End of an era? SCD

Leon · #1 08-30-2018, 06:23 AM

Any kind of print magazine has struggled in today's virtual times. We used to take the morning paper but when they got all political we decided we didn't need it. Never looked back. Now I just get news online.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koufax32fan

Not sure if this belongs here or in the Watercooler section.....

Today in the mail I received my SCD, just has I have for 25+ years. I can't even start to calculate the number of hours that I scoured those classified ads in the older issues. Today's issue has a wrapper that loudly proclaims "This is your LAST ISSUE". And, I am not planning on renewing. It isn't that I don't "enjoy" reading it any more, it is just that I don't need it any more. With all of the information that I get here and other places, I just don't learn anything when I scan it and the ads are pretty much the same each and every issue.

It will be weird not getting a new issue in a few weeks, but not weirder than when I cancelled my home phone and only getting 1 daily paper (instead of 3) delivered to the house.

Anyone on here want to try to convince me to renew my subscription?

Mike

keithsky · #2 08-30-2018, 06:32 AM

I was a subscriber for over 20 years and canceled after seeing all the bad stuff on Coachs Corner ads. Didn't ever cross my mind about autographs being fake back then as it wasn't really talked about until Operation Bullpen came out it was clear alot of there stuff was bad and SCD turned a blind eye because of the money CC spent on ads. There was page after page of full page ads. I complained to them many times why they continue to run there ads and there was never a reply back so I decided I don't need a magazine that runs ads of questionable items.

Rich Klein · #3 08-30-2018, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Any kind of print magazine has struggled in today's virtual times. We used to take the morning paper but when they got all political we decided we didn't need it. Never looked back. Now I just get news online.

Leon: It's because the DMN now is in the other direction from you

Rich

Rich Klein · #4 08-30-2018, 07:14 PM

Here is my David Rudd imitation:

I have written back in the day about the decline of SCD. Certain aspects of their decline probably would have occurred just as it did at Beckett in terms of print.

However, the failure to be quicker to adapt to modern technology is still a major issue. Do you know I can list my show on Beckett by myself through their convention calendar but I have to email the editor of SCD to get it listed in their catalog. Small issue, but why could they not make it easier for a promoter to list shows. Beckett does verify and approve all listing, they could do the same at SCD. And yes I mentioned my frustration to SCD at the National about that issue.

I do think the collector to collector showcase ads are a winner for all concerned.

But the fact that Beckett was way ahead on technology is why Beckett won the pricing and hobby publishing game. My old friend Frank Barning told me that more than 20 years Beckett would win because of that. BTW -- he was writing an SCD column at that time so he would have been just as happy if SCD won the war.

insidethewrapper · #5 08-30-2018, 07:18 PM

I didn't think about SCD in awhile. But since this post I just bought a subscription ( 26 issues for $ 26 ) . It will be fun ( I hope) to get some publication again in the mail. Since OldCardBoard stopped publication, the mail has been boring ! It would be nice to see monthly reports with sections devoted to 19th Century, Pre-War 20th Century, Post War 20th Century and Modern. I'll let you know what I think of my first issue when it arrives.

insidethewrapper · #6 09-27-2018, 05:08 PM

I didn't think about SCD in awhile. But since this post I just bought a subscription ( 26 issues for $ 26 ) . It will be fun ( I hope) to get some publication again in the mail. Since OldCardBoard stopped publication, the mail has been boring ! It would be nice to see monthly reports with sections devoted to 19th Century, Pre-War 20th Century, Post War 20th Century and Modern. I'll let you know what I think of my first issue when it arrives.

UPDATE: Ordered on 8/30, received my first issue on 9/25. It is 52 pages. Nice article about 1955 Topps Variations, 1948 Leaf Boxing Set etc.
I enjoyed getting something about SportsCards in the mail again ( better than bills) ! But I'm an oldtimer, still like to hold it in my hand instead of reading it on a screen. For $ 1 / issue I give it a thumbs up !

jerseygary · #7 09-27-2018, 09:06 PM

I got my first issue tonight! I'll read it with my coffee in the morning

TimCarrollArt · #8 09-29-2018, 12:13 PM

If anyone would like to sell their copy of the most recent (Oct 12, ‘18) issue, I’d love to buy a few extras!

Leon · #9 08-31-2018, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Leon: It's because the DMN now is in the other direction from you

Rich

A newspaper should report the news.

Jayworld · #10 08-31-2018, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

A newspaper should report the news.

Agreed. Editorial page is there for a reason. Cancelled our subscription several years ago; never missed it....

jerseygary · #11 08-31-2018, 12:51 PM

Back in the early 80's I really wanted a subscription to SCD but I didn't have the money to spare on it. Luckily, my mother was friends with a family whose father had a subscription for his indifferent boys. I would always find a way to go with my mom to their house so I could look through the stacks of SCD's they had around. I remember one article on collecting vintage game worn hats, looking at a Boston Braves example and thinking "man, what it would be like to collect THOSE!!!"

Fast-forward almost 3 decades and I just shelled out the $26 for my own subscription. I know the publication aint the same as it was all those years ago, but what the heck for old time's sake.

Gary Dunaier · #12 09-01-2018, 11:43 PM

I remember back in the late '80s - early '90s, you could pay more to get your subscription copies delivered to you via First Class Mail... and you also had the option of paying even more, much more, to have your copies delivered Next Day via FedEx. I think it broke down to $15.00 per issue if you took the Next Day option.

barrysloate · #13 09-02-2018, 03:46 PM

SCD's heydey was of course the 1980's and 90's, and it is now well past its prime. I discontinued my subscription around 20 years ago, although I saw a copy last year. There are still timely articles in it but that is not what made it great. It was the ads, with all the great cards and memorabilia for sale. If you were fast you could pick up some amazing things, but you definitely had to be fast. The minute the issue arrived you had to drop what you were doing and scour the pages. People read the articles but few bought it for that reason.

And all newspapers have opinions, there is no such thing as a paper that only reports news. They have an editorial page for that reason. People read the newspaper that shares their view of the world. I have been reading the same paper daily for over fifty years, because it tells me what I want to hear. It also has the best damn crossword puzzle, which I finish every day, seven days a week.