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architeuthis

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Posts posted by architeuthis

    How Do You Answer This Question on Ebay When You Get It?

    in Comics General

    Posted

    Recent exchange...

    Buyer: "Hey, what's the lowest you can go? I got like $40."

    Me: "I have it listed for $100, BUT juuuuuuust for you, I'll do $125"

    B: "What, that's more... I don't wanna pay more."

    M: "Sorry, that offer has expired now.  $150 is the minimum now."

    B: "Why do you keep raising the price?  I'm looking for a deal."

    M: "Oops, too late.  Now it's $175.  Because you're annoying me."

    B: "But, it's still listed at $100?"

    M: "Yeah, and you can quit annoying me and just buy it for that.  Since I'm at $200 JUST FOR YOU now."

    B: "Dude, you're messed up."

    M: "$400 now."

    B: "Seriously man, you have a problem."

    M: "$800... oh, wait, that's expired now too.  Blocked."

     

     

     

     

    I have too much time on my hands, apparently.

    Copper age key issues

    in Copper Age Comic Books

    Posted

    On 6/3/2009 at 3:19 AM, RockMyAmadeus said:

     

    When I get around to it, I'll do 1980-1983, too.

     

    I can also do 1970-1979, and even Silver Age, but is a Silver Age list necessary? Doesn't everyone pretty much have the OPG for that?

    Stumbling around this morning and found RockMyAmadeus' list, which has reminded me of many long forgotten series and books I now have to add to my want list (greatly appreciated list, by the way.  SO much good stuff I haven't thought of in years on here.)

    Anyway, just wondering if the time periods from the above quote were ever posted on here anywhere as well?  Or, at least the 1980-1983 period.  That is a period I'm much, much more hazy on, being a predominantly late 80's-early 90's era collector.  

    Interesting Stan's Soapbox

    in Comics General

    Posted

    I work with many 20-ish to early 30's people, all of whom utterly adore all the comic book movies and TV shows and toys and cons and cosplay and so forth.  They endlessly discuss the films and shows aand all the speculation leading up to opening day, they cosplay their favorite characters at work, one is working on full tattoo sleeves (one Avengers, one Star Wars), a few collect toys related to the comics... but not one reads a comic book.  Ever.  Not even digitally, before you head down that path for possible redemption.  I've tried to interest a few of them, offering small runs of Avengers or Hulk, graphic novels and so forth.  The movies are amazingly cool and absolute must-see events on opening day (true story: the manager had us at less than half staff on Endgame opening Friday because he is such a fan and everybody else HAD to go.  This is a food service delivery business, usually with 20 drivers on a Friday night.  We had 8.  I've never worked such a disaster of a night, thanks to a movie) but the comics from which they are drawn... completely contemptible.  

    Over 30 years of reading and following comics, and I'm still the weirdo for actually READING... and that I dislike some of the films because of how much they deviate from the books?  Never would I have suspected my strange little hobby could become so mainstream cool, while the actual hobby that is the basis for all that they claim to love is almost totally ignored and even viewed as unnecessary and antiquated and for OLD PEOPLE who still READ (insert snotty sigh and eye roll here).

    I don't even hate the movies and shows, honestly.  Not all of them, not completely.  I like a few, a bit.  I wouldn't emigrate to Logan510's Island, not just yet, anyway.  But I feel closer to that attitude with every new release that comes along.

    I'm just... truly baffled.

    OLD SCHOOL COMIC SHOW, Concord, New Hampshire

    in Comic Events

    Posted

    On 5/1/2018 at 12:11 PM, Pontoon said:

    I wore a light jacket; the line getting in took about 20 mins. Kept it on inside and was comfortable all day; I left about 2:00.

    I didn’t buy much, not flush with mad money at the moment, but there were tons of great books. There were two copies of TOS #1 and TTA #1 in the room; Ted has his usual great wall display and Terry’s had tons of HTF books packed into a small area. I was surprised to see Filter set up (with typical fancy Filter books). Dave and Adam's were there, as was the legendary Jim Payette along with smaller local sellers. I’d like to see a show like this quarterly or bi-annually.

    There were TONS of great books, and I was out of money within barely an hour :p

    I believe I saw on Little Giant's Facebook they've already reserved the arena for same time next year, so I'm gonna need to start saving now if year #2 is as good as this year was.

    OLD SCHOOL COMIC SHOW, Concord, New Hampshire

    in Comic Events

    Posted

    On 4/30/2018 at 10:56 AM, Jerkfro said:

    I wasn't able to attend but I heard from someone who was in attendance that the turnout was gangbusters. Can anyone here confirm? I also heard (negatively so) that the venue was incredibly cold. 

    I'm wishing now that I could have gone.

    Turnout was strong.  Way busier than I expected.  Opening line up to get in went pretty much all the way around the building, although it moved quickly.  Didn't seem too cold to me on show day, but I always carry at least a light jacket through June or so anyway :blush:

    REMEMBERING THAT FIRST LCS...

    in Comics General

    Posted

    First shop I really remember was a used bookstore called Jolie's Books, in Stuart.  Dusty, old book and comic smelling place, cheap as could be and fairly generous on trade-in credit.  May have been a few finds in that wall of long boxes, maybe about 30-40, all packed full with mostly loose books, a few in bags.  Jolie's and a dealer at the B&A Flea Market on Saturday and Sunday, J&J Rare Coins, who had a shop up in Port St. Lucie.  Mostly baseball cards and coins, but there was a comic guy a booth or two away a lot.  Might have been the same dealer?  

