Michelangelo

15 hours ago, VintageComics said:

This is very possibly a hoax.

If he knows so many dealers, you'd think his first call would be to one of the best dealers he's dealt with rather than invite strangers into his home.

And he has to know that a reputable dealer would give him more than half of what his collection is worth.

I agree with this.

If you've been collecting for 40 years and have amassed a collection worth $400,000+, then you've dealt with the biggest dealers in the industry. You know about Heritage, Mycomicshop, etc.You know how to liquidate a collection.

Would I walk around with a briefcase full of cash? No! Even if I had the money, I'd be highly skeptical of being robbed by this guy. 

"might be willing to accept a wire transfer" - LOL ... it's a comic book transaction; you're not dealing drugs with a cartel

they must have it set up that way - where you make a purchase and then they try to entice you into making another.

eBay's promo emails have gone deafly silent for months and months until I make a random purchase and suddenly a coupon/promo comes in.

i don't generally like signature series books, but this is a rare exception.

Stan's file copy signed by the man himself.

nice

The price of gold has increased 335% in 30 years.

Some comic books have increased by roughly the same percentage in 12 months!.. No one can tell me that's sustainable or that we shouldn't be looking at that cautiously - regardless of how knowledgeable a collector is or how many bad decisions buyers make.

As for the Hulk 181 Kool-Aid drinkers, I get that it's a key book and people love it. But, if 4.0's were selling for $5,000 12 months from now there are people on this board that would be preaching it was still a worthwhile investment and completely justified.

consider what causes a market bubble... i.e. the stock market

participlants within the market place drive the prices up beyond their true value. Bubbles may be attributed to the way a group thinks or perceives the market, biases, etc. It's a herd-like mentality.

Now, attribute that to the comic market. Speculation, movie hype, the soaring prices, the variants, the feeling to 'get in before it's too late'... this is driving prices up beyond true values.

You cannot tell me that a book which appreciated in value at a slow and steady pace for 50-60 years suddenly skyrockets up 250-300% in 12 months and that's normal behaviour..

once the movies die down, the trend changes and the dust settles, many people will be left holding books they overpaid for today

3 hours ago, FineCollector said:

You want to be careful proclaiming you're a "true collector" when you only buy keys, and don't want to pay market value...

I’m not sure how my collecting focus on keys means I’m not a true collector if that’s what I love acquiring. I collect. I don’t buy based on speculation or buy to flip and make a quick buck.

thanks? I didn’t know I had to collect runs across different genres or publishers to be called a ‘true collector’.. do you need to have 5,000 books or 20,000 books before you can be a true collector? Does your collection have to be worth a minimum amount before it’s a collection?

if I had a dime for every time someone on this forum referred to what their collecting focus was or people who suggest that others change a collecting focus. Do you question them?

as for questioning my status or prowess as a collector for not wanting to pay market value. I think that’s just a silly comment. So, I’m not a true collector because I don’t want to pay more than I think something is worth? Or what I’m willing to pay? Or what I can afford?

49 minutes ago, Aweandlorder said:

Whats "Normal" give an example 

I do think we’re in a comic bubble 

so, I guess I’m referring to pre-bubble market conditions.

For instance, when books that have been around for 60 years are no longer going up in value 250% in  12 months.

...among other things like speculation, variants, etc...

Hey OP, 

I'm in the same boat asking the same questions. I like buying keys Silver/Bronze/Copper key books and then enjoy reading digital or omnibuses of a series for the stories. 

It's something about the first appearance keys that get me excited. 2 years ago I got married and 6 months later bought a house in a red hot real estate market and it's been a pinch to say the least. Paying down the mortgage, paying back family we borrowed from, making the new house feel like our home, etc.

The last book I bought was a SC 22 months before my wedding and haven't bought a book since (due to changing priorities of where my money goes - I have no regrets at all). I have been tracking the market prices on books from my want list and I'm floored by some of the increases. Some books selling in May 2017 are 2.5x higher in May 2018.

