A More Accurate hobbyDB, Our Changes to the Flag Process

With a database as large as hobbyDB’s, there is bound to be an oversight, error or simply items that need to be updated here and there.

Nobody’s Gem Mint, after all.

We are, however, the only independent guide that doesn’t rely on automatic price assignments with all its flaws. And not only do we have more price points than anyone else, we’re the only guide where our Squad Members evaluate every price point, so that items such as fakes, not near mint and more do not negatively affect estimated value.

We understand that collectors rely on us to be the ultimate guide, so here’s our plan to stay that way –

To combat any errors found on database items, including price points, and to make hobbyDB as accurate as possible, we offer the ability for any member to “flag” any Database Item, Subject or Price Point on the site that they feel is incorrect.

Flagged items are sent to our Flag Squad, who verify the info and take any appropriate actions. The result is a cleaner and more efficient hobbyDB.

To date, our team has handled more than 33,000 Flags, with more arriving every day. Plus, our amazing Squad in the last few weeks worked through the backlog and have brought our number of flags down to zero older than 1 day!

The New Flag System

Under the new Flag system, we’re targeting 95 percent of our Flags within the first 24 hours of their arrival (not including week-ends), followed by three days for the remaining 4 percent, in addition to the 1% of Flags that might require further inspection or code changes.

To accomplish this, we now have a dedicated, full-time Squad member to handle Flags each morning. Here’s how it will look –

1. Price Point that are obviously wrong (say an item is not in its original box) will be done right then and there.
2. Difficult ones will be discussed with relevant Squad Members and tried to be resolved in 24 hours.
3. Duplicate Database Items or Subjects will be handled by Flag Squad Members that have the right expertise, we shoot for three days (these Flags are not relevant to Estimated Values, so they’re less urgent)

We appreciate the hard work of our Flag Squad, and need to offer a HUGE thank you to Flag Squad Leader Kelle Moore, aka Cerulian, who has helped develop and manage the program – and even worked on them during her vacation!

Stay tuned! We have more planned to streamline the Flag process, including the ability for Members to see their Flags and receive a notification upon their completion.

As always, we want to hear your thoughts. Let us know what you think in the comments below!