chrisco37

Can't say I'm surprised at all.  I am glad to see that he's still alive.  

As others have said (and we've said over all these years), the "road to success" isn't easy to navigate.  Sure, some people get lucky and they get the shortcut.  Gabe has always seemed to think that the shortcut is the norm, despite all the advice/experience he's received over the years to the contrary.  

I'm not a comic-guru.  I'm not a big-time seller.  I did pretty well last year with book sales, especially when you consider the "effort" I put into it.  But, I've had a stock of books accumulated over many, many years of both collecting and speculating.  I'm talking 20 years worth of books; "misses" that became hits (thanks MCU Movies!) 20 years later.  

Gabe was always trying to buy the "hot book de jour" and flip it when that chance was already gone.  To use a "current" example, 5-10 years ago, I was buying up all the Marvel Tails #1 (first Spider-Ham) for $1-4/book.  Books I could afford to "sit" on forever.  Then "Spider-Verse" happened and it became a $30-50+ raw book overnight.   I sold many of them for $20-25/book to re-sellers (who probably graded them and sold them for a lot more).  So, 4 copies at a grand total of $10-15 cost for $100-125 is a pretty good return for me.  Especially when that I sold multiple groups like that and still have some left over.  

38 minutes ago, uchiha101 said:

Really? I don't remember those deals to be honest.

Didn’t someone buy a B&B28 or JLA1 thru you?  Those are big books.  Especially for someone starting out.

1 minute ago, jaybuck43 said:

I mean I would have killed for this level of support when I was in my 20s. Dozens if not hundreds of very knowledgeable people WANTING to see him succeed, giving him practical, helpful advice. 

There’s been quite a bit of good advice given out over the years.  Heck, a couple of guys even worked deals to “kickstart” the comic selling venture.

4 minutes ago, chrisco37 said:

Who said you didn’t deserve a girl like that?  Post the PM’s.  

As I said before, I’ve been following this since the beginning.  I don’t recall anyone saying they wanted you to fail.

There’s a big difference in thinking you are going to fail and wanting you to.  

2 minutes ago, uchiha101 said:

Like I said yesterday, some people here are very two faced, wishing me luck and all the best but as soon as I turn my back they insult everything they previously stood up for. One example is Samantha. I've had many people say they hope it's real yet in pm's tell me I don't deserve an amazing girl like that if it turns out she is real. Why do I get a girl like that even though my life is so terrible. 

 

You think I enjoy such people? I rather have them come out and say it instead of acting buddy buddy. Not everyone wants me to succeed or wish me the best in life here. Facts. 

Who said you didn’t deserve a girl like that?  Post the PM’s.  

Anyone else find it interesting that she’s got one of those asexual names  (like Chris, or Ryan, or Stacy)?

Just now, uchiha101 said:

Yes, those are some of my past mistakes and as for the debt I paid off three of them so far.

Well, that’s actually good progress.  So, kudos to you there.  

I think if you’d fill us in on those accomplishments, some of the reaction here might be a little more positive.

17 minutes ago, NoMan said:

dude! meet her! send pictures! send pictures of the super powers! get married! send more pictures! enough of this arguing with us bunch of jerks.

Whoa there fella.  “Jerks” is my word.  

26 minutes ago, uchiha101 said:

I really hate when people who claim to be so much smarter than I can't pay attention to what I'm saying. 

 

Here's your answer. No I'm not living with my parents.

I don’t remember seeing you post that recently.   Where are you staying then?  (Did I miss that too?)

Also, when have I ever claimed to be smarter than you?  As far as I know, in this and the original “Road to success”, I’ve pointed out some of the  follies of your various endeavors (the consignment venture without insurance, the time you made a deal and then asked for additional money because the book you had went up in value, the credit card repayment when you said you’d pay them back when you felt like it, et al).

Are you still living at home?  What do your parents think of the marriage?  

I do, however, agree with the advice to stop dikking around about the webcam.  You need to see who you've been talking with all this time.  As others have suggested, set up a day/time for it.  That should give you proper time to get yourself cleaned up and presentable.  

26 minutes ago, Red84 said:

Gabe, do NOT do this. This will in no way help you and will possibly hurt the relationship that you have. Having her say anything on the boards would not prove anything to anyone.

 

To EVERYONE POSTING here, please think about what you are saying and suggesting before you write it. Think about the possible ramifications of what you are saying and whether you are being helpful or hurtful.

I agree with this advice.  The response would be savage.  

1 hour ago, revat said:

No jokes aside here, but this story has proven to be compelling for a number of reasons, most of which involve facepalming from the public at large. 

BUT (without getting your hopes up too much), if the OP COULD find someway to video tape the entirety of this 'meetup' situation a la MTV's Catfish tv show and/or make into some type of reality show or documentary, this could have potential. 

This of course, would require the OP with  to be ok with POTENTIALLY having heartbreak and embarrassment on a somewhat public scale.  But I DO think for whatever else the OP lacks, he has an unrelenting (if unfounded) optimism in himself, which often makes for compelling tv/social media. 

