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Meeley Man

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Everything posted by Meeley Man

  1. Meeley Man
    "let's just sit back and talk rationally." Okay. "Well meaning collectors" Sorry, don't buy that. The fact they even went after the artists themselves tells me that much. "It doesn't matter what you think the pages are worth" Which is why I'm open to discussion on price. I don't claim to be an expert on that. I'm always willing to talk and work it out. "doesn't matter what the artists expect the pages to sell for" Actually, it does. They have final say on all matters. It's their stuff, not mine. I can't do just anything I (or others) want. If I did, they probably wouldn't work with me and then I have nothing. "doesn't matter that you're honest or that you're proactive in trying to sell your pages" Well, it's good to know being ethical in this business is important, I guess. Maybe I should adopt Burkey's and Stock's tactics, since it doesn't matter. "doesn't matter that you're open to offers." So, people don't like the prices (they are too high) and they don't want to seek out a better price by making offers and working it out (if possible). Then what's really left to do? "What matters is the marketplace, which goes far beyond the small group of posters in this thread, isn't interested in the art you're selling at the price you're selling it for. " So, they don't like the prices, but don't want to talk to negotiate on prices. What's a person to do? That's like complaining about a pain, but then refusing to talk to a doctor to see what can be done. "Your hostile post, which I quoted above, is calling people whiners because they don't bring offers." They complain the prices are too high, but then don't want to make offers or negotiate on prices. What's a seller to do? "Think about it, no offers, no sales, even a 35% off sale generates no interest." Which says that it doesn't matter what I do. I'm being cut off at every turn. That seems like spite, to me. I was told here that "people would make a deal with the devil for art," yet they won't do that with me. They'll do it with dealers who've done unethical things, but they won't do it with me. I'm told I'm taking this all "too personally," but what else can it be, with the facts laid out like this? "The vast majority of boardies posting here are trying to help" No, they aren't. "you just don't seem to be able to listen." I was told prices are the problem. I said I'm open to discussing those, if someone is interested in something. What more can be done? If you won't discuss it with the seller, there's nothing left to do. All I can think it they expect the artists and I to give it away for next to nothing ourselves. But that will NEVER happen. So, what's left? Again, it all comes back to what I've said over and over: How can prices be addressed or negotiated, when one side will clam up and refuse to discuss it? I've yet to see an answer for that. Thanks for the "rational talk." It's a shame it didn't produce anything useful.
  2. Meeley Man
    Well, right now, the only page I have with him on it is this one: http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1309733 I also have this page with the dragon he defeated to gain the Iron Fist: http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1241164 And just to beat it to the punch, if you feel the prices are a bit high, talk with me. I'm willing to try and work out a price we both can be happy with. Also, just so you know, I spoke with Gerry Acerno today (the artist who has pages from this series). He said he might have a page with the retelling of Danny getting the Iron Fist tattoo, I told him if he's willing to sell it to send it, along with more PM & IF art he wants to sell. Keep watch on my gallery and I'll be sure to update any of that as soon as it comes in.
  3. Meeley Man
    Prices are the only thing people here pointed to as the problem (save the couple of jerks who insulted the artists I work with). And I've said if that is an issue, that you can always talk it over with me. I'm willing to work on prices, if I can. The door to "wheel-and-deal" is always open. But I can't force someone to walk through. And again, how can you "alienate" something that doesn't exist? They already aren't buying. They are saying the price is the problem, but they won't engage to discuss it. Who's the one doing the alienating? And here's one I'm wondering about now. They all ignore new art made for sale. They ignore my eBay auctions. They ignore attempts to be upbeat in the posts I make. But when I vent some frustration, all of a sudden, they break the trend. Why? Couldn't they just keep follow the tact they use on everything else? What does it say about them, when they only respond to something negative? You are the only one who made any kind of worthwhile suggestion here, Malvin. And I do appreciate that. But the others, it's just "dogplie the rabbit," when I vent frustration. What's that say about them?
  4. Meeley Man
    Considering who that's coming from, it doesn't worry me in the least.
  5. Meeley Man
    Or maybe it says the group you are associating with isn't a good one.
  6. Meeley Man
    If no one feels the need to bring any offers, they have no right to whine about the prices. That's the truth.
