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brooksone1

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Journal Entries posted by brooksone1

  1. brooksone1

    5000 PTS reached

    By brooksone1,

    Time to raise the bar.
    As I write this the 5000 point plateau has been reached. I know that is not a large number in respect to the 858 ahead of me on the register. However, for me it was a 2 year journey, 144 books, and who knows how much money (that a father of 11 doesn't have much of). It has been fun and seeing the kids gain a small interest in comics and reading in general makes it well worth it.
    May the next 5000 points come a little faster, if not it is still fun. My goal is to try to finish a few sets -- Ghost Rider is my book of choice -- and further my crazy goal of having a place that can house one of each comic ever produced. To preserve the fine institution of comic books and collecting. A place for future generations can go to look at these pieces of art before the digital age slowly eats away at the printed book.
    Thanks for looking at my first post. I know my goal is lofty but if we don't have to reach for our goals we will get complacent.
    Thanks,
    Scott
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  2. brooksone1
    Why do we do anything we do?
    As I sit here reading my new release purchases this week from my LCS I actually, for the first time, noticed the cover price. I know that sounds crazy, however I usually buy the same number of books each month and the total dollar amount varies slightly. I will pick up a new series here and there to try it out and add it or not to my monthly total. At 3.99 an issue it seems expensive compared to what you can buy for that price.
    In no way am I complaining about the price, I understand the cost of everything is going up. That includes the cost of printing a comic - ink, paper, and definitely artist pay (which is never enough). Going forward my collecting habits will change a little. Ghost Rider will still be my main focus as I have alot of holes in my collection. Trying to get every issue graded and a reader copy so I can go back and remember the past every once in awhile. I will also embark on a very fun and unique collecting trip.
    Wait For It.
    Wait For It.
    I will try to collect the entire catalogue of the Star Comics Imprint of Marvel. I know that sounds funny and will probably only be worth what it means to me. These titles and characters were a part of my youth and hold dear memories of my past. Whether it was picking up comics with my dad (who has passed) or watching some of these shows on TV, this will forever be a link to times with my dad. Hopefully I can pass on memories with my children that will last them into the future.
    By my unofficial records there is 41 series and a total of 425 different comics. Not to difficult compared to todays 12-13 variants of a single issue (Walking Dead 100) or large prices for the 1/25,50,100,200 variations. It will take awhile to complete, relatively inexpensive for most issues, and priceless for the time I will spend with the little ones reading to them.
    So back to the teaser. Why do we do it? ..... For the fun and joy of it ... never for the money.
    P.S.
    3 comics down 422 to go........
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  3. brooksone1
    Or Not............
    I thought I would take a minute to tell you about my experience at Hastings today. Wanted to see if anyone else has had the same.
    I was visiting family in another state today. while I was there I decided to visit the local Hastings as my hometown doesn't have one. I shopped the comic section, made my selections and headed to the checkouts. I picked up several of the Hastings Variants of Walking Dead, Deadpool, Uncanny X-Men, and Savage Wolverine. Mainly had 3 copies of each except the Walking Dead which they had about 30 copies so I grabbed 15, yes hoping to sell them for a little profit to cover my expanses on the ones I wanted to keep. Nothing wrong with that ... right?
    As the cashier starts to ring up my comics I notice the Walking Deads were ringing up $4.99 with a cover price of $2.99. Let me insert here that I am not ignorant of the fact that Hastings variants do cost more, as some of the titles I had in my hand were bagged and boarded with a sticker retail price on them for more than cover price. However the WD's, the Uncanny X-Men, and Secret Avengers were not bagged with a sticker to state the increased retail. After the 4th or 5th copy of WD I asked the cashier about the price difference. She said she was not sure and had to ask the Manager. After returning from talking to him she stated that they were indeed $4.99 and the store had a limit of 1 copy per title per customer. This did not set well with me because there was no signs stating a limit in the comic section. I told the cashier this and she apparently did not hear me or was not caring because she proceded to ring up the 1 copy of each. I then called into question the price difference on the comics, which she replied with a shoulder shrug. Now I am really not liking my trip to Hastings. With regards to high blood pressure I calmly asked to speak with the manager myself about the whole situation.
    After 5 more minutes of waiting for him to show up I finally got my chance to voice my concerns. His reasoning for not selling me the WD's for the $2.99 which they were clearly displayed at was because he had run out of bags and boards and was waiting on his delivery. Which is not my problem. This is like going to a car dealership and seeing the sticker price and saying OK I want to purchase this one and going back to sign papers and the salesman telling you the price is $5000 more because he run out of paper to print a new window sticker.
    While trying to reason with the manager I guess his attention span was at and end because he told me he was refusing to sell me any comics. Apparently the new face of retail is to turn away someone wanting to spend money on products you are trying to sell. Not really amazed at this because while in town I visited 2 other LCS and had the worst customer service, well maybe lack of service.
    Anyone else have this type of treatment at their Hastings or LCS? In my opinion the next downward spiral of the comic industry will not be caused by the comic creators but by the Poor service at the retail end. I will not visit the Hastings or the 2 LCS again. If this is happening around the country it will turn people off of comics.
    Thanks,
    Tracy
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  4. brooksone1
    Do I look or not?
    I recently sent in four books for grading using my Membership Coupon. After repeated attemps at picking just four to send in I finally settled on the winners. So, yesterday after 16 business days they were marked as Shipped Safe. Temptation was killer, one click and I could see my grades. I was taking an approach I read in surfer99's post of waiting until they arrived to see the grades.
    24 hours later that thought went out the door. I couldn't resist and peeked just a little. The books and grades are listed below.
    Uncanny Avengers #1 Deadpool Sketch Variant - 9.8
    Peter Panzerfaust #1 - 9.8
    Peter Panzerfaust #2 - 9.8
    Peter Panzerfaust #3 - 9.6 ( I guess issue 3 is my Kryptonite - third one sent in and all have come back 9.6)
    Does anyone else have a particular comic that they have sent in multiple times to get that 9.8 or higher?
    Thanks for reading and now back to the process of selecting the next group to send in.
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