Big news from MCS, CBCS & Borock17630
 I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie.
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flanders private msg quote post Address this user | |
| It just came to mind that if MCS ever chose to get started in the comic slabbing industry, with their unmatched level of professionalism and customer service, the other guys would be in deep trouble. | ||
| Post 76 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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RRO private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Steve ~ This takes me back to June of 2014 when Norman called me with "...did you know that your friend Steve Borock is opening up a new grading company?" I listened to the doubters and theorists then threw my grading lot in with you/CBCS. You proved them all wrong in a classy and professional way. MCS, the Saunders' and you will make a formidable team. Best of wishes to you and your new colleagues. |
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| Post 77 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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50AE_DE private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Happyfacecomics Quote: Originally Posted by Siggy |
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| Post 78 • IP flag post | ||
 I'm a McNugget guzzler.
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HeinzDad private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Steve (I don't feel like I need to be formal now), it was my pleasure to pass a few tpb's onto you. I think Gert is coming back sometime soon as well. PS: you better not mess with the raw grade books at your new place! |
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| Post 79 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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Happyfacecomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I think MCS WILL BE GRADING BOOKS AND BE BETTER THEN CBCS WITHIN 24 months of today - writing is on the wall ! | ||
| Post 80 • IP flag post | ||
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I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie.
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flanders private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Happyfacecomics from the sound of it, money probably has nothing to do with it. It seems more about work life balance and the opportunity to meet face to face with more collectors instead of grading 7 days a week in something that I can imagine is slightly less miserable than a cubicle. I know which choice most of us here would make if we were in his shoes. | ||
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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 | |
| How does a comic book retail outfit get into the 3rd party grading game while maintaining impartiality and objectivity? | ||
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Collector
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Happyfacecomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Baseball card Exchange did it very successfully with unopened sports and non sports boxes - he was just a collector and a dealer at first. Now the most respected box and pack grader in the industry- more so then PSA |
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| Post 83 • IP flag post | ||
 Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by flanders Don't know about slabbing, but MCS is a tamper-evident label away from being in the grading business. |
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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 EbayMafia I don't know. They're famously known for being very hard on raw books grading which is why many people buy them. I don't think buyers would keep the books raw. They're probably more inclined to get them slabbed to realize higher grades and ofcourse higher value....especially for key books. |
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| Post 85 • 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 GAC Yeah, I don't mean a grading service. I mean that with a tamper-evident sticker, buying from MCS would come with the added bonus of basically having it graded (tightly) by CBCS Raw Grade. It would just add value to consignors and purchasers in that regard. |
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| Post 86 • 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 EbayMafia Sorry...yes, 100% agree! |
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I'm a McNugget guzzler.
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HeinzDad private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbayMafiafor the record, someone suggested this to me a while ago. |
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| Post 88 • IP flag post | ||
 Ima gonna steal this and look for some occasion to use it!
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IronMan private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @flanders @HeinzDad First blush, the idea that the very largest businesses selling comics would consider moving into grading and encapsulation seems logical. And having Steve B on board would lend tons of credibility to any such start up. At first blush. Think about it for a bit longer and the huge ethical problem becomes clear. MCS, Mile High - these are businesses with millions of comics in inventory and that probably sell a million or more a year. It would be impossible from an ethical standpoint for them to be an "impartial 3rd party" expert graders. Or at least impossible to convince most people. There would always be suspicions that the books MCS sales sent to the MCS grading and encapsulation got better grades. And this is why CBCS and CGC graders, maybe all employees, cannot sell their company's graded comic books. And why the grading companies themselves do not sell comic books. |
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| Post 89 • IP flag post | ||
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Ima gonna steal this and look for some occasion to use it!
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IronMan private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by GAC I'm sure some will disagree, but my own experience is that MCS is "famously known" for being very strict on raw comics that are CONSIGNMENT books. I'm not seeing that same level for strictness on books that they actually own. So for me, I take more interest in the raw books that have the 3% surcharge. Those are the ones that I believe get graded the strictest. Because returns will be a much bigger hassle. |
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| Post 90 • 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 IronMan @IronMan I don't disagree, It seems likely there would be at least some truth to that. I know they don't want to take a return after they have paid out to the seller. The grading, imaging, resto-check, warehousing and shipping (and eating returns) is quite the value for as little as $7, so I accept that there is a price to be paid elsewhere. In fact, if I only sent them raw books and sold my slabs elsewhere I would feel that the relationship was unfair in my favor. To that end, I also wouldn't be surprised to find out that consigners who only send raw books get tighter grading than those those also consign slabs, which fetch higher commissions and require less work. |
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| Post 91 • IP flag post | ||
 Have I told you about the time I dropped off 3,000 comics at SDCC?
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Scifinator private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by flanders@Flanders - LOL, I bantered about that with another forum member. But, based on my posts early in the Borock Exodus thread, I don't think he will be going that route with MCS. Maybe some good old fashioned collaboration between the 2 companies but not MCS entering the certification market. |
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| Post 92 • IP flag post | ||
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I'd like to say I still turned out alright, but that would be a lie.
