OK, here is my story.
I was working at a public relations firm in DC that went tits-up December 31, 2001. So I'm unemployed.
There was a long-planned (and paid for) trip to Disneyworld set for the family in January, 2002. We went the week after the Patriots-Raiders "Snow Bowl" game, to give you a timeframe reference.
I love Disneyworld, but too much of it with four children can be a pain. So I leave my wife, her brother and his wife with the kids at the Polynesian and go looking at comic shops in Orlando.
After a horrible, hideous experience with Greg White in Kissimmee (topic of another story), I end up at All-American Comics in Orlando. Very pleasant store. I purchased DC 100 Page Super Spectacular 5, Super DC Giant S-17 and Super DC Giant S-21 (the Holy Trinity of DC romance books, for those of you not in the know) for a very nice price.
I'm talking with the owner, and he says "I have something you might be interested in."
He goes into the back room and brings out a copy of Detective Comics 1. It is low grade and stickered at $7500.
The owner says "I'll guarantee it is unrestored, and will give you a 20% discount." This makes the book now stickered at $6000.
Remember, I'm unemployed.
I say, "I'm unemployed, and can't do it."
He says "OK, not a problem."
That book has since been slabbed as a Blue Label 3.0... and sold for $25,000.