  7. Meeley Man
    Okay. I get it. I'll tell my artists we need to sell on the cheap, because they are hacks with sub-par work. I'll stop trying to reach out to people, with stuff they might be interested in, because I don't want to spam people. No more eBay auctions, either. Free shipping on all orders, too. I don't need to make anything, after all. Anyone who wants to buy, just go to the gallery and offer ANYTHING on a piece, no matter how little, I'll accept it. The customer is always right, even when they are wrong. A business has to give them what they want at all times. Got it. Okay, let's "sell" some product!
  8. Meeley Man
    Felix has been involved in this stuff for many, many years, before he started repping. He's a "known quantity" to many in this hobby. That's an edge I can't copy or replicate. As for Jason, I know much less on him. But I will say, that out of everything that has been said to me on this, this is the one thing I actually do find has some value. Perhaps an email to Jason might be in order. Provided he won't be cagey in talking about this with me, fearing I'll steal his "secret blend of 7 herbs and spices."
  9. Meeley Man
    But you missed my point. You admit you discuss prices with those other because of the relationship you have with them. But you couldn't have had that from the very start, could you? You had to engage them, before that relationship was built. Only after doing that and with time, does that relationship now exist. The faith now exists, because you were open to discussion, before you had that "connection." So, at first, you had to "take a chance," didn't you? You had to engage and see what would happen. You had no idea what you'd get. You gave them all that consideration. But it seems one none of you will extend to me. Hell, have you even asked around, or talked with someone who has worked with me? I somehow doubt it. So, it all comes back to what I've been saying: How do you work out a price, or start to build that relationship, when one side refuses to engage? My door on this has always been open. But I can't make you walk through it.
  10. Meeley Man
    How many times must I say "if you don't like a price, discuss it with me" before it takes? And the BIN are higher, so that people can use the "best offer" option. Again, so prices can be discussed. Seeing a trend here? And you aren't discussing prices with me. You are telling me "it's too high, sell it on the cheap." That's not discussion. That's closer to demands. If you see a piece on the gallery you like, but not the price, discussion goes like this: "Hey, I like this page, but the price seems a bit high. Would you be willing to go $X on it?" Then I reply and accept, or give you a counter offer, and we DISCUSS it, to see if a compromise can be found. THAT is discussing it. Have you ever done that? Now you don't have to imagine what the discussion would be, I've just laid it out for you. As to you comments on me and other sellers, yes, I don't have massive inventories of stuff they do. But all your blather on that only proves what I said about this being an "old boys club." How can a new guy get there, when he's cut off at every turn. You insult my artists and the work I have from them. You call my attempt to get people to engage "spam." Well, I'm sorry I wasn't doing this 20, 25, 30 years ago or longer. 30 years ago I was 13. Not even old enough to work. I wasn't even into comics yet. So, I'm sorry I didn't buy up massive amounts of art in the "glory days" and sit on it until it was high dollar inventory. I'm sorry the artists I work with aren't named McFarlane, or Finch, or Wrightson, or Lee, or Adams. I'm sorry you see the ones who I've been fortunate enough to work with as just "hacks with sub-par work." I'm sorry they didn't put in long runs on Batman or Amazing Spider-Man, in the days of yore. I guess there is just no room at the table for someone else.
  11. Meeley Man
    How did you know talking to Moy was "useless?" Because you had tried in the past and that was the outcome? So, do you now "broad brush" all dealers, of any stripe, as "impossible to discuss prices with?" I've already said here, too many times to count, that you CAN discuss it with me. I'm open to it. But you have to say something. I don't read minds. But you guys never do. Who's at fault there? And direct info is always best. Indirect can be wrong. Indirect can be off. You ask why you'd bother to discuss it with me? Because you never have, so you have no idea what the outcome will be. I didn't learn about the Donnellys from "indirect info." I learned directly from my own attempt to engage with them. Then I KNEW how they operate and it is why I'll NEVER do business with them. Buying OR selling. But it seems I can't be given the same consideration. You tell me to listen to the feedback here, which is almost entirely about prices, but none of you have EVER been willing to discuss it with me. So, you tell me what the issue is, but then ignore trying to work it out? How helpful is that? I'm not going to arbitrarily drop all prices. If that is what you expect, that is showing you guys as the unreasonable people I see you as now. But if you don't like a price on something, talk to me about it. I will try to work it out. I will always be beholden to the artists final wishes on these matters, but I will do everything I can to give everyone a square deal. If that isn't good enough for you, then all your "feedback" is pretty much worthless. You are telling me I need to change, yet you never even consider maybe YOU GUYS need to change, too, do you? Just because you have the money, doesn't mean you are never wrong. My door to discuss things, like price, has always been open. It is all of you who walk by and refuse to engage. Maybe you should listen to MY feedback, just as much as you think I should yours.
