Apex Certification- How Long?

So, I sent my first ever item in for certification to APEX. As of today, I am at 90 days since it was received. Does anyone know if this is the norm? If so, how much longer do they usually take? Thanks for any insight! ~Rick

The guideline given by APS is 60-90 days. The APS website stamps.org says you can check the status of submitted items, but I cannot verify how well that works.

Yes Dudley, I check on the APS website usually once a week, and it says it's still being reviewed. I'm at the 90 day mark so just wanted to know others experiences. ~Rick

Call them. 90 days is ridiculous.

PF is quoting 5-6 weeks
PSE is quoting 30 business days (6 weeks); 15 business days for Priority service (+$20/stamp)

You didn't specify what the item was, but some items can be difficult to expertise, and require one or more of "the right people" to look at it. I think that can often be expedited these days via sending out scans of the item, but there could still be delays for some difficult things I suppose.

I once had a cover sit at the PF for 9 months only to come back with "No Opinion". They couldn't quite read the smudged date in the CDS to decide if it was in a time period of interest or not.

There would seem to be no harm in calling them as already suggested.

90 days is the norm - no worries. If any cert comes back before 90 days, I call it lightning quick. Many certs of non-US stamps go to 4 months.

Like ofhers have said, just contact them.

The item is a 2 cent Washington, mint. I'm not bent out of shape over the wait. I was just wandering if this is a typical wait for APS. I'll give it another 30 days, if nothing by then I'll give them a call. Thanks all!

rmeclark2112 - I would still contact them. You need to put some pressure on because the terms state 90 days. After 90 days you are well justified to contact them.
My experience though with APS is that it takes a ton of time.

Well, that narrows it down!!!

Yes, it can only be a possible 279B.

Could be quite a number of revenues too.

I checked on the status. Two experts have reviewed the item, and there is some disagreement to resolve, so we have a third review onsite, which is expected this week.

80-85 percent of all submissions are easily certified within 90 days. In cases like these, we have two expert reviews to confirm specific critical points. If there is a dispute, we send it to a third expert as an arbitrator. Mail, especially during the holidays, can add a degree of difficulty. Fortunately, it is a US stamp, so we have local experts to assist in clarifying and moving the process along.

If we do not hit the 90-day window, you can do a status check with our expertizing office. We err on the side of being thorough and accurate, even if we don't deliver it in eight weeks.

Scott

That's what I love about this forum, right there.

Thank You Scott !! BTW, item is Sc #519.

I think they could do better on their communication. I sent in a Western Australia #5 a few years ago. Somewhere around 90-100 days I sent an email asking what's the story. There was never any response to the email. A week or so later I called - I got voice mail and left a message. No one ever called me back. Several days later the stamp finally showed up. Maybe they have improved their service since then, but I haven't submitted anything else as a result of my disappointing experience.