mattn792

New wave of comic collectors from Neptune driving market forces...

Sold and closed!

Sale pending via pm

First of all, I believe historical precedent shows that certain types of collectibles, including comics, often outperform during times of strife for the stock market. Recent article on the topic: When the stock market tanks, investors buy collectibles – but which types? (liveauctioneers.com) With that said, I would posit that the stimulus checks have little, if anything, to do with the recent run up in the collectibles market. Too small in amount, and obviously too infrequent in delivery. But if you're looking for a possible government catalyst for money flowing into the market, look toward the current payout of the unemployment system. I've heard more than one person note that they know someone who is making more on unemployment than they were while working prior to COVID, and depending on those recipients' living and financial situation, that could be mean a whole lot more disposable income. And if you want to speculate in a more nefarious direction, its been widely reported that almost anyone who bothered to try, even prison inmates, have successfully scammed the current unemployment system to receive benefits they didn't qualify for. On top of that, Google "fraudulent PPP loans", and you'll see just how badly the SBA was asleep at the wheel when it came to vetting PPP loan applications. How much "bad" money is out there? How much of it flowed into the collectibles market? We'll probably never know, but it could certainly be a not insignificant amount. Last, think of the impact work at home has had on a lot of the still employed's budgets. Transit, child care, morning and afternoon dining -- just some of the normal work expenses that all potentially went to zero. Indoor entertainment closed? More surplus for the household budget. Dining out options all closed? Even more. How many comic collectors saw these benefits to their budget? So no, I wouldn't say that putting $1200 or $1800 or $3200 into a percentage of the American public's pockets over the course of a calendar year was the catalyst for this year's meteoric rise in the comic market. There's far too many more significant factors that likely contributed.

We got us an assumer.

RallyRd is an interesting concept, but their website absolutely sucks. You'd think if they wanted to effectively pitch their service, they would take the time to display some of the items they own, the ROI so far, dividends paid to date, etc.

But at least their lawns remain pristine In my view, investing in anything comes down to two things -- your own base perspective, and your openness to considering other opinions. Me and Bitcoin are a prime example. When the hype train first started rolling, the narrative was largely dominated by the true believers who wanted us all to jump on board because Bitcoin was going to replace all of the world's "fiat" currencies and usher in some unregulated libertarian utopia. It was utter nonsense, for a plethora of reasons, including that Bitcoin would be just as much a fiat currency as any other asset class that's invented by man. It didn't stop me from gambling on it a little bit through GBTC, but I had no actual faith in its long term viability. Still, as long as the suckers believed in their fancy little string of numbers, I figured I'd try to make a few bucks off of them. Crypto was definitely a hot button topic in the Gold Price thread this year though, and props once again go to @delekkerste for introducing me to a new way of thinking about Bitcoin (and Ethereum, etc's) potential utility in the world -- as a cheaper medium of transfer. Bitcoin's average transaction fee right now is about $12. Say you need to send a seller who you have a good relationship with $20,000 for a book. PayPal will charge the seller a fee, of what, $600+? And that's in the US; international can be even more costly. But using your stateless, outside the traditional financial network Bitcoin to make the transfer? $12 fee. There's obviously a myriad of risks involved and zero guarantee that crypto will ever actually take on that, or any useful role, but at least now in my mind there is a sensible case to be made that crypto can have long term viability as an asset. I'm not remortgaging the house to put all my equity into it, but I'll certainly dabble with more confidence, especially now that you can buy and hold through PayPal rather than using one of those potentially shady exchanges and having to keep track of some digital wallet.

That helps, should have put it in the first post If I had to guess where all the money was coming from that has flowed into the collectible market since March, my first guess would be fraudulent PPP loans and fraudulent unemployment insurance claims. But I can be a cynic when it comes to "free" government money programs.

So you're saying invest in nothing and stuff your cash in a mattress? Sorry @valiantman, but your opening salvo makes very little sense.

