Wall-Crawler

I certainly appreciate the insight and account of a big show from someone who has been to and participated on "the other side of the table". I can imagine, as a collector, getting "in" first to such larger shows would also be pretty dang sweet, if nothing else to see all the great stuff "crowd free". One thing this has taught me, even just doing these small local shows, is an appreciation the amount of work other sellers have to put in. You can't really understand it I don't think unless you experience it and mine is just on a tiny, tiny scale. I am sure the big guys have it down to a science, but it is still obviously a significant amount of work. I am kind of using this larger show, Graphic Con as a bit of a litmus test for doing bigger shows. Last year I think they had over 3,000 people. The previous local shows I do I have yet to crack $1 k in sales (nowhere near $4 - $8 K ), but for the costs involved and size (and the shows being within 5 - 15 minutes of my house), I am personally happy with my results to date...I am interested to see how I do and how I "stack up" at this larger event.

The numbers might be off, but until he sells his comic inventory he is about $800 in the hole. Time is money. Even if he sells it for full market value he will still be in the hole. He is over $400 in the hole with video games if I understand correctly. As a wise boardie said, he would be better off had he just left that $$$ sitting on his bedroom floor over the past couple of years. I know you want to be supportive, but he is hurting someone. He is hurting himself. Not to rehash everything but he is a 20 something young man with zero future job prospects who lives at home and this "speculation" is a distraction from self-improvement and securing his future independence. So yeah, I would say that it is hurting someone.

Yes I am in it for the long game The exchange rate is horrid but I fund my purchases primarily based off of sales on ebay, the occasional board and other online venue which is typically in USD. I opted to keep selling in USD on eBay. I have a USD account and I have a nice little sum saved. "Show money" I generally use for other stuff or if I see a book "locally".

Keys must be graded or from a very trustworthy seller if purchased raw with some kind of resto protection...I figured for keys buying already graded is the better way to go as I will want those graded anyway. The vast majority of my collection is raw, but all of the big keys are graded. To recap, the remaining books I need are from the Lee/Ditko era. I need: #1 - #12 #15 - #19, #21 - #24, #27 #29, #30, #32, #35 - #38 So, by my count 30 issues remain. Of course, the most expensive of the run Generally speaking, I don't *think* I want to go below a 6.0 and PQ must be Off-White Pages or better. The exception to the 6.0 mark will be/is ASM #1. For my current personal Top 5, this is what I have been thinking based on price point and potential for good eye appeal... ASM #1 - 3.0 to 4.0/4.5 ASM #3 - 6.0 to 7.0 ASM #6 - 6.0 to 7.0 ASM #9 - 7.0 /7.5 ASM #15 - 7.0 to 8.0 I am taking @oakman29 advice and I am not buying any non-keys/fillers at this point unless I happen to see a killer deal, I will but I am not actively seeking those out at this time. Generally speaking the remaining later issue Lee/Ditko non-keys have to be close to the 7.0 grade range and present nicely. Now, a few in my collection fall a bit below that but I am not upgrading until I complete the run, then I can work on refining it or move on to something else. My standards may change on any given book depending on a few factors, but this is where I am "today". Like I said, having a super high grade collection won't happen for me but I still want a nice, solid collection.

Because you keep losing money Secondly, what kind of cards are we talking about here? Do you have any real knowledge about the card market? I hear Beanie Babies are picking up again, might as well give those a try too right?

Some friendly advice, don't even consider getting into the card game. Get that thought OUT of your head.

Where we at with the "over/under" for your video game and card sales?

...How can you afford an AF #15 CGC 3.0, much less a CGC 1.5?

What do you value your remaining comic inventory to actually be "worth" though? Yes, might as well do full calculation of all collectible dealings...

This really doesn't tell anyone much...You are $1,377 "in the hole" ok, but what does that remaining inventory consist of? What is the approximate fair market value of said inventory? Does this include video game and other assorted collectibles or are those 'separate'? If so, what are those figures sitting at? Correct me if I am wrong but I thought you were also buying and selling video games, etc. and were even thinking about entering the card market?

Nice!!!

I'm thinking I will hold out until #800 as they will likely bring back that legacy number. I have tried digital...I just can't get into the format but been awhile since I checked comics out in that format. The only monthly I get is ASM and the odd other one or two so my month to month expense is pretty low.

You even moved ASM #300?

