All I want to do is talk about COMC

[mjohnatgt]

Raw modern cards without a condition bucket are *supposed to be* NM-MT or better, equating to an 8-10. Cards in the [EX to NM] bucket were very quickly assigned that based on slight corner, edge, or surface wear, and you should expect them to grade in the 5-7 range most of the time.
However, there are times where [EX to NM]-listed cards are actually just fine and they entered the information in wrong, and times where the cards in the raw bucket could be any grade and should not be considered NM-MT. The ones that say [EXCELLENT+] or specific grades means they've gone through the COMC Condition review process and would much more likely grade close to the one COMC has assigned.

Not sure why you'd pay a 15% premium on eBay plus $5 shipping just to get these types of cards quickly. I'd buy them on COMC on sale and leave them there for months. But if that's value added for you, go ahead.

[JustMoe]

Originally Posted by base set

Miscellaneous COMC question: OK, so pandemic response probably includes changes to work spaces and distancing within and perhaps maximums on people inside certain spaces, etc. And they are hiring and training, probably giving out retention raises, etc. I am not interested in exact details on that; but only this -

Does COMC run at least 2 “shifts” of employees in their facilities?

If you check out their "Job Board" page, the "Order Fulfillment" team says they have "Flexible Full-time and Part-time positions between 5AM-10PM with rotating weekend shifts." so that has the potential for more than one shift.

As for the concept of "retention raises" or other incentives, that's not something within COMC's wheelhouse...Most of their positions are just over the State's minimum wage rate, only because they have to compete with Seattle's $15/hr minimum wage.

[frenchquarter]

Originally Posted by base set

Requested a shipment in mid-June. Now 40 days past estimated shipping date.

I get it COMC. I hear you loud and clear. I can no longer send in cards and can no longer receive cards.

Yes, my shipment request was 6/20 and the expected ship date was 9/21. Nothing happening yet.

So, in the past 4 days, I have received 3 emails from COMC extolling the virtues of sending in cards to list on the website, and extolling the virtues of purchasing cards on their site to have them sent home.

Why are they trying to drum up more business when they are months behind on their current orders?

[mmier118]

Originally Posted by JMH710

I have a question for you COMC gurus. I'm buying through eBay so I get my cards in a reasonable time frame. Looking at two of the same card, one says Grade: Raw and the other says Grade: EX to NM.

Is one of these going to be in much better shape than the other, or do I just look at the pictures and hope for the best? They're sub-$4 promo cards so we're not talking big money, but I still don't want to accidentally buy a more ragged one because I don't know better. Thanks.

I always look at the pictures, and honestly ex-nm should have some wear, but when I’ve ordered multiple copies of the same card and one is “raw” and one has an ex-nm designation, most of the time, but not all of the time, I cant tell which is which.

Sometimes they have a flaw like back chipping or a corner ding that I didn’t notice in the pictures. Now vg-ex always seems to have a light crease or other manufacturing defect that didn’t show up in the photos. If it got a condition remark someone at some point noticed something negative about the condition of the card. This is all for modern stuff, for older cards you just have to go with the photos and hope for the best.

[base set]

Thanks Moe. I have always wondered if their proprietary high-speed scanners are running more than 8 hours a day.

[JustMoe]

Originally Posted by base set

Thanks Moe. I have always wondered if their proprietary high-speed scanners are running more than 8 hours a day.

Their what? When I was there, all they used was flat bed scanners they got at Best Buy...and thankfully they were cheap, because COMC went through them a lot. When did they upgrade?

[JMH710]

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

Raw modern cards without a condition bucket are *supposed to be* NM-MT or better, equating to an 8-10. Cards in the [EX to NM] bucket were very quickly assigned that based on slight corner, edge, or surface wear, and you should expect them to grade in the 5-7 range most of the time.
However, there are times where [EX to NM]-listed cards are actually just fine and they entered the information in wrong, and times where the cards in the raw bucket could be any grade and should not be considered NM-MT. The ones that say [EXCELLENT+] or specific grades means they've gone through the COMC Condition review process and would much more likely grade close to the one COMC has assigned.

