Video: 5 Ways CBCS is BETTER Than CGC14594
 -Our Odin-Rest in Peace |
Jesse_O private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Many, many moons ago, Borock wanted a registry for CBCS. I doubt that desire has died. This was back when they had 5 or 8 people total, I forget which. I believe Zac was customer service and either encapsulation or shipping. | ||
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MatterEaterLad private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by GAC Years ago I was collecting Miller DDs and kept running into the same bidder. Finally realized it was the guy with the #1 Miller set, which made me weirdly competitive to beat him, which I did for one year. His name is Matt Holly. Good guy. But then he jumped on top and has held that spot for years. The competition added a fun wrinkle to the collecting game, but in the end all you get is a piece of paper that looks like it was color copied at Kinkos. So I stopped. It wasn't worth it. It might be more interesting if you got a small statue you could display with your books or have a hologram sticker or something that could go on the slabs designating them as "Best in Category for year 2021" etc. |
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 Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| We can all agree that a registry was a smart move by the first-to-market to create a loyalty program. I disagree that CBCS starting one now would have any meaningful impact on their business. CBCS needs to find out who the top 100 CGC submitters are and poach 10 of them. Those are probably dealers who sell everything they slab and don't care about registries. Question for those who think the Registry is a huge, almost insurmountable long-term strategic advantage: What percentage of CGC slabs would you assume are listed on the registry? 70%? 60%? 50%? What's the best guess? |
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| Post 103 • IP flag post | ||
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MatterEaterLad private msg quote post Address this user | |
@EbayMafia I'd say less than 5%. I put all my slabs in the registry years ago and as I've sold books I rarely get requests to change ownership in the registry. According to the registry I still own an X-Men 1 5.0  |
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| Post 104 • IP flag post | ||
 I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
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GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by MatterEaterLad I never considered the registry in that way...it sort of creates a quasi-pedigree collection I suppose. A known collection atleast. Maybe being known on the registry might also have a benefit when selling? Maybe theres some hidden benefits outside of "bragging rights". Interesting story...thanks for sharing! |
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 If I could, I would. I swear.
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DrWatson private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by GAC When someone sells a #1 Registry set through ComickLink they make a point of noting that the books are from a #1 Registry set. A Registry set doesn't get keys graded. It gets all the rest of the junk graded. Collectors are obsessive/compulsive by definition. Gotta fill those slots. |
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by MatterEaterLad @MatterEaterLad I think you're probably quite right. I'd assume it's for sure less than 20%. Which is why I'm not buying the idea that it's some huge obstacle for CBCS. Of CGC's 100 most important clients by volume, I'm guessing that less than 5 of them even care about the registry. We tend to think of slabbing from the viewpoint of collectors. I think we overlook that the significant portion of grading dollars come from people who want to sell their books...not put them on a Registry. |
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I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
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GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DrWatson I see. That's interesting....clearly there's something more to this registry than I initially thought. Thanks for that! |
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MatterEaterLad private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @GAC I had most of my comics in a spreadsheet, but then began using the registry as a way to keep track of what I own. Now I have all that and more on my phone with the CLZ app, so the registry, for me, is obsolete. Worse that obsolete because it shows that I still have a bunch of books that have been sold. I really don't think CBCS needs a registry, but if they did it, an app is the way to go. It would allow collectors to walk around cons with all that data at their fingertips and be something CGC doesn't have. CGC has a verification app but that's it. |
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| Post 109 • IP flag post | ||
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I don't believe this....and I know you don't care that I don't believe this.
