Not a CBCS member yet? Join now »
CBCS Comics
Not a CBCS member yet? Join now »
CBCS EventsCBCS Graded

CBCS Pressing Update11521

COLLECTOR dielinfinite private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by GAC
The plastic is slightly softer/less rigid so there's alot of "give" to them...they don't break easily
That was one of the problems. There were a few times where I was able to get the clips off without breaking them so I was able to remove the book and still have an intact case that I could reassemble
Post 301 IP   flag post
Collector Bishops_Heroes private msg quote post Address this user
I have emailed multiple times and have called into the mainline twice now to request my books be returned to me. I realize I am at fault for not reading the forums for an update and submitting a book for pressing, but it has been over a month since my initial request to have my books returned to me. I am a fan of CBCS and will continue to use your services in the future, but this delay/lack of response is unacceptable. Please return my books to me ASAP.
Post 302 IP   flag post
Collector teacha777 private msg quote post Address this user
Anybody in late December in grading yet? or December at all?
Post 303 IP   flag post
Collector GeeWiz private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by teacha777
Anybody in late December in grading yet? or December at all?

I’m Nov 15th with nothing to report yet
Post 304 IP   flag post
I wish I had a title. ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user
@GeeWiz 😮😮😮😮😮😪😪😪😪
Post 305 IP   flag post


Forum Crier OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user
Dec. 20th...still "Processing".
Post 306 IP   flag post
I wish I had a title. ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user
Oh s***.....😳
Post 307 IP   flag post
Forum Crier OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user
If they could handle more business, I think they would be a lot richer!
Post 308 IP   flag post
If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
Sent in an order for the August discount for regular-speed pressing. It arrived yesterday and should be checked in today. Also sent in a 2-Day grading with my membership coupons, which should get a quicker-speed pressing according to the pricing page. I did get the 'received' email for that. Start the clock!
Post 309 IP   flag post
I wish I had a title. ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user
Its officially a month today, might as well get comfortable lol
Post 310 IP   flag post
I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers).
Splotches is gettin old!
Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bishops_Heroes
I have emailed multiple times and have called into the mainline twice


Was reading my computer monitor from a distance and without my glasses. For a 1 second moment I read this as "called into the marines twice"
I'm like... whoaaaaaa.... this guy is upset! LOLOLOL
Post 311 IP   flag post
I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this. GAC private msg quote post Address this user
@Nuffsaid111 lol!!!!!! That'd be one angry customer!!! 🍻
Post 312 IP   flag post
Collector Bishops_Heroes private msg quote post Address this user
@Nuffsaid111 Haha, I'm upset that I still have not been able to get my books back, but not that upset.....at least not yet
Post 313 IP   flag post
I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers).
Splotches is gettin old!
Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
@GAC Been re-watching The Punisher on Netflix. I guess I'm jaded at the moment
Post 314 IP   flag post
I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this. GAC private msg quote post Address this user
@Nuffsaid111 Seeing how long Pressing has been taking, it's entirely possible (dare I say inevitable) that someone was going to call the Marines! You're not jaded I assure you....but that was a hilarious comment! 🍻
Post 315 IP   flag post
I wish I had a title. ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user
Does anyone know where about pressing submissions are at now???🤔
Post 316 IP   flag post
Collector GeeWiz private msg quote post Address this user
I’d also like to know. I’m Nov 15th and I’ve had absolutely no change in status
Post 317 IP   flag post
I wish I had a title. ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user
@GeeWiz holy crap!!!
Post 318 IP   flag post
Collector teacha777 private msg quote post Address this user
I’d like to think they are in the beginning of of November but who knows
Post 319 IP   flag post
past performance is no guarantee of future actions. KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
I'd be interested to know their daily capacity or how the math works i.e. X number of machines with X number of employees = approx. # of books per Xnumber of hours/days....I know that is confidential but it would give insight into how scalable the pressing operation is. i.e. is it machine or staff limited. If machine limited the capital outlay would be relatively small (less than $500 for a press??) so would be paid back in what 25 or so books? Maybe it's footprint limited i.e. room they have already has max # of presses and to get more would require a larger space - which would more than likely not make it worth while to lease additional sqft.