Not sure why you'd pay a 15% premium on eBay plus $5 shipping just to get these types of cards quickly. I'd buy them on COMC on sale and leave them there for months. But if that's value added for you, go ahead.

So in theory, the 'raw' card is better. I'd wondered if 'raw' meant 'the worst condition we take,' so this is good to know. Thank you.

I don't think the aggravation of wondering why they haven't shipped my cards yet is worth a couple of dollars, so eBay it is.

Originally Posted by mmier118

I always look at the pictures, and honestly ex-nm should have some wear, but when I’ve ordered multiple copies of the same card and one is “raw” and one has an ex-nm designation, most of the time, but not all of the time, I cant tell which is which.

Sometimes they have a flaw like back chipping or a corner ding that I didn’t notice in the pictures. Now vg-ex always seems to have a light crease or other manufacturing defect that didn’t show up in the photos. If it got a condition remark someone at some point noticed something negative about the condition of the card. This is all for modern stuff, for older cards you just have to go with the photos and hope for the best.

Ah, so I want to avoid VG-EX, then. Also useful information, thanks.

[mjohnatgt]

You should read my Primer thread in this forum. It will explain a lot of that.

[base set]

Originally Posted by JustMoe

Their what? When I was there, all they used was flat bed scanners they got at Best Buy...and thankfully they were cheap, because COMC went through them a lot. When did they upgrade?

Somewhere on their site they brag about their scanners. I read it in the past. No longer that interested to try finding it again. I like the idea of COMC quite a bit and my first couple submissions and packages received were great.

I hope they can come back to that. On the other hand, the deeper “The Hobby” (sounds like a cult) gets in to condition sensitive mania, the more difficult COMC’s tasks are probably becoming.

[sthoemke]

Originally Posted by JustMoe

Their what? When I was there, all they used was flat bed scanners they got at Best Buy...and thankfully they were cheap, because COMC went through them a lot. When did they upgrade?

Flat beds? Really? I always thought they had something that would be more efficient.

[shrevecity]

Originally Posted by sthoemke

Flat beds? Really? I always thought they had something that would be more efficient.

Especially since they have mentioned the high quality of their scanners in the past. It was also part of their reasoning for cards in top loaders a flatbed it should not matter if its in a top loader or not

[jjj5278]

They put a few of my cards into EX-NM buckets and it is annoying. One of them I bought from them shipped it home, never removed it from the toploader until I put in the box to ship to them (I already owned one it turned out). So it wasn’t in that bucket when I bought but now it is. I didn’t see anything wrong with it and it doesn’t have any condition notes so I have no idea why they listed it that way. They just willy nilly assign that designation it seems, but it sucks bc I can’t ever seem to sell any they put in that bucket. I sold one through eBay and it wasn’t returned so I’m guessing it wasn’t in that bad of shape.

[JustMoe]

Originally Posted by sthoemke

Flat beds? Really? I always thought they had something that would be more efficient.

Originally Posted by shrevecity

Especially since they have mentioned the high quality of their scanners in the past. It was also part of their reasoning for cards in top loaders a flatbed it should not matter if its in a top loader or not

Now, remember, I've been gone for 5+ years...they may have upgraded their gear since my departure, I couldn't tell you since they no longer invite me to staff meetings. During my time, all they had in the processing department were these basic flatbed scanners, and COMC went thru a lot of them, because I don't think those scanners weren't designed to be run for 8 hours a day...

[mjohnatgt]

I've been told they have a different quality scanner for the Elite processing scans, and presumably have CCD-element or better scanners in order to process graded cards where the item itself doesn't lie flat on the glass.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by jjj5278

They put a few of my cards into EX-NM buckets and it is annoying. One of them I bought from them shipped it home, never removed it from the toploader until I put in the box to ship to them (I already owned one it turned out). So it wasn’t in that bucket when I bought but now it is. I didn’t see anything wrong with it and it doesn’t have any condition notes so I have no idea why they listed it that way. They just willy nilly assign that designation it seems, but it sucks bc I can’t ever seem to sell any they put in that bucket. I sold one through eBay and it wasn’t returned so I’m guessing it wasn’t in that bad of shape.

