Foolkiller

I will take it.

The Baltimore show remains my favorite in the country. Still one of the best.

Nik was a great guy and one of the true innovators on the boards in terms of selling. His threads attracted a lot of attention because he knew how to grade and he wasn't afraid to give deals to forumites. I wasn't super tight with him but I did consider him a friend. He once came all the way to a show he wasn't planning on attending in NYC because I wanted a book and he offered to hand deliver. That's the kind of guy he was. I hung out with him at dinners and lunches and thought he was a heck of a guy. I really don't know anyone who had a bad word to say about him When I say I miss the old days, this is what I'm talking about. We were a real community back then. We valued getting together in person. The forum sales area wasn't to squeeze every last dollar out of every book, and it seemed a lot more fun. Nik was one of the guys who lived that philosophy. Nik was an inspiration for all of my sales threads. He and flaming telepath were the first of the regular feeding frenzies.

I do think it would lesson interest. I can tell you I wouldn't attend at all -- and I know I'm spending a fair amount of money. Would those sales happen? I guess they might but I'm a bit skeptical since I'm not only buying wins and upgrades. Would Tom and Doug? I don't know, kind of doubt it. Would some of the others who are big spenders? I know some would but many would skip. You're right there's no way to know, but I do know of a small local show where this is implemented. I never go to the show, and neither do three of the other big money spenders. Went to a small local show, spent $25k today -- were those vendors happy to see me? A lot of people had a lot of little sales, but I'm guessing nobody was spending that amount or buying those books. in fact that's what the dealer told me, if you hadn't shown, nobody probably would have bought any of these (and he's judging on past performance). If I'm not in early, I skip that show. I think people think Doug buys only wins. He misses about 50% of the time, yet still buys. Do I think he would quit altogether, probably not, but I bet he'd be way less likely to do a show if he wasn't going to get a dealer badge. And he's making a number of guys' shows putting in a ton of money into the room. He's spending six figures a show. But I fully believe there are promoters willing to acknowledge and cater to this request, and it will happen at a few shows down the line. Or at least they'll tighten the number of badges.

Just remember, what Weaver is proposing isn't that the dealers won't be able to buy early -- it's not a leveling of the playing field. It's lowering his and the dealers who paid to be in that room and their competition only. The general public still isn't getting any extra deals as a result of this. And as a strategic move, I understand that. Speaking to discounts, early access often means getting little to no discount on some of the books, probably depends what they are. My question is, will the same dealer base pump the same amount of money into the room that Doug, Tom and others pump in? While there are heavy spenders who certainly are on the floor, the environment is still competitive for them regardless.

Not sure if anyone caught Jeff Weaver's (Victory Comics) market report, but in it, he bemoans the fact that if you are someone who's received a dealer badge, you shouldn't be allowed into the show hall prior to opening. Basically, he wants to narrow the playing field and only compete with the guys for material who have bought tables. I've heard this point made by other dealers in a less pointed way, but most acknowledge that most folks who get badges are putting significant money into the vendors' pockets who are actually set up as well. Weaver's stance would get rid of the Tom Brulatos, Doug Schmells, Roy Delics (and me) as well as everyone else who gets an early badge (up to a point, there's still folks who I imagine would still be able to get in early because of helping at a booth etc). It doesn't help the normal fan (and he's not looking to) he just wants those dealers who paid to have the buying opportunity. Of course, you don't pay as a vendor for buying opportunities, you pay for the opportunity to sell, and several of these non paying 'dealers' or even higher end collectors get in early and spend -- and they would not either show up or spend the same way if they were like everyone else. With that said, I also understand Jeff's point. If you didn't buy a booth, why are you there early at all? The premise is there are always going to be helpers at the show and they could buy, but it certainly wouldn't be as free wheeling or as many. And I understand that he's trying to claw back the competitive advantage that he and other dealers have lost (though to be fair, most dealers seem to have adapted). I spent $75k in San Diego. I'm sure Doug spent as much and probably far, far more. Other people with advance entry are big spenders. The vendors are going to lose many of these sales and there's no guarantee that the same sales are always going to occur. I don't do as much clear winner buying on the floor and most of the major dealers who I deal with (and some of the smaller ones) are people that if they are willing to give you first look at something are doing it off the show floor now anyway (assuming you are someone who spends large quantity). But I wonder how much it would affect things and how many promoters would go this way. I'm curious as to people's thoughts. I think it's an interesting topic and can see both sides.

I'll take this

I'd agree with the doubters except this exact same trend happened with Hulk 181. Train didn't stop, still hasn't stopped. There was no foundation behind that either.

I'll take the FF 23

I'll take all the ASMs except the Ann 2

I'll take this

Not my first rodeo. But.... gotta take my son to baseball practice so I'm gonna be outttaaaaa here.

I will take the bat 171

I will take the cap 100

I will take the GR 1

I will take the DD1

I will take the JT 16

I will take the TFTC 30

I will take the bat 251

I will take the DWD 5

now thats a score.

I want you to start making mistakes with pricing. Like All Star 8 6.5 for 8,000

this is 6. Get it straight bub.

I will take the Cap 117

I was playing a video game but that was way way earlier. Also did some conference calls with some referring lawyers.