Where we are at VS Where we are heading

[DeliciousBacon]

I really don't know what to do, but if the transactions section were beefed up, the board would grow. Grow the transactions board, grow the board in general. We need to figure out a way to do that.

Ever since the changeover, the Transaction board has been nothing more than a wasteland of insulting low-ball offers and people who are too vague and aren't serious about selling anything ("check my bucket and see if you like anything"). It's very discouraging to get offers of 10% of SV from people who are just looking for a steal, or seeing the same names bumping their threads of crap every single day. I can't imagine all the real buyers left after the changeover, but something must have happened to attract a bunch of trolls to the trans board.

 

[James52411]

Gilmore's speech to FCB:

 

[morgoth]

1. Make people put prices on cards they want to sell.
2. Find a way to facillitate trades such as they are shipped to a third party type deal.
3. Make a standard review template for people to fill out so people can post product reviews. I think you would find out a easy to fill out template that highlights the product would make reviews faster and people wouldn't mind doing them. Just have people post them into one post per new product and others can read what people think.
4. Have at least one article or ranking of vintage cards for hot list. I am writing an article about the change the 0.5 system did for PSA card values and would gladly share it here, I just don't know how.

 

[MisterT]

Wow....so many thoughts.

I'll add my $.02 (which is usually only worth half of that).

First of all...I agree with the comments about trashing new users and their posts. It really should stop. Kudos to Moxacaine for standing up in a thread recently that really looked like a joke to do the right thing. Reminds me of the end of the first Harry Potter...it is easier to stand up to your enemies than to your friends. Secondly...LOVE the idea of product reviews. I hate that I have to go elsewhere to find them. Even links to other site's reviews would be a step up. Also like the idea of marketing more. Atlanta (I think) gives a break if you say where you got the cards when you record/broadcast the break (they also link you to eBay for pulls from their boxes). Not sure how to translate that to FCB, but I am sure of the smart people on here will think of something...I know we tried to highlight active posters auctions...I don't even know if we still do that.

Now, my thoughts. I find the timing of this thread interesting as it follows (by about a week) a thread on BO discussing an age limit. There is just too much noise over there for me. I read it for amusement and come here for information. One recent exception for me was a thread I posted both here and there about a unique Darvish auto I pulled. I did get some good info over there. However, I also got loads of people PMing me trying to buy the card or trade for WAY WAY WAY under market. I guess b/c I don't post much over there people thought they could trick me. To FCB's credit, I did not get a single similar PM here (despite 400 views of the thread).

I posted in the general chat section recently (actually bumped the Impractical Jokers thread - as many of you know, one of the guys is my brother in law) and was really happy with the new people who commented on it. Even a guy who was around a lot before but I thought was gone commented - it was good to see him back. There are new people (and some old lurkers) on here...we just need the content to get them involved.

For the most part, I find the comments here useful and even insightful (when no bickering is involved). I will take that over more volume any day. If I want volume, I know where to go.

On a related note, I was a little disappointed when a new guy tried to fill some breaks recently and (to my knowledge anyway) failed. Not to take anything away from AIC, but I did think that it was symbolic of the issues we are having with readers, traffic, action. I usually buy into breaks from a different person but rarely post about it because of the TOS and sensitivity to AIC's position here. Again, not that I think Andrew would mind, I just don't want to undermine him in anyway.

My own posting is down here also...I am way behind on sharing break results and I have some awesome pictures and stories from a trip to Fenway that I want to share. But, with work, kids, etc. I have not found the time to post them.

Final thought...didn't we have a referral program at one point (may be mixing that up with another board). The logistics are hard, but any thought to incentives/contests tied to referrals?

All in all, I think Chris has done a good job and given us a forum for our conversations. Yes, there is a "core" group that often posts the most and creates a little bit of an "in crowd" feeling, and yes people will come and go. But...I've said this before...Chris is just the facilitator. He gives us the paint and the canvas. The picture we paint is up to us. But, if we don't contribute we will all be left staring at a blank (stale) screen.

 

[Erich]

Ever since the changeover, the Transaction board has been nothing more than a wasteland of insulting low-ball offers and people who are too vague and aren't serious about selling anything ("check my bucket and see if you like anything"). It's very discouraging to get offers of 10% of SV from people who are just looking for a steal, or seeing the same names bumping their threads of crap every single day. I can't imagine all the real buyers left after the changeover, but something must have happened to attract a bunch of trolls to the trans board.

I have tried to sell a couple of things well below ebay prices and not even a nibble. If you (Gilmo) can find a way to bring people to the transaction boards I think they will go to the rest of the site. I think as mentioned before mandatory pricing will help.

 

[Waulk11]

I've been a member since 2010. I will always be thankful for FCB, this is the first card forum I found online. I never knew about card forums, I've been card collecting since 2006. This was a new world to me. I liked the old format of FCB. The only problem I have is the orange and blue "tool" box or whatever it's called, always follows when I'm scrolling down any site pages or when I'm typing a message. I really hate this. I'm never on a computer, maybe that's the problem? I always use my phone to log on to FCB.
Maybe offering free boxes for the most treads? Can help. I remember BO offered something similar. Rewards for most trades in a month? These are just my 2 cents.

