Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation Rates

I see on their website they show their fees for expertizing items and it appears as if they base it on value of item submitted. Does anyone know what they charge for an item listed in Unitrade but no value shown in Unitrade? They don't go that far into detail.

***Title Updated***

You can go to the Greene Foundation Website and find contact information there:

http://greenefoundation.ca/contact.htm#contact

I would try sending them an e-mail asking for the information you need.

I did just that. It states that they meet once a month so not sure how often they check emails there so I thought I'd also put it out here in case anyone knew.

stallzer

If you sent them an email, I would be patient and wait for their reply.(Like watermark suggested)

You can also search the internet to see what a potential price the stamp is rated at.

If not send your stamp at the lowest price and I would imagine they will come up with a realistic price for you before they start..Then you can decide whether to continue or not.

Call them at the number provided also.

Robert

I wish certifying bodies would move to a 'time and material' costing model. They could post their hourly rates and time estimates for most stamp series.

I have never understood a pricing model which ignores the amount of time it takes to analyze a stamp. Some lower value stamps can require large amounts of time and conversely some higher value stamps do not. Looked at another way, the amount of time need to analyze two different 'patients' of the same catalog number can vary significantly. It seems odd to me that they would charge the same amount.

Additionally, some stamps might require much more costly materials, machine time, or multiple sets of eyes while others can be done quickly by a single person without additional resources.
Don

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... or let the buyer decide! You can buy a one-eyed cert, a two-eyed cert, a ...

IkeyPikey!

The expert committee for the VGGF is comprised mostly of volunteers. If it takes a half-hour or ten hours to examine an item, their "labour" cost is about the same. It is rather difficult to assign an estimate for parts and labour before the item is in hand.

I don't speak on behalf of the VGGF here, but I believe the tiered pricing reflects the value an expert certificate adds to an item.

The VGGF has a small full-time administrative staff, and responds to queries on a daily basis. I believe that, for specialist items unpriced in Unitrade, the value of the base stamp would apply.

Hi archerg,
Thanks for the feedback.
If I were one of the volunteers I would be insulted if my time was not being considered; everyone's time has value. Those with specialized experience and knowledge (like yourself) typically have significant value.
Don

I understand the fees based on the CV very well. Sure, it's not always in connection to the amount of time (and work) that was used for the stamp. But: it is very transparent (all other costing models wouldn't be). And mainly: it's fair, as at the end, if you have a stamp worth very much, you pay much of course, but also have a great value (the stamp) in your hand. In the opposite, if the costing model would not be based on the CV, it would be possible that you send in a stamp you think of it would be valuable, the expertiser work very hard and long on your stamp and at the end it's just not genuine. Then you have to pay a lot but don't have the value (stamp) in your hand after all. Also, how should this work, that the expertisers ask you in between, if they should continue their work as otherwise it might be too expensive.

That is my point. I am pressed to think of another commercial service which ignores the actual cost.

And catalog values, aside from often having little relationship to market values, can be fickle over time. You could easily submit the same stamp twice over a 5 year period and pay a total different certification cost. Additionally as an organization, they are totally placing your pricing model into the hands of another commercial organization (catalog publishers). This would never fly in any corporate board room or with any shareholders of a public company. Most organizations, including non-profits, are usually motivated by a desire to control their own destiny.

I assume that certification organizations might be forced to revisit their current pricing model if catalog publishers ever decided to reflect actual market values.
Don

An accurate evaluation is the goal of an expertizer regardless how long it takes. Higher CV items require more scrutiny, as they are targets for doctoring, but there is a standard "duty of care" for evaluating all submissions.

On another note, I am sure "giving back" by moderating here also has rewards beyond monetary gain.

Understood but please note there is significant delta between the volunteering you do for VGG and that I do for SCF, folks here are not required to pay for this service. If the SCF were to move to a paid membership, my expectation would be that Bobby (forum owner) would account for the time that the moderators donate.
Don

I received an email from them today and was told the fee would be $40 + $15 for S&H. So they were very prompt at returning messages and I'm thinking the $55 for a cert might be worth it.

stallzer

Garfield and his team will do a great job expertizing your stamp...Was invited to a meeting and was granted access to the so called back room and I was taken through the process..He made me look at a stamp and to me looked normal..When it was placed in the VSC 6000 H/S machine, to my surprise some one tried to cover up a rip in the stamp, but the machine and the team found it...

Bottom line stallzer..They are professionals at what they do...I would trust them with any expertizing.

Robert

Since I'm submitting Canadian stamps on cover I wouldn't send it anywhere else, as far as I know they are the gold standard for BNA material. Now to figure out how to get Unitrade to value it in the Millions so I can retire early ........ :)