Dr. A

For whatever my 2 cents is worth, one can see the tick in the photo. However, it is actually irrelevant because a third party certified the comic and deemed it what it is--and that is what the buyer is paying for: the graded comic they want certified by CGC--not certified by the seller.

How long did your express take to be received after it was delivered? Mine is 8 days and counting like it is still at the post office. CGC should consider ceasing all submissions except Express/Walkthru until they can catch up.

One of the books received back was mislabeled. I sent a message thru the CGC website and have not yet received a response. I correctly inputted the book; CGC incorrectly relabeled it. Is there a return form I need to fill out to send it back, or do I just go thru the process of sending the book back as a submission? thanks.

I have had books come back over graded and they are hard to sell for the stated grade. I have had a return on a 9.8 certified book with a faint stress mark. I had to drop the price $50 to make the sale to another buyer. I better knock on wood because there is still time to return it.....again! But it sucks when they come back under graded. A rare 8.0 book with stress marks that don't exist should have been an easy 9.4... Then you have the multiple 9.0's that are clearly 9.8. No grader notes so I have no clue what the flaws are....the books look immaculate and I check them too. I am not a professional grader, but I have been high percentage of accuracy. So if I deem a book to be a 9.4 and it comes back 8.0, someone is lying and it ain't me. 9.8's are the easiest to grade due to the lack or flaws. Got to take the good with the bad... and still will continue to use CGC.

There is no such thing as slow track, there is a track considered normal and a fast track. But now I know why there is a grading back log!

Looks like a missed opportunity to grab the #1 spot in sports card grading. Do 10-Gem Mint, 10-Pristine, and 10-Pefect and it could become #1. Otherwise it is just a BGS mimic with 9.5 being a gem mint.

Thanks Jennifer.

Hello. I would like to know how the turn around times affect comics already in CGC possession and awaiting grading. Example: If I sent them in when it was 50 days and it changed a week later, or a month later to 90 days, which turn around time would be applicable? thanks.

Mine did as well for comics, so you are not alone. Its happened before so do not be alarmed because the submission(s) will return. It could be a site update, bulk submission updates, or a hack. Again, no worries.

It would be very informative. I would actually like to know how the turn around times (for especially Value and Economy tiers due to its current 3-month) affect comics already in CGC possession and awaiting grading. Example: If I sent them in when it was 50 days and it changed a week later, or a month later to 90 days, which turn around time would be applicable? thanks.

It is not the best practice to not inform their customers their books have left the building and will not be returning back into your hands. To hold out until the customer contacts, and does it multiple times to receive justice usually results in a business-ending practice...that's if they don't bring change to how they currently work the problem. Nevertheless, I am really baffled about this if it's true. This is quite disturbing and it breaks my heart that they take the customer for granted. If they have an outside insurer, claims will drive the cost up and they just might drop insurance and insure themselves, as many major businesses do.Insurance can be lost as well if there are many claims.

My very first submission to CGC was 15 books via CCS in 2017. A year after that, I started sending books without CCS and that was the best decision I ever made. It just takes too long and there were other reasons I will not state here. I have been sending 15 book submissions for several years now and never experienced any major issues, so I started sending 25 book submissions recently. I am in my 5th submission for the current year. But since my last submission is still in received status for modern services (22 day turnaround) for a month, it is now come to bear--unless they forgot to update it when they move them to scheduling. My books has always went directly to scheduled for grading, I mean instantly, So this is 100% different right now. I took that as the norm since it occurred every time. I do not even remember ever seeing a received status. I was always able to click on the Submission number and view my list of books. CGC has yet to confirm the books they received--just sent me an email that show they received the 25 books. I was starting to overlap my submissions (multiple submissions), but it seems there is no incentive if they merely remain in received status because that informs me there is a problem. Long duration like that makes the mind wander and cause undue anxiety. I also know by sharing this here, it will not move the needle. Other than my future submissions will be parked for awhile. Looks like 2020 will be a very slow year.

Submissions had the little circle for hours. Than I refreshed and it stated that I had no submissions in the last 8 months. Before that happened, for nearly a month my submission was in Received status, which I never seen before-it never made it to Scheduled for Grading status, which was concerning because 22 business didn't seem like it could not be met. I think an email saying they got them and then an email that their on their way works best. That will keep the traffic down and the hackers away.