  12. Meeley Man
    I was genuinely surprised at someone, who is such a self-professed big fan of the character, just so easily blew off what I had. If I offended you, I apologize. That was not my intention in the least. I would think, from seeing this here, that you would now understand, that if I want to insult someone, I don't hide it. I come right out and say what I feel. There was no intended insult to you from me in that. I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. And comparing me to the Donnelleys? Really? In spite of everything I've said here. Saying how part of my frustration is people NOT discussing things with me. That if they don't like a price, they can talk to me about it and maybe we can reach a happy medium. You noted yourself that they would NEVER do that. But I'm open to trying. But it is all of you who seem to shun that option. You said you were interested in my current inventory. But based on what? The art? The artists? If so, there's nothing I can do about that. But is it the price? If so, why didn't you talk with me about it? Why not see if we can reach a compromise that we both find acceptable? Is that what a "real big fan" would do? But you didn't do that. You didn't even broach the subject. You just blew off my offerings, without much information of why. As for the whole thing about sitting inventory. Did you know almost every year since I've been doing this, I hold a Christmas sale? I try to get all the artists on board and they decide how much of a discount they are willing to give. Everyone here creams their pants for Spencer Beck's sale, sometimes making multiple topics on it. And he has a reputation for having a "prickly attitude." But it doesn't stop people from buying. Know what happened at my sale last year? Not one single buyer. Some of the artists were offering 35% off all their inventory (cover, splashes, DPS, the works). I guess that isn't "aggressive" enough for you all, huh? So, now that you know all of this, maybe my frustration here doesn't seem so "unjustified." And I'll again state, how ironic it is, that everyone here is whining about the prices, yet have never once tried to discuss it with me. And that in spite of all I've said here, still no one here has tried to do so, if for no other reason, than to prove me wrong. So, what is one to take from that? When you have been told "folks will make a deal with the devil for a piece of art," yet they won't even discuss a price with you? When guys who have done unethical business practices still get people inquiring and buying, but just ignore the ethical one? When everyone is whining about prices, yet won't talk them over with the person selling?
  13. Meeley Man
    I take it personal that if people don't like a price, they don't even bother to discuss it. eBay auctions that are "best offer," but never get any. Posting tons of art, but no one even inquiring or willing to discuss pricing. Do you just pay what a dealer or seller tells you? No questions asked? If you see a piece you like, but not the price, do you just ignore it, without discussing it with the seller, to see if a compromise can be reached? Somehow, I highly doubt it. But that is what you guys do to me. And then when I express any frustration at that, only then to do pipe up to say anything. Complaining about the prices, but you never talked it over with me in trying to buy anything. Telling me to sell super-cheap, forgetting that this isn't my stuff and I can't just go doing that. So, "feedback" is all well and good, if it were actually useful. But telling me to sell it for next to nothing, or prices need to be changed when you have never even discussed it with me, really isn't all that helpful. At least not to the artists and myself. I'm sure all of you who would like to get it on the cheap think it is, though, so you can flip it or whatever other reason you have to expect that. In spite of all that has been said here, no one has ever accepted that none of you have ever tried to discuss the price of something with me. Not ONCE! So, how much value would you put in the advice from such people?
  14. Meeley Man
    That's all the effort I feel this place is worth now. I've given more in the past and gotten the same results. Why give your best to people who don't appreciate it? And I've explained many times that I don't sell Internationally on eBay, because of the scam that is their "Global Shipping Service." You have to opt out of it. Anything you have to do that with, pretty much tells you isn't something that is fair or right (even if it is legal). International buyers have always been asked to deal with me direct through the art gallery, as I'll give you a much more fair deal on shipping, than eBay will. But, like so much else, no one ever tries to discuss it. Seeing a pattern yet?