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GAC private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by MatterEaterLad I'm assuming you control your registry correct? You add and delete books as you accumulate and purge? But yes, I can see where the apps like CLZ or spreadsheets could make a registry obsolete. |
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| Post 110 • IP flag post | ||
 It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
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chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| The Registry is probably engaged primarily by heavyweight collectors, not dealers. The collectors might be hard to move over, maybe just won't. The total % of books in the Registry has to be a slim number in comparison to all the comics slabbed. Many are just transactional, people slabbing to sell or preserve, not so much concerned with the "paperwork". Probably the big thing that would move the needle is if CBCS books start selling for MORE than CGC books. All the front end stuff - fees, TAT, pressing abilities, etc. are secondary to the back end (sales $$$). That's why we have stuff pressed, as an example. We dump in an additional $20 on the front end, hoping to go up a grade or two on the back end where the numbers jump exponentially. Many people look at the grading process as a tool that adds value to their collectible. The one that makes them the most money, or creates the most collector value will be the one they choose. There are other reasons to pick one over another, but money is a big motivator. Higher sales allow you to buy more stuff, upgrade your stuff, make more money if you operate as a business. If I were promoting CBCS, I would try to highlight sales where CBCS beats the competition. As it is now, people either think it's equal, or that CGC always wins. |
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 @chester15 This is, without a doubt, the single most important thing. If not the dollar value, then at very least the liquidity of a CGC book is greater than CBCS. Also, unfortunately it is the thing that is most out of their control and least likely to have a quick fix. Not sure there are any shortcuts to this really. Honestly, I think parity will probably just grow and a rate that is closely related to market share growth. As CBCS market share grows closer to, say 20%, we will probably see price/liquidity parity close in on 100%. |
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 I wish I had a title.
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ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| What goes up, must eventually come down. | ||
| Post 113 • IP flag post | ||
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It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
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chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Maybe CBCS needs some celebrity endorsers. Like Mark Hamill only trusts CBCS with HIS Star Wars comics, shouldn't you?? Or motivate an armada of social media influencers to make a push. Beckett has the money to feed that monster. | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Comicninja0215 @Comicninja0215...is the Forum Mascot a cryptic genius? Or repeater of common cliches? lol. Only his Psychiatrist knows for sure! |
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I wish I had a title.
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ComicNinja0215 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @EbayMafia perhaps a little of both lol I fired my last guy lol |
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| Post 116 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 "We don't need no stinking Registries! We need Crystal Clear cases!" |
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| Post 117 • IP flag post | ||
 Please continue to ignore anything I post.
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southerncross private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Bigger cases for my Aussie comics would be nice. | ||
| Post 118 • IP flag post | ||
 Suck it up, buttercup!!
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KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| now that I think about it I kind of see the allure of a registry. Most of us will never have a collection worthy of a pedigree designation..we simply weren't the orignal buyers of the books...so now there are collectors...maybe they could create from the collection of "x" but even that would be fairly rare. A registry seems like a way for people to say yeah..I have these issues or what have you and am top 'registry' |
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| Post 119 • IP flag post | ||
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It's like the Roach Motel for comic collectors.
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chester15 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbayMafia I had that exact quote in mind for an earlier post and it slipped my mind! Dang. |
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| Post 120 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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mediaslave private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbayMafia If thats what you got out of it, you've missed the entire point.  |
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Collector
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mediaslave private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by chester15 This would make a difference, and would be a monumental undertaking to happen. I very strongly doubt, judging by the choices that CBCS has made, that they can do it. I watch the decisions being made, and I sincerely question if they even have a plan for a year out that makes sense. For myself, I haven't seen anything that suggests they are ever going to close that pricing gap because they don't seem to realize what their weaknesses are. Again, just my opinion based on their actions. Crazy thing is, on the books I am looking at for myself, that gap is actually getting bigger. That I find very surprising. |
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| There's a sign in Texas that says "A message to incoming Californians...please keep in mind that you are coming as a Refugee and not an Apostle". I suspect CBCS might need to send out a message like that pretty soon when all the CGC refugees come in with a bunch of high-minded ideas how to make CBCS more like the company that they just abandoned. A whole bunch of distractions about labels and registries and customer service departments. When the flood comes, I hope CBCS will remember that keeping TAT's short and prices down is not just the most important thing...it's the only thing. | ||
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Suck it up, buttercup!!
