thehumantorch

On 12/22/2019 at 8:44 AM, oakman29 said:

Star Wars times?  Who's delusional now? Master robe maker.

Just kidding thought a little levity would be fun.

Gabe is an interesting soul. I know a kid like Gabe in real life, who's now in his 30's.

His life  could have been good, but his life was met with failures.

From school,family, even the parents. I'm not condoning the fact that it was ALL their faults,  but let's just say he had an uphill battle.  I am of the opinion that you pick yourself up from whatever mess you're in and brush yourself off and get too it, Self motivation . Of course I was raised in an entirely different time , where as today's kids have a whole new set of life problems. 

I hope Gabe gets the help he needs, for his own sake. 

I hope he too finds that time to brush himself off and self motivates. Fantasy world of video games,internet chat forums, and Ukrainian girlfriends with super powers needs to come to an end for him. He cant decipher real world from fantasy.

 

Gabe doesn't have the tools to succeed and he can't or won't make logical decisions to get ahead.  It's one fantasy scheme after another.  The easy, quick solution is all he'll consider and he's not interested in hard work and logical steps.  He's also shown that he doesn't have a grasp of what's real and what's not.  

13 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

Recent subs and pick ups for resale...

 

 

Nice

23 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

From this past summer's Sudbury Graphic Con:

Forgot to mention did a bit of buying. Pulled this out of another sellers long box (raw) literally mixed with other raw junk. I looked it up and down. Looked sharp. Negotiated price. Sent to CGC. WIN 

...I still can't believe he had it a box right out front and not in the back or on a wall...Just in plain old bag and backing board too 

 

Score, nice copy

We’re going through a similar thought process.  Since the Canadian dollar dropped and the local economy cratered its been hard to sell expensive books and remaining buyers tend to lowball.  For now we’re still putting up our wall and putting up books at various price ranges

Nearby, low cost shows with decent attendance are gravy.  If I pay $100 for a table at a local show and make $1000 or more in sales it's a healthy win.

19 hours ago, Dave2739 said:

I agree. I was in Toronto on biz last month and took this pic. Cool, huh?

. I

Wow dude, looks identical to the picture that the god of potatoes sent me via godpornchat of Toronto.  Same except the eyes are a different color.

No worries, I've hired a monk, well he has a hood so I think he's a monk, to teach my 93 year old mother how to fight in a MMA bout next week.  I'm so sure my mom will win I've sold all of my bitcoin and bitpapermoney to bet on the bout and I'll use the proceeds to get a passport and a flying canoe so I can fly into space and meet my first million $$ alien.

1 hour ago, kav said:

I can do the splits.  I dont count it as a super power.

Really depends on what you're splitting....

5 minutes ago, uchiha101 said:

Most aren't but then some are. Just because it's a sex game doesn't mean the nature of people changes. I've made quite a few good friends on there. Yes, laugh it up because I know you will.

Have they asked you for money yet?  If they do scrape up every cent you can and send it because these 'good friends' you've met on an online sex site can be trusted.

1 hour ago, kav said:

God must have sent you this link...

8 hours ago, uchiha101 said:

MNFClub.com

  Oh my god, you're hanging out on an online virtual sex site and you think these people are sincere and care for you.  Classic

1 hour ago, uchiha101 said:

Sam is more grounded than her sister and I, she's been training ever since she's gotten her powers. She's kinder than I am. She's worth all this trouble because she's one of the best girls I've ever met. Stranglehold on what comics? You must have not been reading my journal. 

I will tell you why I'm about Sam. Despite all that's happened and will happen I'm to end up with her because God has said so, both to Sam and her sister. God has shown me what she looks like and what her voice sounds like. He said she's to be my wife exactly as I thought would happen. I'm just happy I will be able to see her because at long last, just a bit longer and I will see Sam and her sister in person. 

Holy man, you're 100% nuts.  

