FineCollector

That's the worst. I get that a lot too, so we must both Iook poor when we go rummaging! The frustrating part is he's not worth the schooling you could give him. They never are.

Who's teaching them to do that, though? I wish people would stop calling it "run filler" and go back to calling it "story." If the 20-somethings have no attachment to the books they're buying, what keeps them coming back the next time there's a downturn in the market?

I've avoided George for years, does he give discounts now? Once upon a time, he was tight as a drum. I handed him back a stack of books once or twice before realizing he was a waste of time. Now, I walk in the opposite direction of "can I help anybody here?"

What kind of material?

Does anyone actually benefit from editing the price out? I'm trying to see it from the selling side, and coming up with nothing. Even if the book sells by PM, it's still helpful to know what the asking price was. Haven't seen one in a while, but I'm picturing sales threads started in the middle of a work day called "quick sale" or something, with just one book that sells within minutes. By the time you see it, the sales is done, and the price is gone. That's the only time I really wish the price was posted.

That's where I am too. I'm not rich, but I have what I need, and buy within my means. Hopefully, I'll never have to sell my stuff to put food on the table, but optimistically, I think there's always more money coming.

I'd be much happier if the seller just put a line through it and left it there.

The wall books have separate Canadian and US prices, bins are at par... for what that's worth.

Most of the locals know his grade and price is pure fiction. If you want to buy something from Gerry, you open up the book, check for trimming and resto as best you can, set your own grade, and set your own price.

It kills me that I missed this. Congrats to buyer and seller.

*scratches head* Which book? I consider most of my purchases from your booth a charitable donation

She's blocking the view!

There's a wealth of knowledge on these boards that's hard to beat, and I'm grateful for the input. Just imagine the kinds of answers we'd get in a Facebook group, where they're busy chasing their tails, looking for copies of Amazing Spidey 212!

This thread is making me wonder how many people still have their books in crinkly mylites and top loaders. They've likely had the same books in the same protection since the 80s.

I'm of the opinion that comics should never be displayed. Take a scan and hang that on the wall.

Gene Colan C C Beck Kurt Schaffenberger Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez Jack Burnley Win Mortimer Bernie Wrightson Frank Brunner George Perez John Byrne

Lay the comic on the board before you put it in the bag. The board is there to protect the corners, more so than keeping the book straight.

Do what some of us do... collect everything! Then you'll have everyone's guest appearances!

My comics suck, but I could go for a kitten thread!

Holy crow, jsilver went full Kav on my thread, with RMA dressing on the side! Yes, personal decisions are my primary motivation. I'm not treating this as a business venture. The promoter advertised well the last time, and I overheard a lot of new buyers saying "wow, look at all the comics!" Those are people I feel strongly that we experienced collectors should help along, to ensure the future health of our hobby. Ottawa's a tough place to do anything but buy new off the stands. @spreads gets it, but few other locals do. Long story short, I hope to meet some of these happy people and help contribute to a positive con experience. I'm loving the discussion, so thank you for all the advice and kind words so far. I'm going to have to set up a stand, or get a booth with a wall, there's a lot of experienced guys saying that's the way to go.

Definitely not expecting top dollar for my run stuff, I want it to move by the handful. I'm just saying the bins have to be enticing, or I wouldnt expect anyone to touch them.

I'm a run collector approaching this from what I'd want to see as a buyer. I'm more likely to pay full price for run books if there are keys I still need in there, because I have the privilege of clearing out my want list all at once. Once your bin is down to the leftovers, I'm less likely to pay top dollar: no one wants what's left, so I'm in no hurry to buy them, and I'll still be left hunting the same book that everyone else wants. My priority is to sell books and make space, but not necessarily to maximize profit. I really just don't want to get ransacked before the show opens, and have to stand behind sorry looking bins for an afternoon. If I get to give good deals to nice people, and maybe stick it to a two-faced opportunist of a dealer, I consider that a very good day.

Actually, we want it open for a lot longer, so everyone can take a shot at you, and then block you! Welcome to the boards!

The message you send to the customer is, I understand what you want, and if I dont have it, I know where to get it. The next time, they'll come ask you first, which is exactly what you want.

I'm expecting to set up a table for the first time at a small, local con in March. I don't expect to do it regularly, I just hope to move enough volume that I don't have to do it again for a while! I'm having trouble pricing the books. I know what things are worth, and I'd like to price on the low end, but I'm concerned about the dealers coming in and clearing out the bins before the doors open. I know I should be happy just to make a sale, but I really dislike a few of the local guys. They price sky high and don't offer deals, so I have no desire to feed them cheap books. They don't want to develop a reciprocal relationship, they just pick the bones and move on. The other dealers are decent joes that I have a good relationship with, but those few stinkers spoil it for everyone. My "favorite" is a guy who lost his wife because he lives like a hoarder for comics. His house is floor to ceiling boxes of drek in most rooms, because he doesn't sell anything. He stocks comics at some of the local card stores, and charges 50-100% markup for run filler and keys alike, while complaining no one buys back issues. He makes money off the weekly books, but he's in debt, so no deals to be had. The last show attracted a lot of novice collectors, and I hate that the city doesn't have a store with moderately priced back issues. The locals end up buying anyway for lack of a better option, but it's not healthy for the market. If I'm going to make space and clear out stuff, I'd like some control over who's getting it, and not just toss it into the air and walk away. My ideal price is low enough to make customers happy, and high enough to prevent the books from getting vultured early, but that's not easy. I can always deal down, but if I match the scummy dealer pricing on the sticker, that just makes my small booth unappealing. I don't have a reputation as a seller, so I'd just be another overpriced jerk. My strategy will be to forgo the wall of keys, and keep everything in the boxes. I want people flipping through the bins to have the enjoyment of saying, "oh! the keys are still in the run!" and give them the joyous feeling that they're getting to an untouched box (even though I've had my paws all over it!). I'm hoping that'll entice some people to take some issues around the keys, because I'd do the same. The key collectors are still going pick things out, but that's unavoidable. Theft is more of a risk with this model, but I don't have anything over $200, so it's worth a shot. Everyone's display has to be completely set a half hour before doors open, so there's no avoiding dealers fishing around in my stuff before the show starts. If you seed your bins with deals, do you load them at the beginning of the show and hope they last, or refill as the show goes on? I can't keep the boxes closed, or show up late, and there's a clause in the contract that selling is open to the public, so I can't tell anyone to go take a hike. I don't want to ask for trade, because the local vultures don't have anything I want, and if they do, I'll get roasted by their ridiculous markup. I'm not going to get my way, but I'm wondering what people think anyway.