blazingbob

For those looking at the coding of my boxes.  Every box that was stolen has a code that will correlate to the inventory list I provide. 

On 2/8/2023 at 6:50 PM, D84 said:

What kind of lock was it? I used to work storage and had to cut or drill a lot of locks on people who abandoned their stuff and it never took me more than 5 minutes.

They did not damage the lock at all,  they bent the steal bar that protects the slide into the runner the door goes up and down on.  

I could have had 50 locks on the door,  wouldn't have mattered with the door design they use.  If you have anything in a storage unit using this type of door the locks mean absolutely NOTHING.   These units are NO security at all.  I went back today and my wife and I discovered that 4 5x5 units had also been broken into,  the person working there was aware of 3-4 other 5x5 units which has a different door slot.  Bend and pop them open like beer cans.    

Here are the pictures of the locking mechanism.  The lock was still in when I arrived at the unit.  This picture was taken after I took the lock out.  By bending the bar out they can better access to the runner (basically a garage door runner which is not hardened steel by any means.  Bend that runner back and the lock bar pops out allowing the door to be opened up halfway which is more then enough space to gain access.

I will be at Wondercon

On 2/8/2023 at 2:21 AM, Gotham Kid said:

Which ones ? Always easier to track and identify than SA Marvel keys.

I have not broken down the gold key portion of the theft yet.

On 2/8/2023 at 1:30 AM, Mmanick said:

Yeah this definitely sounds like an inside job to me. Maybe someone watching every time you came in. An employee who knows some shady people. Get a list out and definitely check places like craigslist, local shops, ebay , Facebook marketplace etc... Hope these come back to you. Was the police department any help ?

Police department arrived quickly,  took an report which I didn't agree with and left.  

Haven't spoken to detectives yet.

On 2/8/2023 at 12:48 AM, Domo Arigato said:

Bob, sorry to hear about this.

Do you know how they got into your unit?

Cut a lock?  Break through a side wall from an adjoining unit?

 

If you are familiar with Public Storage units this one has a roll up door,  sliding bolt with the ability to put up to two locks.  The slide is protected by steel bar in front of it.  The door was still locked when I got there but the steel bar was pried forward,  the bent the runner the door goes up inward which disengaged the slide from the runner keeping the door down.  The bar on the outside only allows the door to be halfway open but in you go.  

It doesn't matter how many locks you put on the door,  this door system does not provide security.

I've lost storage unit keys for this type of unit,  took the locksmith over an hour to drill it out,  they are not easy.  However,  after seeing this break in it doesn't really matter about the lock.  

That and there not being any security camera's inside has made me more then sick.  

Please save me the why are you keeping comics in storage unit posts.  I'm really beyond upset right now.

I had 26 magazine boxes of Raw Silver/Bronze age, box of Gold keys stolen from one of my storerooms.

My last visit was 2/1,  could have been any day up until 2 o'clock this after.

All raw,  all graded, priced with my price stickers in upper left corner. 

I do not have a list yet.  I'm literally putting it out there if anybody in NY, NJ or Connecticut is being offered magazine boxes of raws they might be mine.

Boxes are coded,  JB1-JB3,  ZB831-4,    etc,  MM1-4,  CHD1-2,  Gold Key.

I will take care of anyone that can help get me this inventory back.

I am currently work on a list,   

On 2/1/2023 at 12:56 PM, LordRahl said:

You're making an assumption that $15K is a meaningful amount of money to the buyer of this book. It probably isn't. There are people that throw down $100K at a club in Vegas for a night of bottle service without blinking an eye. There are people in the comic hobby to whom $15K is pocket change and more than worth finishing a 9.8 set that they are working on. Don't know about you but I'd rather drop $15K on a comic book that will subsequently be worth $500 than $100K on a night of debauchery in a Vegas club.

I'm not sure I agree with that.  As with any collectibles industry there is a pyramid of buyers that as the price goes up the pool gets smaller.  

Yes $15K is a meaningful amount of money but in a hot market $15K looks like $1500 when you are turning that money over quickly.  

When the market is slow it looks like a museum piece

On 1/31/2023 at 2:59 PM, october said:

I think we need to be careful with conflating "Marvel keys and movie spec books" with the "comic market". They aren't the same thing and not every piece of the overall comic market is trending down. A lot of DCs are doing fine, many, many golden age books are going up...some WAY up.

Believe it or not, there is a larger hobby out there beyond Spider-Man keys and Copper Age spec books, not that you'd know by reading some of these posts or watching the same dorks on YouTube talking about the same tired stuff.

You mean Comic News Network isn't the real news?  Do I need to question Sweet Comic Lou Dobbs on his reporting?

