
| Post 16 • IP flag post | ||
 I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
|
GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DrWatson Definitely this...and my bet is these same people are not only dumb, but short sighted. |
||
| Post 17 • IP flag post | ||
|
You do know that the new guy brings the donuts, right?
|
DWeeB1967 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by GAC Well, from a seller's POV, it makes sense to maximize the price you receive when selling a book or a car or a can of beer or anything else. So, I get it. Plus, selling a CGC book maximizes your sale opportunities. As has been discussed many times on many threads on this forum, many buyers only buy CGC. |
||
| Post 18 • IP flag post | ||
|
I've spent years perfecting my brand of assholery.
|
DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Yeah, the cgc are great... if you want an overgraded book for a higher price... in the shape of a banana. | ||
| Post 19 • IP flag post | ||
|
I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
|
GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DWeeB1967 As you said, it's either actual or perceived....I haven't seen any conclusive data to suggest it's actual so for me it's definitely perceived.....but I will give you, that in this case...perception is reality. |
||
| Post 20 • IP flag post | ||
 It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
|
chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DWeeB1967 If you re-read the original post, I believe it is 2 separate books. One got bumped up, and apparently that was justified (although I don't see the grade or value that came back to confirm that). The other was submitted at a high tier, but the resulting grade would not have kept it in that tier. Two separate situations. |
||
| Post 21 • IP flag post | ||
|
You do know that the new guy brings the donuts, right?
|
DWeeB1967 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 True. In that case, one should have been bumped up and the other not. |
||
| Post 22 • IP flag post | ||
|
It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
|
chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| That is what happened. Actually, it appears that 2 books moved up, and the tier selected for a third book was way too high based on its final grade and value. The question is whether CGC should have bumped the "over-tiered" book down, and returned the overpaid amount. |
||
| Post 23 • IP flag post | ||
 " . "
|
Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 Do the tiers drive turnaround time? So that the over-tiered book (as submitted) was processed much faster because it was unlimited value? Also drives insurance / loss replacement risk and cost through at least part of the handling process (before they ascertain value is lower)? If prices would get bumped down (and assuming the above holds) it would incentivize submitting at higher tiers and getting those benefits at zero cost to the customer. The business would have to absorb all those costs. Of course when a book is bumped up a tier, a question is whether the customer sees corresponding improved service speed/time? Does the initial review suggesting the higher value still allow faster overall processing? Of course CGC is still taking on greater risk in terms of liability (for handling and its guarantee) but charging for the faster turnaround may be a bit problematic. The problem is the pricing structure. Maybe not a problem if it works out favorably for CGC (and I am guessing it is transparent to customers, removing the notion of it being a “scam”…) An alternative is pricing based on service levels and a separate pricing for insurance / handling coverage and the CGC authenticity guarantee. This would further reduce potential biases. There IS a handling cost to higher value books but it can be separated out from the processing speed. They likely need to add a few disclaimers because CGC offers a guarantee that likely has insurance implications (guarantee that I don’t see CBCS offering, though perhaps I am missing it). I think it can be workable but I admit I haven’t given it much thought. |
||
| Post 24 • IP flag post | ||
|
You do know that the new guy brings the donuts, right?
|
DWeeB1967 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Davethebrave Something like this is exactly what I was thinking last night. Maybe pricing tiers per the age of the book (plus all the available add-ons like expedited service, etc.) plus an additional insurance/handling price based on value. Still, this would only be helpful to the customer if CGC refunded the difference if a book was bumped up a tier but then found to be of a lesser value. |
||
| Post 25 • IP flag post | ||
 Can the moderators change my profile caption to <snip>
|
ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Every time I think about resubmitting to the CGC , I remember things like this and that's the end of that thought. | ||
| Post 26 • IP flag post | ||
|
Forum Crier
|
OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
| The guestimation estimation game is just that. The eyes ain't what they used to be now that I'm over 60. Here is the book:  Here are the Grader Notes: Grader Notes very light wear right top of front cover breaks color very light wear right bottom of front cover breaks color very light crease right center of front cover breaks color When I submitted the book, I was guessing that it would come back around a 9.6. I obviously missed what the grader found. Here is the value:  I guess my biggest complaint is that CGC has no contingency plan put in place (that's fair) for situations like this. We are all amateur graders. They are supposed to be the professional graders. We will miss things that they find. Just like the resent thread about missed inside conservation/restoration that was missed before submission. If we miss grade a book and have it in a higher tier but, we are incorrect, then the book should be placed into the next lower tier automatically along with the cost of that tier be AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTED to reflect the change. To me that would be fair. Another issue is the value of the books. The days of the once-a-year Overstreet Price guide are gone. There are now several different price/value sites out there that have updated values that reflect realtime sales. Which is the best? Which is the standard? Should there be just one that everyone should use? What if the value of a book teeters between two tiers? Anyway, I hope this clarifies what the issue is. |
||
| Post 27 • IP flag post | ||
|
It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
|
chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I can't agree with the 9.0 grade. A minimal amount of color loss at the right corners, ok, but better than 9.0. But then I can't even find that right center crease from the photograph, so there's that. Grades are always a crapshoot. Could have been better on a different day. |
||
| Post 28 • IP flag post | ||
|
would be nice to have a snugger fit.
|
Sigur_Ros private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 Zoom in on the right edge and right corners... |
||
| Post 29 • IP flag post | ||
 Not trying to be an ass since February 12, 2020.
|
HulkSmash private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I’m more surprised you didn’t get a 9.9 for the tier increase. | ||
| Post 30 • IP flag post | ||