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Does PCGS really need to host a coin forum ?

jayPemjayPem Posts: 4,082 ✭✭✭✭✭
If you were a large corporate entity, wishing to appear attractive to your big time clientele ...wouldn't having a link to a forum like this one on be rather like to inviting
those clients to a family reunion, knowing that all of your most embarassing relatives will be there, making fools of themselves ?

I believe that I land squarely in the center of the middle class of coin collecting....
Therefore I believe that the middle class of coin collecting is the glue that holds this hobby together.
But I could be totally wrong about that. Could be that all the dreck we middle class collectors collect could be melted down and the hobby/industry would carry on just fine
catering to the Big Fish... image

Comments

  • keyman64keyman64 Posts: 15,527 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Need, no. Very helpful, yes.
    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
    Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners. :smile:
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,546 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Need? No. Walmart doesn't "need" to offer loss leaders, either, but overall they benefit from doing so.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    This forum is invaluable to CU in myriad ways. Here is a link to a recent paper I published on exactly why.
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
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  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,594 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The registry is a key driver of the brand. Having a message forum supports the registry fever. I assert that given that strategy, they "need" the board.
    Seated Half Society member #38
    "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
  • BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,556 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This has been brought up before.
    Not sure why it is really a question that needs answered. CU funds it, it is free to participants, so obviously they see value in it.

    Do students really need to learn math in school?
    Do drivers really need to obey the laws of the road?
    Do people really need to be on these forums?

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,255 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Who needs half of the junk that is sold in a Wal Mart store?
    theknowitalltroll;
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    For coin collectors, it is a great forum, full of resources. For our hosts, it provides an area of focus favorable to their business. Cheers, RickO
  • BullsitterBullsitter Posts: 5,865 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If our host didn't want it we wouldn't have it....image
  • epcjimi1epcjimi1 Posts: 3,489 ✭✭✭
    "Does PCGS really need to host a coin forum ?"

    Yes, I think they should host a coin forum.

    After all, it's what PCGS does, grade coins, feedback, react to feedback, (maybe, if you're lucky) -

    So I'll go with this -



    image
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,799 ✭✭✭✭✭
    PCGS absolutely needs the forum.

    1. It supports the brand and various individual components of the brand.
    2. It allows PCGS a way to easily communicate with its customers, fans, and devotees in real time and monitor the communication between customers, fans, and devotees.
    3. Takeaways are always a problem for companies. Once you have provided a free service, it's not good form to take it away. Eliminating the forum would damage the goodwill that was built over the years.
    4. Finally, would Target close it's stories on Sundays and allow Walmart to have greater access to its customer base. Does PCGS want to send its customers to NGC for coin conversation. I am sure that NGC would not mind seeing the increased traffic on their website and forum.

    That said, I frankly would rather see the forum shut down on weekends as a policy, rather than on a random basis coming here and with increased frequency, finding the forum slow to respond or completely non responsive, especially when I have pending transactions that have been communicated via the forum.
  • LanceNewmanOCCLanceNewmanOCC Posts: 19,999 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>So I'll go with this - >>



    it is no benefit to this thread but i gotta say, that thing is beautiful. imo
    .

    <--- look what's behind the mask! - cool link 1/NO ~ 2/NNP ~ 3/NNC ~ 4/CF ~ 5/PG ~ 6/Cert ~ 7/NGC 7a/NGC pop~ 8/NGCF ~ 9/HA archives ~ 10/PM ~ 11/NM ~ 12/ANACS cert ~ 13/ANACS pop - report fakes 1/ACEF ~ report fakes/thefts 1/NCIS - Numi-Classes SS ~ Bass ~ Transcribed Docs NNP - clashed coins - error training - V V mm styles -

  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
    I suspect PCGS gets more business due to this forum than they would otherwise.
    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Do students really need to learn math in school?
    Do drivers really need to obey the laws of the road?
    Do people really need to be on these forums? >>


    A. Yes.
    B. Yes.
    C. No.

    If you were making a point, I guess I missed it.
  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,255 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I suspect PCGS gets more business due to this forum than they would otherwise. >>



    Think of how much they save in customer service cost.
    theknowitalltroll;
  • Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,384 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The question can only be answered by another question. Does this Forum make PCGS money indirectly?

    If the answer is:

    Yes, then they will keep it.

    If the answer is:

    NO, then it will disappear eventually.

    That's it.
  • dbcoindbcoin Posts: 2,200 ✭✭


    << <i>The question can only be answered by another question. Does this Forum make PCGS money indirectly?

    If the answer is:

    Yes, then they will keep it.

    If the answer is:

    NO, then it will disappear eventually.

    That's it. >>



    PCGS "other" income which includes websites ads and other stuff amounts to about $1M/quarter now. Not sure what percentage of the $1M the website ads are but it must be something. I think the majority of the website ad income comes from the coinflation.com website they bought 2 years ago. If I had to guess, the forums website ad revenue probably just offsets the costs for hosting the forums.
  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭
    This forum is a profit center; they don't give those ads away for free.
    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,809 ✭✭✭✭✭
    actually, the idea of a regular scheduled maintenance closing seems to make sense. Post the regular schedule and see what happens

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • ldhairldhair Posts: 7,338 ✭✭✭✭✭
    We all need this site and I feel PCGS needs it as well.
    This and other boards are important to the hobby.
    Larry

  • GoldbullyGoldbully Posts: 17,881 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>For coin collectors, it is a great forum, full of resources. For our hosts, it provides an area of focus favorable to their business. Cheers, RickO >>


    Clear and concise....and correct.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,552 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This place is better than Facebook, Twitter, and most other places online.
  • derrybderryb Posts: 37,610 ✭✭✭✭✭
    it increases the demand for their product/service. Good marketing tool and a good public service.

    No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left

  • kiyotekiyote Posts: 5,588 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Google is your friend. PCGS Forums is your friend who would help you bury a body in the middle of the night, no questions asked, and provide you with an alibi.
    "I'll split the atom! I am the fifth dimension! I am the eighth wonder of the world!" -Gef the talking mongoose.
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  • I hope it's here to stay. Miss it when it's down.
    Let's try not to get upset.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,797 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Who needs half of the junk that is sold in a Wal Mart store? >>



    Who should decide what people "need"? You? The government? If people didn't need it, they wouldn't buy it and Walmart would no longer carry it.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • sparky64sparky64 Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Does PCGS really need to host a coin forum ? >>


    They don't need to but they almost have to, and glad they do.
    Benefits us all, including PCGS.

    "If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"

    My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,797 ✭✭✭✭✭
    These forums provide PCGS will a continuous and valuable source of customer feedback. Also, revenue from the banner ads here add to their bottom line.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,941 ✭✭✭✭✭
    With the last census showing 375 participants it's obvious that NO they do not need to have this forum. But, those 375 DO offer up a lot of suggestions which DO get attention. I think the clear prong holder and details Graded genuine slabs have their roots here.
  • s4nys4ny Posts: 1,573 ✭✭✭
    I think PCGS benefits from the frequent unsolicited comments on this
    forum that knowledgeable collectors consider PCGS to be the top
    third party grading firm.
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,799 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Let me restate my point:

    Do you think that PCGS would rather have its most ardent supporters and many other serious collectors and dealers congregating instead at the NGC site?
  • SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>With the last census showing 375 participants it's obvious that NO they do not need to have this forum. But, those 375 DO offer up a lot of suggestions which DO get attention. I think the clear prong holder and details Graded genuine slabs have their roots here. >>




    It's not obvious. I think that the census is/was far from accurate.

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