What exactly is a DORK

Don't Often Requiring Knowledge

On 1/28/2023 at 2:20 PM, lizards2 said:

Mothballs and other substances.

FlamingTelepath sold off a collection that just reeked about 10-12  years ago. I recently upgraded one of them, and when I took that book out of the bag, I knew immediately where that book came from. I ended up throwing out the M2, Fullback and microchamber paper, as all of it just reeked. I think the books were enclosed somewhere with mothballs to keep the bugs away from them.

Ah,  so did the notes specify SLB?  Smells Like Balls?  Could be worse,  could be the dreaded SLA code - Smells Like A

On 1/28/2023 at 1:19 PM, Dr. Balls said:

All it's missing is the '?'

Not really,  my CVA notation would be Smoking

On 1/28/2023 at 8:47 AM, Bookery said:

Yes... the KRK grading service.

Yeah my new grading company is CIG,  Can I Grade

On 1/14/2023 at 5:48 PM, Jetstone said:

It seems obvious that a comic book is much more enjoyable (if it has to be in a protective shell ) without a grossly over sized, ugly pale blue tag forever intruding into the experience..

Does any color reproduction of a comic book include such a rectangle attached above a beautiful cover art example ?

Isn't a wall of plastic encased comic books, each accompanied by their tags something which could be beautiful but looks like

the Dollar Store's candy aisle ?

If such a tag is easily located on the back ( where it could actually be enlarged for even more info ) why pretend that the most desirable way to

display a rare, beautiful piece of printed artwork is with a tag ? And a huge, extra 20% of surface area tag ?

Are photographs and posters displayed with their picture frame packaging still displayed ?

It is somewhat nauseating to see comic books treated like coins where condition and the certification of the condition virtually subjugates the element of beauty

and in so doing introduces the paternal authority of the grade certifier. This ARTIFICIALLY elevates the presence of the grade certifying authority by 

presenting the label in a way which actively competes with the artwork presentation... an undesirable conflict and intrusion.

 

 

 

 

Exactly,  so that when I set up my wall display all I will have are the backs of the books on my wall.  We can then play wheel of fortune and turn it over as the customer spins the wheel to see if they can guess the puzzle.

On 1/1/2023 at 9:09 PM, alexgross.com said:

this auction house uses a light room to shoot their books, not a scanner. all their books are white background like this. it's heritage. not a secret. 

Just an fyi but if you use the HP Scanjet 8270 you can scan it with cover down that will show a white background,  cover up that will show a black.

Sorry,  saw this pop up with a new post so I assumed it was new.

My consignment fee on sales over 10K is 8.75%. 

www.highgradecomics.com 

On 12/19/2022 at 5:11 PM, Badlands said:

Curious if anyone has tried them and if so, what's your experience so far? I have to admit that the thought of no fees is quite enticing. They are a subscription based service.

Ebay is killing me with fees!

https://www.thecollectoralliance.com/welcome

In a comic universe Far far away the collector's alliance was created to battle the Dark Empire of Auction Houses.  Led by the Rebel force of collector's these brave soles fight back the buyer's and sellers premiums being unleashed against the collector's fee free universe.

On 12/12/2022 at 8:42 AM, herc2000 said:

Hi guys,

I made a mistake on a package I posted to someone, somehow I did one of the digits wrong on the postal code, duh, silly me.

Anyway, the package has been going back and fourth from Jacksonville distribution centre to Tallahassee distribution centre. The person lives in Jacksonville, all of the address is correct, door, street, state etc except for one of the digits on the end of the postal code. He has phoned them, they say they cannot, or will not change the incorrect digit.

USPS said I have to phone my post office over here, which I have done a few times, they say that they can't do anything and that we need to contact USPS, I was hoping that maybe there was someone on here who worked for USPS and could help, or if anyone who does not work for them, but still has any ideas what we can do?

I have refunded the buyer, as it was my fault, but I would like him to still get the comic, as he has been very polite and patient.

Any help would be most appreciated,

best, herc

Have you tried to redirect the package using Package intercept since it hasn't been delivered.

I think you would be able to correct the delivery address that way since you are redirecting it to the correct zip code.

On 11/29/2022 at 12:39 PM, NewWorldOrder said:

whatnot is dead.  Platform has been slow for months now.

So the new "hot place to sell" is WhyNot?

Followed by TrashForCash

On 11/29/2022 at 12:34 PM, NewWorldOrder said:

Why do I hate YouTube? 

This coming from the Whatnot "followers" new selling media whore?

On 11/28/2022 at 12:47 PM, NewWorldOrder said:

Biggest take away from this.  Next time don't making a YouTube video before you know all the facts. 

Biggest takeaway from this is its all about the "likes" and post count.   

You are only as funny as your last CGC forum post.