Wall-Crawler

So the haul is looking good. Not as many casualties as I thought due to how they were stored. Most of it is within the past 15 years with a few nice little finds. To expedite, I am going to be able to make a lot of nice runs and sets out of a this stuff. Average condition is VF to NM- I would say. Some better, some not. Perfect for shows. This is not a "mega key find" but rather a nice solid collection of books that will serve me well at shows. There is a small stack of Whitman books I have to look up too. A few silver age and bronze age books. I have a handful of books that will allow me to pay off what I paid for this lot once I get them all squared away. I am trying to sort in-between doing some minor house stuff, so it is taking a bit longer than expected. This is one of the things with being a one man show that I don't think your typical guy on the street appreciates, the time to put it all together...

In this particular case, I believe they had done business before without a hitch (does that qualify them as "friends"?) but all it takes is one bad turn...As we can see...Yes, the "victim" shares some responsibility but it still does not negate the fact that they have been ripped off. And yes, I agree, you should pay PayPal's fees for using their service as well. Had they paid the goods and service route, we may not be having this conversation.

...It pours (sorta). I was contacted today by a local antique dealer wanting to divest themselves of their comics... Haggled on bulk offer...This is what I got... Will post better of finds once sorted...

I noticed that! I am not a MAD expert but I just thought the price was right so why not? And when it rains...

Complainant is on vacation apparently but they wanted me to share what happened when I told them this was making rounds on boards here...This is the email I received, verbatim (all caps and all): "OK DAVID MESSAGE ME IN TEXT IF I WANTED $650.00 IN GRADED BOOKS FOR $300.00 THAN HE SHOWED ME A AVENGERS 1 CGC 2.5 AND A AMAZING 300 RAW VF+. HE SAID TAKE THE AMAZING 300 FOR 120 . THAN HE OFFERED ME ALL THE CGC GRADEDS AND THE AVENGERS 1 FOR $1200.00. HE SHIPPED ME THE JUNK BUT NOT THE TWO MAIN BOOKS. HE SAID HIS GIRLFRIEND MAILED IT OUT. MEANWHILE HE DOES ALL HIS LABELS AT HOME ONLINE. THAN HE SAID IF NOT THERE BY FRIDAY HE WILL REFUND ME. FRIDAY, SATURDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY GOES BY. I ASKED FOR TRACKING NUMBER AND HE SAID HIS GIRLFRIEND LOST IT. NOTHING THAN HE BLOCKS ME FROM PHONE AND FACEBOOK. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO NOTIFY PAYPAL. I LOST BECAUSE I DID FRIENDS AND FAMILY. HE SCAMMED ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME AVENGERS. JUST RECENTLY A MUTUAL FRIEND WAS TRYING TO FIX THE SITUATION. SO DAVID SAID TO SHIP BOOKS TO MUTUAL FRIEND AND HE WOULD REFUND ONCE HE RECEIVED THEM. HE SAID TO LATE, DAMAGE IS DONE. NO REFUND. COME AND COLLECT. THAT’S THE STORY IN A NUT SHELL. THE JUNK BOOKS HE SENT ME. THERE WAS TWO BOOKS IN THERE THAT HE OWED ME FROM A APRIL DEAL. SO I HELD ONTO THOSE. HE IS A SCAMMER. HE SCREWED UP TO 5-7 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME BOOK". Complainant also stated they paid via friends and family. Again, I have no horse in this race but there it is. If anyone wants more clarification, info, etc., they can ask the complainant via the FB Group Bureau of Safe Transactions and Comic Exchanges or they can track down David for his side.

I believe it is a printers crease. Very light on first few interior pages but more dominant on front and back cover. There is no "rip" or "tear" to the creases/folds.

Interiors are great. Nice off-white to white pages, nothing clipped, loose or missing. Book lays flat. Thanks in advance for your opinions!

As the thread was deleted, I don't want to give out half truths or misinformation and the "story" is a bit hard to read on the other FB group from all the back and forth. There were accusations about holding onto $ too long/slow to refund, something about selling same book twice, general scamming, etc. I have notified the primary complainant so they may end up posting here.

As it was his FB group (CGC Comics Club), once the tide was going against him, as an admin, deleted the comments and archived the group. The story is continuing on the FB Group: Bureau of Safe Transactions and Comic Exchanges (closed group, have to join).

Nothing much to report other than I picked up a banker box for CHEAP of some assorted MAD magazines and other oddities and antique/flea market fodder... As pickings are slim I try to answer whatever call I get...Here is example...

Current personal "Top 5" to get (excluding Amazing Fantasy #15) ASM #1 - 3.0 to 4.0/4.5 ASM #3 - 6.0 to 7.0 ASM #9 - 7.0 to 8.0 ASM #4 - 6.0 to 7.0 ASM #33 - 7.0 to 8.0 (new addition - I sold my raw copy b/c I did not like it all that much and I have wanted a nice graded copy for awhile)

One more off the list...On vacay, no access to the scanner I usually use but here it is...

