FineCollector

I was considering this con for the first time, rather than Toronto, which I've been to several times.  Chicago sounds like fun in theory, but not if the comic vendors are abandoning the ship.

Edit: zero interest in guests, just comics.

Charity... that's the one angle we forgot.  Getting tax breaks on a floundering store, so you can pay yourself the same salary you were going to pay yourself anyway.  Diabolical.

2 hours ago, Raze said:

Hey guys and gals i was at a con today and saw a dealer with a few books that id like to get. i thought his prices were a little high. The books were in a box off to the side and seemed not to get flipped through because they were GA, his booth was focused towards new/modern. Id like to make and offer but like i said his prices were a little to high.

If he usually deals in moderns, and isn't used to having GA, he has probably priced the heck out of it because he doesn't know when he'll see more.  I don't know that you can expect to get a lot of play when you're targeting a dealer's best material.

On a purchase of more than one book, 10% discount at least.  Keep it under 20%, and he should be willing to work with you.

Quicksilver was part of the West Coast Avengers when they fought Immortus and a version of the Legion of the Unliving.  Seemingly, Quicksilver didnt have any dead characters of his own to fight, so Byrne made up Oort, the Living Comet, a future foe we havent met yet.  I've always been intrigued by the possibility of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch getting lost in the future, and making a new villain who hates them both, so for me, the best Quicksilver story hasn't been written yet.

5 hours ago, 01TheDude said:

I thought the question was about what are the core titles from the silver age -- which imo Thor is most definitely a top 5 title - for as many issues as the FF were in my mind (FF 1-80 were pretty much excellent stuff while Thor 83-170 had the same appeal)

I collect in midgrade, so that skews my view a little bit, but I've never quite understood the lack of interest in the hero runs of the pre-hero titles (JIM, TOS, TTA, and Strange Tales).  I just find that Amazing Spidey, Fantastic Four, and maybe X-Men are the only titles a large number of people seem to still be making runs of.

Thor is not a core title, it's been stagnant for years.  Movie speculation has highlighted a handful of issues, but few people appreciate Kirby's work on the title, even now.

3 hours ago, ADAMANTIUM said:

What game is the theme music to that video? Sounds familiar... tmnt?

Yup, that's the intro.

Looks fun, but please review the rules in the thread "USAGE GUIDELINES - Read BEFORE posting =============" and fix your post.

57 minutes ago, moemaya said:

Thank you all - post closed

How quaint... he thinks we're going to let this go just because he says he's done!

Understand that some very big players visit the boards.  I thought I knew a lot until I joined this message board, and realized I knew nothing.  There's a tremendous pool of knowledge here, and if you want to benefit from it, all you have to do is listen.  Just stir in a little bit of humility, and people will be happy to share.

Im my opinion, comic thieves should be pilloried and publically shamed.  However, count me in as one of the people who have no sympathy for Chucky at all.  Has Mile High been any benefit to the comic industry at all in this millenium, or is he just a raving lunatic we wish would ride off into the sunset?

3 hours ago, Garf said:

I think I would have to eat a loss of anywhere up to 70% of the asking price as soon as it becomes mine. Usually I wouldn't think twice about this because most of what I buy is at the lower/lowest end of the market... however this one isn't. The price is more about what someone being willing to let something go for as opposed to what the market would bear. So I am left wondering where I draw the line on what the heart wants. Really really love the art, but eating quite a large loss out of the gate really really sucks, especially when I consider other pieces out there.

It's nice to get a bargain, but I dont sense that you ever buy without getting a smoking deal in your favor.  Prices go up because someone is willing to pay more than the current price, and if this is really that important to you, it's your turn.

8 minutes ago, comicdonna said:

I can feel the love!  

I havent felt the need to argue with RMA for a while, so that has to count for something!

3 hours ago, RockMyAmadeus said:

A different perspective some may not have considered....

If my heirs...whomever they may be...don't have interest in my collection, and just want to dump it for pennies on the dollar...well, I'll be gone, so it really will be their choice at that point, but more importantly...if might fuel someone else's collection and imagination to get something that they would be thrilled to own for far less than it would cost them "on the open market."

Yeah, sure, there might be some sharks, and I'd make sure they watched out for those...but think what a thrill you could provide a young person by selling them....or even giving them....a collection with a "retail value" of thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

We talk about "maximizing profit" so much that such an idea might prove anathema to some...but it's something worth considering. You may even have your eye on a younger collector who has treated you well, and "gifting" it to them as a collection just might be the gift of a lifetime.

