Not a CBCS member yet? Join now »
CBCS Comics
Not a CBCS member yet? Join now »
Collector warlordofmars private msg quote post Address this user
Does the FMV in the pricing of up to $1000 mean before or after grading? I would assume before since the grade you get could mean a difference of several hundred dollars.
Post 426 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
@warlordofmars - its kinda both. If you send in a star wars #1 that you guess is a 9.2 or 9.4 or claim value of $500, but is clearly a 9.6 or 9.8, you’ll likely get a tier adjustment, but most likely after grading.
Post 427 IP   flag post
Masculinity takes a holiday. EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user
@Scifinator I would think it's after grading since the FMV before grading is nothing more than a guess. And even after pressing, since the book is submitted for grading after it's been submitted for pressing.
Post 428 IP   flag post
If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
@warlordofmars practically speaking, they don't bump tiers unless you're being egregious. If you send a nice Hulk 181 under the Vintage tier they'll probably bump you up. Across various submissions I've had things grade better than I was expecting and could have been in a different tier but I've never been charged for it. I also haven't heard anyone say they were upcharged during the big price spikes the past couple years even though FMV at grading time was higher than when the books were sent in.
Post 429 IP   flag post
Collector Lee private msg quote post Address this user
I have had an order with CBCS since June of 2021 and there has been no update.
My books are under michael.l.pavon@gmail.com.
Essentially, it's been 320 days, which can be converted different units just for perspective.

27,648,000 seconds
460,800 minutes
7680 hours
320 days
45 weeks and 5 days
87.67% of a common year (365 days)

The turn around times when I submitted my books were something like 22 weeks. Please complete my submissions. Please and thank you.
Post 430 IP   flag post


Collector Fizbit private msg quote post Address this user
mentioning geofence was ONE example of an independant system that can manage assets and provide information to customers (without risking
getting hacked).
I am sure (hope) cbcs already has some form of internal tracking.
it might be a barcoded container that employees scan evey time a book gets sent off to another department,
or it could be passive RFID tags that get scanned automatically via proximity everytime they change departments (geofencing).
it could be a post it note stuck to every book in the facility.
all i know is if I can watch my dinner being delivered on a map in real time, or track 200 workers on a jobsite with automatic notifications as to their status then all I'm saying is there are ways for CBCS to provide accurate information without having to rely on customer service (who are obviously over burdened).
all I want is to know when my order will be done.
no lies, no guesses, just accurate and credible information.
the information provided to me over the 10ish months has never been accurate.
the dashboard is horribly out of synch and customer service does not reply to emails or voicemails.
I realize that some of you don't see this as a problem... many others do.
Post 431 IP   flag post
Collector glow private msg quote post Address this user
does anyone know what happens to the 3 free fast pass passes you get with a membership?

since they don't offer fast passes anymore, do we just get 3 free express tiers?
Post 432 IP   flag post
I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie. flanders private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by glow
does anyone know what happens to the 3 free fast pass passes you get with a membership?

since they don't offer fast passes anymore, do we just get 3 free express tiers?


There's still no clarification from CBCS, but it sounds like your account will be credited 3 fast passes worth of money after you indicate you want to use all 3 on your next submission. I think that amounts to $27-$28.

I plan on using the $100 in coupons that were included in my Bronze membership on my next submission before my CBCS membership expires in July.


Post 433 IP   flag post
Suck it up, buttercup!! KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
2 orders already past the 1 yr mark now and a 3rd rapidly gonna hit and I assume blow past that point.....I will do my part to help TAT's by no longer submitting - unless it is books for sale - at which point I'm going to use all my powers (and express tiers) to screw everyone else in line....unless shipping from CGC straight to MCS and CGC fees end up cheaper/faster than CBCS with MCS direct pickup


been on board since 2015/16...has been a good run... but it may be time to give the other b@stards a 2nd chance.....especially if they are books for sale...what do I care if other people are stuck with newton rings or creep engine.....
Post 434 IP   flag post
I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie. flanders private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by KatKomics
I'm going to use all my powers (and express tiers) to screw everyone else in line


I think I'll stick with CBCS for the time being. I think their pricing strategy will eventually lead to a drastic reduction in the lower tier turnaround time, since far less crap that shouldn't even be slabbed in the first place, will be submitted.

I would like to see some changes to the Vintage Tier. Forty bucks for this tier (1975 or older with a max value of $1000) is too much for the turnaround time of 224 days, which is the same as the modern tiers which cost substantially less. If they're going to charge $40 to non-members, at least reduce the turnaround to something more reasonable. I know CBCS is trying to deter submissions of lower value books by having the lowest level tier have a max FMV of $1000 instead of the previous $250 and I hope it helps reduce submissions to something more manageable.

