captainzombie

On 4/30/2024 at 12:38 PM, F For Fake said:

Amazon really is a shoot. I haven't ordered any oversized books from them for years, but when I do, I only buy via Amazon themselves, and not the third party sellers, as I find their condition descriptions and packaging practices to be wildly inconsistent. I was burned way too many times on "new" books that arrived anything but.

I will sometimes still grab standard sized hardcovers from Amazon, as they sometimes beat the prices of the comic sites, and they generally arrive in decent shape. The lighter the books, the less chance of them damaging themselves. They just aren't taking the time/precautions to package those enormous tomes correctly.

So yeah, for me it's IST first (usually the best price, free shipping over $50, great packaging, and I usually have a 2% repeat customer discount running), CGN (good packaging, oftentimes still have stock on books that IST may have sold out of, but shipping is $7.99 so gotta factor that in), and on occasion have used OGN for books that are sold out at the other two. It's no knock on OGN, they pack VERY well, and are particular about the condition of their books to begin with, but the prices are usually a little bit higher than the other guys, so they're usually third choice for me. Oh, and MCS is actually a solid choice as well for collections, though their stock doesn't seem to be as deep as the other sellers who specialize in collected editions. But I've never been disappointed with price or packaging from MCS when they had what I wanted in stock. (For "regular" comics and slabs, MCS is still my top choice.)

Amazon and Target, if they have a sale going (B2G1) will sometimes get my money, but I'm always holding my breath when the package arrives.

It really is with Amazon. I've had omnibi come without an issue and then I've had ones with damage that could of been prevented. Usually if they are much cheaper than OPB and CGN, I will go with Amazon, but if the prices of the other two are close, I just pick one or the other. Agreed that the lighter the books, there is much less damage you will have to deal with.

On 4/30/2024 at 11:11 AM, CGC Mike said:

Is this still a problem?

Same here, appears to be working now. thanks

Is it down for anyone else, just keeps spinning as its trying to load the submissions?

@CGC Mike

I think I am done ordering Omnis from Amazon. Not only is the packaging (they toss the book in a box without any protectant around it) from Amazon subpar, but it is the same even with the 3rd party sellers that they have sending these books as brand new. I received SIKTC HC Vol. 1 and the clown placed the book in a polymailer that doesn't have any bubble wrap inside it. Couldn't even place it in a box, the top of the slipcase is damaged. I have to return this today.

Then I ordered Invincible Library Vol. 2, this guy places is in a homemade gemini mailer. It gets here without any damage, but after I asked their support at GoodReads (where I bought it from on Amazon) if this was the 2024 2nd printing, they tell me yes it is. I get it and this thing is the first printing, doesn't even match Vol. 1.

I just went back to organic priced books and ordered from there. Guess I should just stick with them or cheap graphic novels, at least they package these books like a tank.

Just very annoying that these sellers do not ship these books out properly.

On 4/27/2024 at 2:39 PM, Lee Enterprises said:

Picked up this double signed beauty. 

Congrats on the pickup. I am still hoping to get TWD#1 in a 9.8 here within the next year.

I’m going to C2E2 on Friday and Saturday, then will be setup as a vendor at the Chicago Toy Show on Sunday. I’ll be bringing comic books primarily but will also have pops and Transformers for the Toys due to it being more of a toy focused show.

On 4/25/2024 at 11:34 AM, Stefan_W said:

12 book Vintage Submission:

Mar 14 - Shipped from Canada 

Mar 19 - Arrived at CGC

Mar 20 - Box opened and SFG

Mar 20 - Credit card charged

Apr 17 - G/E/I

Apr 25 - Q/C

Apr 25 - Shipped

Kudos the the CGC team for working through this way ahead of schedule!

In terms of how I did, I had 3 books a bit below what I was hoping for (none were shocking) and 4 books a bit above so happy with the results. All 6 of the horror books I figured were a 9 or better came back in the 9 range, including one 9.8. So very pleased with both the results and the turn around time  

Congrats! Mine finally shipped.

On 4/25/2024 at 10:21 AM, Stefan_W said:

12 book Vintage Submission:

Mar 14 - Shipped from Canada 

Mar 19 - Arrived at CGC

Mar 20 - Box opened and SFG

Mar 20 - Credit card charged

Apr 17 - G/E/I

Apr 25 - Q/C

This is a very pleasant surprise - I figured it would be stuck at G/E/I for another week or so.  