    First real shop, though, I have no idea what the actual name was, but it was in a stand-alone building in the parking lot of a Publix on U.S.1 in south Stuart, Florida.  About 1987-1988ish, the marquee above only said "Stamps".  When I first wandered in it, at 12 years old around '87, it was still about half a stamp shop, which I collected with my grandfather, along with coins and currency.  The other half was devoted mostly to baseball cards.  Bought a 1978 Topps Reggie Jackson for all of $2, which I still have.   Prices always seemed high, but the owner was always a nice guy and willing to deal, and always willing to talk to younger collectors, although I can't for the life of me remember his name.  Four or five years later, the stamps were mostly gone and comics had overtaken the shop.   Maybe about a quarter of the space was still sports cards, might have been a few stamps left in the display cases.   No idea what he had for back issues, as I was young and dumb and only cared about new stuff.  Distinctly remember paying $12 for Spawn #4 and $6 for Pitt #1 off the "HOT BOOKS" wall.  I can only imagine the books I passed over for these...

    Last time I visited was probably around 2000ish, and it had again shifted focus, this time toward coins, what with the popularity of the State Quarters at the time.  Still a fair few comics, but seemed to mostly just be newer stuff and recent back issues.  I still collected cards and coins and stamps then (still do), but the new guy running the coin counter just seemed kinda skeevy, so I left.  Place is long gone now, probably folded in the earlier 2000's.  

    Nominating Rip67vdub

    in Marketplace Probations

    Posted · Edited by architeuthis

    On 3/15/2018 at 9:11 PM, crassus said:

    He has been added to the PL list. If anyone has any information or updates on this member please post them here...

    Can't say for certain that it's him, but the username is the same over here, fifth post down.  It is a thread about the upcoming Avengers movie, so quite possibly the same guy.  Anybody registered over at Blowout can maybe try to contact him through there, as he was still posting only two days ago.  I only lurk and am not sure if I'm even registered on Blowout...

    Southwest Florida Comic shops?

    in Comics General

    Posted · Edited by architeuthis

    There's also a hidden gem that sells paper/hardback books and they have so many long boxes of comics. I have found some sweet back issues there as well as the keys they have in the case. It's north of West Palm Beach about 6-8 miles. I don't know the name of it I just know how to get there.

     

    Book Exchange on Northlake Boulevard, perhaps? In an older strip plaza on Northlake by Prosperity Farms. Great little book store, lots of comics. Can be a bit pricey, but lots to look through. I love that place :grin:

    The Lego Thread - Yes, Comic Book Related

    in Comics General

    Posted

    Aaaaaaaand just took a look...

     

    Millennium Falcon: 7965 Sold Out

     

    Lego has sold out of the current incarnation of the Falcon. Whatever is at retail is all that will exist. Why is this kind of important?

     

    Rumors abound that they will re-release the monster UCS Millennium Falcon set that retailed for $500 a few years ago containing 5,195 parts.

     

    That obviously may or may not be true, but with new movies coming out, there is a strong chance that we will get a new Falcon and X-Wing which will probably be revealed by SDCC.

     

    I wonder if that would tank the current market for the originals? hm

     

    Oh absolutely...

     

    I will publicly state the dirty little secret that all the MIB collectors do not want to acknowledge. Once a set is discontinued, it is cheaper to source the parts to build the set than it is to buy it on the secondary market. The only thing that I feel maintains longterm growth are sets that have retired parts in them or sets of a specific color. The Statue of Liberty is a good example of that. However there are accounts of people who have been ordering the parts from Bricklink over the years to build their own UCS Millennium Falcon with the only real expensive piece being the radar dish as that was exclusive to that set. The only sets I have in the box are sets in storage that I have not had the time to do anything with and an extra Death Star since I still believe that is the best SW Lego set ever produced.

     

    I missed out on the original Dark Knight Tumbler. I wanted one and was not going to pay $200-$300 that people are asking for it since the set contained very common parts. I sourced the parts together for around $60 if I remember correctly.

     

    This, big time.

    I collect mainly the mid-80s and early 90s Castle sets, and sealed box sets are insane. Sets that you can source for $20 or less in parts go for well over $100. I just built a Blacksmith Shop that I had back in 1984 when it came out (set 6040) for maybe $10 in parts. Sealed box sets on eBay have sold for $145 and up, and there's a couple of sets listed right now at $244 and $425. If sealed box is your thing, have at it, but I just want to build and display :screwy:

    PROBATION DISCUSSIONS

    in Marketplace Probations

    Posted

    And I hope, as I know I did, that many here got a window into dealing win both buyer and seller. That is more valuable than the PL itself.

     

    This. This this this this THIS.

     

    The majority of buyers/sellers here on my personal "will never deal with" list are not actually on either of the official lists. They're on mine, however, from the way their 'situation' unfolded here, and their conduct in coping with a deal gone bad.

     

    It's a lot to follow, watching all the drama unfold in here, but it's the only real way to know who to avoid.

    Got a comic room??? Showcase it here!

    in Comics General

    Posted

    ...if I'm just going to display a copy, I might as well just get prints of high end books I don't own that look cool.

     

    $3.00 document frames from Target (black plastic frame body with glass front), a few cents each for ink and paper = a $20 display that everybody who comes over gets up close to check out ;)

     

    I may not own 'em (the 'tecs, Startling 49 and Spirit 22, anyway), but I'm just telling myself these are placeholders until I do buy my own copies. :grin:

     

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