Foolkiller

I think it's Greggy.

sad to be missing this...

I won't be able to bring any books with me, but I will be bringing my check book and some cash. Alcohol and food is on me at this shin dig, look forward to seeing you guys there.

this is an awesome show. wish I could get to it, will be there a day late for it!

in previous years, Greg has done multiple threads, but he now is more focused on driving traffic directly to his website. Same for Bob, he has a great website, selling here isn't really productive. Harley and others aren't going to be bothered, because it's a ton of work. Dale has the benefit of an almost decade long following for this holiday thread and only recently put up his website, so it makes sense to continue it. Don't surprised if he gives it up some time soon though.

Guys (and ladies) -- I've seen some of these comments floating around, and frankly it smacks of just jealousy -- why do Dale's books sell, and why aren't mine selling -- I have better books! Why is it that we feel the need to critique other people's success? The market, especially around here, is efficient. Books sell for a variety of reasons and if they aren't the right books, they simply won't sell. When your books don't sell they probably will if they are quality, but it may be a different venue. Bob Siman used to demonstrate this all the time. He sold some here, but he knew what he had when he sold, and just because it didn't sell here, didn't mean it wouldn't. He'd go to eBay or wherever and often get more than he was asking for here. Several board members have done this. I'm sensitive to this increasing tension I sense around here where we are less community and more sales. Don't get me wrong, I think it's more of a community than many other message boards, but as I've said a bunch of times and I'm sure others have too, we used to have a sense of selling books and helping folks out, even if they were fellow dealers. I know the market has changed, but I was glad when collectors got deals and even flippers felt that they could come to my threads and make a few bucks. Some books they bought weren't going to be giant money makers but people took slower books cause they got deals on the hot books too. I'm not singling Patrick out here just cause I'm quoting his post, but it is an example of the sentiments I've seen floating around.

I've been to both locations and haven't been that enamored by either store. Massive over grading and more of a generic pop culture store. I'm sure they could offer more in the line of funko pops but that's not the source of their current issues.

Although I generally agree with a lot of the sentiments about letting a business survive or not on its own merit, Fat Jack's has always been a favorite store of mine. They've always been a traditional back issue haven and I've wanted to support it when I could. I don't want a bunch of stores like Brave New Worlds where it's junky and generic. And I totally reject that's 'the new way you have to operate'. I was in a little store just the other day that had tons of back issues, and while it did some gaming, that certainly wasn't it's primary bread and butter. Fat Jack's had a massive flood at their warehouse a few years back that wiped out a fair amount of the back inventory they had. In addition, they've had random incidents of vandalism and breaking the storefront glass, as well as a market that many retailers in the comic business will tell you cripples them with diamond and then customers who simply neglect to come in and pick up their new books for months on end. Eric, the person who posted, is the store manager. A lot of the people who've donated are comics professionals who have signed or supported the store over the years. I'm pretty sure Neil Gaiman has even shared and supported. Fat Jack's has been around 40 years, and I'd love to see it continue to survive. With that said, I think the better tact is that it'd be great to invite people in to shop and run sales etc. I didn't want to donate but did find plenty of their vintage material worth picking up and so I went that route. If you're in the area, I hope you'll support the store, but I do get the sentiment, and sometimes it's not personal, it's business.

I'll take it

Towards the end of my time selling on the boards actively here people asked similar questions. They wondered how or why my books sold so quickly. Admittedly, there were some tremendous deals in my threads, while other stuff was probably closer to market. There is a psychology to how you do these threads, how you market them etc. Dale does a good job at it. There's definitely a blue print. October (Andy) and I were doing it before Dale, and before we did it, Nik (who some of you will remember) and Nick Beckett did it. Two key components are putting up some hot/key books and being willing to not max out and to give deals. That helps sell your other books. That sentiment is somewhat gone from many of today's sellers here. I don't blame them but it's a frenzy when you think you might get a WWBN 32 for 25% off but you don't know what book is coming next. Dale is also the only guy on here where there is a true frenzy anymore, except when October comes back on and does one of his sales. It's an annual tradition and he's grading fairly and accurately on raw stuff -- listing a huge amount all at once.

I will be there and I'll pick up the bar tab for everyone.

i'l take this.

But would they without this specific crossover incentive going on right now. if CGC starts mass down grading the books from other companies, the crossover promotion really isn't going to work for its intended purpose.

The grade is a Universal 3.0 because the centerfold detached during the process. The eye appeal improvement is so dramatic that the value of the book I believe has increased just because of that reason alone. One unit was perhaps a slight disappointment but I'm not complaining in the least. I love the book.

I had matt work on the book, dramatic improvement in eye appeal and an improvement in grade. Just absolutely amazing and incredible work by Matt Nelson of CCS on this.

old label, and it looks strong. could be an upgrade candidate price.

old label, and it looks strong. could be an upgrade candidate price.

to get the better material I think you have to be a frequent customer and sometimes you're buying things that are marginal. I'm not local to the area but whenever I'm there I always stop in -- and I've yet to ever spend less than a few grand a trip. The stuff grades out and he's super easy to deal with. He does turn stuff over but I've bought early FFs, high grade surfers, early Avengers, nice DCs, and plenty of bronze keys and tons of high grade from him. you're right in that he doesn't have a lot of gold, but I'm not sure there's many stores anywhere that do. If you're a straight shooter, no nonsense friendly person, you do well with him and I feel like he welcomes that. I go to stores across the country and more than half are walk in, buy nothing. Some are ones where this time there's no score, but other times there will be. Others are just busts. Gotta keep trying.

Interesting. I've loved dealing with John at Kenmore over the years. He's had some fantastic collections (even recently) and I've picked up some big keys from him including a Showcase 4 about 3 months ago. Tight grader and an honest guy.

that'll be great.

I'm glad Bird took me up on my offer. Each month, at JP's Clifton show, I will sponsor one table for any board member who wants to take me up on it. I'd love to see some guys who lurk and want to offer material not generally seen previously. I sponsor all the tables at the December show, but I try to make sure all the regulars get a slot.

will take this

I will sponsor any board member who wants to set up (meaning I'll buy your table).

Pretty sure he's still banned.