I agree with you and think that if you're submitting books worth $400 or less, it might be more cost effective and faster to go with CGC. I don't think CBCS would be disappointed in more customers taking books with these values to CGC, especially since CBCS is going to have plenty of business once the magazine slabs roll out.

Instead of giving business to CGC I'll probably just stop submitting books worth less than $400 unslabbed and get some nice bags and boards to display some of the higher value ones instead. Since close to 100% of the books for my personal collection that I planned on slabbing fall in this range, it's unlikely I'll be submitting anything unless I plan on selling it.

I will add that CBCS has treated me very well over the years. I haven't had any increased charges when a book has gone well over the $250 max limit or any reject fees for books that haven't passed the grade screen. Even with the changes I still can't ever see myself submitting to CGC or any other company besides CBCS.
Post 435 IP   flag post
Masculinity takes a holiday. EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user
@KatKomics @flanders I hear you both. I'm very conflicted. I rushed and even skipped pressing to get ahead of the flood, but the long delays in my April/May submissions from 2021 cost me thousands of dollars. Movie releases were missed and tax reporting laws changed before I got my books back. And I know that these delays were caused by express orders that came in after my orders. I'm bothered that there has been no attempt to make amends. I'm a pretty loyal guy (probably a 9 or 10 on a scale of 10) and I would have accepted even a small outreach with a couple of 2 day coupons and an apology. The sad part is that I'm moving to Texas this summer and was looking forward to a closer relationship with CBCS...even driving submissions to them (3 hours away) from time to time. On the other hand I have a hard time dismissing 6-7 years of really good experience. I know there were times when they could have hit me with higher tier fees after my books graded higher than expected...and they didn't do that. I was always concerned that the influx of new customers would push out the old loyalists...and that's what seems to be happening. I really wish they would make some conciliatory gesture that shows they understand what the cost has been to the long-term customers. I also wish they would let the forum members discuss/facilitate other pressing and cleaning options while the pressing TAT's are at this almost unimaginable level. I know there are bad pressers out there who mess up books...but that's really old news. It's something we are all aware of by now.
Post 436 IP   flag post
Suck it up, buttercup!! KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
it would have been one thing if say last June they came out and said no new submissions at the lower service levels....then I could have chosen to go up a level or 2 or not to submit.

For my March/April/May orders the TAT's weren't crazy at the time so I went with the lowest level....for 1 of my November orders TAT's were at 1+ yr so I went the fast route (it's looking like the "fast" option will now be 1+ yrs). At any given point they could have taken steps to reduce TAT's - I get that training takes time - so reduce the influx, cut back on allowable tiers or any submissions at all.

I can't remember - some thread we figured how many they grade in a given week based on figures from an interview....a 1, 2 or 3 month suspension could have gone a long way to catching up on all tiers of existing orders. Instead I suspect that fast/2 Day/rapid became the submission of choice and pushed other older orders further and further back in the queue - and now we have 'express' with guarantees - which 100% ensures any tier without a guarantee will get looked at last.

PC books I don't need to slab....but I'm at a point in my collecting life where some books are just too expensive so I need to sell a few to buy 1 or 2 - and that's where the rub comes....like @EbayMafia I'm missing movies and TV shows etcetera despite having plenty of time at the time of submission and even when I used the "fast" option that is now anything but "fast"

Tack on non-existent customer service and spotty status updates and again..new express with guarantee to F over existing orders and no communicated solve for existing orders...just makes for a not happy camper.

A better product will get you so far...but it's not years and years of processing time better- it's at the point where I tell people at my LCS to not submit to CBCS because of the TATs and poor customer service. CGC may not be my favorite but at least they aren't introducing new ways to slow TATs down for exiting orders in progress.
Post 437 IP   flag post
Suck it up, buttercup!! KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user
FIFO = first in first out
LIFO = last in first out

CBCS is a LIFO operation
if at some point new submissions drop enough then they will get to your pre-express era books
your pre-express era and non fast order now live in a FILO (first in last out) world

The opportunity cost of using CBCS is getting too high
Post 438 IP   flag post
Collector etapi65 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by flanders
I think their pricing strategy will eventually lead to a drastic reduction in the lower tier turnaround time, since far less crap that shouldn't even be slabbed in the first place, will be submitted.

I know CBCS is trying to deter submissions of lower value books by having the lowest level tier have a max FMV of $1000 instead of the previous $250 and I hope it helps reduce submissions to something more manageable.

I agree with you and think that if you're submitting books worth $400 or less, it might be more cost effective and faster to go with CGC. I don't think CBCS would be disappointed in more customers taking books with these values to CGC, especially since CBCS is going to have plenty of business once the magazine slabs roll out.

