jimbo_7071

On 11/22/2023 at 7:14 PM, VintageComics said:

Knowing that you won't respond for a week probably limits the number of people who will do business with you moving forward.

I'm good with that.

On 3/25/2023 at 6:23 PM, VintageComics said:

This is for buyers AND sellers. 

I preface this thread with the fact that it's not to pick on anyone. 19 years ago, I myself used to be guilty of taking too long to reply and so I speak from my own personal experience of being on the wrong side of this discussion. 

I've come to accept that expecting a reply within 24 hours is considered reasonable. 

Outside of 24 hours it starts to become questionable unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

72 hours when doing a deal is probably a bit too long and outside of that I think sellers / buyers should rightfully be concerned about the deal. 

What are your thoughts?

72 hours seems shockingly tight to me; I often go longer than 72 hours without even going online. If I responded to someone within a week, I feel I was being sufficiently prompt.

On 11/22/2023 at 6:39 AM, WolverineX said:

The Frazetta  Famous Funnies run has some of the best GA sci fi covers.  213 and 214 are the most coveted.  

They allegedly inspired George Lucas while he was creating Star Wars( including Chewbacca)

I've always liked those covers, but I don't agree that 213 and 214 are the most coveted; 214 may be in the running, but not 213.

216 used to be the most sought after by run builders because it was considered less common in high grade. Based on the census, it doesn't appear to be as scarce as people thought.

All of those books are pretty common; I think they're pretty risky at current prices.

Vat of acid to vat of molten metal.

On 11/16/2023 at 9:45 AM, lostboys said:

I work in an office and I keep a short stack of mostly TPBs in my desk.

A co worker brought her 12 year old son in for the day and as I watched him playing games on his mothers phone, I thought:

"Why not see if this kid will read a comic."

So I grabbed (Spider Man - The Birth Of Venom TPB) and asked her if its okay to let her son read the book.

"Sure.", she said, "But hell probably just look at the pictures."

Putting her surrendering to technology aside, I gave him the book and watched from a distance.

He didnt lift his head for 15-20 minutes before going back to the phone.

Did he just look at the pics?...I m not sure but it was a victory in my eyes either way.

A while later I asked him if he liked Spider man and he told me he had seen all the movies but never read a comic before. 

Of course he was talking about all the recent movies, he had never seen the Toby Maguire movies.

He asked if he could take the book home and I told him its his now, he can keep it and Id be giving his mom more in the future to take home to him.

Man, did he smile at that.

 

Im on a mission now. I dont own a lot of low grade books.

Im a very specific collector (ASM, X-Men, Spawn) and I only collect high grade copies.

I do frequent a local flea market where a guy has boxes of unbagged, low grade books he sells 3 for $1.

My plan is to buy a long box of readers this weekend and Ill give them away every chance I get.

 

 

So... if possible, give a kid a comic.

 

You may have created an addiction that will suck up all of his discretionary income for the rest of his life! Good on ya, mate! Those of us who will be aging out of the hobby in the coming decades may be hard pressed to find younger collectors to whom we can sell our books. Like the old woman said when she peed in the sea, every little bit helps.

On 8/9/2023 at 3:12 PM, rlextherobot said:

I've met way too many sour, exploitative, abrasive comic sellers in my time to believe that those who make an effort to be friendly and cordial, even when they aren't actively making a sale, are 'faking it'. There's a weirdly cynical attitude in the belief that being conversational or approachable is some kind of trick to disarm customers and make them more likely to buy from you at your price - its part of salesmanship, sure, but it's also just ensuring that your potential buyer feels at ease and has a good time at your booth or store. 

I am convinced that some comic/coin/card/antiques dealers gravitate to the profession because they don't have the social skills to succeed in more ordinary work environments. That doesn't characterize all dealers, but people on the narcissism/ASPD/psychopathy spectrum seem to be over-represented, at least at the level of local cons.

On 11/18/2023 at 5:10 PM, Professor K said:

Are you saying emotions are a factor in some peoples bidding habits? Yes they certainly are. I know I'm guilty at times. 

What's that you say? Bidding in an online auction can be affected by emotion rather than just coldly logical business acumen? That's crazy talk! 

The Man Who Changed to the man who survived.

On 11/16/2023 at 3:35 PM, adamstrange said:

In 1974 there were over 20 titles with Richie Rich.  I don't believe any other character ever had such a prominent position on the newsstand.

I read Richie Rich as a kid, and even I have no interest in collecting them. The concept is inane and the cover art is boring.

On 11/17/2023 at 6:08 PM, BitterOldMan said:

November 2022 $21,600

 

November 2023 different copy $14,400

 

 

 

$14.4K is still too high. That's a $3–$4K book all day long once the superhero/supervillain movie crazy is a few years in the rearview mirror.

Twinsies.

Boarded with what? I don't use full backs for anything worth less about $50. For books in the $10-$49 range I stick with half backs. I don't bother with boards for reading copies. I seldom use polybags unless the comics came in them, though. (I have not bought any polybags since the 80s.) I usually use 2-mil Mylars. Some guys will slide a closed 2-mil Mylar or 1-mil Mylite into an open-top 4-mil magazine-sized sleeve (which allows you to look at the back cover). The stiffness of the 4-mil sleeve makes a board unnecessary.

On 11/11/2023 at 6:19 AM, Mr. Lady Luck said:

I would only buy a brittle book if I was going to use it as a reader.

I would only buy a brittle book if I had a parakeet that liked to read comics and I needed something to line the bottom of its cage and provide reading material at the same time.

On 11/9/2023 at 5:36 PM, Ryan. said:

That's more likely than most people realize...

If someone has a relative with the wherewithal to do it, then it can happen. Dean Kamen, Jack's son, was buying quite a bit of his late father's artwork at one point (and may still be doing so).

Amazon Prime Escort Service to Amazon Prime Supper Club.

On 11/9/2023 at 3:56 AM, Gotham Kid said:

Rob's family and friends should stop bidding on the art. There can be no other explanation why there are any bids at all.

Either that or someone desperately wants to win it to burn it from existence.

Rob may want to buy it back himself. I inderstand he's getting pretty good tips in his current role as valet at the local bowling alley; maybe he's saved up enough to be able to afford it.

On 11/6/2023 at 6:32 PM, szav said:

@lou_fine look what came in the mail today!  I knew you'd be excited....but seriously is this good for the hobby? because I'd guess for this to land on the cover of the catalogue either means its just a complete joke or someone actually paid HA to do it?....

https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/covers/rob-liefeld-captain-america-heroes-reborn-promotional-illustration-original-art-c-1996-/a/7342-93069.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

Was this art from the issue where Cap takes some medication and develops a severe case of gynomastia as a side effect?

Gravity sucks to gravity sucks.

Boater to sailor cap.

I agree that it's in the 3.0—3.5 range. I would probably return it unless they offer you a partial refund. The page quality looks decent in the pictures, so that might be a point in favor of keeping it.

The "Golden Age" is short for the "Golden Age of Superheroes." 

For me that's June 1938 (Action 1) through Octoer 1945 cover dates (i.e., the books that were on the stands when WWII ended).

Superheroes were fading fast by the late 40s.

November 1945 through February/March 1955 (pre-code) covers dates are clearly Atom Age. 

I don't know how to classify CCA-stamped books that pre-date Showcase 4.

Hoarding seems to be common. It causes price inflation for the issue being hoarded, but I'm not sure whether it pays off for the hoarder. As soon as the hoarder starts to release copies into the marketplace, prices will start to come back down. There may be some sort of OCD issue at play as opposed to simply a financial incentive.