I liked being able to save a few hundred dollars, dip in and buy a book or two, then dip out (and repeat). It's getting to a point where even if I had the disposable income I used to, I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of money on collecting. I am a true collector, I'm not in it for the quick flip and I won't buy based only on speculation.

There's just something about refinancing my house to buy comics that doesn't appeal to me (and of course I mean that facetiously) 

I'm at a crossroads; hoping a bubble bursts and things get back to normal. Supply and Demand drives the hobby for sure - and right now, demand is the highest it's been in years.

2 minutes ago, Mapleleafvann said:

I hate to say it, but I think you were the architect of your own pain in this situation.  I can totally understand your trepidation in dealing with brand new folks, but if you've had experience on eBay for years (like you say), then you've dealt with quite a few new people and should be used to this.  If the book is $400 and the guy or girl paid....mail them the book.  If the book is $50, mail them the book.  If not, why are you not mailing them the book?  It was for sale wasn't it?  Then you proceed to call someone's integrity into question without any proof....other than they are new.  You see how someone could interpret this as you being the total antagonist in this situation.....

Now, since you've had experience on eBay, for a $400 item, you should have insisted on priority mail with signature verification....that way, there is at least a signature confirmation that the book was accepted at the correct location.  I'm not saying that there aren't unscrupulous people out there.....clearly look at the title of this thread, but new people shouldn't necessarily be avoided because of little to no feedback....and again, there are additional postal options to consider for your added protection.

 

Thanks for the reply - I realize everyone starts somewhere with feedback.

That's why I contacted him - however, it was his immediate negative reaction and him claiming to have bought many high dollar books on eBay (still without even 1 feedback) that made me seriously doubt him. which is ultimately why I cancelled the order

name is unseengod if anyone wants to block him.

It's such an P*off dealing with eBay. 

I think I'm done with them. 

I've been an eBay customer for years, paid high fees and they go take the side of a guy who opened an account 2-3 weeks ago. 

Plus, I can't leave a feedback for the buyer because eBay doesn't want retaliatory feedback

Perhaps you guys have had a similar experience to this. I'm looking for some advice.

A buyer purchases a book from me for just under $400 USD.

He has no feedback and just opened his account 2-3 prior to buying my book. I contact him to ask him if he's got feedback from any other website/forum and I express my concerns.

He gets upset. Writes me a few long messages that are unnecessary. He does go on to say that he's made purchases for other books (as much as $700 on eBay) and when he pays, sellers ship to him. Yet, he still has 0 feedback.

Because I don't believe him and he grew increasingly angry, I cancelled the order and he was refunded all of his money. He proceeds to leave a negative feedback (I didn't even know someone could leave a feedback for a transaction that didn't happen) and eBay is giving me a hard time about removing it.

I'm not surprised that with eBay i'm getting the raw end of the deal here

I will pass on my turn. 

Thank you to all the organizers of the grading contest & prize thread.

Lots of fun as always!

On 3/18/2018 at 9:45 PM, timern said:

Double Ditto...had the Cap at 4.5, the HOM at 9.2.  

Congrats .5!! May you march straight to the top from here on!

Cheers!

i had the same

one of my ASM grails

Good luck with the sale.

nice book!

V nice book

is there a thumb crease on the R edge of the book under Vision's hand?

7.0 

that top R corner and the creases along the top keep it out of VF, IMO

looks higher than some of the above grades, but need a back cover scan and a high res front cover scan to be sure...

perhaps I've missed something.

If just going based on those heavy spine ticks, it's in 9.0 range IMO, but there looks like something going on with that upper R corner.

seems harsh to give this a 3.5

they must have knocked it down due to the tape on the interior cover

crazy price for a raw. 

as it stands, I'd agree with 7.5

With a press I'd say it has a good chance at going higher. (which might be the thinking of some of the other bidders - hence the high sale price)

guesses are in

Organizers, thanks for all of your hard work in making this happen once again. It's a lot of fun

Trying to get back into drawing after a lengthy absence.

I have followed this thread for a while and have always been inspired by all of your contributions and passion for visual arts. 

here’s my first post (hopefully first of many) - it's a black panther work in progress 

So. .. I just read that the SC had the centerfold missing.