I managed to snag one of my "Top 5" recently thanks to a boardie. I am on vacation so can't use the scanner I usually do so this pic will have to suffice for now. I am very pleased. Balances my price point vs appearance/grade nicely I think. I know for some people they are not too fond of the cover, but I dig it. Spidey front and centre, bad guy rushing at him and bold caption. 1st Kraven, 2nd Chameleon and first mention of MJ! I forgot about that. Another one down... This is what is left to go: AF #15 (la la land) ASM #1 - #5, #7 - #12, #16 - #19, #21 - #24, #27, #29, #30, #32, #33, #35 - #38 ...The quest continues...

I just didn't "like" my raw copy - Mostly, I did not like the wrap on the book. I know, detracts again from getting books I don't have but I have actually wanted a nice looking graded copy for awhile and one of my fave stories (and covers), so it had to go so I could get a better, graded one. Overall, saving is going well. Sales are going well too...I am slowly coming around to being able to sell some non-ASM keys I have just kind of "holding onto". Sidebar: I recently had a "milestone" birthday and my family members wanted to get me something or contribute to something I would have for "awhile" so I *did* spend some money recently but it was kind of "free money" and took some of the pain out of me buying a book myself. The book is an ASM book and I will post it once I have it in my grubby little paws.

I'm working on completing the main run of ASM. At this point, AF #15 is likely a pipe dream, but who knows...If you are interested, I am "documenting" this "journey" in the old journal section of the boards..."Weaving the Web"... I currently have from #39 to present in a perfect run (again, excluding variants) and several annuals (but focusing on main run). I think I need like 30 issues (including the most expensive ones like ASM #1 and ASM #3) to complete it. I also have the entire Superior Spider-Man run as I just see that as actual ASM books anyways. I'm not sure how far I will keep collecting as the modern stuff just isn't really doing it for me anymore...Maybe go to #1,000?

mikelee2good-2 Won a cheap comic ($6.50). Sent invoice. Nadda. Sent message after several days. He replied saying he hit a bad spell and would pay on the weekend. Weekend came and went so I opened a case. Magically he then responds saying he can't afford it and asks to cancel sale. Received fee back and blocked.

I am going to assume it will be something similar to the local show I did up at the local university last year (but better) and that crowd skewed 20 somethings and under for the the most part. I agree with trying the books out of the boxes and on the table for this show. How much to space dedicate and layout is up in the air but I have time. I was also going to scour my stock to look for video game themed comics and put those out on display. I agree with the cheapies, sets (I don't have a lot of trade stock) and whatever kewl modern books I have.

I just post the "freebie" ads on some Canadian sites like Kijiji. When the ad expires, I just renew it. I always try to look at collections whenever I get a call or lead. 99.9% of the time, turns out to be like the last visit (or worse) but can't play the game if you don't get on the field right? Nice little score there. Congrats!

The next show I am doing is the Northern Game Expo in Sudbury, ON. http://northerngameexpo.com/ While the show is not until October 15th, 2017, I have been starting to think about what to bring. While the focus is gaming, last year they had around 1,400 people turn out. This would make it the second largest show I have done. I'm wondering if anyone has set up at a gaming centric event? Or even thoughts in general about what to bring... The good thing is that I am the only "pure" comic guy, the few others are anime and may sell a mix of stuff. I already know my space and due to layout it will have to be pretty standard, I will have two 8 foot tables and we are allotted 4 feet of space behind the tables, so essentially I have a 16 x 4 sized booth. I am going to ask that maybe I could get a corner so that I can add my own 4 foot table. Anyway, any thoughts on setting up at more of a gaming show or other advice always appreciated!

Night of the Living Dead is on Netfilx...I am going to watch it tonight in honour of Mr. Romero. It still creeps me the #$%^ out. RIP.

Thanks! The books I just thought were fun. The french editions I nabbed because the last few local shows I have done, I have someone ask if i had any french comics. Now, if I am asked, I do! The Batman book is from early 70's and is an Italian edition. Funny how that ended up in my neck of the woods. Sellers had no idea how the original owner had it either. I thought it was neat. I try to buy Treasury editions and the over sized 1st Editions and Limited Collectors editions when I can if the price is right...I find they make great visuals for booths at shows and I like the format. I am also running very low. The Shazam is a hard cover and again, I just thought it was kinda cool. I just wish the dust jacket was in better shape. As for the comics, a few Neal Adam covers and some silver age books and a couple of Whitman's made it not a completely "wasted" trip. They had a bit more different or "neat" stuff but condition was so poor I passed.

Yep! All it takes is one! While disappointing, at least I got a little something and the investment in time was very, very minimal. I'm also glad I just went and checked it out. Now I know what they had and can just move one. Where I am, calls to check out collections are few and far between, so I definitely check them out whenever I can.

Well, went and met with the person who contacted me this morning. They were very pleasant but of the 5 banker boxes that were stuffed with comics, they were, for the vast majority, used book store fodder Thankfully it was only a 15 minute drive from my house. There were few silver (lot of really beat up classic illustrated), lots of beat up bronze age Gold Key random books and there were some copper/modern books but the condition simply was not there. Not worth the time. The seller understood and let me pick out a few items that I wanted. ...I don't like to walk away with "nothing" so here is what I decided to take home, some purely because I thought they were "neat".

Won this for a good price in a FB auction...Don't normally buy on FB but this one worked out ok.