Monster's Lair Comics

Has anyone been told what the hold up is? I've "heard" encapsulation. My interaction with Customer Service via email and phone have not provided any answers, basically "it will ship when it ships". Moderns and reholders are still getting through. You would figure that they would want to get some of the economy books out that have been lagging behind posted TAT's. I have FT Econ that have been in GEI for 22 days, getting close to the 30 day total TAT. If we are paying the additional $15 per book and getting the standard service, why are we not refunded the FT upcharge?

My last 4 moderns: I had three that were received 5/9 that shipped 5/16, 5/19, and 5/19. Received 4/20, shipped 4/25. I agree that its not FIFO by any stretch. It feels like there is a cart of books that got pushed to the back of the warehouse and they forgot about it.

Has anyone come out and discussed this "encapsulation holdup"? Moderns are flying out of Sarasota, but it seems like every other tier has been held up. I've emailed and called and I keep getting told that "it'll ship when they ship". So far I'm at about triple TAT from my last FT Economy with no QC in sight. FT Economy that went SFG 4/20, and GEI 4/26

my slow boat Economy from 5/9 is already at GEI..... you've got me by a couple days, here's to hoping we both get bumped to QC soon.

I'm at 19 days on the list for a Fast Track Economy. Its been at GEI for 17 days.

So I had a fast track economy that two books got bumped up to the next tier. Any time this happens it seems to push the TAT to the limit on the tier. Last FT Econ took 8 days SFG to shipped. This sub has been GEI for 12 days, and we are bumping up against the 20 day limit. Anyone else have the same experience?

This won't be much of a con report, mostly just some observations. There were a TON of great books in the room, a ton of good comic dealers as well. Unfortunately pricing was still recovering from "Covid Pricing". Most books were still priced at 2020-2021 prices, and many of the dealers I spoke to were not willing to budge. There were many books I would've loved to buy but priced at $500 with a current GPAs around $110. I checked on many books and found double and triple current GPA prices. (I know that GPA gives us a snapshot of the market, but geez...) From the conversations I had, or overheard, the comic dealers did not do well at the show. Hopefully some of the boardies that were there/selling had a good show. The guest list was a good mix of newer comic talent and older comic talent. Comic artists had consistent lines and people were spending good money on sigs/CGC/exclusives. I was working for Agents of Slabs/Scotts Collectibles tables as a witness for CGC and we were slammed Friday/Saturday and decently busy Sunday. The Exclusives at the Scotts tables never really slowed down and were selling all show long until print runs were done. My only pick up from the show was this beautiful Tetsuo piece from Fernando Blanco. Here's a panoramic pic from our table at the end of the Scotts row. This is a very fun and busy show and can't wait until next year!

For CGC, we are in Booths A1-A8. Agents of Slabs/Scott’s Collectibles

I like using the clear boards on expensive or fragile books that you don't want to take out of the bag and board repeatedly. It'll pass the tire kicker test for most guys, but when someone is serious, you can take it out for someone. Saves alot of headaches at a busy show with older books.

https://officialcomicproline.com/ Comic Pro Line has 56pt boards available. I would've also recommended Full Backs, but I can't get over them only being white on one side (since covid). Comic Pro Line also has Clear backing boards. I purchased some for some golden age stock and I'm really impressed with them. They also sell mylar (mylite) bags.

https://www.amazingcomiccon.com/exhibitors Last year there was a decent selection of dealers. This year looks like it will have a good selection of comic guys too.

This weekend Amazing Las Vegas Comic Convention will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas. The Convention will be in Hall North 1. Facilitator Agents of Slabs will be at the show at the Scotts Collectibles Tables/Artists. (stop by and say Hello! I'll be one of the witnesses) Comic guests include: James Tynion IV, Kevin Eastman, Larry Hama, Adam Kubert, Jim Starlin, InHyuk Lee, Mark Bagley, Mike Choi, Georges Jeanty, Tyler Kirkham, Norm Rapmund, Chad Hardin, Martin Simmonds, Brian Haberlin, Alvaro Bueno, Fernando Blanco, Tony Fleecs, Karl Altstaetter, JP McFly, Mog Park, Mike DeBalfo, Jamie Sullivan, Melinda Young, Jaime Jameson, John Giang, Steven Grant, Logan Lubera, Doug Brode, Jamie Tyndall ,Marat Mychaels, Ryan Kincaid, The Winner Twins, Ken F. Levin, Sozomaika, William Tolliver, Chinh Potter, The Yuan Twins, The Fillbach Bros. Voice Actors: Tara Strong, Greg Cipes, Veronica Taylor, Vincent Corazza, Katie Griffin, Linda Ballentyne, Lindsay Seidel, Austin Tindle, Charles Martinet, Griffin Burns, Bonnie Gordon, Mark Witten, Ian Sinclair, Jamie Marchi. Celebrities: David Dastmalchian, Walter Jones, TaMara Carlson-Woodard, Carey Jones, Jason Faunt, Devin Roth, Curran Walters, George Burcea, Bonnie Gordon, Larissa Paige. https://www.amazingcomiccon.com/

For Facilitators, Agents of Slabs will be there (by Scott's Collectibles) in Artist Alley. They will have witnesses to assist for CGC.

I won 1 book last auction. It was decently expensive, not crazy. Shipping was $65. I did contact my auction coordinator, and they explained it was "new shipping rates".

4/20/22 slow economy went to QC yesterday. Everything is universal. Problem is one book was supposed to be qualified, and one book is supposed to be pedigree. Books were in GEI for 13 days. I feel a ME in my future (and another two month wait). Now begins the wait at QC. I anticipate them shipping Monday....

Does anyone know why Comiclink's shipping is so high? CGC can send a box of 25 slabs for about $45. Comiclink sends one book and it's $65. 37 books is $250ish..... They are using the Diamond Comics method of turning their shipping department into an income stream.

4/20/22 slow economy GEI 5/9/22 slow economy shipped! Nice that a sub that was 19 days earlier is still sitting. What happened to FIFO?

I'm excited to get this. I've decided to start picking up Atlas #1's

I just had two submissions that were at Grading/Quality Control (for about 5 hours) revert back to Grading/Encapsulation/Imaging. I'm hoping it's because QC found an issue and corrected it. What are the chances???

3/30/22 slow economy Shipped! 4/20/22 slow economy GEI 5/9/22 slow economy GEI

3/16/22 submission cruising into 11th day of GEI....

What's the typical wait at GEI? I'm currently at 9 days. I really would love to see the workflow that explains why a submission lays around for X number of days with no movement. What sense would it make for graders to get a bunch of submissions out to lay around for days at a time. You wonder how your books go missing, or you end up with someone else's books.

Received a 25 book sub back yesterday. One of the slabs had a broken corner, yet no broken pieces in the box, and no other books damaged. No damage to the outside of the box to explain interior damage. It appears that shipping broke a slab prior to putting it in the box, but then shipped it anyway. Why couldn't this just have been fixed in house instead of creating more problems for the customer? I'm just frustrated.

3/16/22 Slow Track Economy still stuck at GEI

My brother and I have been exchanging comics as gifts for probably 30 years. Basically everyone in the family understands by now.