If you can find a way to monetize or possibly film yourself and your story, with video diaries or whatever taking yourself through the whole process and hold on to your sincere beliefs, this might be an opportunity for something more.  Or it might be just something cool to show your grandkids one day, who knows.  But you've stated you've had interest in entertainment in the past, maybe this is something fairly productive you can throw your time into, but it will require reading of books and studying of camerawork and possibly writing out dialogues for yourself and setting up shots, and patience, and risk, and heart.  Those instagramers put a TON of work into trying to make it look like everything isn't overproduced.

I'm mean it'd be better and smarter if you got a steady job, but this beats playing video games all day and losing money on bitcoin.

 

Also regarding my previous posts about taxes:  I assumed that if you didn't make enough on crypto to have to pay taxes on the profits, it probably wouldn't make sense to pay an accountant to do your taxes on the crypto, though a part of me is happy you realized a shortcoming and didn't do the taxes yourself.  But on the other hand, I just can't imagine having no steady income, not making enough to owe taxes, receiving government assistance, AND NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH YOU INVESTED IN CRYPTO, or HOW MUCH YOU MADE AFTER SELLING ALL OF IT, or at least a reasonable range. 

Boom!   There's your 15 minutes and, potentially, some income, Gabe.  

2 minutes ago, Beige said:

I disagree - there's room for everyone.

Private Gabe, meet Private Pyle (he's the one with clean nails)

 

Private Gabe makes Private Pyke look like General Patton.

3 hours ago, ExNihilo said:

 

I know I'm just echoing what others have told you before, but for however long this thread and the old thread have existed, it seems you haven't done anything to change.  I strongly recommend you heed the advice of the other boardies here.

Don’t waste your breath.  This and the old journal just show a constant pattern of failed attempts at “get rich quick” schemes; comic flipping, video game flipping and, worst of all, crypto-currency.  Gabe claims he’s “learning” from his mistakes, but it’s clear to anyone with half a brain that he’s learned nothing.  

Sorry to be the a-hole and break it down to brass tacks.  

He’s going to continue down his path of financial ruin.  He’s yet to follow any advice that we’ve attempted to give him over the years.  I don’t believe that anyone that’s posted in his journals has tried to sabotage his efforts.  He just thinks he knows better, despite his constant failures.  

As demonstrated, time and time again, he lacks the skills and self-awareness to make any sort of meaningful change to improve his situation.  I do think he’s been dealt a hand, which does make his climb that much steeper.  But that doesn’t completely absolve him from his continual screw-ups.  

He thinks he knows better than everyone else, even though everyone that’s posted along his journey knows better and has done better.

Gabe, the time has come (actually it has passed) for you to waive the white flag.  You’re never going to get rich selling comic books.  You’re not going to get rich in crypto.  Your only chance at chance at getting rich quick is to hit the Lottery.  

You aren’t going to pay attention to what I said.  I realize that.

Continue down your path.  Your “road to success” leads directly to failure.  As has been proved since the first post in your original journal.  

You don’t get it.  You never will.  

I hope you hit that lotto and can prove us all wrong by becoming a billionaire and having a harem of online elf wives.  

Good luck.

Seems your "road to success" is a little smoother than some.  

I was going to post a similar question.  I think the phrase “no trouble paying it off” meant making the minimum monthly payment.  Then he’s surprised at the interest each month.  I’m sure the card must’ve been at or over 20%.

3 hours ago, uchiha101 said:

I still do and also the banks. The banks as far as I'm concerned can  off. I tried my best to pay off that credit card debt, I called, I tried to negotiate and work out terms. They didn't listen and they kept piling on 100 bucks, 75 bucks every few days so I gave up and I'm not paying it off until I AM ready to do so. They did me this disfavor so now it will be their turn to wait and yes I'm aware of what will happen to my credit score.

 

I'll let you know sometime after taxes what my profits and losses are

Taking a bit of a leap here...based on above, I’m assuming you ran up your credit card(s) and, when you determined you couldn’t make the payments, you tried to negotiate a settlement that they wouldn’t accept? Is that correct?  

The “piling” on was either interest on the money you borrowed (that’s how they make their money) or non-payment penalties or a bit of both. 

Now you’re not going to pay them out of spite?  In the meantime, that interest and penalty will continue to stack up.  

C’mon man!  

Gabe - how did your foray into the crypto-currency go?  I really hope you didn't pursue it too hard. 

This was my favorite journal, so I hope you do keep it up.  

But what happened to all the old content?   How do you find it?  Nevermind...saw your quick link

 Not a fan of this format.  

3 hours ago, Aweandlorder said:

The month before he actually thought there was a chance it would be big and he believed the Batman movie will flop because of Keaton...

Looks like comic book speculating wasnt his only weak field

Only thing he was worse at than speculating (if we count the Church books as an outlier; but what an outlier it was) is grading.  

I so wish I had a copy of my “refund letter” on the NM TTA#57 I returned back in 2002 that got me blacklisted from purchasing from MHC.  

More great stuff.  Thanks for posting.   Chuck just whiffs and whiffs.  The only thing he got right was that the Punisher movie was going to be a stinker (but that doesn't stop him from loading up).   

I wonder how many issues of DD #272 he still has laying around (out his 1000 copy order, if he did order than many)?   

This has been a fun thread to read.   Keep them coming.