Help me help you!14694

Originally Posted by Siggy
I loved how easy it was to open the older slabs (clips) I felt so much more at ease while cracking. I think my last attempt at a CBCS cracking was tougher, but honestly can't remember. Depending on one's point of view, this all has its ups and downs.

Originally Posted by Siggy
Too bad it [likely] isn't a simple process to have the design chosen by the submitter online with all past and present options available to mix like a PS3 Star Wars Lego character.

Originally Posted by Slesko
Very new to grading comics, waiting on my first batch that’s getting graded now by CBCS.

Things I like
1. Verified signature program
2. The slabs and labels, i like that the labels don’t try to take your attention away from the book
3. Pricing and the free membership option

Things that could be improved
1. I know lots have said it but I’ll say it again, better updating on where my books are in the process and an expected shipping/delivery date
2. If there was some type of thing where you could choose from labels with different designs maybe that’d help people like me who like the label but give options to others who think it needs improvement. I could see that being costly for you potentially but just an idea!

Originally Posted by EbayMafia
@sborock about 15 years ago I did this very same exercise with a group of 25 Retail Franchise owners (I was the representative from the Corporate Office). By time they were finished brain-storming they had accumulated a laundry list of about 57 items. I wrote it all down and when I read the list back to them they realized that many of the ideas were contradictory or just expressions of personal preferences rather than important business practices. I asked them to narrow it down to exactly 3 items that I could take back to the corporate office and rally resources around. By time they drilled down to Brass Tacks they had eliminated almost everything that was intangible or subjective. The final list they came up with was objective and tangible, which made it measurable and demonstrably achievable. If those franchisees had done this today for CBCS the final list might have looked something like this:

1) Keep TAT's under XX business days
2) Have a dedicated Customer Service Email address with a meaningful format for submission and all requests on a path to resolution within X days of initial submission.
3) Reorganize the Membership Levels incentives. Offer more useful loyalty incentives to better reward higher levels of commitment and loyalty. (this one is a little more subjective but the results of the efforts can still be measured by how successful you are at getting people to sign up for higher levels of membership).

Originally Posted by Triplecdad
I have only had one "batch" of books graded by CBCS, or any other service, and that was over a year ago. I chose CBCS over the CGC folks based on in-person contact with folks at the Phoenix Comic-con (which now has dropped the word Comic by the way) Frankly, I just liked the CBCS staff better. They told me about some signing opportunities at the con and witnessed some sigs. They took a great deal of time with me. The other folks, not so much. So, I sent in my books to CBCS, including GSX1 and FF 49. Then, a few weeks later, I got a call from Steve to inform me that there had been a slight problem with unpacking the GSX 1, but that it had not affected the grade. I was sure surprised to get a call. That was great customer service. So now you have more of my books, with more coming. First impressions are lasting impressions.

Originally Posted by Scifinator
@sborock - Thank you for this thread. I was working on some projects with my son on his house, so I am late to the party.

I think there is a lot of good feedback from most of the posters. Some of my comments may be redundant to what others have said.

I had used cgc back in the days of the old label with the microscopic certification numbers. Money was real tight for me, so i only encased a few at a time sporadically over the years. As time went on just found the service and attitude to be more of a my being here to serve them than vice versa and stopped grading for a short time till the beginning of Jan 2019 when I first tested CBCS services.

Since moving over to CBCS, I have been very pleased with the product I receive back. When I have had a question or an issue, CBCS response is that of concern and understanding and I feel the CBCS legitimately wants to assist. That said, I learned real quick not to use the call center for anything other than the most mundane of inquiry and frankly, the CBCS forum is a much better resource.

About the forum. In no uncertain terms the CBCS forum is a great resource and tool and an all around much friendlier and helpful environment than that of cgc. I find that with few exceptions, the members are not on it to stir the pot and sling excrement. The low tolerance for such is appreciated.

If you looked at my anecdotal evidence from yesterday’s post, there is no secret as to why believe CBCS to be more strict and accurate in its grading. Further, my own experiences reflect that CBCS press service to be superior in the end result.

