newshane

Don't you love paradox?

Yes.

Sorry, color touch IS restoration and should always be treated as such.

I've submitted quite a few 9.8s and 9.9s for reholder. Even in one case when I felt it certain to get a downgrade, I never did. Never have. Maybe I just got lucky? They aren't getting paid to regrade, so why would they, unless they see something over-the-top wrong?

My mom was cool about comics. My old Garbage Pail Kids were a different story. ...and the modeling pictures of my ex-gf back when we were in high school...because she hated the girl. Bitter man...bitter.

I did quite well, actually. Massive profits on some and massive losses on others. I was able to break even or a little better.

Thanks! I have to say, it really was epic. 2018 BEST IN MODERN AGE

"I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er." -Macbeth Act Three Scene Four

The part that wrecked me was my insistence on 9.8 copies. There are lots of DARK covers in the run...tons of them. That made it extremely difficult and expensive. Also, relatively low print runs on many of the issues. Throw in scores of variants, some of them ultra rare (print runs of 100 or less) and it was a freaking beast of a task. I checked 4 or 5 vendors every day for 7 years and spent a mountain of cash. Eventually, it became too stressful and cumbersome (400+ slabs) to continue. Every month, there would be at least 4 or 5 different variants to chase. Why continue when it wasn't fun anymore? Honestly, the variants were the nail in the coffin. It got ridiculous, and the variants weren't even COOL anymore. "Oh YAY! Another black and white cover!" The worst thing was having to pass on a number of cool books that I actually wanted...for those 7 years I bought nothing but Spawn. It took an incredible amount of time, money, cunning, and vigilance. AND...I never found a copy of 156. There was nothing special about it. Just a black cover with poor paperstock, released during the "low" print run era. No one cared about Spawn in 2006; indeed, many people didn't know Spawn was still going! Combine these factors and you have an impossible book. Get this! I had a SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR BOUNTY on that issue at one time, which is really just stupid when you think about it. I was literally the only guy on the planet who was so desperate for one. Some of the biggest dealers and hunters in the country couldn't track one down. Indeed, I couldn't even find a 9.6! I had everything but that issue...I even had the 185 Sketch (rumors of less than 60 copies)...but never 156. That book in grade is a true unicorn. In the end, it broke my heart to sell the collection. But now I am much happier in the hobby! No more runs for me. That part of my psyche has been satiated and eliminated. It really can spin you off into a sort of madness. Highly NOT recommended!

I'll never collect another (edit: graded) complete run as long as I live. Spawn with all variants broke me forever and ever. Now I have a much smaller collection of expensive books that are easier to manage and enjoy, and I love every one of them...they serve a greater purpose than filling a slot in a spreadsheet.

Freshly graded. Bethlehem copy. No stamp. But why ask for the moon?

Rule of social interaction #1 - acknowledge that a customer has entered the store by either: A. Looking at them (at least). B. Saying "Hello, can I help you with anything?" That alone would put you in the top 5% of comic shop owners.

That's all good, but this statement doesn't exactly jive with what you said earlier.

This is part of the problem with some dealers - the suspicious, adversarial, paranoid attitude towards customers. I just about aborted a deal not too long ago over this very thing. Stand by your product. Stand by your grading. Make it right if it's wrong.

Sorry to hear that David. I was really pumped about the 'boro location, but I haven't had a chance to check it out yet. Bummed! I need to get out more and visit all of these shops, just to see for myself.

Wow... I strongly disagree.

I'm sure that companies releasing 20 variants per issue isn't helping either.

They are doing well. Two locations in Nashville proper and a new one just opened up in a big 'burb to the southeast.

There are a few prominent modern/sig. dealers here on the boards who could stand to learn these lessons.

I just bought a copy a few weeks ago or else... GLWTS

We have three of those now in the Nashville area. I used to go to the old location when I was an early teen, and it was like Christmas! I saw my first Fantastic Four 1 there, and my friend and I would just stare and drool. Tons of awesome EC on the walls...hero books...they had it all. I wouldn't really call them a LCS though. They also deal in used LPs, videogames, VHD/DVD, games, etc. More of an emporium, of sorts. As far as the smaller brick and mortars go, they kinda suck unless you're into the latest moderns (in VF condition at best) or trade paperbacks. So many TPBs in those places now that it makes me want to puke. And NO wall books...rare to see anything older than late silver IF you are lucky enough to be in one of the "good" ones. I think the most important thing is customer service, and a nice, warm personality behind the counter. Most brick and mortars are manned by the typical, stinky neckbeard with no people skills at all. Worse yet, when you ask them the most basic of questions, they look lost...then start banging away on Google to find the answer. Just horrible. Then all of the unorganized boxes that are hard to reach. Most comic store owners have no clue what they're doing, and surprisingly little knowledge about comics in general. I can't tell you how much I miss the LCS in my old town back during the boom of the early to mid 90s. Even the smell of the store was magical. It was called "Where Adventures Begin" and was owned by a dude named Phil - Columbia, Tennessee. I wish I knew where Phil was so I could thank him for everything he did for me. He was one of the first people to guide me through the wonderful world of comics! THAT is what it's all about. Once again, a lot of a shop's success comes from the owner and the atmosphere in general. If I want to look at TPBs, I'll go to Barnes and Nobel.

It's automatic. Person with the best set at deadline is the winner.

Looks like I got out of sig books just in time.

Reeks of desperation.