If theres no obvious corner or edge wear then its probably a surface issue. Either factory scratch lines or other surface scratches. Maybe even on the back.

[JustMoe]

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

I've been told they have a different quality scanner for the Elite processing scans, and presumably have CCD-element or better scanners in order to process graded cards where the item itself doesn't lie flat on the glass.

Don't forget, they were offering "high resolution" scans when they had "The Vault" - when all they were doing was bumping up the DPI on the flatbed settings...

(and, I know that's what a "high resolution" scan is, but unless I actually saw these "different quality" scanners, I wouldn't believe they were using anything other than what they've always been using...remember, Tim (or anyone at COMC) will tell you what you want to hear.)

[mjohnatgt]

The Vault is before my time.

[Bowman1951]

Originally Posted by cruiserdaddy7

I think alot of people are hearing it. Selection of new releases has gone way down, people have had enough.

Isn't this because they are so far behind on processing and if you are selling, say a 2020 NFL card for $5, you aren't going to pay an upcharge to get it in faster?

[Bowman1951]

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

I've been told they have a different quality scanner for the Elite processing scans, and presumably have CCD-element or better scanners in order to process graded cards where the item itself doesn't lie flat on the glass.

The Elite scans are actually with a DSLR camera, probably pumping out 50 Megapixels or more.

[kabenac]

Y'all were right. They held 2 cards for a bit and FINALLY completed the processing, making the quantity 380 (the correct amount) cards, so no cards went missing. I'm wondering if the 'uploader' had to double check the last two cards to make certain he/she had the card info correct, but who knows.

[mmier118]

Originally Posted by JustMoe

Don't forget, they were offering "high resolution" scans when they had "The Vault" - when all they were doing was bumping up the DPI on the flatbed settings...

(and, I know that's what a "high resolution" scan is, but unless I actually saw these "different quality" scanners, I wouldn't believe they were using anything other than what they've always been using...remember, Tim (or anyone at COMC) will tell you what you want to hear.)

Hi Moe,

Thanks for chiming in. I wanted to get your opinion on something since even though it’s been awhile since you worked there you have a much better idea of their operations than any one else. Do you think that Covid is the cause of the 4.5 month shipping delays or is it more likely the eBay sales? I believe it’s probably a bit of both and it can’t be just covid, because for an additional $80-$100 they will get me my order in a reasonable time. But I know Seattle is a lot more strict than other places. My brother lives in Seattle and hasn’t stepped foot in his office since March. Is shipping something that can be done while socially distanced or is it all in cramped spaces where it would be hard to stay safe with a normal working crew. It just seems lots of places are learning to function within the new rules, which I know varies from state to state. But if Vegas can open our casinos in a relatively safe way it seems like Comc could put up some plexiglass and wear masks to get their business up in running in a fashion that works a little better for their customers. Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

[messier2]

Quick question, I have a group of cards that I ordered in July. It says the shipping date is today (10/26)...how accurate is COMC on these shipping dates? Should I worry if it doesn't get shipped sometime this week?

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by messier2

Quick question, I have a group of cards that I ordered in July. It says the shipping date is today (10/26)...how accurate is COMC on these shipping dates? Should I worry if it doesn't get shipped sometime this week?

Shipping dates are not too accurate right now. I'd shoot them an email if it doesn't happen in the next day or two.

[messier2]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

Shipping dates are not too accurate right now. I'd shoot them an email if it doesn't happen in the next day or two.

Ok, cool. Thanks! I've been waiting forever and 3 months is a long time!!! lol

[mjohnatgt]

Most of those regular shipments are taking 4+ months based on the posts I've seen. But they will move your order up if you notify them they missed your deadline, from what I've seen.