CBCS Announces New Service "Raw Grade!"2164
 Collector
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Mio private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Prices are not that much lower than slabbing? Sure, but in your analysis do not forget to adjust for the reduced shipping costs back from CBCS or on the secondary market. The difference is clear in international cases. Shipping a slab from Munich to the US is normally 19.50€ sans insurance, and 6.50€ sans insurance for a raw book. CBCS charges 65$ for one book (no, really) and for now I only assume the return cost of a single raw graded book would be less. |
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| Post 101 • 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 | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Mio You are wrong in that assumption (about international shipping being much less) The problem is there is NO inexpensive international shipping service from the USA to other countries. The only exception being Army Post Office (APO) addresses for individuals overseas in US military. CGC charges $60 for one (or two) books. Both companies use FedEx only for international. $60 is actually a GREAT rate, when I go online and do a rate check a four pound package via FedEx to Sweden it is $250. For us normal folks not getting a volume FedEx shipping deals, the United States Postal Service is the much better choice. That same four pound package to Sweden is $53.00 Four pounds is about the minimum weight for CBCS's packaging and one slab. Assuming a single comic MIGHT bring the weight down to three pounds. You would save $3. Three bucks. It goes to $50. Other countries shipping charges to the US are nearly always cheaper than the US back to the same country. Maybe your governments subsidize your postal systems. The USA does not. Maybe you have more competition. DHL for instance has little presence in the USA. But that $65 rate is very close to what it actually costs. So you can give up your dream of cheap International shipping. This reality BTW is why the vast majority of international collectors DO NOT do small shipments of one or two books. The old adage in shipping is that the first pound is the most expensive. Nowhere is this rule more true than international shipping. CGC's rates for international I have at my fingertips. It will cost $60 to ship one book to Europe. But 25 books is only $160. So shipping costs could be $60 a book or $6 a book. Do bulk. If you don't have bulk, combine your order with another collector. Comic book stores will sometimes combine orders and shipment of their customers. |
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| Post 102 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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Mio private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Thanks for the tip on doing bulk. Never would have crossed my mind... And yes, safe to say 25 raw books is a little cheaper to ship than 25 slabs. |
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| Post 103 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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BrianGreensnips private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @spaulus I have a question. I was curious what would be the procedure if while grading a book for the raw service, a poor attempt at restoration was observed. A real obviuos restoration. Would it still be eligible for the raw service or would it be documented and reflected in the grade? | ||
| Post 104 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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Dan1972 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Personally I feel this hurts your brand. It's like a generic version of the full service. I would rather see CBCS upgrade to offer grading for magazines and tpb's. Jmo. However I have a question I haven't seen asked yet, so please forgive if it has: Did CBCS hire new graders to handle this new offering? Books I've submitted spend weeks in queue for grading and once they reach the graders it goes through the process quickly. My biggest concern is this offering potentially overloading the system and regular (slabbed) submissions get delayed further. |
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| Post 105 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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AndyRexia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| So I read at the beginning of this thread that signatures are not included in raw grading. Does this mean that a signature will just be considered writing, a defect, etc. or does it mean that raw grading will not be available for any signed books? I've got a couple books I'm thinking of getting signed at con coming up and I'm considering using the raw grading service (if I can). I'm sorry if this has already been addressed. | ||
| Post 106 • IP flag post | ||
 COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @AndyRexia as of now, if you want a sig authenticated or verified you will need to go the traditional route, otherwise it would be graded as a writing defect. | ||
| Post 107 • IP flag post | ||
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COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @SteveRicketts if I have an invoice full of 2-day Moderns and I select Raw Grade for any grade screen fails, will I still get all the books back in 2 days including any ones that may have been Raw Graded because of the grade screen? | ||
| Post 108 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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AndyRexia private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @DarthLego ok. I may still use it. We'll see. Might not be cost effective though. Decisions decisions. Thanks for the reply. | ||
| Post 109 • 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 BrianGreensnips Not sure where I (believe) I saw an answer to your question so not sure where to go look It's my belief that books with obvious amateur restoration are going to be rejected. Not graded. It is a PROFESSIONAL restoration check that is missing |
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| Post 110 • 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 Dan1972 CBCS doesn't display - on their website - the same "steps" in the grading process that CGC does (and used to display) So what I say next "assumes" that what is true for CGC is likely true for CBCS. Those of us that have been getting books graded since the beginning of CGC AND that have paid attention to the steps have long known that it is encapsulation that is the biggest bottleneck. When CGC would be way behind books would get through grading fairly quickly, then sit for a long time waiting for encapsulation. And logically, it seems likely 2-3 people can look at a book and assign a grade faster than someone can encapsulate the book. Which involves actual machinery, picking out the correct well, heat sealing the book and the label, etc... Raw grading really shouldn't have much of an effect on the TAT of the encapsulated books. It takes very little time to bag and board a book and place a few stickers. If the service proves to be popular it might even reduce the TAT of encapuslated books |
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| Post 111 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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BrianGreensnips private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @IronMan Your right, I never got an answer. Looks like it could be a grey area or a subjective matter. | ||
| Post 112 • IP flag post | ||
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COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DarthLego I just noticed that 2 day Modern doesn't have grade screening. This is a bummer. |
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| Post 113 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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reggieb private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by IronMan I have shipped overseas to many countries for low prices from the US. Perhaps it's specifically Sweden that's the issue, but shipping via the post office is pretty cheap. |
