Popular Post Tony S Posted January 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 1:27 PM, sckao said: A Premium Membership at $149 has no discount. An Elite Membership at $299 has a 10% discount. (Which means you need to save at least $150 in fees to make it worthwhile in the most basic terms.) So a Dealer Membership now costs $199 and gives you a 15% discount? What am I missing here? (I have an Elite Membership and am registering as a business this year due to the new tax law. It seems to me I should be applying to be a dealer and I would actually save money.) Well - allow me to take a stab at what you are missing. Dealer accounts have been free for 22 years and the dealer discount 20% for 21 years. Dealers were valued partners and influencers. If people walk into a comic book store or go to a convention and see CGC slabbed books for sale, that influences them. If they ask about getting their books slabbed and the dealer says "I can send them in to CGC for you" - that influences them. I remember talking to Steve Borock back around 2003-2004 about a submission. His words were "if dealers make money we make money" It's not that in the scheme of things $199 is a huge amount of money (though I might mention the new CGC seems intent on regular price increases). But they could have another 50 cents or buck a book and left relationships that go back 22 years stay the same. jsilverjanet, Cosmic_Shel, onlyweaknesskryptonite and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tony S Posted January 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 2:28 PM, NewWorldOrder said: Why would anyone buy a raw book and take the risk of you not grading the book correctly just to save on CGC grading costs? Pretty obvious a buyer would just do the opposite. If a book is selling for $100 in CGC 9.8 why would I buy it for $80 raw? Most an intelligent buyer would pay is $25-50. I understand people dont always buy raw books to get CGC graded, but there usually needs to be an incentive for a buyer to buy the book raw versus an already graded CGC copy. I'm not sure how to say this. MOST COLLECTORS don't want their books slabbed. It's not a matter of most people need an incentive to buy raw - most people need an incentive to buy slabbed. I cannot count the number of slabbed books I've sold where I was asked to break it out of the slab for the buyer. I do agree that people are often times paying similar to graded prices for their raw books. But that they are says volumes. MOST COLLECTIONS have no graded books. MOST COLLECTORS want to be able to read or at least page through their comics. lizards2, Cat, D84 and 9 others 7 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sckao Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 You realize the regular membership here have been PAYING for membership for over 20 years too right? Paying dealers to submit books for us? Paying for an annual CGC Membership to support CGC and/or to submit in later years. I remember those three free Express Grading coupons each year. Or is everyone here literally a dealer? Tony S 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 (edited) On 1/11/2022 at 7:53 PM, sckao said: I remember those three free Express Grading coupons each year. Edited January 12, 2022 by Bird although I only submitted myself after they went away, I do recall them and am not a cgc dealer (yet!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony S Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 6:53 PM, sckao said: You realize the regular membership here have been PAYING for membership for over 20 years too right? Paying dealers to submit books for us? Paying for an annual CGC Membership to support CGC and/or to submit in later years. I remember those three free Express Grading coupons each year. Or is everyone here literally a dealer? Given the fact the topic is about a new for the first time in 22 years dealer membership fee, I would not be surprised if there are more dealer account holders in this thread than the norm. In the past, CGC's perspective is that dealer accounts "paid" for their membership by driving a lot of business to CGC. Lots of people on the boards here actually have a free membership just so as to participate in the forums and send in books at shows and signing events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 cgc dealer boards "special" - tree fiddy William-James88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William-James88 Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 (edited) On 1/11/2022 at 7:10 PM, Sigur Ros said: What service though? Having an authorized dealer costs CGC nothing. It does since they get less money due to discounts (that's their cost of having an authorized dealer). Edited January 12, 2022 by William-James88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William-James88 Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 7:53 PM, Tony S said: I'm not sure how to say this. MOST COLLECTORS don't want their books slabbed. It's not a matter of most people need an incentive to buy raw - most people need an incentive to buy slabbed. I cannot count the number of slabbed books I've sold where I was asked to break it out of the slab for the buyer. I do agree that people are often times paying similar to graded prices for their raw books. But that they are says volumes. MOST COLLECTIONS have no graded books. MOST COLLECTORS want to be able to read or at least page through their comics. 100% agree. I would much prefer living in a world where everyone was honest about grading and we all shared the same grading standards (which we essentially could by just adhering strictly to overstreet), leaving all books unslabbed. buttock, universal soldier, silverseeker and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bird Posted January 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2022 from the outside it looks like cgc felt like they benefited from association with dealers in the beginning but now believe that dealers benefit from association with cgc the coin has flipped, or so they appear to believe Many if not most people on these boards do not submit to cgc. I doubt many go premium, which is where there is actual cash out of pocket if you count the credit as equal to the lower level membership fee. I myself submit, but am now on the automatic NON renewel program (there is no button to click for that) and will only renew later this year once I am ready to sub again. stippy52, Randall Dowling, Tony S and 5 others 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigur Ros Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 8:03 PM, William-James88 said: It does since they get less money due to discounts (that's their cost of having an authorized dealer). Offering discounts is not a cost. They can end the discounts, like they did with most of their membership, that would increase profits more than suddenly charging a tax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