If staff limited then you get into how long does it take to train someone up? you must start them on the 'easiest' books first but even that would free up the senior employee for the more difficult cases.

guess you'd also need to know the % of submissions that request a press

Most of this is all proprietary info that they won't disclose..unless....is Becket publicly traded? If so then their financials will be on file and CBCS would be part of that - potentially pressing is it's own business unit/center so would also be disclosed.

I don't know...1 or more of these factors/inputs must be what's holding them back from reducing TATs..which are what...call it 5 months (if we allow for a 5 month Covid shutdown and moving operations)

damned...it's the weekend!!! analyst hat off!!!!
Post 320 IP   flag post
The apple sauce and pudding were the best part... Bronte private msg quote post Address this user
@KatKomics

In my opinion, there are way too many factors in pressing to make out any real estimate. For example, I submit books with a press screen. If it can help please press. Some books need it some don't. The books that do can vary in the amount of attention they require, some might have a small wave, where as others look like road rash or notary stamps got to them. Then there are the books that go through reversion. Too many factors to contemplate. Its not like an assembly line with certain parts added per hour. It would be great if you could say 5 per hour, at least you could forsee a deadline. However from my limited understanding, its a guessing game.
Post 321 IP   flag post
past performance is no guarantee of future actions. KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
@Bronte ...I don't know about that...I'm betting a screening done by a properly trained person is a fairly fast process. For sure there are KPI's (key performance indicators) to measure against otherwise how to you compensate for a job well done? Sure some books take more than others but still you would have an idea about average throughput..if your KPI's were really good you would even know a rough % of books that require more vs less work that way if you didn't hit a month or quarter KPI you could point and say yes..but we had X% higher of difficult books vs plan or average and that's what caused things to go slower.


Maybe when I retire I'll try and get a job in the industry lol!! - there has to be a way to measure things for improvements in process or compensation or for business plans to approve capital spend on more machines or space or bodies!
Potentially when you start up you don't have the data set to make KPI's but once you start measuring every subsequent month/quarter/year gives you that much more data to be able to more and more accurately forecast future periods and required resources to handle the work.

I know it's not widgets but seriously...there is a way to measure and improve just about everything!!
At the very least you prove you are already doing it as best as is possible and that gives you a floor for when the inevitable staff turnover occurs (through retirement, promotion or otherwise...)
Post 322 IP   flag post
The apple sauce and pudding were the best part... Bronte private msg quote post Address this user
Personally I would like to hear more about what the performance indicators are and points about how it works, just from a curiosity standpoint. Pressing seems like it is just way more different than other departments in my limited understanding of the process.
Post 323 IP   flag post
Have I told you about the time I dropped off 3,000 comics at SDCC? Scifinator private msg quote post Address this user
@KatKomics - the clean and Press process is actually extremely variable such as is a cleaning needed or not. Does the spine need realignment and if so, to what degree. How brittle is the paper. etc.
Post 324 IP   flag post
CBCS broke up with me over Facebook. CFP_Comics private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by KatKomics
@Bronte ...I don't know about that...I'm betting a screening done by a properly trained person is a fairly fast process. For sure there are KPI's (key performance indicators) to measure against otherwise how to you compensate for a job well done? Sure some books take more than others but still you would have an idea about average throughput..if your KPI's were really good you would even know a rough % of books that require more vs less work that way if you didn't hit a month or quarter KPI you could point and say yes..but we had X% higher of difficult books vs plan or average and that's what caused things to go slower.


Maybe when I retire I'll try and get a job in the industry lol!! - there has to be a way to measure things for improvements in process or compensation or for business plans to approve capital spend on more machines or space or bodies!
Potentially when you start up you don't have the data set to make KPI's but once you start measuring every subsequent month/quarter/year gives you that much more data to be able to more and more accurately forecast future periods and required resources to handle the work.