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flanders private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Scifinator yea after reading some of the posts above it's clear that won't be happening, but who knows if somewhere down the line MCS will buy CBCS from Beckett and right the ship...I guess this would also be a conflict of interest...I swear my brain does work sometimes, it just isn't my day I suppose. | ||
| Post 93 • IP flag post | ||
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Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @flanders When a company hires a guy who is considered to be the authority on grading comic books, I don't think you are off-base by assuming that comic book grading is somehow associated with the hiring. | ||
| Post 94 • IP flag post | ||
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Have I told you about the time I dropped off 3,000 comics at SDCC?
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Scifinator private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @EbayMafia - But don't forget, he is also an authority on the comic books themselves and has a proven track record of bringing them to auctions and building collections. | ||
| Post 95 • 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 Scifinator I think the real opportunity for MCS is to bring a bigger audience to their website and their auctions. When you see how many MCS sales are done through Ebay you start to realize the size of the opportunity. Those people are paying about a 15% premium because they are not aware that they can buy directly at MCS website for less. If you could capture that audience and bring it to the weekly auctions that would be huge. I'm a little surprised that every package I receive from MCS doesn't have a card instructing me to come to their website and check out the weekly auction. |
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| Post 96 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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ShoddyShortBox private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I am confident that Conan presented Steve with an offer he couldn't refuse, probably the kind of hall of fame career wrap-up that an ace pitcher might hope for. Steve loves to deal, and now he gets to jet set shows with a blank check. As far as Lone Star's motivation, this is Conan making an incomparable supply chain investment. The company has endless buying cash, they just need somewhere to spend it. Steve will be a lightning rod in this regard. |
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| Post 97 • IP flag post | ||
 I live in RI and Rhode Islanders eat chili with beans.
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esaravo private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Wow, this is a shocker! I have been pretty busy the last few days and this is what I see this morning. I too, am deeply saddened, as it was Steve's reputation and integrity that originally brought me to CBCS so many years ago (and his dedication and love for the hobby that kept me here). I hope that the company can continue without him, and return its costumer service back to the level of excellence that existed when it first started. Steve, congratulations on another new chapter in your life. Hopefully you and Pam will now get your weekends back! I will miss our daily back-and-forth on the forum, and I appreciate all the times you personally messaged me about something. I wish you nothing but the best my friend. Many of us don't like change, and others embrace it. But when you think about it, life is all about change. As Jerry once said, "What a long strange trip it’s been." Good luck. |
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| Post 98 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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BrianGreensnips private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Congratulations Steve on this new, exciting opportunity for you. Hopefully we will get updates from you here on the forum. | ||
| Post 99 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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cesidio private msg quote post Address this user | |
| My irresponsible speculation, how long before beckett buys mcs? Sure you've got your reasons Steve. Regardless nothing but high praise wish you the best | ||
| Post 100 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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etapi65 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| This sounds like I might get to meet Steve at a con at some point. Kind of looking forward to saying hi. This sounds like a great position that should be a ton of fun and get you out moving. I've really started to focus on purchases at MCS over the past 3-4 months and this makes it even more of a player in comics I'm looking to find. | ||
| Post 101 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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CatCovers private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Congratulations, Steve! I hate to see you leave CBCS, but all my best wishes to you at MCS. I'm sure it will be an exciting new challenge and change of pace and let you come up for air from the grading desk.  And glad to hear you're planning to stay active on the board here. And ... if you happen to come across a high-grade Detective 122 in your new job, I'm in the market. Hook me up for a good price, OK?   |
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| Post 102 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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MyComicShop private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by EbayMafia I can chime in and confirm that it's not the case that consignments are graded more tightly than inventory we own ourselves. Here's how our grading is handled: we have two main workflow branches for grading--one for books we estimate to be lower value (under about $15), and one for books over. The lower value group is graded and recorded by one department--that department assigns letter grades (NM, VF, FN, etc) and those books don't get individual cover scans. The higher value group is graded and recorded by a different department--that department assigns ten point grades, and most of those books do get individual cover scans. 100% of consignments are handled by that second department--we don't offer any consignments listed with letter grades and no cover scan. Within that department, consigned inventory and MCS-owned inventory are graded and handled exactly the same. Occasionally when a book crosses over from one department to the other you might see a small difference in how we grade it--like if you purchase a letter grade VF from us, and some time later that book has risen in value and is resubmitted to us as a consignment, it's possible that with the additional scrutiny that higher value books get in the second department, it might end up with a different ten point grade than the original letter grade. But if that happens, it has nothing to do with it being a consignment, it's just differences between the two departments. |
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| Post 103 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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willieCPA4646 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Best of luck, Steve. | ||
| Post 104 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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Supertom private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by IronMan This is a great point, but doesn't CGC promote auction houses and pre-sell 9.8 slabbed new books? Given that no company really guarantees any grades, be it raw or slabbed, and just falls back on, "it's subjective art", the ethical conflict already exists on MCS and any other online marketplace that offers raw grades. The value of the grade shouldn't be determined by whether it's in a Mylar or a plastic shell. Also, Mile High already over-grades AND quadruples the price of all their books anyway. I wish you the best, Steve but man, this is a huge blow to CBCS. They're so far behind on standard submissions from last summer that losing a single grader, let alone THE grader, is going to further impact the already horrendous TATs. Here's hoping for a happy ending for everyone involved. |
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