universal soldier Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 I don't submit myself and only have about 25 slabs (70% CGC) in my collection but I would expect this will trickle down my way should I happen to use a dealer to submit for me. I currently use my LCS when I submit and know their costs are part of what I'm charged. Earlier in this thread, others mentioned that many collectors prefer raw and I'm in that camp. The recent trend of graded prices for raw has made me pass on a number of books as that makes zero sense to me. Why would I bother if I just exhibit a bit of self-control and go find a graded copy for the same price? It is a bit that this would happen unannounced as it did. Given how "vocal" things are here, this type of response is warranted and not unexpected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tony S Posted January 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 7:10 PM, Bird said: from the outside it looks like cgc felt like they benefited from association with dealers in the beginning but now believe that dealers benefit from association with cgc the coin has flipped, or so they appear to believe Many if not most people on these boards do not submit to cgc. I doubt many go premium, which is where there is actual cash out of pocket if you count the credit as equal to the lower level membership fee. I myself submit, but am now on the automatic NON renewel program (there is no button to click for that) and will only renew later this year once I am ready to sub again. THIS is really well said and to the point. Thank you. William-James88, Point Five, JJ-4 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GACollectibles Posted January 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 7:53 PM, sckao said: Or is everyone here literally a dealer? If the IRS is asking, I'm hearing a ton of "No!"s. silverseeker, Bird, jimjum12 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gemini Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 6:53 PM, Tony S said: I cannot count the number of slabbed books I've sold where I was asked to break it out of the slab for the buyer. And these people I just don't understand. If I want to read a high price book, I'll read a reprint or a low grade copy. CycleGirl and Larryw7 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post WoWitHurts Posted January 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 8:28 PM, Lord Gemini said: And these people I just don't understand. If I want to read a high price book, I'll read a reprint or a low grade copy. I understand it. Comic collectors prefer unslabbed books. There is a reason it is referred to as a slab. Like a morgue slab. Because it is entombed. This grading works better for cards because you can see both sides. A comic collector may want a high grade book but also may want to hold it, look at it etc. Let’s say I buy a CGC 9.2 ASM #3 that was slabbed yesterday. It made it almost 60 years in a high grade. Collectors know how to handle their books. Mr Sneeze, KCOComics, D84 and 9 others 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D2 Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 9:06 PM, Sigur Ros said: Your angry fanboyism aside... I can say after I left (due to the non-stop QC issues, not price increase(s) or TaTs)...I have never once regretted a thing. More accurate, consistent grading... better cases (by far)... free grader notes (actually free, not the ones CGC offers... if they're even available). But you're right... I definitely learned a lesson. Being the first does not make one the best. Who is angry? I just think it’s sad that, for one, you quit CGC and still troll their message boards? And 2, CGC doesn’t have more loyal and understanding partners. I have no skin in this game, that’s why my opinion is genuine. kimik 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Namor Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 6:26 PM, october said: I have gone from hundreds of books a year sent to CGC, to dozens, to zero in 2021. I don't see that changing anytime soon with turnaround times and fees in a breakneck race to see which can end up worse. Exactly. And why wait a year to get a book back that you can just as easily sell raw. jsilverjanet, Larryw7, Randall Dowling and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post shadroch Posted January 12, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 3:32 PM, Buzzetta said: I agree with you. I also consider what Bezos said (took me awhile to find the quote) when he proclaimed that one day, Amazon would fail and go bankrupt. I agree with everything you have said about CBCS. The rate of return, the turnaround times, the consistency of grading, all of it. Eventually though I do believe that there will be too many newton rings, too many shards of plastic in holders, too many ill fitting holders, too many books damaged post grading that say 9.8 but the encapsulation room damaged them down to 7.5's... you get the idea. Eventually people are going to tire of it. There are board members here that write me with a "what should I do" message. This is fine btw as I remember reaching out to several OG's seeking advice when I was new. It raises an eyebrow when I see from them that CGC will increase the grading fee on a perceived grade for a book then grade it as say a 9.8 only to damage it once they encapsulate by folding a page over and then come up with every excuse why they should not pay out at the rate they assigned. There are too many stories on facebook, instagram, and here all with different books and customers. Eventually the boat will tip. Again, I agree with you that it is not anytime soon. However, a company cannot continue being this short sighted without consequence. It's not short sighted when all you are concerned with is the short term. Some other empty suit can deal with the consequences down the road. Blackstone takes its 500 million, pumps up incredible short term results and unloads it on the public D84, Larryw7, buttock and 3 others 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimik Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 (edited) On 1/11/2022 at 5:53 PM, sckao said: You realize the regular membership here have been PAYING for membership for over 20 years too right? Paying dealers to submit books for us? Paying for an annual CGC Membership to support CGC and/or to submit in later years. I remember those three free Express Grading coupons each year. Or is everyone here literally a dealer? No. There are plenty of us here that submit a few hundred books per year and have been paying for memberships for 20 years. I guess we were doing it wrong. Edited January 12, 2022 by kimik sckao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 1/11/2022 at 8:44 PM, kimik said: No. There are plenty of us here that submit a few hundred books per year and have been paying for memberships for 20 years. I guess we were doing it wrong. You were submitting a few hundred books a year and never looked into a dealer account? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