See, this makes no sense to me. How often have we seen (over the past 10 years) some nothing book skyrocket in price due to some big announcement. From dollar bin to valued at $100s. Why would CBCS try to diminish these kinds of submissions. CBCS also seems to play the "we love the hobby, not the money" side of things. Meaning they would understand submissions for sentimental reasons, or things getting slabbed, just because someone is trying to get a full run (even if there's little secondary market value to the books), or any other reason anyone might have to slab a comic other than financial gain.

Steve Borock said in that interview with Comic Book Investments that they're more in the modern book market because (paraphrasing, but still trying to hit close to quote) "There are only so many golden and silver age books still out there to grade, but more and more moderns are being printed every day. That's what we're after".

This entire change to the TATs, the membership, and the tiers is exactly against the prior business model CBCS has presumably been trying to grow. The result? Long-term customers are unhappy. New customers are turned off of CBCS. So whose left at this point? Just people so irate with CGC that they refuse to use them anymore and are willing to pay for higher tier submissions. That's it? That's the clientele for your new business model? Ouch...
Post 439 IP   flag post
Masculinity takes a holiday. EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by etapi65
See, this makes no sense to me. How often have we seen (over the past 10 years) some nothing book skyrocket in price due to some big announcement. From dollar bin to valued at $100s. Why would CBCS try to diminish these kinds of submissions.


I think there were probably thousands of submission each year that used the $250 cap tier and were actually worth more. Moving the cap to $1,000 as part of the price increase probably captures about 95% of those wrong tier submissions.
Post 440 IP   flag post
No rust here... Nearmint67 private msg quote post Address this user
@Scifinator Hey bud, after the books are graded, are the next steps in this order?
graded, heat sealed, labels, encapsulation, ship, Happy Day
Or did I get something out of order?
I ask as I just received an emailed update stating my "books are graded and the next step is to get them into a case"
Thanks
Post 441 IP   flag post
I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie. flanders private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by etapi65
See, this makes no sense to me. How often have we seen (over the past 10 years) some nothing book skyrocket in price due to some big announcement


This certainly wouldn't be the first time I've rambled nonsense
Post 442 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nearmint67
@Scifinator Hey bud, after the books are graded, are the next steps in this order?
graded, heat sealed, labels, encapsulation, ship, Happy Day
Or did I get something out of order?
I ask as I just received an emailed update stating my "books are graded and the next step is to get them into a case"
Thanks

@Nearmint67 - I could be wrong, but I think it is labels, heatseal, encapsulation, digital(if photo'd), shipping, shipped / Ready for Pick up, Complete. QC gets thrown in that mix also at various points.
Post 443 IP   flag post
Collector warlordofmars private msg quote post Address this user
I think what is being missed here is that CBCS has basically raised the price to grade a book to $36 (Express). If you want a lower price than that ($18/$22) then you are going to have to wait however long it takes. My opinion just do away with a TAT at the lower level and don't make false promises.

Now I don't think they should have made this change until they had the backlog caught up a little better, but it is what it is.
Post 444 IP   flag post
I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie. flanders private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by warlordofmars
you are going to have to wait however long it takes


I think this is the main reason why people are upset. The price changes were inevitable and not unreasonable due to inflation, but for over a year we've all been hoping CBCS would be working on customer service and reducing the turnaround times.

I know CBCS has said they have hired several representatives to help with these areas and I believe their employees are working very hard and for far too many hours, but things have only gotten worse in the last year, not better.

I'm optimistic positive changes will occur in the next 2-3 months, but it's unfortunate and borderline absurd that customers that have been given certain expectations for turnaround times have seen their orders come nowhere close to being completed in that timeframe and will now have to see even more customers jump in front of them.
Post 445 IP   flag post
No rust here... Nearmint67 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scifinator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nearmint67
@Scifinator Hey bud, after the books are graded, are the next steps in this order?
graded, heat sealed, labels, encapsulation, ship, Happy Day
Or did I get something out of order?
I ask as I just received an emailed update stating my "books are graded and the next step is to get them into a case"
Thanks

@Nearmint67 - I could be wrong, but I think it is labels, heatseal, encapsulation, digital(if photo'd), shipping, shipped / Ready for Pick up, Complete. QC gets thrown in that mix also at various points.


The August 12 submission of 30 (grade only) has just gone to billing. Order has been paid. Hopefully I will get an email stating your order has shipped very soon
Post 446 IP   flag post
If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by xkonk
I was looking at the orders on my dashboard because I didn't feel sad enough today and was surprised to see one marked as 'shipping'. I haven't gotten any emails for it. It's a 2-Day Modern and Quickstream order from late February, something like 7 weeks. We'll see when it actually ships.


