MAY1979

On 9/14/2024 at 12:52 PM, Shaun Hill said:

I would argue our hobby has far fewer flippers than just about any other collecting group I've experienced, so it really doesn't bother me.  

Added: Most of the higher turnover I have seen is in the modern space (post 2000 era), likely because that era hasn't yet settled or matured in the same way Silver Age and Bronze Age art has due to collector age.  The older art primarily seems to be dealer swaps and turnover from what I've seen.  Has that been others' experience as well?

My long-time perception is while Comic Art may have less total flippers than Comic Books the percentage of flippers to collectors is significantly higher. Also in Comic art its seen far more frequent at dealer level than Comics.

Many times i've seen a piece on the first day of a con then the next day or day after see it at another dealers table for more. More than once I saw the same piece at multiple dealer tables on the same day with the price increasing at each hop. Never witnessed that with Comic Books

On 9/12/2024 at 9:33 AM, Caidendog said:

So I was given from a friend his collection and when I was going through it I stubble upon this Maxx comic and see on the back a 125 and 5-17 wrote on it so im just curious if this is a pedigree or if someone just wrote on it

First thing to do is quit your Job, telling your boss to shove it as you now have vast amounts of Pedigreed Maxx money

Not worth it even if a scores a 9.4, unless this specific copy of the book has personal meaning to you. 'sides even if pressed the 2024 Modern slab inner wells will undo all that effort at least on the spine.

On 9/17/2024 at 11:40 AM, delekkerste said:

One thing to keep in mind is that these lenders typically lend up to 50% max of the appraised value (and quite often less). 

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Zeck Secret Wars #8 page won't appraise for the $3.3 million it sold for.  

I can hear the JPMC Loan officer saying "It's like the 26th appearance of the black costume" , "and you thought it was the first - seriously", "loan denied"

Then when it hits the media, Jamie Dimon backing up his firms position via "I'd personally fire anyone employed at Chase who thinks SW8 is first Spidey in Black"

On 9/17/2024 at 6:05 AM, Readcomix said:

I realize the scale of value is waaaaay different. Just playing with notions about the future. Greed and banks and scope creep are old friends. IF that day ever comes, I’d assume those are the sorts of artists who might among all the current longshots to “graduate” to that game. 

Reasonable to think - but if Comic and Strip art increases then I'd expect a proportionate increase in fine art. Thus rendering the Comic stuff still Peanuts. Now some of the Frazzeta paintings IMHO those are most likley to one day hold a finance co's interest.

Still I look forward to the day when I can pick-up a F-150 for some Sal B Hulk Pages or secure a Mortgage by flashing a Byrne FF splash.

How much does JPMC value an average Trimpe Hulk cover?

On 9/14/2024 at 10:49 AM, dick pontoon said:

I've always been a big Godzilla fan, but was never very into the Marvel series and even stopped buying it several issues before it was cancelled. I recently picked these up to fill the holes.

 

IMHO those were the best 3 issues

On 9/16/2024 at 7:36 AM, KirbyCollector said:

The difficulty right now is figuring out if this represents a buying opportunity or signals a topping situation. I'm seeing a lot of good John Buscema go for lower prices that I expected, personally. 

You make an interesting point.

Thinking also on the non-prime we may be seeing a correction into the territory those pieces should be in without the shameless rampant dealer manipulation. As well as sheer volume of stuff for sale recently as opposed slower drip of the past. As I mentioned earlier the larger dealers can't protection bid everything.

On 9/15/2024 at 6:25 PM, vodou said:

You're not the only one that scored today for notably less than yesteryear.

Somebody should start a thread just for those.

My guess is with so many items at once on regular basis even Burkey,Albert,Anthony,the San Mateo Bros, and the one from Boston can't protection bid Everything.

wrong thread - ooops

On 9/14/2024 at 2:05 PM, Paul © ® ⚽️💙™ said:

Enzo Ferrari.  

Preston Tucker - still, Bookery's actual point is totally valid for Gen Pop

On 9/11/2024 at 7:24 PM, joeypost said:

TMNT 1

I was thinking the exact same thing. The question is; are they considered Superhero's ?

On 9/11/2024 at 6:23 PM, themoonwasblue said:

I'm sure there's a reason that I'm not thinking of, but why does a reholdering require opening the inner well?

 

due to the banana bend epidemic that have rendered most 2024 Modern 9.8's  .2 - .4 lower

Last on eBay assuming legit, which u cant do, was 8k even. Not looking so good for those who spent 15k,16k or more. Especially if they are oblivious to slabgate.

On 9/11/2024 at 1:03 PM, southern cross said:

What's this PC,  for the personal collection?

Do collectors have a non personal collection they're keeping.

My "PC" Collection starts at the front door of my condo and ends by the glass sliding door of the deck. (The dog owns everything on the deck as hers)

I've a buddy who collects trading cards. He is not a dealer or seller yet he refers to his collection as "PC"

As the kids say; he's so Mid and what he says is cringe

On 9/11/2024 at 10:40 AM, ajcomics said:

At most of the cons I've been to lately, it doesn't even make sense to start negotiations since most of the books are significantly over priced. Even suggesting a FMV price will most likely offend the seller and create an awkward moment. In those situations, I just keep walking. 