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| Post 114 • 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 reggieb Define "pretty cheap" and define how many books. It is possible for instance to (Relatively cheaply - compared to FedEx/UPS and trackable and insurable USPS choices) to ship up to four pounds via First class international. But no business is going to agree to that. It can't be insured, it doesn't require a signature and tracking isn't available. Items also cannot exceed $400 in value. So First Class Priority is going to be unacceptable for most shipments and any business. Here are the rates for a 3 pound package shipped to the United Kingdom from the USA. MOST of us would not call any choice here cheap. Do you see a cheap choice? Keep in mind comic books won't fit in the DVD box, the Video Box nor the small flat rate box. The cheapest choice that could ship comic books is $57.00 The problem - for international customers is they often do have cheap shipping options to the USA. I received a book from a comic book dealer in the UK a few months ago - postage was the US equivalent of about $13 (10 pounds)  |
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| Post 115 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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KingNampa private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @SteveRicketts I'm trying to submit a Raw Grade comic but the box for "Raw Grade" is greyed out and not selectable. How do I enable that? | ||
| Post 116 • IP flag post | ||
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COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @KingNampa Is the book over $250? | ||
| Post 117 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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KingNampa private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @DarthLego Nope, like $100 at best | ||
| Post 118 • IP flag post | ||
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COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @KingNampa can you capture a screenshot? Might be able to notice something you are overlooking. | ||
| Post 119 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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KingNampa private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @DarthLego it works for you? I probably just missed something. | ||
| Post 120 • IP flag post | ||
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COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @KingNampa If you have Modern or Consumer selected it should activate the check box. Are you trying to do a different tier than those two? | ||
| Post 121 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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Kinsella5 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| With regards to "international shipping" people need to remember that First Class International shipments sent out of the country are not insurable. The post office wants people to use the more expensive Priority Mail International option which in some cases can be twice to three times the price of First Class International packages. Each country is different with regards to size restrictions, comic books are generally not an issue when it comes to this but the weight limit for First Class International is 4 pounds. If it is even one ounce over it has to go Priority Mail International, which often comes with x amount of insurance added already but the option to add more is available. When a First Class International package is close to the 4 pounds limit it sometimes is better to just go Priority Mail International as it may be only a few dollars more because you are right on the 4 pound border limit. That way you can add more insurance if need be. UPS and FedEx are much more expensive than using the Postal Service. But also most countries charge the receiver customs/import duty taxes, sometimes known as VAT. The UK is notorious for charging their residents that fee regardless of the declared value, while other countries like Australia don't charge the fee for items declared for less than $1000. Those fees aren't anything the sender collects, its all charges your country charges and collects themselves. It is unfortunate because with those charges and the high costs of international shipping (the latest increase hitting in January 2017), it is turning a lot of overseas buyers from purchasing from sellers in the USA. |
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| Post 122 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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Nc49er private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Maybe I missed it. So ill ask. If I send in some books for raw grade. Lets say they all hit the grade I was hoping for. Will I get an email with the option to go ahead and get them graded? for the extra $$ ? Thanks and god bless |
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| Post 123 • IP flag post | ||
 CBCS Pressing
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SteveRicketts private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Nc49er If you use a Grade Screen in conjunction with Raw Grade, if your books pass the screen, they will be encapsulated. If they fail the screen, they will be raw graded. |
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| Post 124 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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RJP private msg quote post Address this user | |
| First time on the Forum so apologize if this isn't the right way but seeking some guidance. I recently submitted an order with a grade screen in conjunction with raw grade. The books that met the grade screen came back encapsulated, but the books that didn't just came back with a generic bar code label on them. I thought the raw grade books would be in a tamper proof mylar bag with the label grade on the cover. Did I misunderstand what raw grade was or was this an oversight? Thanks for any help you can provide! | ||
| Post 125 • IP flag post | ||
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COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @RJP Raw Grades should have a blue grade sticker on the front lower right corner and two CBCS logo stickers sealing the back mylar flap witch are tamper evident. If you are not seeing what I described they probably made a mistake and did not grade the books that failed the screen. | ||
| Post 126 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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RJP private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Thanks! Sounds like they weren't graded properly. I'll give customer service a call tomorrow. Thanks again! | ||
| Post 127 • IP flag post | ||
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Collector
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silverage1375 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| This is a potential suggestion for any CBCS employee(s) that might see this. I haven't read every post in this thread, so hope this isn't redundant. Anyway, I very much like the idea of the raw grade, but it would be significantly improved if there was a check for restoration included. Perhaps you could have the person doing the grading spend a couple of minutes looking for signs of obvious restoration. Then, if none is found you could include a notation stating something simple like "A brief examination reveals no obvious signs of restoration." | ||
| Post 128 • IP flag post | ||
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COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I suggested early on that including the resto check would help with the price point. | ||
| Post 129 • IP flag post | ||
 Collector
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CosmicReads private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by SteveRicketts I would love to see a yellow label option for Raw Grades. Many customers want to buy a signed book and also want to read it (especially on Modern books). A lot easier for the customer to crack open a Raw Grade than a slabbed book. I know we would use this option more often especially when we have in-store signings. |
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