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EMazman

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Posts posted by EMazman

    Shill Bidding - Crooked Auction Houses and Shady Sellers

    in Newbie Comic Collecting Questions

    Posted

    On 3/3/2022 at 2:21 AM, Frank Castle 74 said:

    Is it just me or does it seem like every time you're after a serious high-grade key it either goes for much less when you exercise restraint and way over fair market value when you decide to "go for it?" I've bid in three separate auctions on a New Gods #1 in 9.8 on Comic Link; the first time the book legitimately escaped me (I forgot to set a reminder on my phone to watch the auction); the second time (6 months later) I bid on another copy, I was suddenly and repeatedly logged out within seconds of the auction closing (I was attempting to snipe the book and the website repeatedly logged me out so I lost); the third and final time I decided to bid on this book was 8 months later. This time I decided to just submit a generous maximum bid 15 minutes before the auction ended; interestingly, 10 seconds before the auction closed, the item was bid up exactly below my maximum possible bid---coincidence? Yeah, right! Did you know that my maximum bid was $1000 over the fair market value? Comic Link used to be a legitimate auction website, but it seems like the current market is making everyone greedy.

     

    A similar situation happened to me on eBay. This time I was going after a Doctor Strange 1 9.8 that was signed by Stan Lee. I decided to snipe the book at the last few seconds of the auction; I was seemingly legitimately outbid. The high bidder had won by $400--significantly higher than fair market value at the time (this wasn't unusual, the market was on fire and Stan Lee's signatures are gold). Here comes the suspicious part: I received a notification about 5 minutes after the auction ended that I was the highest bidder; this was absolutely puzzling. Apparently, the winning bidder had retracted his winning bid and the item naturally fell to the next buyer--me. So when I attempted to check out, the item was no longer available to purchase and had been removed from eBay. The following week, I saw the exact same item (same serial number and signature) on Heritage Auctions; I decided to just sit back and watch the action unfold (something seemed fishy). The book sold well below fair market value, and I felt as though I lost a golden opportunity for a great deal. Only something else, very peculiar, happened again; the same exact book--once again--had appeared a third time on Comic Connect--only two days later; once again, I monitored the auction, waited for the last few seconds, and submitted my maximum bid--which happened to be just above the lowest bid on the item. I had set a record for this item's price. Just another coincidence, right? 

     

    One time I called Comic Connect and asked what the shipping status was on an item I had bought; the guy said "hold on, you're messing up my concentration, this auction is about to end and I have to watch it." I asked, "watch what?" To which he responded, "look I'm in charge of hundreds of thousands of dollars and can't be bothered right now." What exactly was this guy watching? Did he need to make sure he bid up an item just below the highest bidders' maximum bid? These companies are seriously sketchy, and there is a huge part of me that feels they are all part of a network that monopolizes and manipulates the comic book market. Am I the only one flabbergasted? Has anyone else had similar experiences?  

    Just happened to me I think on CC.  There were several books I was bidding on but only one of serious interest enough to keep going.  I wound up winning the book but only after it suddenly shot up way more than what it should have gone to.  I paid anyways because I likely won't see it again and it's for my PC.  Then I noticed another book in the same run "Mangus Robot Fighter #25" was in the same auction the price suddenly shot up and it sold for $550 + buyer premium.  What's super odd about that is I had and still have the same exact book at the same exact grade 9.6 CGC (with a brand new slab) that's being promoted and sitting on Ebay for over $100 less.  Supposedly on CC there were over 10 bidders bidding this up way over market value while mine sits on Ebay. I don't believe that for a second it's a very niche book to collect and anyone looking for it will also be searching ebay...and again mine is being promoted.   I've bid on HA many times and to me everything has seemed legit on there so far and inline with what I expected.  

    This Week in your Collection - Moderns ONLY

    in Modern Age Comic Books

    Posted

    On 11/18/2023 at 5:35 PM, D2 said:

    lol the NFS part made me laugh out loud. The fact that you finally tracked one down, I’d be surprised if you’d put it up. 
    Looks great though. Is the leather real or just printed?

    Its not printed.  Not 100% sure if its real leather or pleather.  Ive held one that was not slabbed and it feels real.  Theres only 6 9.8s and i doubt there will be even a few more if any.  The books were easily damaged in manufacturing.  

    (GOLD KEY) Magnus Robot Fighter & Solar Books

    in Comics Market - Sales Advertising (Ebay, Dealers, etc)

    Posted · Edited by EMazman

    https://www.ebay.com/usr/mazma-2014

    The below attached books are for sale in my Ebay store (link above) amongst other books.  Pictures below:

    Magnus #12 9.2

    Magnus 38 (Whitman) 6.5 (scarce)

    Doctor Solar #2 (6.5)

    Magnus #25 (9.6)

    Other books not pictured:

    Magnus 25 (9.2)

    Magnus 29 (7.0)

    Magnus 40 (7.0)

    Magnus 32 (8.0)

    Magnus 5 (6.5)

    Magnus 35 (6.0)

    I'm also willing to trade for high grade Doctor Solar, Magnus Robot Fighter or Doctor Spektor (GOLD KEY) that I don't have.  

     

    Magnus12 9.2a.jpg

    Magnus 38a.jpg

    Solar 2 A.jpg

    s-l1600 (6).jpg

    This Week in Your Bronze Age Collection!!

    in Bronze Age Comic Books

    Posted · Edited by EMazman

    On 10/23/2023 at 8:46 PM, Sweet Lou 14 said:

    If you're getting them graded, let us know how they come back.  The upper left corners on each of these books look worrisome to me.

    Will do.  I've bought from this source multiple times and the grades always came back exactly as expected except one I thought was a 9.4 came back as a 9.2 and another I thought was a 9.2 came as a 9.4. lol   They are going to be cleaned and pressed by Rocket Comics in CA. Hopefully I can find this thread again and I will share.  So I'd guess about 3-4 months from now.