8 hours ago, uchiha101 said:

Sure I can do that. 1) Genetic mutations  2) Environment 3) Monk Training  4) God  5) Demons  6) Drugs 

1 hour ago, Wall-Crawler said:

I do not frequently do trades, but I recently did a cash and trade deal with a local collector. It was a pleasant experience as he understood that I'm trading to re-sell, not to collect so he "got" that I needed to "come out ahead". I got some cash and a few raw books and a couple of graded books.   Working on another one right now too.

Nova #1 Voldy 9.0 and a Thor #165 CGC 6.5

 

We get offered a lot more trades than a few years ago.  I chalk it up to the price increase of keys and quality books and the weak Canadian dollar.

Glad the show went well.  You came close to my 10 times booth cost target so I'd say it was profitable.  Your display is top notch.

You mentioned your premium books section.  Just to be clear, you took all your books worth $20 or more and put them in high quality mylars and boards and created a section of premium books?

Nice result.  That's $248 that might pick up a small collection for the future.

23 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

CLink auction was a total bust.

Oh well. Live and learn. Nothing you can do when auctions go bad but move on...At least someone got some cool books for cheap.

ugh

2 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

For you guys who do bigger shows like Calgary or Toronto, I can see how it would be tiring as I am operating in a pretty small pond and your crowds may dwarf mine...I just saw Dale Roberts set up at C2E2...Must have lots of eyes watching the product...I have fun when I do shows but still have to temper it with keeping a watchful eye...

A thief could strike at any show big or small and a dealer has to stay watchful.

There's always a  chance you'll get ripped off setting up at shows.  We've been ripped off twice that we know of.  The first was a New 52 Batman set with variants when that set was hot out of a box on the table.  The other was when we brought Magic the Gathering cards and the guy was looking through our binder and slipped out a few good cards as soon as we looked away.

Generally,anything expensive is on our wall or in a few boxes in the middle.  I try to watch everything else but If it gets busy I like to stand at the corner of our wall and look down it so nothing key disappears.  Our wall is usually 18 to 40 feet long depending on the show.  Losing a $20 book from a box is better than a big book.  I've been thinking of cameras.  When it's busy we try to have all four of us in the booth.  We do let people behind the tables but thinking about changing that.  

12 minutes ago, Wall-Crawler said:

I just read @jaeldubyoo  sad thread in Comics General about his losses as a rookie vendor.  I know we have touched on it here but what are some vendors advice and tips for preventing theft? What do you guys do?  Anyway, just seems like a timely topic with con season starting up for many...

Tough to read.  He mentioned multiple copies of Iron Man #1 and other keys disappearing so I suspect he had a lot of good books, was a new seller and fresh to buyers, and his prices were probably fair.  He got swarmed with buyers and the thieves took advantage.  Honestly, there are too many dishonest people on this planet.

You have to choose the venue that works best for you.  Wouldn't hurt to tell the other venue why you can't attend, perhaps they'll shift their date in the future to avoid conflict.

On 3/15/2019 at 5:08 AM, Wall-Crawler said:

Well you know where it is 

Any shows coming up for you? 

Had two one day shows in the past month and and another one day end of March and the wonderful 4 day Calgary Expo in April.  Sales at the first show were low but to be expected in this economy.  Sales at the second show, Calgary Red and White, were pretty good as usual.

We'll be getting about 20 books back from CGC at the Calgary Expo so while some goes back in our collection there's some nice new stuff to sell.  Grades were as expected or better so we're happy.

32 minutes ago, Wall-Crawler said:

Ahh, nice!!!

Shoot, too bad I didn't know beforehand...Or did you mention it to me before???

Don't think I knew you had it.  That's ok, an auction of that book should work out well.

Both nice books.  I'd be all over that Jr Miss as I collect Canadian comics and that genre.

dang, double post

11 minutes ago, FineCollector said:

There isnt any place in Ottawa for back issues that I'd recommend.  Plenty to rifle through near Parkdale, but not much to buy.  Most of what's there is clearance of boxes by a guy who bought indiscriminately, but seemed to have a knack for buying frustratingly low grade.  I'd rather send you down to Brockville an hour away, but the place is only open Saturdays.

Perhaps I'll have to settle for dinner or a beer with some Ottawa boardies...