Posted this six days ago and tonight I got a FedEx email that I have a package coming my way. I didn't get any CBCS emails for this order, including the shipping email, which is unusual. 7 or 8 weeks including pressing.
Post 447 IP   flag post
I'm good with splotches. Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
It's reasonably clear that their Target audience/Mission Statement has changed since the announcement.

They are catering to high end customers.
The "standard" customers have been left in the dust.

I'll say it 10000000000x - I'm fine with that, but just tell me that.
You didn't - and that is why I am and have been upset.
Post 448 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nearmint67
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scifinator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nearmint67
@Scifinator Hey bud, after the books are graded, are the next steps in this order?
graded, heat sealed, labels, encapsulation, ship, Happy Day
Or did I get something out of order?
I ask as I just received an emailed update stating my "books are graded and the next step is to get them into a case"
Thanks

@Nearmint67 - I could be wrong, but I think it is labels, heatseal, encapsulation, digital(if photo'd), shipping, shipped / Ready for Pick up, Complete. QC gets thrown in that mix also at various points.


The August 12 submission of 30 (grade only) has just gone to billing. Order has been paid. Hopefully I will get an email stating your order has shipped very soon
@Nearmint67 - LOL, I had originally had "Billing & QC gets thrown in that mix also at various points", but I deleted "Billing" as I figured that was a very specific exception and didn't want to open the door to why Billing might show up at the end for either a clerical, credit, or charge modification.
Post 449 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by xkonk
Quote:
Originally Posted by xkonk
I was looking at the orders on my dashboard because I didn't feel sad enough today and was surprised to see one marked as 'shipping'. I haven't gotten any emails for it. It's a 2-Day Modern and Quickstream order from late February, something like 7 weeks. We'll see when it actually ships.


Posted this six days ago and tonight I got a FedEx email that I have a package coming my way. I didn't get any CBCS emails for this order, including the shipping email, which is unusual. 7 or 8 weeks including pressing.

@xkonk - Nice, that was way ahead of estimated TAT for both Quickstream and 2 day Mod. So, I guess I am winning some as several of my standard modern submissions are waaayyy ahead of est tat, while my only 2dayMod / Rapid combo submission from Feb 7th delivery got jumped by your submission. to you.

Also, I had just posted about notifications received on only about 75% of my recent submission movemnt.
Post 450 IP   flag post
CBCS Boomhauer HeinzDad private msg quote post Address this user
Whoa... Sweet.... New express hyper tier. TAT at 2 weeks guaranteed by CBCS! Go ahead and bill those books out and keep my money from over 8 months ago on a regular submission. Keep putting new submissions above the ones that have been there. Thats a real good look.

Two submissions sent in a week apart from each other in August. The earlier has been in "grading" for 2 months and the other, submitted a week later, is still only "received". That means over the course of a week the TAT increased by a couple months. I guess I get the new TAT of 200 days or whatever, even though it was 2 to 3 months at the time. Keep flipping me off and many other longtime customers CBCS, also keep collecting more new money while books sit and are pushed to the end of the line. I'll just keep waiting, no biggy, even if it is effing disgusting.
Post 451 IP   flag post
I'm good with splotches. Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeinzDad
Whoa... Sweet.... New express hyper tier. TAT at 2 weeks guaranteed by CBCS! Go ahead and bill those books out and keep my money from over 8 months ago on a regular submission. Keep putting new submissions above the ones that have been there. Thats a real good look.

Two submissions sent in a week apart from each other in August. The earlier has been in "grading" for 2 months and the other, submitted a week later, is still only "received". That means over the course of a week the TAT increased by a couple months. I guess I get the new TAT of 200 days or whatever, even though it was 2 to 3 months at the time. Keep flipping me off and many other longtime customers CBCS, also keep collecting more new money while books sit and are pushed to the end of the line. I'll just keep waiting, no biggy, even if it is effing disgusting.



AMEN
Post 452 IP   flag post
If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8. xkonk private msg quote post Address this user
@Scifinator yeah, dunno. I'm waiting on a slow order from last April still (just about at the year mark) and I sent a slow order in the same box as this fast one that I don't expect to see for quite a while. I jumped myself but the order I'm getting back was priced into the faster tiers so I didn't have much of an option.
Post 453 IP   flag post
I called CGC about the giveback benefit. beastboy1980 private msg quote post Address this user
i see under memeber section that the turn around times for moderns is 124 days

is this correct ?
Post 454 IP   flag post
I called CGC about the giveback benefit. beastboy1980 private msg quote post Address this user
126 days for members

is this correct

i want to know before i send in any new modern orders
Post 455 IP   flag post
598060 999 30