CGC Eliminates Package Backlog for Comics

Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) is excited to announce that it has caught up on the backlog of submitted comics that were waiting to be opened. This important accomplishment follows a comprehensive effort that included acquiring additional square footage, working thousands of hours of overtime, hiring more people and engaging operational efficiency consultants.

CGC is the definitive leader in comic book certification worldwide and has experienced extraordinary demand in this booming collectibles market. Comic book collecting continues to reach new heights as demonstrated by the five CGC-certified comics that have sold for more than $1 million so far in 2021. This incredible growth has resulted in submissions to CGC increasing at an extremely rapid pace — faster than CGC could hire or acquire space.

Now, every package has been opened, and submitters have full visibility into the status of their submissions through the online CGC Submission Tracking tool. To view the current status of a submission, sign into your account at CGCcomics.com and select “Submission Tracking” under “Submit.”

To eliminate the package backlog, CGC took a multipronged approach that included acquiring an additional 25,000 square feet of space to develop and implement an optimized CGC workflow. The Certified Collectibles Group, of which CGC is part, now occupies more than 108,000 square feet in the Sarasota, Florida, area.

Importantly, CGC has also taken a number of steps to ensure an adequate supply of holder parts while many companies struggle with supply chain disruptions. This includes investments in additional holder production capabilities and paying premiums for expedited shipments.

With CGC’s optimized workflow, submissions now travel a shorter distance around CGC’s facility, with fewer transfers between rooms and minimized unboxing and reboxing. These improvements have resulted in less handling, more communication between team members and greater accountability for quality. Over the next few months, these efforts are also expected to lead to faster turnaround times.

Some customers have noticed that select submissions have been completed faster than CGC’s posted turnaround times. These submissions were put through the optimized workflow and, by December 2021, all operations will have fully transitioned to the optimized workflow. CGC apologizes that some submissions were completed faster than others received at earlier dates during the rollout of this optimized workflow. Our intent is to complete submissions on a first-in, first-out basis within each grading tier, and every effort will be made to do so going forward. Fast Track submissions will continue to be prioritized.

While expanding and enhancing its operations, CGC remains fully focused on maintaining the quality and integrity of our services. While significant headway has been made, a lot more work remains. CGC will continue to be as transparent as possible with regards to how long it is taking to process submissions and where submissions are at in the process.

“We are grateful for the support and patience of the thousands of submitters who have entrusted CGC with their comics,” comments Michael Browne, COO of the Certified Collectibles Group. “I am also appreciative of the efforts of our outstanding team, which continues to work tirelessly to eliminate all delays throughout our grading process.”

Clearing the package backlog is the first step to improving turnaround times, and CGC is confident that submissions will be completed significantly faster in the near future. Current turnaround times can be found on the CGC Services & Fees page.

Like CGC, Classic Collectible Services® (CCS®), the world’s leading comic book pressing, restoration and restoration removal company, is hiring and pursuing best-in-class operational strategies to increase production while improving quality. With this expansion, CCS will also be better equipped to grow and meet demand.