  15. Meeley Man
    How do you alienate something that you don't have? As I've already said multiple times, if you don't like a price talk it over wit me. Maybe I can do something on it. But you never do. Who's fault is that? I'm not the one clamming up and refusing to discuss things. Do you not discuss prices with other dealers and reps? You always just buy at whatever price they list, no questions asked? Somehow that doesn't seem likely to me. But no one can ever discuss these things with my offerings, it seems. And the funniest part in all of this, is how easy any one of you could have proven me wrong. All you had to do was go to the art gallery, find a piece or two you were interested in, and then email me to discuss it. You don't like the price? Hit me with your offer on it. Maybe I'd be able to go for it, or give you a counter you liked. I can't promise you for sure you'll get a price you want, but had you ever given the slightest effort, you would have proven me wrong about this "community." But you didn't, did you? All that, with someone here saying you'd all "deal with the devil" to get a piece of art. Stock shills his auctions, but I bet you still bid. Burkey had his friends do that, but you still buy from him, I'm sure. The Donnellys, well, we all know them, but I'm sure many of you still TRY to deal with them. But when it comes to me, you see a price you don't like, and then it's just clam up and ignore. Who really is the one doing the alienating? That thought never even entered your mind. I'm sure you'll blame me for that. After all, you guys never seem hold yourselves accountable for anything you say or do. It's only what I've come to expect.
  16. Meeley Man
    Let me state this AGAIN, since it never seems to register. This isn't my stuff. I can't just do anything I want. Some of those high prices, are due to premiums the artists want. If I sold it for less, they would not be happy. If they are not happy, they might stop working with me. If they stop working with me, I have nothing. I don't think that should be a hard equation to grasp. Also, AGAIN, you listed stuff that had a "best offer option." Did you make any offers? I have several hundred pieces on the art gallery for sale. Did you inquire about any and ask to work out the price? Kind of hard to do business, when one side is silent, don't you think? I can't promise you'll get the price you want, but the artists have given me leeway on most things (not ALL). You'll never know what can be done, when you clam up. Third, I resent you impugning my ethics. There is nothing in ANY of those listings that is false. And if you looked closely, most of them do have the artist and year listed. But I guess when you want to smear someone for "gotcha points" facts don't really matter, do they? I'm the most ethical person you are ever likely to meet in this hobby. I don't jerk people around, or alter the art, like the Donnellys. I don't shill bid auctions, like Stock (or have my "friends" do it, like Burkey did). Ask anyone who ever HAS bought from me what the transaction was like. But I know you won't. Wouldn't want any inconvenient FACT getting in the way of your attempt at character assassination, would you? Again, all this is very telling. No one can make an offer on eBay auctions that have them. No one can contact me direct to talk about a deal on the price of something. But the minute my dismay at that shows, suddenly, everyone has something to say about that. SquareChaos admitted to knowing NOTHING about me. Not how long I've been doing this (10 years), not having talked to anyone who's done business with me, not seeing any of my positive posts here when relating new art for sale and the like, but THIS post, it was like a neon sign in the darkness for him. And based on ONLY THIS, he deduced I couldn't be trusted to do a fair deal. You never posted on any of my other posts, you never tried to work out a deal with me on the price for anything, but you had all the energy in the world to try to "dig up dirt" on me (or what you thought was), so you could come at me here. Never mind that what you stated is far from the truth. Never mind you failed to even closely look at what you were actually looking at (saying I didn't put the artist or year in the title of auctions). No, you couldn't be bothered to work out some business, but to talk some trash, you had all the drive and time in the world. Gee, I wonder why anyone would get a bit of attitude with this place and the people in it? I guess it's just a mystery of the universe, I tell ya!
  17. Meeley Man
    And again, you can always talk it over with me. Maybe we can work out the price. Or when I do "best offer" eBay auctions, you can, oh I don't know, "make an offer?" But no one ever seems to want to do that. How do you "work out a deal," when one side refuses to even discuss it? I wonder if dealing with that might give someone a little bit of attitude? And I'd never sell consistently at 10% of asking price. I tried it a couple times. That was the result, so I stopped. To do anything else, is simply business suicide.
  18. Meeley Man
    Fair? Maybe. But will you do anything to change that? Seems highly unlikely. As such, it makes your "wish" for me to seem quite empty and disingenuous. Just being genuine.