My UV went from GEI to G/QC in matter of hours yesterday. Now I've been stuck in G/QC hell and on day 4 since the UV was opened up, past the 2 days TAT. There has to be a backup in encapsulation is my guess, but the last 2 weeks I have seen the backup when in G/QC, so is something that caused a backup in QC?

On 4/24/2024 at 8:27 AM, Dayofthedead204 said:

Mine still hasn't!  Arg!  Still in GEI more than 2 weeks and counting.

There has to be a kink somewhere in the line. CGC should really be updating their dates on the site and then we also have C2E2 this weekend, it will only screw up our subs even more. I bet there will be submissions from C2E2 that get graded and out the door before some of these do.

On 4/23/2024 at 7:15 PM, newshane said:

I'm so happy to hear this! 

Where can we go from here? 

I've made a list of the top ten most difficult books, in my experience. I just have to sort them. I'll start with #10 and proceed at a daily pace until we arrive at the most difficult book. 

More AI fun...

 

I have an idea I'd like to throw out there. Not sure if you'd be up for it as its kind of intruding on your thread, but how about if those of us that still have Spawn slabs, could maybe toss up one of ours each day and tell a story of what it took us to get that book to the grade it received, while you are also posting your lists, etc.?

On 4/23/2024 at 1:26 PM, Hulksdaddy1 said:

Clearly, something is going on in encapsulation.

Yup, my UV that was received by CGC last week was opened up yesterday and went to SFG. I guess that won't be hitting the advertised 2 day TAT.

On 4/22/2024 at 6:02 PM, newshane said:

If I'm not mistaken, the CGC only started cranking out 9.8s of Wolvie 35 after they acknowledged the production defect. Of course, I haven't been privy to the problems with that book in quite some time. 

Yes. There has got to be a 9.8 copy of Spawn 156 somewhere. The question is...where the  is "somewhere?" I certainly turned the world upside down looking for one, I guarantee you that. 

But there is another possibility...

a 9.8 copy will never be found. 

Get to looking fellas! Let me know! 

Spawn 156 and 201 are the death of me. I have sent in so many of both, especially 201 and I get nothing but 9.6's. LOL! It is these stupid black covers. Ugh

Again thanks for posting all of the books that you have had from the Spawn universe. It was quite the fun ride and hope you can continue or somehow we can continue this thread as it has been a blast.

On 4/21/2024 at 3:09 PM, Stefan_W said:

I don't have any listings right now - I shut down selling on Ebay until next year. I have a set amount that I am willing to sell there each year, and after that I refuse to give that site more of my money. I use it mostly to offload smaller comics (100-250 price range). 

Here is my account: https://www.ebay.ca/str/thecomicdoghouse  

I don't blame you. eBay does irritate me too and by a lot as we do run our business on there, their rules do suck. I can write a novel about them, but won't. LOL!

Too bad another really good site that is similar has not come along.

How has Shortboxed been for you guys, have you tried them at all?

On 4/21/2024 at 9:30 AM, Stefan_W said:

I never use promoted listings and I just shut down my Ebay listings for the year after hitting all of my selling targets. 

So the problem is that we have several eBay accounts and our main account is selling used auto parts, which has started to become a more saturated market on eBay with eBay Motors. For this category you do need to promote or you will sell peanuts. We run this as a business with an LLC, so there is no shutting down for us. I know a lot of the guys do so to dodge paying the stupid taxes that I even feel like we are being double taxes on at times and that is understandable, but we can't do that or the good old IRS will come knocking on our door.

As for my comics/collectibles account, I use promoted listings, but at a much lower percentage. Considering how sales have been of late, every little thing helps.

Care to share your eBay username with me, would be interested to see your listings.

Out of all the new Spider-Verse characters out these last few years, Slott has done a great job with Spider-Boy. He has really put some thought, build, and hype into the character. I can see Spider-Boy still being relevant in 10 years from now. It seems like the book is selling fairly decently so we will see with time.

I think if Marvel would just eradicate all of these useless spider characters like they were going to with End of the Spider-Verse, it would have helped to leave the ones with some kind of potential. At this point, they have more than enough to try and pull some magic, but even look how they have treated Spider-Gwen and she is a fairly popular character.

If anything, they should keep the following Spider-Verse characters and then just dump the rest by killing them off. There are just way too many and it has done nothing but dilute the "Spider" character and name.

• Spider-Boy
• Spider-Man Noir
• Spider-Punk
• Kid Venom (this has potential as they try to get into Manga)
• Spider-Man 2099 (old character from the 90's, and can be cool if written properly)
• Spintress (she has potential from being a Disney like princess)

Out of the new ones from Edge of Spider-Verse, both Weapon VIII and Spooky-Man were really cool characters. Weapon VIII had some hype out the gate, that has since died out. If any of you did read the story with Spooky-Man, now that was well done.

