Should I subscribe to SCD again?

[mmcgruff]

I used to subscribe to SCD for years when it was a much better magazine than it is as I last remember. The last couple times I got it, it became paper thin, came out weekly, and had literally just wasted away. I could make paper airplanes out of each one.
I preferred it best when it was a bi weekly issue and a lot thicker. I know that the internet had a lot to do with it but am just curious if anyone here still gets it and can share some input on it?
I haven't renewed a subscription in years and was recently thinking about doing so. What are your thoughts?
I appreciate any and all comments!
Thanks again,
Rick

[ALR-bishop]

I get it. It will never be what it was. One reason it is smaller is there is much less advertising. Like print media in general the internet in undermining it. I get it because they sometimes have good articles on Topps sets and general hobby updates. I am glad I get it but do not highly recommend it

[mmcgruff]

Thanks a lot Al! I may end up getting it again after all.

[Cardboard Junkie]

I don't recommend subscribing. It is very poorly written and full of empty articles.

[RobertGT]

I canceled about five years ago while SCD was still carrying 10-page spreads for the Coaches Corner auction house, which somehow managed to come up with a Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig autographed baseball for sale every month. Those balls would sell for about $350.

Beyond that, I found the magazine to be way too cozy with advertisers in the industry it purportedly covered. The magazine portrayed Bill Mastro (now facing jail) as a God among Gods and every third "news" article was a puff piece about No. 1 advertiser Mr. Mint Alan Rosen.

Made me want to retch.

[mmcgruff]

I appreciate all the comments guys. Seems there has been no improvement.
Rick

[xplainer]

Originally Posted by RobertGT

I canceled about five years ago while SCD was still carrying 10-page spreads for the Coaches Corner auction house, which somehow managed to come up with a Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig autographed baseball for sale every month. Those balls would sell for about $350.

Beyond that, I found the magazine to be way too cozy with advertisers in the industry it purportedly covered. The magazine portrayed Bill Mastro (now facing jail) as a God among Gods and every third "news" article was a puff piece about No. 1 advertiser Mr. Mint Alan Rosen.

Made me want to retch.

Overall, I have to agree with the above.

I got it until about four years ago. Then I woke up to how the articles were interwoven. Much to the concern of their advertisers.

No, not for me.

[biggsdaddycool]

Funny the topic has come up as I had been considering the same question. I had been a subscriber from 1980 up until just about 4 or 5 years ago myself. Seems others did the same thing at about the same time. I had been, as you always do from Krause, getting the letters in the mail to give them another chance. I really wish there was a way to return it to some of the old glory. I used to read that cover to cover, every issue, from the time I was 11 years old. We need a good old hobby magazine back in fashion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rich Klein]

Until there are enough advertisers to go back to print, then SCD will never be what it was. And if you are a big dealer, why advertise there when your customers are buying on line.

Advertising on on-line sites such as this is a much better value for most dealers.

And, I receive many of the articles via email so I don't feel as if I'm missing anything

Rich

[begsu1013]

.

[Rich Klein]

Yes I made a mistake. It occurs. I did them for years and did not as well as I could have on that one. Unlike some people, I do admit my errors

I also need to add, this SCD referred to in this thread is Sports Collectors Digest, the SCD being referred to in the previous comment is Sports Collectors Daily (a net 54 Advertiser BTW)

Rich

[brian1961]

[QUOTE=Rich Klein;1567672]Until there are enough advertisers to go back to print, then SCD will never be what it was.

THAT IS TRUE, RICH, BUT SPORTS COLLECTORS DIGEST KNOWS THE 200 PAGES OF CARD LISTINGS FLEW AWAY TO EBAY FOR GOOD A LONG TIME AGO.

And if you are a big dealer (OR AUCTION HOUSE), why advertise there when your customers are buying on line.

I WOULD IMAGINE THERE ARE STILL SOME MASSIVE, LUCRATIVE COLLECTIONS RESIDING AMONG THE 8,000 SCD SUBSCRIBERS. IT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE DEALERS AND AUCTION HOUSES TO ADVERTISE ABOUT BUYING COLLECTIONS OR WHY SAID COLLECTOR SHOULD CONSIGN THEIR COLLECTION WITH THEM...

Advertising on on-line sites such as this is a much better value for most dealers.

And, I receive many of the articles via email so I don't feel as if I'm missing anything

YOU'RE MOSTLY RIGHT, RICH, THOUGH SOMETIMES I GET WIND OF AN ARTICLE THAT I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE DEVOURED, AND IT'S LONG GONE. NOT EVERY SCD FEATURE WINDS UP ON THEIR WEB SITE. GEORGE VRECHEK GRACIOUSLY ALLOWS US TO SEE HIS WONDERFUL PIECES ON HIS OWN WEB SITE. AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE FREE LANCE ARTICLES ARE SOLELY ON AN SCD.

I WORKED LONG AND HARD ON A RON SANTO FEATURE SCD LIKED ENOUGH TO RUN IN THEIR 2012 NATIONAL ISSUE. EVEN GOT A COUPLE EMAILS OF APPRECIATION FROM READERS. NOT SURE HOW I COULD USE IT AGAIN--IT'S TOO LONG FOR SPORTS COLLECTORS DAILY. MY POINT IS SIMPLY THAT THE SANTO ARTICLE WAS EXPRESSLY FOR SCD.

RICH, HOPE YOUR GOOD WIFE IS IMPROVING, AND I SEND YOU BOTH MY BEST REGARDS. TAKE CARE, RICH. I MISS YOUR ARTICLES, BRO!! ---BRIAN POWELL

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by brian1961

GEORGE VRECHEK GRACIOUSLY ALLOWS US TO SEE HIS WONDERFUL PIECES ON HIS OWN WEB SITE.

Brian, do you have a link to Vrechek's site?
Thanks!
--elm

[ALR-bishop]

Darren-- George puts his email contact in all his articles. vrechek@ameritech.net.

I have corresponded with him and a small group of other collectors about variations for some time. He is pretty good at answering inquiries about his articles or hobby issues.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Brian, do you have a link to Vrechek's site?
Thanks!
--elm

ELM --Sorry, I cannot remember now how I found them on the web. I lazily assumed he had his own web site. Perhaps one does not exist. I just recall seeing some of his great stuff on the web. The OBC site has the one on Lionel Carter.

When I have heard he did a piece on, let's say, Bob Solon, and I wasn't taking SCD at the time, I typed his name and Bob Solon on the web. It came up, via the OBC site. I just did it. Looks like there may be some of his other pieces there---Buck Barker, Irv Lerner, Bruce Yeko, and several others.

Excellent reading.

I apologize for misleading you. Hope this helps, bro. ---Brian Powell