Shadow

Another one that was a great price I couldn't resist. I have thoughts on grade but it's nice to get a 2nd opinion...

Found this for a great price so I couldn't go wrong. I have a sense of what it is but am thinking I'm too harsh...

On 3/24/2024 at 1:13 PM, BlowUpTheMoon said:

Why do I have so many copies of X-Men #137?  

Because it's a great comic.  

On 3/24/2024 at 11:28 AM, blazingbob said:

It continues to amaze me how few seem to understand the "cost of capital".  

In addition the use of GPA as the negotiator.  

While I like GPA it represents a sale to a customer,  that customer is no longer looking for the book that created this entry.  Each entry in GPA are buyers that are basically no longer in the market.  The seller or buyer/dealer is now trying to replicate or create a higher price for the item that just sold in order to negotiate a reasonable buying point.  That buyer may or may not exist depending on what book it is.  And with the lovely charts that are posted almost weekly on the website why exactly would any dealer be paying close to the last sale?  

This brings in Time and cost in order to sell that item.  

How many shows,  cost to list on ebay, if that is the business model, listing on their website or hopefully they have a buyer already in place.

Everyone seems to love the auction/crack houses where they give advances on your stuff.  Of course they have money,  this stuff is gone in 30 days.  They collect whether you make money or not.  They have NO interest in how your books sell,  they make money anyway.  Their risk is not having enough Crack.   

The closer a seller gets to 90% of ask the cost of capital to me is consignment.  Why would I pay you 90% if I can pay you when the item sells.  While that money may seem important to you so that you are rid of the book it makes NO financial sense for me to pay that right away.  This is true of most dealers. 

Buying percentages in today's market are driven by what keys they are,  not just a key which can cover a wide range of books.  

 

 

 

 

Timely conversation with you this week!  Bob and I had a brief conversation around this exact topic on Tuesday.

I'm going to bring some books to C2E2 for Bob to look at for trade. Flip side of this is on the seller and how much time and effort it's worth. For me, at this stage in life, time is more valuable. Note: I have no intention of selling my collection anytime soon (measured in years) but I do want to clear out under copies. For years I've said I would post them here... Clearly unsuccessful getting around to that.  

On 3/15/2024 at 10:58 PM, Real Frantic One said:

Justice League of America #156
8.0 VF
$5

The comic that started me collecting! Nostalgia for me as I have three copies now with one graded.

I was never a big Miller fan, but did like his Daredevil run and I thought he started to slip with Dark Knight Returns. But the story compensated greatly. Where I always felt his talent laid was in the layout. Very creative. 

58 in the year of our Lord, 2024...

I used to have to go to a plant in Duncanville (about 10 years ago) and drove right by that store! Should've stopped in but usually was tied up work-wise or heading back to airport. 

On 2/3/2024 at 6:16 AM, B2D327 said:

Just an update:

I received my raffle prize from @unclezebo last Saturday but I was still feeling pretty ill and ended up back in the hospital for an extended stay that Tuesday. It was a very generous package that unfortunately took a lot out of me to remove the contents so by the time I was done, I didn't have the energy to take a few pics. 

I'd like to thank him and the boardies here for being so kind and patient and hope to continue visiting the forums in the meantime even if I don't participate too much.

William 

Hope you feel better! At least you acknowledged the prizes and thanked the sender! For those that don't, it's not that hard to send a simple "Thanks" via messages if you can't post pictures. Afterall, you chose the prizes you wanted. 

I bought from them a few times years ago and had similar experiences. Over-graded, poor customer service communication, website is hard to navigate. Every now and then I check them out thinking maybe it's a better site. 

Thanks for sharing Raffle prizes. Another part of the fun to see the generosity and creativity. 

Keeping this going as part of the fun is to see what people got. 

On 1/8/2024 at 5:09 PM, Math Teacher said:

I have attended very few comicons. I have attended Planet Comicon in Kansas City several times, C2E2 in Chicago twice, and Wizard World Chicago (when there was such a thing). 

I am asking the people that have attended many more comicons than me: which is the best comicon to attend if you are only interested in comic books?

I'd say Baltimore from my experience. C2E2 isn't bad but that is because Dale and Bob are there so I have a comfort-zone. Used to be better before COVID. 

Looks like what Motor City Con has become. Fewer comic dealers since COVID and that was actually declining for a few years before. I traveled to Baltimore this past year and it was far better in regards to Comic Dealers. Plus I usually go to C2E2 to catch Bob Storms and Dale Roberts. (I guess I could just order online but not as fun as in person) 

Thanks for the report on New Orleans! I went to a couple Wizards (in Chicago) back in the day but didn't like the cost and path they were on. 

On 1/6/2024 at 11:57 AM, 707comics said:

Got my book from @mytastebud in the mail the other day. Upon opening it, he even threw in a few extra goodies for me, thank Dave! Can't wait to put this up on the wall in my cave

Happy New Year everybody!

So cool you got the Heroes of the Horrors book! I had that as a kid over 40 years ago. Read it many times. Good memories and still have it though it's falling apart a bit...

Mine shipped out yesterday

Another wonderful Raffle Event in the books to close out 2023! Thanks again Sledder for all your hard work and patience!

This, along with the Secret Santa, make the site special and add to the community. We can all share in the hobby we love. 

Let's get more people involved next year and make 2024 the biggest yet! Happy New Year everyone!

On 12/30/2023 at 4:37 PM, The Sledder said:

Done!

Ok that is the whole list.  Because @stormflora said they'd be back, I'll wait for those 2 picks.  Pick any 2 lots from whatever is left.  Then the others will be assigned from there.

@FigaroToe@WEBHEAD@B2D327@fastballspecial can all pick upon returning as well...but I'll assign them soon enough.

4.5 hours this year?  Not bad!

As always, thanks for all your hard work!

On 12/30/2023 at 4:14 PM, stormflora said:

Coffee Crisp will prove you otherwise. It's just different.

Perhaps. I hate coffee. 

On 12/30/2023 at 4:13 PM, stormflora said:

Coffee Crisp is hard to pass on. But I believe that that Nestle candy bars don't exist in America, so they'd love giving their stuff a try.

Once "coffee" is associated with candy, I'm out. Blech

On 12/30/2023 at 4:11 PM, speedcake said:

I was really tempted to go for this, too.  I just l like the fun of mystery boxes too much  but its a great prize for sure.

It was the Frazetta mystery box, the Bellman sketch, or the prize I took. I agonized!

Frazetta prizes are always tempting. It was on my list

Not shocked mine is drifting down. Reminder: the title says 5 BA JLA books but there are other JLA sets included. Might not be for everyone. Great prizes still left!

My fourth is still here so I'm excited to select #14 from Ron C.!