  19. Meeley Man
    Again, this isn't MY stuff. Unlike Malvin, I can't just do what I want on prices. Unlike Stock, I don't shill to help me get a fair price (who knew being ethical was a detriment?). I've done BIN with "best offers" many times. No one makes offers. Who's at fault for that? I love that the only answer you guys have is to virtually give the stuff away. If that were the case, why would the artists even bother to work with me. They can give it away themselves. I said, I tried low starting bids and people barely bid them past the minimum. Don't tell me that's "fair market value." You burn someone like that, more than once, they stop doing those things. It seems you only want "fair" if that equates getting the art at "fire sale" prices. And that is neither "fair" or good business.
  20. Meeley Man
    So, you admit to knowing nothing about me, but won't talk business with me. Pretty much says it all right there, doesn't it? Could ask around for anyone who may have done business with me, right? See what a transaction is actually like and get some data about it? Nah, why do that? As for the rest, well, what more can you all do to me? I mean, what "threat" (and let us face the facts, that is what you are talking about here) can you do to harm me? What? No buy? You are already doing that. Like I said, I've done tons of posts trying to be upbeat when informing on new art for sale and the like. No one ever responds. Only when some of my dismay is related, as it was here, do you all suddenly "have so much to say." Kind of telling, when you think about it.
  21. Meeley Man
    No, what you don't get is this isn't my stuff and I can't just do anything I want. I know you guys all want this stuff super-cheap. As I said, I've tried such things in the past with some moderate pieces. Something that might be priced at $200.00 and started the bidding at $20.00, only to watch it go for $25.00. Don't tell me that was anywhere near "fair pricing." I'm sure YOU would think so, getting something that cheap, but I'm sure the artist wouldn't think so. So, if you do that to a moderate piece, why would I do that with something better? What? Let a piece worth $500.00 go for $30.00? Yeah, that's certainly a good business model to run on (not to mention something likely to cause the artist to no longer work with me). I've done many eBay auctions with Buy It Now and "best offer." What could be more "fair" than that? But no one makes any offers. Who's fault is that? I have several hundred pieces on my art gallery for sale right now. No one is coming there and asking about working out some deals on stuff. Why is that? The only reasons I can see are either they know the price they want is something that would never be acceptable (i.e. wanting the piece at 70% off the asking price or more) or simply out of spite because I'm the one who has it. There is really little else for that. It is funny to me, though. You guys have no problem coming to places like this to talk trash on someone, but when it comes to talking business, suddenly you just clam up. My topic here is a perfect example. I've posted tons of art for sale posts and eBay posts, and no ever says anything. No one wants to talk business. But let me voice even the slightest dismay about that, suddenly you all "come to life" to tell me what to do or to run me down. Where was all that energy when I posted about new art made available? Where was that drive for the eBay auctions? Maybe if you put half the effort into trying to do business WITH me, as you do in your efforts to snarky comments ABOUT me, things might be better for all involved. But I guess that's just too much to ask for, isn't it? It's an "old boys club," and I'm some "Johnny-come-lately" who isn't worth the effort. C'est la Vie.
  22. Meeley Man
    Unless I'm selling it, it seems, then it's ALWAYS a listing doesn't sell. Guess EVERY page I have is a "hard one," huh?
  23. Meeley Man
    I just find it interesting that no matter what is listed, and how reasonable the price, nothing ever seems to sell. You guys always complain about dealers and reps who do unethical things in this business, yet you still keep going to them and buying from them. Yet, someone who is upfront and fair, you just ignore. That's fascinating, to me. As for readjusting strategy, the only readjustment that anyone here has made, is to start the price so low as to give it away. I don't think that's something the artists or I would be very happy with. Like I said, everything can't be a "fire sale."
  24. Meeley Man
    I said the reason they didn't sell, was because you guys thought them worthless. The only other reason, is out of spite. Any other dealer would have them on their site for more than the artist and I were asking. So, if reasonable prices aren't good enough, the art is either worthless or you aren't buying out of spite. There's really not much else left to go on.
  25. Meeley Man
    You are right, I don't trust the buyers to bid it up, because they haven't when I've tried things like that before. And the artists would not be happy with getting $20 for pages worth many times that. I can't do just anything I want with this stuff. It isn't mine. I work to keep things reasonable, which is why the Buy It Now prices only go the minimum amount above the starting bid that eBay requires them to be (I'd probably go lower, if they allowed it), but that doesn't seem to be enough for all of you. Sorry, guys, not everyone can give you "fire sale prices" on the good stuff. Expecting that is what is truly unreasonable.