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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

To elaborate a bit on why I am no longer an SCD subscriber . . .

SCD claims that their Customer Service logo in a paid ad indicates that the advertiser has never had a complaint from a customer. In my experience, what the logo really means is that SCD will not investigate a customer complaint against that advertiser.

To cite one example:

A well know auction house failed to mention that the 19th century cards in one of their auction lots were skinned. I think that qualifies as significant error in the lot description. The auction catalog did picture the lot, but made no mention of the backs. SCD said that, while the auction in question was advertised in a multi-page ad in SCD, THE SPECIFIC LOT IN QUESTION WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE AD.

After similar experiences with three or four other Customer Services Award winners, it became clear to me, IMHO, that these award logs are meaningless. I cancelled my subscription. SCD offered me some free issues. I said "no, thanks."

A lot of great dealers have advertised in SCD, and I have patronized many of them, and continue to do so. And it is true that publications cannot survive without advertisers. But they also need customers. When you repeatedly put one of your leading ad buyers on the cover of the publication, the advertiser becomes a business partner, and the balance between customers and advertisers becomes seriously, and in my book, fatally, out of whack.

This thread indicates that SCD has lost some longtime customers and have failed to entice some others into ever subscribing. Which is too bad, because Network 54 members are clearly avid collectors and purchasers, in all price ranges, of vintage and not so vintage material.