CGC has several different size holders that support the comics' thickness. I do 15 book submissions like clockwork and I just now received my first NR book--Solar #10. I usually have 1 or 2 thick books included in submissions. The front has a NR spot in the middle--the back has extremely tiny NRs that is very difficult to see. NRs seem to be largely caused by pressure. Press on the plastic where the NR is and you will see it expand, and then retract when the pressure is released. So, it could be that the slab is not thick enough to prevent NR.

Its all good. It is about researching to stay abreast of knowledge to ensure a validated argument was presented. CGC has been informed of my experience and desire for notes. Enough has been said on the subject.

That is a personal attack. So let's conclude. Apparently, part of your issue is that you judge without examination. A 9.8 is obviously immaculate to the eye. A human being, not even you, can tell the difference between a 9.8, 9.9, or 10.0. Actually, CGC cannot even know--9.9 and higher grades are subjective due to no guidelines. If you are not a professional grader, all your grading would be subjective. Encapsulation removes subjectiveness, or is suppose to. A 9.6 without notes reverts back to subjectiveness because the graders failed to provide notes during the quality control process and to the customer. CGC personnel inform you that their note policy is for internal communication, although their written policy states, "These Grader Notes describe problems, indicate the condition of the interior pages, and help explain why a collectible received the grade it did." . In addition, when they tell you notes are for internal communication with the graders, and if there are no notes for anything below 9.8 then there is no communication among the graders.

Please do not state that you will resubmit 9.6 books without notes, because that could encourage CGC to continue with their sporadic note taking which leads to increased business for them that they themselves continue to create. This may be a harsh statement, but I am a customer that is not happy due to five 9.6 books not receiving notes, which I paid for. And by the way, the CGC website does not state that grading notes are not guaranteed. Any customer reading their grading policy will leave thinking they will get notes. So when they say verbally not guaranteed, it contrasts with their written policy. Why is that? Why not simply state in their policy clearly that notes are not guaranteed? I can tell you why they do that, and I will not need my doctorate of business to understand their reasoning--all it takes is common sense. Customers want notes for all books under 9.8---we need to know why it is not 9.8--that is clarity. Get rid of notes and that will lead to undesirable effects to the business.

Maybe laziness or grading discrimination between what 9.6 or lower books get notes, but certainly incompetence on the grader. A grading fee should result in providing the customer with a conclusion supported by references, i.e., notes--and of course the encapsulation. All it takes is a few seconds to craft one basic note that could make all the difference to the customer.

Here is their answer to my inquiry followed by my as of yet unanswered response:

Clone, I edited my post you quoted to say NOTES in place of grade--my error in typing. This is the first time I have not received notes for a comic graded below 9.8. These five comics graded 9.6 shows no issues and therefore 9.6 without notes leads me to believe foul play... at a minimum. Imagine getting your immaculate key issue graded 9.6 without notes....one's motivation diminishes and future grading comes into question. It could be some graders are fast and are only interested in their grading quantity where quality should be the driving factor, policy, and goal. Let's see if anyone cares about their own policy https://www.cgccomics.com/grading/cgc-grader-notes.aspx and customer satisfaction. Stand by.

CGC policy states, "These Grader Notes describe problems, indicate the condition of the interior pages, and help explain why a collectible received the grade it did." In saying that, all my books labeled 9.6 and below received NOTES, which I expect to help me better understand as explained on their web page. This recent batch has six 9.6 books without NOTES.... Part of grading is explaining defects when they are identified. This is not acceptable.

If they performed a net present value technique to assess its viability and found a negative value then the capital project would collect dust. They should be able to depreciate the value of the tooling to diminish taxes as well. I know they do not slab treasury size, but CGC may have plans in the future and it would be nice to know their strategic mission--the future goals. All successful businesses have them. Save those treasuries.

What is CGC's position on grading treasury since comics (and Life Mags)? It seems like it is possible since posters are being graded and encapsulated--and they are much larger. Thank you

Well stated. ....and that is one reason why grading is subjective, as the human element cannot be removed.

When you say, "with grading as tight as its been", it insinuates changes in grading over time. All graders need to collectively act as one to maintain consistency over time.