Not a new purchase update (sadly) but just a comment...But I have a confession...I have fallen WAY behind on my ASM reading. I think the last ASM book I read was ASM #4 (Vol. 3 2014) - First appearance of Silk. I have the remainder of Volume 3 (Which I should probably re-read the entire run, which, excluding variants/.1's, etc, is about 20 issues. I have ALL of ASM Vol. 5 to read. Now sitting at #26, so yeah, 46 issues to catch up on. I don't have a single strong reason why I stopped. One More Day certainly didn't help and Brand New Day didn't quite get me back either...I felt like I was reading a lot of those "out of habit"...I guess bottom line, while Superior was a fun detour overall, I just never fully jumped back on board. I am now at the point where I have zero idea what has or is currently going on with Spidey. The last time I had this big of a break from Spidey was right around the Clone debacle and I went off to university. Don't get me wrong, I still love the character. I still want to complete those back issues but at what point should I say "enough"? For the "completionists" out there, where do we draw the line? Any other Spidey collectors draw a definitive "end" issue to their runs? I will likely keep plodding along but just interested to hear others takes, if not just to spur some collecting discussion and thoughts on ASM in general (no spoilers please )

Did you say you bought the SW #1 for $129 USD and only sold it for $48 USD???

Why? Because having a stable living arrangement directly relates to most people's ability to sell (among other things) and last we heard that was "up in the air". Got an answer. Moving on. No drama here.

Fair enough, but inquiring minds want to know...Have you "reconciled" with your parents or are you "on your own"?

Regardless of the valid assessments here, one thing I have wondered is why the heck Marvel does not have a "trailer" for their comic books/trades and/or the 1-888-Comic Book # just before audiences go to watch said Marvel movie? To me they seem to be missing a heck of an opportunity to promote their printed products to a mass, captive audience...-COMIC-BOOK

I did not know that prior to sending it in...I do think that outstanding bid is on the low side though which is why it has not been accepted...Mine has white pages making it the second best copy available so I can take some comfort in that.

Few more books up!

I completely agree. If I do ok at the show I am going to try to put the bug in their ear that I would like a premium booth for the following year but I think they might even be 'reserved' now for larger retailers, people with actual brick and mortar stores, but I will definitely ask.

I went to a local Maple Syrup Festival yesterday with my wife. There was live music, lots of vendors set up along the main street mostly selling craft, food and of course, local maple syrup products. It was a nice Spring day so it was great to day to be outside and get some sun. The kind of cool thing is that I ran into several customers that buy from me at the local show at a few different spots and we chatted. They asked me when next show was, what I had seen yet at the festival, etc., etc. So it was nice to be "recognized" outside of the show environment and for them to come up and just chit chat with my wife and I. The other funny thing, was as we were walking out, I noticed a guy selling comic books...Yes, comic books at a Maple Syrup Festival...He was also selling dinky cars out of a big bin and a few other things. I decided to rummage. I was curious as to why this guy would be selling comics at this venue. The guy informed me he was from about 3 hours away and that it was his first time here. Apparently he has a booth at a flea market in his home town. He asked me if there were any other local shows and I told him yes, we have a few festivals coming up and what they were. I told him there is a antique show in October. What was really perplexing to me is that I just can't see how driving 3.5 hours north to sell comic books and a few other trinkets at a one day Maple Syrup Festival would be worth it. The festival draws a good size crowd and yes there were kids there with their parents but they are going to the petting zoo and pony rides and bouncy castle...This is not billed as a "collectible show" in any shape or form and why I did not even consider setting up here. I just can't see how the guy made enough money to be even remotely worthwhile. 6+ total hours drive time + gas + food...It is not like he was selling anything expensive...He would have to do a TON of volume in my mind for it to be worth it...Oh well, to each their own. I did manage to pick up a few things pretty cheap but nothing earth shattering...The Toxin is the entire set, #1 - #6.

Hi Torch! Yes, it is a small one day show, Saturday June 10th. The show is non-profit and organized by the Sudbury Library. So far, the two ladies I have been dealing with, super pleasant and professional. My space cost was $80 for a 10 x 10 booth area. I would have liked a premium booth (basically double the space and cost) but as it is my first show with them and spots are limited, I can understand why I got the regular booth size. Last year I think they had 3,000 people come through the door. My little local shows have just under 500. Interested to see how it will go, I just wish I could bring more product. Here is a link to the show: http://graphiccon.com/ Here is a newspaper article on the show from last year: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2016/06/11/graphic-con-bigger-and-better

People's definition of "old" varies. The 90's are "old" to someone. Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man #1 is nearly 30 years old now. This is the most prevalent stuff that I come across when I do local shows and/or respond to ads, etc. People don't understand condition either, the more "researched" will actually buy a guide and say it is X grade and use those prices or look at asking prices on eBay...Even in those situations their grades and prices are typically way off. Then there are people who overpaid, are fishing, etc. I recently had someone want $600 for a Mystery in Space comic. They said they paid $400 for it a few years ago from a "collecting friend" so it "must" be worth $600 now. The book, due to condition, was nowhere near this amount. I passed. If I have someone who does not take my word for it, I usually just show them a completed sales listing on eBay from my phone. Sometimes that works and sometimes you have the people who are straight out in denial. Regardless of how someone may respond to whatever I offer (or don't offer), I try to be polite even if people are not polite to me when they get the "bad news".