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KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| when does CBCS get character labels???...who cares about the book or grade??!! it's really the label!! Oh, oh...could we get acid etched or frosted designs on the slabs???? I mean for CGC it would at lease eliminate newton rings |
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by KatKomics @KatKomics Exactly. My company for the last 10 months has each week sold more jobs than we can install and our TAT's have grown to frustrating levels. Does it mean that we need to hire a website designer? Does it mean that we need to hire more customer service representatives? Does it mean that we need to redesign our logo and print new business cards and letterhead? No, it means that we need to hire more painters and installers! |
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| Post 125 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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mediaslave private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbayMafia You do realize that CGC just hired a whackload of people specifically for receiving, shipping and warehouse right? ANd that they're moving to a 70000sqf building? That will directly affect the turn around times. Sounds exactly like they hired the right kind people. BTW those labels are childs play. Any designer could build one in 5 minutes or less.Not sure why you'd bag on something designed to make the hobby more fun. |
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| Post 126 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @mediaslave I'm not going over to the CGC boards and bagging on anything. I don't even have any antipathy for CGC or their product. I'm not the one who's Preaching and Apostletizing. You've made your choice for your reasons, CBCS customers have made our choice for our reasons. If you're comfortable with your choice then you should not be feeling so compelled to keep coming over here and insisting that CBCS try to be more like CGC. We don't want them to do that, we like how it is here. Is there something about your choice that you need to get off your chest? | ||
| Post 127 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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mediaslave private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbayMafia I am not saying that CBCS should be like CGC. I think CBCS should always be CBCS. I have said, repeatedly and quite clearly, that if CBCS is going to try and compete with CGC (which they currently do not), then they need to stop appearing to be second-rate. I've been quite clear about that opinion and backed it up with examples. And I go to the CGC forum and bag on things they do. Why shouldn't I? IF they do something dumb, they deserve it. I'm the one that posted a photo of a book that came back upside down and called them out on it. Does that sound like kissing ass to you? If you actually read what I'm writing and take time to understand it, you can clearly see what I'm saying is far more impartial than most. You continuously post absurd and easily dismissable statements like pricing at parity that have no footing in the real market, but I don't rage post and fight. I just post examples of why you're incorrect, hoping to show a more realistic side. This is a forum. I have CBCS books. Just because I'm not a rampant fanboy doesn't mean I don't have a right to post replies. |
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| Post 128 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @mediaslave Fair enough. Honestly, I've seen some of the work you've done and I think you are probably a top-shelf graphic designer. I personally loved the ideas that you presented for new labels for CBCS...that's not why I pushed back against it. I pushed back because I think you underestimate the resources required to make changes. Ideating is the easy (and fun) part, executing is the hard (and risky) part. For starters, a label change would have to go to the Board of Directors or parent company for input and approval. This part alone could throw it into the "why aren't we considering multiple ideas from multiple designers?" category. CBCS is the meat-and-potatoes company...their core advantage is lower prices, shorter TAT's and consistent grading. CGC has the luxury of first-to-market and a 14 year head start in developing customer base. They have more margin for error. They can be the place to go to for frills and exotic side dishes. Isn't it good to have both choices? To also have the affordable Diner that makes great but simple dishes and the higher end restaurant that offers pricier but more interesting options that take longer to prepare? I'm sure that Cheesecake Factory does more business than any show featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives...but I would hate to see them all be convinced that they need to become more like Cheesecake Factory. Probably 90% of those beloved restaurants would go broke in the process. | ||
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Collector
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mediaslave private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @EbayMafia I'm an OK designer. Nowhere near top shelf. And I understand exactly the resources required for something like that. I've built far, FAR more complicated projects than that, and know the requirements for printing etc and rough costs. I also know that if CBCS is going to elevate their image to attempt a challenge with CGC, its gonna cost them. Look at Kia for example. Early 2000s, they were a joke of a car company. But late 2000s, they made some moves that cost them a LOT, but timed it perfectly with the collapse of the auto industry during the housing crash and now they're absolutely crushing it. Definitely making better cars than most of the US brands anyways. But they also shifted their brand identity, raising their prices but still being a solid deal. IMO (and I hope I've been pretty consistent in this) CBCS comes across as a purely functional, second place option to CGC. They don't feel professional or nearly at the level of CGC. They lack any sort of brand identity, they have no story, no visual pride, no sizzle. CGC, for all their faults, do. And people want to partner with a winner. New Balance shoes are perfectly effective and everybit as functional as Nike. Guess who dominates there? And its got nothing to do with time in the market, as some of Nike's competitors have more time in there but fail to threaten Nike at all. Tesla (not a fan of them, but whatever) is kicking the hell out of a lot of auto companies, and they sure as hell aren't worried about Ford and their generational headstart.  CBCS has a path and an opportunity, but I gotta say they keep doing the wrong things at every chance. Again, just my opinion, but what it says to me is that they don't know what to do, don't have a plan, and keep missing the bigger picture. |
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