A Poll for the Message Board regarding SMR and the Web

JoeOrlando · August 28, 2008 3:08AM

Hello everyone,

One of our goals at PSA is to not only improve our core services like authentication, grading and the set registry, but to also improve the quality of the information we provide.

One way we provide information is through SMR with pricing, articles and guides. The SMR is something that is very important to us but the world is changing. The web has obviously become the preferred venue for news, information, etc.

That being said, you would be amazed at how many people still prefer print versus web. I do think there may be a way to satisfy most people with a different approach.

Here is my question to you...

Assuming the pricing pages and quailty of the articles improve, would you prefer...

A) To have the SMR prices updated more quickly on the web, perhaps weekly, and reduce the size of the SMR dramatically. In other words, focus more on articles and news with the printed version and, perhaps, remove pricing entirely since the print will always be behind the web anyway.

To leave the SMR alone but keep the web pricing as current as possible.

C) To leave everything as is, just continue to improve the quality of the articles and pricing.

Currently, we do not update the pricing on the web before the printed version is released (due to the print/shipping delay) but this can change very quickly.

I am open to any other suggestions.

I do appreciate your feedback and time.

Sincerely,

Joe Orlando
President

MeteoriteGuy · August 28, 2008 3:14AM

A

SMR has lost ground to a well liked online service and to somewhat still new magazine, as far as prices go. What it does a good at is the articles. Focusing on what you do right, seems the best solution to me.

I think this has been discussed before, but I believe PSA/SMR needs a partnership with VCP. This would instantly turn a weakness, into a strong point.

IJustLoveCards · August 28, 2008 3:19AM

My choice is B.

perkdog · August 28, 2008 3:19AM

I would love to see more articles and news- I vote for A!

drewsef · August 28, 2008 3:21AM

Option A

clydecoolidge · August 28, 2008 3:22AM

I vote for option "A"

When it comes down to it, I always end up looking for pricing on something that I know is current and as close to accurate as possible, such as VCP and ebay completed auctions. I do use SMR printed pricing as a reference sometimes, but I would much rather have SMR provide more of a card collector's reference on collecting (as you currently have a particular set featured, and details on that set), rather than pricing that is hard to make accurate in a monthly release.

Thanks Joe, for allowing me to voice my opinion and for continueing to improve your services!

Post25 · August 28, 2008 3:26AM

I vote for 'A ' as well. The articles are always great in each issue. However, I find the pricing does not reflect the market. It is a large portion of the magazine that I do not look at. A smaller magazine with more focus on articles and news and less on prices would be fantastic.
Thanks for asking.

Jeff

sfmays24 · August 28, 2008 3:27AM

D) All of the above.

nam812 · August 28, 2008 3:28AM

Why reach out to us? I thought the message board only made up 1% of the PSA population.

Robby · August 28, 2008 3:29AM

My vote is for A ............ although I've let my membership laspe , I will be renewing it soon in the near future when I have the extra funds ! Miss the online pop reports and pricing , and love reading the articles in the mag ! Bring on more card related stories Joe !
Dave ' Robbie' Robinson

cwazzy · August 28, 2008 3:40AM

I also vote for A and removing the pricing from the magazine completely. I enjoy the articles much more than the pricing (which is only somewhat accurate at best in it's current form).

Chris

Davemri · August 28, 2008 3:44AM

My vote is also A..... I would doubt that many use the SMR for a price guide anyway, especially with sites such as VCP and cardpricer. I love the articles and have thought that it would be cool to make a publication with all the articles that SMR has ever had. Make a book with, say, all football articles in one place, hockey in another, baseball....etc...

Just my opinion..

Dave

billwaltonsbeard · August 28, 2008 3:45AM

I suggest putting more former Major League scrub infielders on the cover.

Morgoth · August 28, 2008 3:50AM

I actually use the pricing at shows and a ton of dealers till use it so having it online would make it harder for me. That being said, I think more articles would be great. Maybe you do a price guide quarterly but do articles monthly.

storm888 · August 28, 2008 3:57AM

Choice "A" sounds about right.

BUT, I would be a little concerned that some/many advertisers would complain
about lost "impressions." Because the prices are frequently viewed by subscribers,
the advertisers get TONS of repeat impressions on each user. Removing prices
could turn the magazine into a one-time-look vehicle for the advertisers.

Additionally, most/many copies of SMR have multiple lateral-circulations. IF the
pricing is removed, there is little/no reason for folks to handoff previous issues
to non-subscribers. This amounts to a de facto circulation reduction, and could
lead to advertisers looking for rate cuts.

I need my 25-cent dividend, and don't want you to have to reduce ad-rates due
to lost views. IF any potential offset in rates is recouped by cutting pages and
reducing production work, "A" might be the correct choice.

Or, we could do nothing.

VitoCo1972 · August 28, 2008 3:58AM

Option A - definitely

psafan · August 28, 2008 3:59AM

E) How about hiring graders who actually know what they're doing

ymarea · August 28, 2008 4:00AM

I vote "A."

mtcards · August 28, 2008 4:00AM

More articles.

