Tec-Tac-Toe

On 5/3/2024 at 3:13 PM, Mayor006 said:

Hard one to get in 9.8. I've submitted two that both came back 9.6

I purchased this one graded in 2019.

On 4/30/2024 at 3:37 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

Agree 100%
From the "1973 Collection" I picked up. 

  Hide contents

Beautiful book; bottom staple *somehow* got detached.

 

I have submitted a handful of Golden through Bronze Ages comic books and no BA magazines, nor any of my original owner copies of SA and BA. The ones I submitted, most recently about 7 years ago, received the grades I expected. I have submitted few because I estimate CGC in the last several years may (will) under-grade a great many of the back issues I purchased and the few original owner copies I have with me, the vast majority being in storage.

Of course, with no "luck" at all, when I do submit, perhaps a great many of them, CGC will be setting a new record for harsh grading.

On 4/2/2024 at 7:02 PM, Turnando said:

Thank you for the post @BA773.

I have always enjoyed your posts.

I didn't know you were Swiss.  You are a good ambassador for your country!

I have run into a fair number of Swiss expats in Latin America and I'm pretty sure I ended up angry each time.  Only last month I had sworn to myself I'd never talk to another Swiss expat after one of them ruined my seat at the bar. I was perfectly happy, sitting with a stray dog at the bar, and they came into the bar, fresh off the plane, and wanted to talk to an American about their admiration of Putin.

Your love of comics has helped me see the error of my ways. I will give the next Swiss-in-the-jungle a fair chance. I'll tell them I know a Swiss dude who likes Batman and maybe that will help steer them towards a friendly conversation instead of a bar fight.

 

 

You like DC. That is good enough for me.

The only person I ever lie to about my age, is myself.

On 4/28/2024 at 11:01 AM, shadroch said:

Comics were a very important part of my investment portfolio.   You should invest in things you know and understand.  However, if your entire investment portfolio is in comic books and you are living in mom's basement, you might want to reconsider your strategy.

Whew!

Thank goodness, I live in the attic.

On 4/12/2024 at 10:50 AM, FlyingDonut said:

Virginia is multiple states so please make sure you have several sections. I live in Northern Virginia, which is part of the Northeast. @CAHokie lives out west where it says "Here There Be Tygers" on the maps. The Richmond area, the Tidewater area - those are all different places.

Northern Virginia:
Comics and Gaming, 7556 Gardner Park Dr, Gainesville Good store, been there forever.
Victory Comics, 586 South Washington Street, Falls Church. Owned by mega-dealer Jeff Weaver. Has great selection but you're paying convention prices. Lots of gaming.
Amazing Comic Shop, University Mall, 10647 Braddock Rd, Fairfax. This is my LCS. Very little back issues but solid for stuff. Located in a strip mall - its behind the Giant. Used to be the Laughing Ogre, which is a story in itself.
Comic Logic, 44031 Ashburn Shopping Plz, # 281, Ashburn. Odd store - huge with a lot of wasted space. Good to box dive as they don't really track non-superhero stuff.
Keep it Strange Comics,  9863 Liberia Ave, Manassas. Lots and lots of stuff. Stuff.
Big Planet Comics, Vienna - been there for a thousand years. Back issue prices are stratospheric but if you're in the Tysons area a pleasant way to spend an hour
Painted Visions, Woodbridge - humongous store. Lots of stuff.
Flashback Comics, Woodbridge. Lots of back issues but a very small store so quite cramped.
 

The closed Big Planet Comics (which I believe was formerly something along the line of Closet Full of Comics and then Liberty Comics) which was in College Park, MD; purchased by Third Eye Comics, also in College Park but in a different location; that I visited on occasion for new release issues as it was a bit far for me, had few but also, generally, very expensive back issues.

I'll note that the very few CGC graded comic books were priced aggressively.

Lastly, it was also a pleasant way to spend some time due to the helpful and friendly staff, except for one individual who was somewhat coarse, and the 9.8 condition of most new releases which, in my experience, is not as common/the standard as it should be.

Hopefully, when "someone" reads the news (edit) they will go

and, in the end, get what they deserve.

On 4/2/2024 at 6:44 PM, Chip Cataldo said:

How dumb. Imagine having so much free time you can make asinine videos about nothing.

On 4/23/2024 at 8:17 PM, Robot Man said:

Without reading all 7 pages, I would just say No, period.

A seller has every right no matter what their reasons are, to ask what ever they want.

A buyer has every right to say no.

Try taking an old comic into a 7-11 and offer to trade it for a carton of milk. Ultimately, that will determine it’s true value…

On 4/23/2024 at 9:00 AM, ThothAmon said:

AI generated response to question whether comic books are a decent investment. The analysis and conclusions seem accurate to me. 
 

I received the same, but the response ended with "Blow it out your ear."

I'm doing my part, quite the turnaround from 2021 to 2023, to keep comic book prices high; albeit, presently only for the titles Batman and Detective Comics.

Another obvious follow-up:

On 4/19/2024 at 9:23 AM, mr_highgrade said:

You don't look like a Blob. 

?

On 4/17/2024 at 12:14 PM, CGC Mike said:

That's how I looked for 35 years as I'm entering the doorway after a day at the office.  The wife greeting me with a broom, towel and a vaccuum in hand, along with this expression.  

On 4/17/2024 at 10:42 AM, Point Five said:

Here's a handy guide to those Mile High stickers,

FA = Fair
GD = Fair
VG = probably Fair
FN = Fairish
VF = Fair-adjacent
NM = Eh what the hell, that's Fair too.

 

Only if MHC let "high grades" slip past its "graders."

Is it still 9.9, or has it become a "10?"

I ask for an enemy.

On 4/17/2024 at 9:12 AM, BA773 said:

Yes we already had a disscusion on MHC in another thread and unfortunately it seems to be the common opinion about MHC...

Yes, I love that thread!

On 4/17/2024 at 7:53 AM, the blob said:

I've never had an issue with them and was pretty pleased with some mid-grade type books. My purchases have been very targeted and only about .001% of their listings were priced decently.

Yes, as I mentioned in my post some folks have received nice copies from MHC. Unfortunately, every comic book I ordered from MHC, roughly 50-60, about two decades ago, were generally all horrendously over-graded. Off the top of my head, the NM copies I ordered, for example, were, on average, VF/VF+ - 8.0/8.5 with most being lower, VF-/7.5 and zero being NM/9.4. I have not looked at my MHC's grading notes in perhaps 15 plus years, so my recollection is not 100%, but I'll always remember they were typically (I mean always) awfully graded comic books. Based on how Chuck reports that the MHC "graders" grade 10,000 comic books in 2 hours (I exaggerate a whole, whole lot) I know why they were so awful.

I kept about 15-20 of the 8.5 but returned the rest. Many of the "NM" had torn front and/or rear covers, water stains, coupons cut out, etc., etc. I have always been a tough grader, but I'll say to MHC, "come on, you are ... manuring me." I have not purchased from MHC since and never again will. However, as I hint above, I still receive the MHC newsletter with stories about "speed comic book grading" and life events, recently learning that Chuck was, unfortunately, involved in an auto accident in his cargo van and suffered injuries. 

If MHC, in my limited experience, FA is, on a very good day, PR/0.5 if not "0.0", and G (GD)/2.0 is FA if not PR. Granted, some board members have reported receiving accurately graded and/or, dare I say, I will, under-graded, comic books from MHC. Alas, I was never so fortunate.