 

[TNP777]

I don't even know if something like this is possible here, but I'll shoot it out there anyway. In OBC (an online vintage trading group), when we edit our profile we have the option to fill out a "what do I collect" questionnaire. I realize that there are so darn many things that are collected in this particular community, but if we had a way to do something along the same lines it might help bring collectors together.

Profile update page

Clickable links to get to the various collectible categories

O-Pee-Chee page (names redacted)

 

[Austin]

I'd love for the vintage board to be merged into the main board. I forget it's even there. Same with the TTM board. Maybe if some boards were combined, like Baseball, Vintage and possibly TTM, the site would be more active, because members would be more likely to post in them. There's not a separate prospecting board, so why is there a separate vintage board?

 

[TNP777]

I'd love for the vintage board to be merged into the main board. I forget it's even there. Same with the TTM board. Maybe if some boards were combined, like Baseball, Vintage and possibly TTM, the site would be more active, because members would be more likely to post in them. There's not a separate prospecting board, so why is there a separate vintage board?

Because that's many of us vintage collectors clamored for. Our position was that our vintage posts would get absolutely buried under the various prospecting threads. That was true then, and I'm sure it'd still be true now.

 

[moxacaine]

Because that's many of us vintage collectors clamored for. Our position was that our vintage posts would get absolutely buried under the various prospecting threads. That was true then, and I'm sure it'd still be true now.

sadly i forget its there most of the time.

i always post my vintage on the main board. lol

 

[csmtampa]

Just look at one of the new posts just posted. Football cards in the baseball section. That could be a start.

 

[Austin]

Dumb question and maybe I skipped over it, but what does "VS" stand for in this thread's title?

 

[moxacaine]

Dumb question and maybe I skipped over it, but what does "VS" stand for in this thread's title?

VS is versus

 

[MojoDan]

sadly i forget its there most of the time.

i always post my vintage on the main board. lol

Same here. Not that I post my vintage on the boards but that I forget there is a special section for it. I can look at vintage pickups all day long.

 

[Pine Tar]

Just look at one of the new posts just posted. Football cards in the baseball section. That could be a start.

This always happens because most of the Football guys have left for another site, and those banned from here have made some facebook groups.

OH AND BASEBALL HAS BEEN ALWAYS KING ON HERE FROM DAY ONE.

 

[carlitoson]

Dumb question and maybe I skipped over it, but what does "VS" stand for in this thread's title?

Vile Statements?
Victor Sanchez?
Various Subjects?
Volume Sales?
Very Soon?
Vedder Sings?
Votto Sucks?



(or as Mox said…it could just mean “versus”)
;-)

 

[bjk4343]

New member opinion

Since returning to the hobby I have visited most of the popular forums. I spent my first few months just doing research reading thread after thread trying to get caught up on the industry. Honestly, I don't see a huge difference between any of the sites. FCB to me seems to have less bashing and negativity which could be a reason there is less traffic. You are going to get more eyes on those types of threads if not just for the entertainment value. I think one of the keys to marketing the site is VIDEO. Podcasts are great and all, but where is the FCB Youtube page? Like many of us returners I was hooked on Youtube break videos and learned a lot just watching break after break. When it was a hobby there was actually human interaction, now there is way too much distrust and deceipt which will turn collectors off or just make then bitter/jaded.

The brief survey idea mentioned earlier is a great easy tool.

A couple simple questions can keep mods from wasting time on less popular areas and concentrating on building a foundation to work off. Whether is be prospects ,vintage, box breaks FCB needs an identity or brand they can market ie: biggest vintage forum - best prospect forum, best hobby talk ......

Also,

Who runs this site? If I need help and don't want to ask a stupid question on a thread, where can I go? Maybe a list of the top 5 trusted senior members can host a weekly live blog or thread for us newbies.

 

[Austin]

VS is versus

Haha, I feel dumb. The VS is capitalized, so I assumed it stood for something like volunteer situation. Doh!

 

[cgilmo]

New member opinion

Since returning to the hobby I have visited most of the popular forums. I spent my first few months just doing research reading thread after thread trying to get caught up on the industry. Honestly, I don't see a huge difference between any of the sites. FCB to me seems to have less bashing and negativity which could be a reason there is less traffic. You are going to get more eyes on those types of threads if not just for the entertainment value. I think one of the keys to marketing the site is VIDEO. Podcasts are great and all, but where is the FCB Youtube page? Like many of us returners I was hooked on Youtube break videos and learned a lot just watching break after break. When it was a hobby there was actually human interaction, now there is way too much distrust and deceipt which will turn collectors off or just make then bitter/jaded.

The brief survey idea mentioned earlier is a great easy tool.

A couple simple questions can keep mods from wasting time on less popular areas and concentrating on building a foundation to work off. Whether is be prospects ,vintage, box breaks FCB needs an identity or brand they can market ie: biggest vintage forum - best prospect forum, best hobby talk ......

Also,

Who runs this site? If I need help and don't want to ask a stupid question on a thread, where can I go? Maybe a list of the top 5 trusted senior members can host a weekly live blog or thread for us newbies.

Hi. I kinda run things around here.


Our youtube channel is here...

https://www.youtube.com/user/freedomcardboardcom

 

[bjk4343]

Hi. I kinda run things around here.


Our youtube channel is here...

https://www.youtube.com/user/freedomcardboardcom

Thank You!!!! I guess I didn't dig deep enough. There I go with the stupid questions on a thread