SMR prices are generally either too high for slow moving, lower condition cards or too low for low pop or fast moving cards. There are enough sales through ebay and the various auction houses to see what cards are actually selling for. I would rather read interesting articles than see how my PSA 8 Tony Gwynn RC has stayed the same SMR value for the 50th consecutive month

11235813 · August 28, 2008 4:19AM

I would vote for Option A.

That said, it doesn't make much difference how and when you update prices if you aren't willing to spend more time and $$$ ensuring their accuracy. Far too many prices in SMR bear no resemblence to reality and are educated guesses at best.

I'm always amused to see prices in SMR for cards in grades in which either they do not exist (many 1952 Topps in PSA 9, for example), or in which they exist in such small numbers that few, if any, transactions ever take place.

JasP24 · August 28, 2008 4:19AM

OPTION A

hankcaddy · August 28, 2008 4:23AM

I vote option A , the pricing is not what i look to this for.I like it for the articles about how and why people build the collections they have, and the articles on the off beat issues i have never seen before, much less collected.

DavidPuddy · August 28, 2008 4:33AM

The correct answer is
Since we all know that printed materials are dieing a slow death you should:
1: Print the paper version quarterly so we will still have a rough idea of prices if we find ourselves at a show.
2: Place more emphasis on quality articles in the printed version. (So I have something to read on plane flights)
3: Start to update the on-line pricing weekly or even faster. i.e. VCP. Place much more importance on the on-line side of SMR!

It's just that easy.

Feel free to call me for a free consultation.

storm888 · August 28, 2008 4:34AM

",,,There are enough sales through ebay and the various auction houses to see what cards are actually selling for..."

////////////////////////////////

There is merit to that notion.

BUT, it leads me closer to the "do nothing" solution.

SMR-pricing has LARGELY been accepted as "just a guide." To think that
PSA has to spend money to duplicate a service that is being sold by others
is not necessarily a profitable thought.

I am all for value-added services for members, BUT they need to be provided
with an eye toward preserving ALL types of resources, which can and should be
largely expended on the CORE business: Grading Cards Perfectly and Recording Population Information.

.........

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, it may well be that the farther away from "instant pricing" PSA stays, the better.

EVEN if a majority of respondents wants/demands current price-tracking, it does not mean that PSA needs to be the
entity that provides it.

ANY solution chosen should be, at worst, revenue neutral.

.............

A few weeks ago, I read an airline study that said everytime a carrier raises prices by
$1.00, they lose THOUSANDS of passengers. If ANY contemplated changes to SMR result
in price hikes to members/advertisers, PSA needs to make SURE that the math works
before jumping in.

.............

Further, any money contemplated being spent on "fixing" SMR, would be better spent
on designing a more "tamper-proof, counterfeit-proof and secure" slab. SMR is not really
"broken," but our current holders are under an attack that is going to get MUCH worse.

julen23 · August 28, 2008 4:40AM

all things considered:

option a

J

jeff8877 · August 28, 2008 4:42AM

option A

Thanks

hotmush · August 28, 2008 4:43AM

Option A.
More news and articles and those great 'set histories.' Less collector profile articles.
With the online world, you can skip each sport quarterly to save on pages. But the money you do save, you should hire some experienced feature magazine writers who can write a bit more than glorified press releases from Mastro.

WinPitcher · August 28, 2008 4:46AM

A, thanks for asking.

Steve

and5zac · August 28, 2008 5:02AM

option A

Lou

Uphill · August 28, 2008 5:03AM

thekid8 · August 28, 2008 5:24AM

leathtech · August 28, 2008 5:28AM

<< <i>The correct answer is
Since we all know that printed materials are dieing a slow death you should:
1: Print the paper version quarterly so we will still have a rough idea of prices if we find ourselves at a show.
2: Place more emphasis on quality articles in the printed version. (So I have something to read on plane flights)
3: Start to update the on-line pricing weekly or even faster. i.e. VCP. Place much more importance on the on-line side of SMR!

It's just that easy.

Feel free to call me for a free consultation. >>

I think this is right on... 4 times a year print the current prices at the time of printing and then update the website as much as possible.

Sportsamerica · August 28, 2008 5:39AM

I would say print the prices on a rotating basis (Baseball one month, Football one month, basketball/packs another month)... This way once a quarter the printed version is updated and people who take to shows can still have a 'reasonable' pricing...

So I would say a modified A.

digicat · August 28, 2008 5:46AM

I'd vote for A. I enjoy good hobby reading material, but I seldom use the price-guide in the SMR.

unitas · August 28, 2008 5:55AM

I'll take door A.

scoutsout47 · August 28, 2008 6:06AM

Hiya Mr. Orlando,

I think that Option "A" would be the most rewarding for SMR magazine subscribers for two very specific reasons: 1) Vintage card pricing and registry winner information is already available online and can be updated in less time than it takes to publish the magazine. 2) The PSA set featurettes are very popular with subscribers, and showcasing another set or two in the monthly SMR -- to include plenty of colorful pics -- would be a boon to readers.