Sure, my heirs might not get as much money as they otherwise would, but they may not be interested in doing what it takes to earn it in the first place.

The only thing I would NOT want to see is the entire thing thrown in the trash, which I am pretty sure won't happen. But that would be the only unacceptable loss to me.

Totally agree, but avoiding the sharks is tricky.  Between all of the buyers I know from Montreal to Toronto, there are few I'd trust not to screw my parents over.  Hope everyone else's collecting community isnt as treacherous as mine.

2 hours ago, Bookery said:

At the time of my posting, it was my opinion that 2 (unnamed) posters had little useful to offer, based on my experience with their history of posts.

Aww, shucks... I didn't know you were a fan!

For what it's worth, the OP asked for opinions on the app.  I provided mine.  I'm sorry you didnt like it, but likening the app users to Wizard users is pretty spot on, I think.  If you didnt like the way I presented it, that's far different than claiming i have nothing to offer.

Just now, ThreeSeas said:

Thanks for the info. I only looked inside one, and it had a date of 1957. I'll have to check the rest. The HRN's on the back were all 169. The HRN's for the Junior editions was 576. I'll have to see if the Overstreet guide gives a published date. I never knew they were still printing them in the 70's.

That's why you have to use the HRN, they never changed the indicia.  169 Negro Americans came out in 1969, and without looking, I think there were no 2nd prints.  I'm unaware how long they kept printing afterwards.

On 5/24/2019 at 12:51 PM, 1Cool said:

It's really something people should think about since it's sad when you see what a huge collection can do to a surviving family - especially if the collection is eating up a bunch of the savings.  A local comic dealer passed away suddenly last year and left his family a mountain of long boxes of books.  His wife and daughter thankfully have been part of plenty booths so they know the industry but even they look overwhelmed just with trying to price stuff and clear out some books to pay the bills.

Clearing comics is easy, bulk boxes can be posted on craigslist and disappear within the day.  I may catalogue and price my better stuff when I start feeling the icy fingers of death, but I'm not expecting anyone to make a part time job out of my collection.

I see a lot of people saying heirs won't put the time or effort into maximizing profit, but that's not a consideration for me, I have no heirs (that I'm aware of).  Like someone said earlier, the inheritor could blow out the whole thing at a dollar apiece.  You get to keep the collection to the end, it's disposed of quickly, and some lucky stiff wins the lottery.

In my case, if I went tomorrow, my folks would get my old LCS to pick up all my boxes, and probably go 50/50 on whatever sold right away.  Mom would probably a lot of that away to the church and charity, but what can you do?

23 hours ago, lizards2 said:

I love desperation!   

Gotta admit, when I saw you'd posted, I started reading and thought you were going to say "I love diapers."

13 hours ago, Key Collector Comics said:

But you use my app.  You even said so on this thread.  Do you also still have your highlighted wizards?

That's a lie.  Show me where I said that.  Have never, will never.  I saw a Youtube video on how to use the app, had a big belly laugh, and moved on with my life.

1 hour ago, Key Collector Comics said:

That's funny. "You made me go back and look."  Then, "experienced collectors don't need the app."  You definitely have the wrong idea about the app. I don't think collecting key issues discourages anyone from reading a comic book and I think if they're inclined to read, they're going to do it.  I can tell you that I get emails on a daily basis that express how easily Key Collector helped someone get into comics or back into comics.  An email I haven't received yet is someone saying it destroyed their love for comics.  If young collectors are using the app then its getting them more engaged in the hobby and in doing so, while being in the community or seeing something that piques their curiosity on the app, there's a better possibility they'll put the effort forth to read.  There are a lot of categories that focus on the interesting points of a run and there are plans for future features that helps to onboard readers to titles.

Your app is this generation's version of the guy walking around a con with a Wizard magazine, where he's highlighted all the keys he's supposed to buy, but only less than guide.  Those guys were a waste of space and air at every con they attended, and now we have you to thank for the new batch.

2 hours ago, TwoPiece said:

Can't see  with LQ photos through plastic bags.

It's like Facebook, that's how the kids are doing it these days!

8 hours ago, Hollywood1892 said:

I've built friendships with comic book dealers where I've felt guilty about not buying from them for awhile so I've splurged on a comic that I really didnt need or want. A prime example of that is a uncanny x men 164. I didnt need it,I didnt want it,now I'm stuck with it,until the right place to get off the Captain Marvel train comes. It's actually so bad I forgot what number that was and had to go back and look it up.

Translation: I bought a speculation book at a bargain, and wasn't able to flip it?  Such a selfless act... 

Collectors being replaced by whores!