I'm going to attempt to be as constructive as I can with my feedback for the new site/app overhaul.  I know that's the only way the Collectibles Team will be able to actually action anything, versus just saying blanket general statements good or bad.  I'm usually open minded to "change" but I do have some concerns with what I'm seeing.

 First I'll begin by saying to the Collectibles/Cardbase Team, calling this a "redesign" (in my opinion), is quite frankly misleading and inaccurate.  So far from what I see, is this looks to be a complete overhaul and change in direction.  What I'm seeing, (as many others have already noted), appears to have look & feel of a social media platform.  It’s totally got a *****-vibe going on now.  There’s a personal Wall, News Feed with topics/posts from others on the homepage.  Speaking of the posts, it looks like the posts I’m seeing are from users in other collecting circles (coins, stamps, etc).  Which, is not what I’m here for (no offense to other collectible groups).  The opposite is true too, I’m sure a model train collector could care less about me and my sports cards, so I get that.  I’m here for Sports Cards, and if you want to go a step further, more specifically just hockey cards, which is a niche collector group.  I feel that lumping all “Collectors” into one big melting pot, just because we all ‘collect’ something doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a useful community.  

What does a coin collector care about my latest Wayne Gretzky card, and why should it appear on their ‘Feed’ and vice versa.?.  

 So making this a giant Collectibles Soup is a MAJOR SHIFT from what Cardbase was, not a “redesign.”  Yes, I did notice not too long ago in Cardbase, you added ability to follow others, and ‘level up’ (which didn’t go past Level 2, I might add), but truth be told….. I’m not using Cardbase to follow people and ranking up some imaginary Level, that kind of means nothing.  I’m somewhat certain, others weren’t here for that either.  

 So my question to Cardbase/Collectibles Team is, Did you take that into consideration?  Did you ask yourselves the question of: What is it, that we do well, and Why are people using our platform?.?

What I liked best about Cardbase was that it was exactly what the name implied.  It was a CARD dataBASE.  An excellent inventory/catalog resource for me to update and track cards in my collection.  I’m sure others could use it too for their varying collections.  COIN database, SNEAKER database, WATCH database, etc.  So sure there’s a way the system can be used to catalog our varying collections.  Yes, there was also a price integration to show increase/decrease values based on current sales.  However, I think everyone knew and accepted the fact that was more or less a guideline than actual concrete 100% accurate date.  It had it quirks and wasn’t completely reliable, but I was Ok with that.  (Example: Many times it would link cards to incorrect sales, which gave false values).  But as I said, that was something I think many users understood and accepted.  Additionally, I think most know how hard it is for an API integration to be perfect linking cards (or other collectibles) to all sales across multiple platforms, in multiple collector spaces.  

 I liked how the Cardbase app/site LOOKED.  Great filtering and I liked the look of the app/site, when I viewed my Collection.  Able to scroll down through my cards with small images of the cards (which I ALWAYS updated, if an image was missing), and prices/values right there.  When adding cards I could update details about my newest acquisitions.  Upload images, input purchase/sale prices, add details like Grading Company, Grades, etc.  Now the HOME page is list of topics/posts by other users, which I have to be honest, is NOT what I come here for.  The FEED option is additions by others in other collectible spaces, (again, which aren’t my same collectible space).  

When I want to go to what I DO use this app/site for, which is to view or search MY Collection (which is now buried under PROFILE), it now just looks like a photo album of all the cards I added recently.  It does NOT look like it used to, which was extremely helpful.  I think the MY COLLECTION should be one of the primary menu options at the bottom of app screen.  My hope is that it goes back to being utilized and showing me what it used to have on it, otherwise the MY COLLECTION feature is virtually useless to me.

 

Overall, I feel that pushing the social media angle is not what people are here for, so that’s a MISS.  I think lumping all ‘Collectibles’ into one giant Collector Soup is a MISS.

I will wait and see what things develop into, and give some time for the full changes to take effect.  This change is straying far away from what Cardbase was, and what I utilized, what I felt was an incredibly awesome tool, and it suited my needs perfectly.  So in full transparency, if a social media platform for ALL collectibles is the direction Cardbase is taking, then I’m sad to say that I will be no longer utilizing this app/site.  

It was far better off, and MUCH more useful to me and my needs as a Collector, the way that it was as a Card database.

Just my $0.02.  Hope to still see some continued changes, but I have to be honest, I’m a tad worried.