I'll set up the gofundme later today

All these years later, and still a classic. Necessities first: Payment: In addition to PayPal, I will also accept check/money order/Zelle, though the book will be held until clearance. Payment due within 10 business days. Shipping (domestic): Book will be shipped via insured USPS priority mail. Domestic shipping is included in the listed price. International Shipping - exact cost, minus the US shipping cost. Please inquire first for an accurate quote. Returns: No returns on CGC books as you know what you're getting. On the HoS? Probation list? Or I simply don't like you (aka on my ignore list)? Don't bother. Can provide board references if needed (no name dropping here), and over 1700 positive eBay feedback as well -- https://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=792mn. And I've got a fledgling kudos thread started (link is in my profile page). First wins the book outright, well reasoned offers always welcome. Onward! I bought a 9.6 about 12 minutes ago, so I'm putting my over copy up for sale. Not much to say since this issue tends to sell itself, but as you can see from the photos, its a blue label 9.8, direct edition, with white pages. The only recent sales I could find were on eBay back in November, and directs were consistently selling within the $600-$700 range. What's crazy though, I looked at several major sites and could not find one 9.8 currently for sale. None! I didn't think that was possible. Anyway, let's set the ask for this book at $650 shipped.

Last up is an SS 9.8 copy of Wolverine (1988) #7. I believe this is the last book I'm looking to divest from the downsizing of my CGC Wolverine collection that I undertook (still have all the readers). 1 of 11 Signature Series 9.8 copies in the census, this copy was signed by a Marvel legend, and the man who helped launch Wolverine into superstardom, Chris Claremont on 10/14/2011. Most recent comparable sale I found was a blue label that went on eBay for $130 shipped back in late November. Going to put the ask for this one at $165 shipped.

Up next is a blue label 9.8 of X-Men 96. Part of the Apocalypse: The Twelve storyline which I absolutely ADORE. Another book that I've recently replaced with a Signature Series copy. I cannot find any recent precedent to cite with this book, and I also worry that its a "soft" 9.8 due to the spine corners. You can probably see a bit of fuzz on the top one and a minor impact on the bottom one (thinking encapsulation whoopsie). So I'm going to price this in a more 9.6ish way and call it $35 shipped.

Up first is Amazing Spider-Man 380, part 11 of 14 of the Maximum Carnage story. You may have seen in Comics General that I recently nabbed an SS 9.8 to complete my full SS 9.8 Maximum Carnage run. Quick for me. eBay completed listing prices are pretty whack on this book in general, but 9.8s seem to be falling in the $60-$75 shipped range. So let's low end this one and call it $60 shipped.

A couple of them have been replaced by Signature Series copies, one I've just outgrown... Necessities first: Payment: In addition to PayPal, I will also accept check/money order/Zelle, though the book will be held until clearance. Payment due within 10 business days. Shipping (domestic): Book will be shipped via insured USPS priority mail. Domestic shipping is included in the listed price. International Shipping - exact cost, minus the US shipping cost. Please inquire first for an accurate quote. Returns: No returns on CGC books as you know what you're getting. On the HoS? Probation list? Or I simply don't like you (aka on my ignore list)? Don't bother. Can provide board references if needed (no name dropping here), and over 1700 positive eBay feedback as well -- https://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=792mn. And I've got a fledgling kudos thread started (link is in my profile page). First wins the book outright, well reasoned offers always welcome. Onward!

Next task I'd like to accomplish is filling the holes in my favorite Wolverine storylines. For example, I just got these three back today from the Tex in-house. Color sketches...umm, yay!!! Slightly bummed about the 9.6, but I think its my fault as I may have dinged the spine when I was window bagging the book Now I just need 62 and 64 to fill out the 60-68 run. I used to have both, but one of my fellow enthusiasts, likely frostking, is providing them room and board now.

So...just a note -- in the full set line-up, those Unlimited 1 and Web 103 photos were pulled from my registry set, which is clearly out of date. The two photos I posted previously with the Carnage labels in response to Buzz are what they look like now. AND...I fixed the post

Half were copies that I pulled from the wild and submitted for signing, and I bought the other half from various eBay sellers in already signed 9.8ness.

Since Hollywood asked nicely

No, I bought this copy off of eBay, so it already had the Carnage label. I did previously re-holder two of my own copies with the Carnage label that I thought would look especially good with it, but I'm definitely not doing all of them.

With this book, I finally completed the full Maximum Carnage run in SS 9.8 (anyone wanna buy my blue label 9.8? ) (Full set here if you're interested -- Comics Set Detail (collectors-society.com) Now, I know Swamptastic would have publicly protested that his pristine set of raw 9.2s was still superior to my set, but in his heart I think he'd be privately stewing over my greatness

Arrived today, back from the Texeira in-house. 61 was the first ever comic I purchased (not this exact book). Technically...I did request one head sketch facing forward, but I'll let it slide.

If I had to guess, they tend to crank out the inflated grades when PGX HQ (i.e. Pizza Hut) is inundated with orders. For pizzas and sides of course, not with books.