On 4/20/2024 at 1:00 PM, Tnexus said:

Promoted Listings are basically SEO advertisements on eBay. Ad blockers are flagging those as ads.

That was a huge problem a few years ago, but not so much anymore like it used to be. I hate promoted listings, but you need the stupid things to sell on the platform these days. Don't even get me started with PLA and their Offsite Ads shenanigans. 

On 4/20/2024 at 5:34 AM, joeypost said:

I’m also wondering how vintage fast track is doing. 

I didn't end up sending the book in via Vintage FT and just went with Unlimited Value. CGC received the box on Wednesday and it is still sitting unopened even with UV marked. My other box from the week before with UV marked on the box sat unopened somewhere in the warehouse, and they had already started opening boxes up after the date when mine got there. Not sure what in the world is going on that they are this backed up. My first UV got opened up this week thanks to Mike, and it has been sitting now in G/QC for 2 full days. There is some kind of weird backup somewhere.

What is going to make things worse is that C2E2 is this upcoming weekend, people do submit a lot there. I hope this other UV box gets opened up here soon, because what is the point of sending in books with HV or UV, and they just sit in their warehouse as they open up other boxes.

With the Invincible Library Volumes re-releasing these past few months, I am going to start getting those to read through the story. I like the Compendiums as I did get the first HC that re-released last year, but I prefer the oversized format for sure.

On 4/19/2024 at 12:27 PM, RedGiant said:

I have a 25 book vintage submission with 3/12 ‘received date’ and also moved to GEI on 4/17. Hoping it ships today but not holding my breath as not at G/QC yet. 
 

and one of the books got up charged to the unlimited tier - so really anxious to see grades. 

I've had an UV sitting in G/QC for 2 days now and have been told since yesterday that it is shipping out. Wonder what the hold up might be.

On 4/18/2024 at 3:22 PM, rucnok said:

I got one. 

 

 

Congrats! I was able to get mine last year at C2E2 from a vendor on the last day, he gave me a decent deal since I also had bought another book from him. It kind of sucks how long it has been taking Tynion to release issues. If he would stop with all of these other side projects, maybe we would be much further along with the story.

Issue #36 is out this week.

On 4/15/2024 at 11:34 AM, CGC Mike said:

This is what I was told.  Can you give me the tracking number?

They are actually opening mail from the 12^th as of today.  Can you get the tracking number from him so we can make sure this did arrive and see when?

Thanks Mike! I'll send you a PM with it.

Hi @CGC Mike, how long is it taking to open up anything that has been sent in with Unlimited Value designation? The package was received last Thursday morning, order # (CGC6543775506) and I did mark UV all over the box. Please let me know if you need any other info from me.

Kind of wondering since I also have another package I need to send in this week with the same Unlimited Value submission for another book.

On 4/14/2024 at 9:39 PM, F For Fake said:

Awesome! I'm always hoping someone can grab a good deal when I post this stuff! Happy to share the news!

Did they say how long this sale is going to run for?

On 4/14/2024 at 2:25 PM, F For Fake said:

Back to the top!

So, Captain America by Nick Spencer wasn't a volume that I was in any big hurry to pick up, but I did plan to eventually get it to keep my Cap HC run going.

Cheap Graphic Novels has "Nick and Dent" copies available for $20. After tax and shipping it came to right about $30. My copy arrived today, and it looks flawless to me. Of course YMMV, but for the cost I think it's worth the risk if this is one you're thinking of getting.

https://cheapgraphicnovels.com/captain-america-by-nick-spencer-omnibus-vol-01-hc-saiz-cvr-nick-and-dent-

 

Also, CGN is having a Marvel 50% off sale on several books. It may not be a mind-blowing discount, but it safely makes for a better deal than current prices at IST, or the Target B2G1 sale. FF by Hickman 1 & 2 for $50 each, stuff like that. Worth a look.

 

https://cheapgraphicnovels.com/marvel-sale-2024/

 

Thank you for the heads up on this sale, there are 2 omni's I've been meaning to buy and they are on sale.

Guys, here is the 9.9 that is up for sale. I'm like WTF at this price, but I guess it makes sense since there aren't too many 9.9's. I am still trying to find myself a 9.8 in a reasonable price.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/911693525562652/permalink/7667433046655299/?sale_post_id=7667433046655299&mibextid=W9rl1R