The Authorized Dealer Code of Conduct (“Code”) is designed to reinforce the values of Collectors Universe (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“PCGS”) and ensure that all the customers of PCGS receive quality customer service and that every PCGS Authorized Dealer (“Dealer”) adheres to the highest ethical standards. By becoming a Dealer, you agree to the following guidelines stated within this code.
Dealer maintains an active and ongoing business within the numismatics industry.
Dealer accepts and submits coins and banknotes based on the terms and conditions established by PCGS.
Dealer is responsible for collecting the appropriate fees and not creating pricing structures that place other dealers at an unnecessary competitive disadvantage.
Dealer and Dealer’s employees and agents will at all times give prompt, courteous, and efficient service to their customers, and in all business dealings with their customers and PCGS, will be governed by the highest standards of honesty, integrity, fair dealing, and ethical conduct.
Dealer is responsible for explaining PCGS’ policies, pricing, submission form terms and conditions, or any other relevant information associated with the submission process to customers.
Dealer will do nothing which would tend to discredit, dishonor, reflect adversely upon, or in any manner injure the reputation of PCGS, Dealer, or any other authorized PCGS Dealer.
Dealer shall package, handle and mail, ship or otherwise deliver coins and banknotes to PCGS in strict compliance with PCGS instructions issued from time to time.
Dealer shall bear all risk of loss or damage to any coin or banknote against loss, theft, damage or destruction in mailing, shipping or otherwise delivering such coins or banknotes to PCGS.
Dealer shall immediately notify PCGS if Dealer knows or has reliable information that any coin or banknote submitted to PCGS (A) is in a holder which has been opened or otherwise tampered with, (B) is in a counterfeit holder or (C) is a counterfeit coin in a counterfeit or tampered holder.
Dealer shall not participate in the Doctoring or counterfeiting of coins and banknotes, nor should Dealers knowingly submit counterfeit coins and banknotes for grading.
For clarification purposes, “Doctor,” “Doctored” or “Doctoring” for coins, includes but is not limited to, altering the appearance of a coin by moving surface metal or applying chemicals to cover defects, and my involve, for example, adding substances to coins, treating coins with chemicals, re-matting (“skinning”) proofgold, “tapping” and “spooning”, filing rim nicks, and repairing coins.
Similarly, “Doctor,” “Doctored” or “Doctoring” for banknotes refers to altering the appearance of the paper to remove or conceal original defects. These methods include, but are not limited to, manually using chemicals to remove defects; using tools to cut, paste or alter the banknotes, change the number, add watermarks, or even create errors; adding paper to the original banknote for the purposes of repair, restoration, and reconstruction; and, redrawing and/or recoloring the design of the banknote itself.
Dealer shall use proprietary materials provided by PCGS (such as PCGS trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos and copyrighted materials) for promotion of their business in compliance with any laws and regulations government marketing and advertising. Dealer hereby acknowledges the validity of the PCGS Proprietary Materials and acknowledges that they are the sole property of PCGS.
Dealer shall not affix any label or other writing to the outside of any PCGS holder containing the words “Premium Quality,” “PQ” or any other language or symbol in a manner which could be construed to modify or refine the grade assigned to the coin by PCGS.
Dealer acknowledges that grading involves individual judgments that are subjective and require the exercise of professional opinions, which can change from time to time, and accepts the grades assigned to coins and/or banknotes by PCGS.
Dealer shall not attempt to manipulate or influence any employee at PCGS through inappropriate gifts and/or pressure to gain an influence or advantage that would normally not be provided to PCGS’ other Authorized Dealers and partners.
Dealer shall maintain complete and accurate records relating to all coins and banknotes submitted to PCGS for grading and any and all transactions entered into by Dealer with respect to such coins and banknotes for at least three (3) years after the transaction date or date of submission.
The Distributor has the obligation to provide assistance and communicate with customers on matters relating to Guarantee without any excuse and delay.
The status of the Distributor shall not be assigned or sold to others.
This Code is non-inclusive of all situations and circumstances that may arise and that may violate the principles of good faith used to establish it. Therefore, if situations and circumstances arise that are not covered within this Code and that PCGS feels are in violation of its underlying principles, PCGS maintains the right to take punitive action.
Failure to comply with this Code and its underlying principles can lead to Dealer incurring a variety of penalties, including but not limited to, losing the right to remain a PCGS Authorized Dealer.
For any disputes that cannot be resolved through friendly negotiation within 180 business days, both PCGS and the Dealer have the right to submit the dispute to the Shanghai Arbitration Commission (or the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in the event that Dealers are based in Hong Kong and their submissions are processed by PCGS in Hong Kong) in accordance with the rules applicable at the time. The arbitration shall be final and binding. The losing party shall be responsible for the costs of arbitration including reasonable attorney fees unless arbitration stipulates otherwise. The substantive law governing the dispute resolution shall be the law of P. R. China if the case is submitted to the Shanghai Arbitration Commission, or the law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the P. R. China if the case is submitted to the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.