If I can offend a comic book seller then thats even better than getting the discount!

There are cultures where paying the advertised price is considered an insult. To not haggle is offensive behavior.

With collectibles its part of the fun.

So of the best recent memories I have at Cons are haggling with Anthony. Believe you me he doesn't need the money either way, but he like many dealers loves the game. Not that DeeDee boooggggg Boston dealer however best to just walk on by that Vile truthless grump.

Bottom line; Anyone who never haggles over a Comic Book IMHO is a rube

Sometimes the Tattooz was never inserted.  My opinion; as long as insert itself is intact and no evidence of tampering then the tattoo/sticker itself should have no bearing.

On 9/10/2024 at 7:28 AM, mikenyc said:

Taking detailed photos of every book before being submitted has clearly become a necessity.

until they start claiming the before photo's are doctored or obscured.  If you do not think they will then clearly you do not understand whom you are truly dealing with. As proven by their statements, they will say and do anything to protect every cent of their bottom line.

On 9/9/2024 at 8:38 PM, 0r0d said:

Here are the results of my conversation with CGC customer service:

I sent them photos of 3 damaged books (all 9.8 from prescreen, all went in with ZERO spine damage).  The worst one now has a color-break and bend that measures 1/4".  But, all came back bent and all had spine damage.

First response from CGC: The told me the following:

There you go, they dont claim to have even seen ANY impact to the condition of books.

According to CGC, the color-breaking tick that measures 1/4" is "acceptable" for a 9.8.

I'm sure if I crack it and send it back in, it will get a 9.8 again.  Right?  Right???

and

Or, more like "there is no guarantee that the grade will stay the same".

I offered them 2 options that would be acceptable to me.  1) Press and re-holder the books at their expense and guarantee that the grade will not change.  and 2) I send them the books and they refund me their replacement cost FMV (for 9.8s) in exchange.   I think both are reasonable.  For #1, the books have clearly had zero damage done to the slabs after they left their facility.  The only damage is inside the slabs.  So if they graded them a 9.8 they should still be a 9.8, especially after pressing.  Any damage that would make them not a 9.8 is entirely their fault.  And #2 is also reasonable since I'd just like the value of the comic they sent me and I'm sending back.

Their reply:

They asked for images of the books prior to being sent in.  I dont have such images.  Also...

So I can pay... again... to have them graded, and possibly damaged again.

and finally:

So I can resubmit for ME, even thought the spine damage will not qualify as ME and they have already said that a bent inner well is "normal" and "acceptable".  And of course once they reject the ME I will have to pay shipping both ways.  

There you go, customer service as its finest.  I can either suck it up and accept that I paid CGC to grade/slab my books and now they're damaged, or I can send them in to maybe get even more damaged and maybe, just maybe they can press them and keep the same grade... but I have to pay for it.

No offer to even refund the grading fees, or acknowledgement that there's any problem.  In fact, they claim that the books with ticks and bends (in one case 1/4" deep) are acceptable in a 9.8.  And, while I'm not an expert grader, I think that's just total B.S.  If I send that book in I'd expect maybe a 9.4 or 9.6 at highest.

And so now I really have nothing I can do except accept that I spent money and the result is some of my books are damaged, and I have to crack and press them myself to TRY to get them back into their original condition.  And then... I'm not sure what else.  Start using another grading service?  Why would I use CGC again when they wont even make up for their mistakes or even do the bare minimum of offering to refund the grading fees the few books they damaged? 

I just hope that this serves as a warning to others.  Submit books are your own risk.  If they come back damaged, you're on your own.

Attached photos of 1/4" spine tick/bend for reference.

The Santa Ana winds can't blow east quickly enough for me. 

BTW: Their app scans the bar codes on the flips (their vernacular, which is cooler to say than labels) making registry input as easy as can be.

 

On 9/8/2024 at 10:38 PM, Collect Stuff said:

Perhaps they all are

On 9/8/2024 at 9:45 PM, LordRahl said:

A lot of people aren't on social media. The examples posted here of the books with obvious spine stress and creases in 9.8 books that are readily obvious is a small percentage of all of the bent books. The vast majority are only slightly bent and if you don't know to look for it, you most likely won't see it. All of that is a long winded answer of... I think it's sheer ignorance of there being a problem for a lot of people. Word is getting out but it's fresh enough that I don't think a large percentage is aware yet. Then there are also the deniers and the outright dishonest mixed in as well, but I believe that's a small percentage relative to the folks that just don't know there is a problem... yet.

YEP!

On 9/8/2024 at 5:51 PM, 0r0d said:

 

TRUTH!

On 9/8/2024 at 6:44 PM, Stefan_W said:

Holy click bait titles, Batman. 

I keep a deny list on my router to prevent playing of videos (not a domain block) on for sites like youtube and others  etc... However I'm strongly thinking of temporarily disabling as that title is true. 

We all get your OPINION however I have had books with new color breaking damage introduced by the banana bends.  At least be a true scientist and be open to the possibility that your "data" is not 100% accurate.