blazingbob

There have been multiple "waves" to extend the comic book hobby over the years. Monthly print media such as Comic Buyers Guide which is no longer, Comic Book Marketplace which was very well written and frankly used to result in certain titles and issues becoming hot again. Wizard magazine which added to the speculation in the market of what's hot, what's not in the new book market. The internet as a viable business model Third party grading, Third party hosted websites, registry sets which appeal to the ego's of most buyers in the quest for the best and a way to measure ones self in the collecting universe. TV/Movies which we are still currently in I still do a lot of shows and it is not uncommon to see Grandpa, Dad and son/daughter buying books. Each has a different love of what they are buying and each character brings a different response. It is one of the few hobbies where thankfully my customer base is not pulling oxygen tanks behind them or 99% old guys talking about the old days.

I have always felt that being an Overstreet advisor was more like being in the "Good ole boys club". Get a couple of recommendations from a few people and welcome to the club. Except for the market reports which to me except for a few have always been "Let me push/hype a part of the market I want to move a bit" I didn't find them doing much else. Now there are always excuses on why this can't happen but when was the last time they all met? Are they a good representation of the dealer community? Are some of them still alive? Who decides if they should or should not be Overstreet advisor's any longer? Bob Overstreet who I very rarely see? Are they a business representation of the hobby? Do they present solutions on how to grow the comic business? Are they generally giving a cross section representation of the overall hobby when any of the grading companies make label changes or design changes? Do they present solutions on how to improve the comic convention experience for buyers and sellers? As a collector what are they bringing to the table as far as experience goes? Doesn't mean I don't like any of them, I just wonder what do they do and why would I be one. Just so I can put a 20 year old picture up of myself when I had hair?

The reason I don't note a consignor book versus my own is because there are buyers out there that will attempt to go directly to the person selling the book. If the owner is honest they won't sell the book to that person while it is up for sale on my website, some will. Since the buyer is basically attempting to cut me out and save the commission I generally don't look too kindly on that type of buyer. They seem to miss the fact that if it wasn't up on MY website they wouldn't have even known it was for sale if they know the book. They basically minimize my work, my business expense and value to having the book for sale.

Dave I don't feel I need to disclose what my plans are and why would I do that?

Having a "Why bother" attitude is taking a very small view of what that consignor brings to the table. They bring books, they bring customers to the website and frankly they are generating posts and comments about a book on the website. At least people are looking at the books on the website to make a comment about them, good or bad.

Isn't that the Overstreet advisor's job? Isn't that something that GPA could easily produce in a report? What would I be basing my list on? My database sales, GPA sales? Not sure why this is something I would have to work up when you can do it just as easily.

All I can do with a consignment is recommend a selling price. Consignor's have plenty of options when it comes to listing so if I become a pricing hammer I'm basically handing that book and future consignments to my competitors. I have to work to please both sides, the seller as well as the buyer.

Have never found anything weird in a comic book.

I start generally at 10am and work until midnight. A very good friend told me that nobody works harder then they do. You can't teach ambition. I agree, very few people work harder then I do. I am always looking for quicker faster ways to increase productivity. Coffee starts the day, open emails, respond to website bids/offer, process orders, data entry, process orders, grading/pricing. All those glamorous things that people think comic dealers do. There is generally no set time for personal matters. The difference between this and my former job is that I love what I do. I hate working for others. There is no easier softer shortcut to being successful.

I don't know too many successful businessmen that work 40 hour work weeks.

Grading for dummies, How it should be done and how not to do it.

Meaning of life - You reap what you sow. Don't act surprised when you get caught making bad choices John Seeberger's perception of a customer relationship is a bit different then mine. Not sure if all of my customer's would get why I'm singing that song. I have heard that song done at a few dinners I've attended. Richard Evans is definitely a tall guy. Especially dressed in his Houston Astro gear. I never expect the ring to be kissed. A friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults.

I do not have any books that I won't sell

LOL. You make fair offers. Size of orders.

LOL, my rants and raves pages requires some time and thought. With the sensitivity of some of the "targeted audience" it doesn't exactly go over well. Not that I've suffered from writing any one of them. At least I didn't lay out money for those rants and raves for advertising that has never appeared in print.

I don't auction books. I've sold these books with the stamps. Sometimes the issue is not one that sells quickly.

Being that I bought a UK collection last year I do have books in it with the UK price stamps. They are noted in the descriptions. To me they are like a date stamp, not the same as a 15 cent sticker being placed on the book. If the stamp is neat I'm not really downgrading for the book, if it is a messy stamp then I generally do. Do stamps affect value? Not to me, they will just not appeal to a certain buying customer base. It could be the White Mountain copy with a pen date on the front cover and some of my customers won't buy it. I do note date stamps or any kind of writing on the books I sell, my return policy does give the customer the right to return a book if I don't disclose writing.

VG+ in a 9.0 holder Clearly this got the pedigree bump as well as the marvel chipping sliding scale grade

I was never asked to "almost work" with Metro so I never declined the opportunity. For clarity and transparency I was working for Verizon as a IT manager at the time. I worked two jobs. I worked for Vinny (4 years) when he was Vincent's collectible's. I was there to help grade the Oakland Collection, I've gone on a few buys with Vinny. I was there the day Big Apple conventions was started with Vinny, Mike and Vince Gulla. Vinny worked with Steve on a number of deals and he decided that he wanted to merge with Metropolis. It would have been a conflict of interest for me to work for them so Vinny felt it was better for me to start my own business. Which is the direction I was going anyway. Vinny was more then open with me, handled it VERY professionally and I've never regretted working for him the time I did. I think we both provided the other with things that helped us both going forward. Each of us brought a different style to buying as well as selling.

Mannino's in Commack but you have to eat it at the restaurant. As I get older I find that I delivery pizza results in Steamed pizza which takes away from the crispy crust. Even ordering, pickup and taking it home is not the same. Thin crust is my preference but I will partake in Deep dish Chicago style when I do shows there.

I have not been told by Matt that marvel chips are treated as bindery defect and partially forgiven. As I said I spoke to him yesterday and he said it was based on how much paper was missing. If you speak to him and get a different answer by all means post it or better yet have them come on the boards and clear this up.

Trimming gets a qualified? Trimming gets a restored label since the intent was to remove the defect(s) and can be detected. Paper loss from Marvel chipping is explainable per the many definitions already given on how it is caused. Marvel chipping isn't intentional. If a person tears off a corner of a book that has color touch on it to get a blue label who knows that? Would the grading company know that if the piece wasn't with the book when it was sent in?

FF #2 VF bought at a Phil Seuling show for $80 back in 1974-1975.