Additionally, what would you think about adding another feature to the SMR, such as a "Feedback Section," "Questions for the Editor," or -- and this would be my favorite -- "The Pop 1 Report?" The "Pop 1 Report" could feature a single collector and his/her PSA-graded card that stands alone as a Pop 1. The final selection could be chosen based upon its pristine condition, or its rarity, and the one-page article could contain a pic of the card and its owner, as well as a short bio and the history of how he/she came into possession of said card. Then, PSA might consider offering a free submission voucher for any member who was able to acquire or have graded, a similar card of that which was featured in a previous edition of SMR, thus knocking him/her out of the Pop 1 rankings. Competition in the PSA Set Registry is rampant, and this could be equally entertaining, though on a much smaller scale.

In any case, it was just a thought. Either way, I'll remain a loyal subscriber.

All the best,

Jared K.

julen23 · August 28, 2008 6:08AM

door #a?

this a cheech & chong skit?

recbball · August 28, 2008 6:16AM

Option A

eyebone · August 28, 2008 6:17AM

More hobby related articles and general hobby news....therefore, option A.

eyebone

SDavid · August 28, 2008 6:43AM

Option A, but with a periodic paper edition that contains prices. Maybe every 3-4 months or twice a year.

I'd like to have pricing data I can refer to when I'm not on a computer.

goose3 · August 28, 2008 6:45AM

I select "A" and also would add that you need to put some realistic grades into whatever option you stick with.

Not many PSA8 Goudey and T206 collectors around....

Lower the range of pricing down to include PSA4's or so.

SDSportsFan · August 28, 2008 6:53AM

I whole-heartedly vote for Option A.

Edited to add that I would also like to see added pricing for lower condition (re PSA 1-3) Pre-WWII cards. That has always been my biggest complaint with the SMR, since PSA 4 and up (especially in Pre-WWI caramel cards) are for the most part, too costly for my budget.

Steve

TheVon · August 28, 2008 7:10AM

Option A.

I think you can do away with the "price guide" portion of the magazine and focus on the M in SMR -- the Market of the hobby, in general. What is popular, what trends are emerging/fading, how the hobby is (or isn't) growing . . . I think something informative or thought-provoking would get readers to save the magazine and consult it more than once which could help to alleviate some of the one-and-done concerns Storm mentioned in his posts.

SDSportsFan · August 28, 2008 7:21AM

<< <i>Option A.

I think you can do away with the "price guide" portion of the magazine and focus on the M in SMR -- the Market of the hobby, in general. What is popular, what trends are emerging/fading, how the hobby is (or isn't) growing . . . I think something informative or thought-provoking would get readers to save the magazine and consult it more than once which could help to alleviate some of the one-and-done concerns Storm mentioned in his posts. >>

I Agree, Great Suggestion

Steve

baseballjeff · August 28, 2008 7:31AM

If you reduce the size of SMR you're going to do the same thing Beckett did. Now, I won't even pick up a Beckett, because the mag. is crap. I REALLY hope you keep the quality, and content up with SMR.

Good Luck, thanks for listening to us!

bobbybakeriv · August 28, 2008 7:36AM

fandango · August 28, 2008 7:42AM

<< <i>Why reach out to us? I thought the message board only made up 1% of the PSA population.

>>

hmmm someone once said this before....was it CD NUTS?

Joe, i think a connection to ebay prices and auctions houses, similar to what VCP has, would be a great solution....

jcdcubs · August 28, 2008 7:58AM

I VOTE A+++++++

KbKards · August 28, 2008 8:06AM

No brainer - C
You get A with C.
You need a printed guide. How many times are you away from a computer and need to check a price?
It's much easier flipping a few pages in a printed guide to find a couple prices than clicking back and forth online waiting for pages to load and scrolling around.

There's still a lot of shops, shows, and people without instant internet access that need a printed guide for information. Years ago almost every table at shows had a Beckett guide to refer to. Now the SMR's may outnumber the Becketts. You stay relevant by putting your guide out there for people to use whenever they need it, not when they can get online later.

For the same reasons all the big auction houses print catalogs, PSA should continue printing the SMR. Nothing online can compare to the convenience of being able to take a printed guide anywhere you need it.

You also do it because the other companies don't bother trying. That's why you see seller's quoting SMR all the time for cards from other grading companies.

The SMR ain't perfect but it's better than nothing, and if you move pricing on line then you've pretty much got nothing available for a very large segment of the hobby.

HobbyKings · August 28, 2008 8:25AM

I think most people who are into cards already know how much they go for or should go for. Since when has a book price affected the final price of an auction or any sale. A card can sell for double book price or half, so I think most people don't care about book pricing so much.

I think people want something really good to read, and pictures of cards to see. I really loved the article about the Baseball player who collect PSA 10 Baseball rookie card. Sorry I can't remember his name, I only do Basketball but still anjoy a Baseball or any sport article.

I say jam pack your mag with more articles, thats what most people would like, I think. And of course don't forget to always add photos as well. I think an article without pictures would be like an auction without a picture.

Good luck with your mag and hope to see more articles soon!

HK

FanOf390 · August 28, 2008 8:52AM

Definitely Option A -- and thanks for asking.

Charlie

A Poll for the Message Board regarding SMR and the Web

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