Here are my prioritized requirements when sending comics in for certification:
1- be a good steward & custodian in the care and handling of my comics (of the more than 3,000 comics that i have sent to CBCS, I have only had one comic book that didn’t meet that expectation. Keep up the good work)

2- accurately grade my comics with consistency and if pressing, don’t half@$$ it and again treat them like they were yours (No complaints from me on the grading accuracy for my comics and @stevericketts has been imPRESSive to say the least)

3- have an encasement that provides an archival protection with minimal distortion for viewing of the comic within. (Another mission accomplished for CBCS. Furthermore, the new sonicweld cases are an even greater achievement as there they are more secure and there no more clip cracks to deal with which was my only real disappointment with the previous cases)

4- Cost is important and it is my hope that a sweet spot is in play for CBCS with increased market share and volume efficiencies to be obtained due to consolidation of operations TX and influx of submissions due to speculation surge, further market acceptance of CBCS, and price increases by competitors. (I know that you made it very clear that CBCS will not increase prices during a pandemic. And yes, I do read between the lines, and hopefully enhanced revenue from magazine submissions and maybe things like upcharge for affinity and character labels can offset the need to otherwise increase prices after the pandemic.)

5- TAT I get anomalies like mergers, moving grading from FL to TX, having several thousand comics submitted at one time by one customer, pandemics, moving pressing from FL to TX, border shutdowns and euphoric speculation driving increased submissions. Frankly, I don’t have a problem with the norms being exceeded as long as timely/regular status updates are provided and quality of product is not negatively impacted. (Communications can be enhanced in this area)

6- Free Graders notes (Fantastic job and with qr code access)

7- Population report great! (Now get GoCollect, MCS, Comiclink, etc to regularly cite).

8- Magazine & 1/4” + cases, just make great like the new standard size comic sonicweld cases and your good. Nuff said.

9- Customer Service interface is the weak spot for CBCS. A call center that is disengaged from and remote to the operations is not efficient nor worthwhile. Preferably, when someone calls in, the CSA has knowledge of the product and operations and can access the necessary information to accurately relay such information to the customer. There will likely be gaps and if so, there needs to be timely followup to address the inquiry.

10- Photo of internal signature. This I would pay for. Perhaps displayed on the back of label but at the very least, part of the qr code lookup.

11- Labels, quite simply, i want a labe that does not detract attention from the comic. Further, I am happy with the existing color coding and fonts. For those who want character and affinity labels, ok, while not for me, maybe CBCS adds for additional to enhance revenue.

12- Registry i just don’t get it. Looked at the cgc registry years ago and just haven’t figured out how it helps me.

Cheers and Go CBCS Go!

Originally Posted by Ryan4421
Really like: CBCS doesn't make me flush half of my money spent on shipping and handling - they actually are able to track my books submitted internay and hold /group them together to return to me in one package. Waiting isn't always fun but it's certainly cost effective! Also like the fair prices across the menu...it does make it competitive in comparison to others.

Suggestion: Fast pass could be a fixed amount of time as opposed to "half". This hasn't enticed me because it is advertised as a way to "cut turnaround time in half", but turnaround time is only an approximation which is usually understated...so half of an unknown is also unknown and how can you tell if it really did cut time in half. If a fast pass was a guarantee of 3 weeks (just as an example) I think you would see more interest. The problem it will introduce is how to fulfill that promise. It also wouldn't sound so enticing unless you update your turnaround times to reflect more accurately (instead of saying 3-5 weeks, call it 10-12 if it's true) and try to offer a fast pass of 4 weeks based on date of receiving.

Thanks for listening and for all that you and your team do for our hobby!

Originally Posted by Mmanick
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet so I'll go ahead an say it. I was close to buying to buying a membership with cbcs over cgc but when I called to ask questions the customer service was terrible. No disrespect but I couldn't understand the 1st guy so I told him I'd call back and when I did the next person also couldn't really explain anything about the services, tiers, costs or grading turn around times. They all told me to refer to the website but unfortunately I had questions I felt I didnt see. I was thinking of sending in golden age and magazine size, signature verification books. The customer service couldn't answer not one of my questions. Just my 2 cents.