I know it's not widgets but seriously...there is a way to measure and improve just about everything!!
At the very least you prove you are already doing it as best as is possible and that gives you a floor for when the inevitable staff turnover occurs (through retirement, promotion or otherwise...)


Nothing should be fast in the pressing process. Truth is it just takes time to process one book properly. Moderns can be done quicker than older books, but they shouldn’t be rushed

Truth is it comes down to the knowledge the presser has, the reliability of his equipment and processes as well as the number of machines he has.

Even the most competent presser has a limit. If he has 50 presses he may be able to get a minimum of 50 books done a day. If he had 200 Presses, it doesn’t mean he will get 200 books done in a day. His limit may be 75 just due to the time it takes and how long of a work day they are willing to work. Lets say he can crank out 75 books a day, but he gets in 110 books a day in new orders. No matter how hard he works each day, he technically falls behind 35 books a day. Extend this over the course of a year or two you see where the backlog begins to really build up.

Now add a second person that presses with the same level of expertise. He or she should be able to get another 75 books done which will help them catch up. Only problem is they are sharing the same 50 presses. The work does not double. Only way for that to happen is for another 50 presses to be purchased, set up and tweaked.

Now add into the mix that on some days they may only be able to press 35 books due to heavy dry cleaning and tougher defects to remove. In some cases the book may have to be pressed twice. They still get in the same 110 books and fall further behind.

It would make sense adding more presses and press operators will help, but you need training which takes time. You need the outlay of cash and space which is not always available. It can get very frustrating.
Post 325 IP   flag post
Forum Crier OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by KatKomics
I'd be interested to know their daily capacity or how the math works i.e. X number of machines with X number of employees = approx. # of books per Xnumber of hours/days.


@KatKomics I asked that question at Post 236 if you want to checck it out. The answer was just danced around with no clear answer.
Post 326 IP   flag post
CBCS broke up with me over Facebook. CFP_Comics private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by OGJackster
Quote:
Originally Posted by KatKomics
I'd be interested to know their daily capacity or how the math works i.e. X number of machines with X number of employees = approx. # of books per Xnumber of hours/days.


@KatKomics I asked that question at Post 236 if you want to checck it out. The answer was just danced around with no clear answer.


I doubt that will ever be answered. I know I wouldn’t share that kind of info.
Post 327 IP   flag post
Collector poka private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by OGJackster
Quote:
Originally Posted by KatKomics
I'd be interested to know their daily capacity or how the math works i.e. X number of machines with X number of employees = approx. # of books per Xnumber of hours/days.


@KatKomics I asked that question at Post 236 if you want to checck it out. The answer was just danced around with no clear answer.


Part of the question was answered


Post 328 IP   flag post
CBCS Pressing SteveRicketts private msg quote post Address this user
Hey, everyone. I wanted to pop in and give you an update on where we currently are at CBCS Pressing.

Right now we are finishing up books from around the first week of December. There are a few orders that are older that may have problem books that needed more attention, but early December is the general area we are finishing out.

We expect to be completely finished with 2019 books in 3 to 4 weeks max. December was a heavy submission month, especially the first two weeks of December, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

For books you submit today, you should expect a PRESSING turnaround of about 16-17 weeks. This turnaround is based on how many books we have in house to be pressed, divided by how many we press on average per week. This number will continue to drop moving forward.

We've made incredible strides at getting turnaround times under control since we moved the Pressing office to Dallas only four months ago. We're not caught up yet, but the rate at which we're doing so is incredible. We've managed to do it with ingenuity, streamlining, and a lot of hard work.

Our goal is to have standard, slow tier pressing in the 8 to 10 week range during the busiest times of the year. During the slow periods it will even be faster.

My apologies for not giving more frequent updates, but I wanted to bring news and progress that I can confirm. Pressing is getting faster, and finally getting caught up. I appreciate all of your support.
Post 329 IP   flag post
The apple sauce and pudding were the best part... Bronte private msg quote post Address this user
May I inquire about fast pressing? Is it still approximately 1/2 the time?
Post 330 IP   flag post
626538 999 30