thehumantorch

6 hours ago, spreads said:

On 3/5/2019 at 5:27 AM, FineCollector said:

Nope!

Hey, how did you get in here?!  The parkdale market isn't that bad....we're both very familiar with the guy running it.   

7 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

 

Not quite sure I follow this...

Maybe I didn't explain it well enough...The owner has two 5" tables available for rent.

One spot was offered to me, the other to a former employee who has a long standing relationship with the owner (far longer than me). 

As stated above, yes. He will have a table set up.  

As for why the other guy gets the call when collections come in, he has known the owner longer, basically, closer relationship. I'm not annoyed with that (at least not anymore ), just if I am now paying for a table and allowed to do deals there as part of it, kind of muddies things? Regardless, I stopped really caring long ago being passed over with walk ins. The owner doesn't buy collections and owner/other clerks are well within his rights to send leads to whomever they want.

I'll just keep working my contacts, setting up at local shows, etc. and hope better things come my way this year but even still, I have still have stuff to sell, not like I have zero inventory  

On a selling note, I have bumped up my eBay store (up to 70+ items so far) and seeing good results already. My last Zenescope themed auction did great and I have already sold one slab, offers on a few others and a set or two, sold a few variants, so I may just work more on building my eBay store. Even if I only add a few books here and there, gets them out there so to speak.

 

Link to your ebay store ?

11 hours ago, spreads said:

Hi guys, somehow I've missed this thread....

I think it sounds like a box of 'cheapies' is really the only way to approach this, the consignment deal is wrought with a number of reasons:

1) A store that appears profitable and well-run can change quickly and suddenly over time; the largest established LCS here in Ottawa is in financial distress (three locations, two of them being comic shops) has a large consignment collection for sale.  There isn't a lot of big books there, but there's a ton of books priced in the double digits, several hundred at least....I doubt the owner will be getting all of those books back!

2) Knowing a guy that seems decent is not really any type of added security.  As THT pointed out with his partner; I also got ripped off a year ago shipping comics to a dealer (low amount) that I had known for over 20 years - he ran the local LCS that I visited as a kid!  It was a small amount, but the principle of it really, really pissed me off. 

...why I think a longbox of cheapies is the only way to go.  I don't know if it's the stigma of LCS being expensive for back issues, but I don't know many people that shop or look to shop there for those type of comics.  Also, I find that being in a retail setting, LCS do better moving books at prices ($2/$3/$5,etc.) than I would have at shows at those same prices.  So if you can get 2-3 $1 longs, 2-3 $2 books, 2-3 $3 books and one $5 box you should be able to move $3-400 in inventory with just the minor additional operating costs of stocking the boxes maybe twice a month?  Not really additional work needed and you probably already have buyers lined-up like you suggested.....factor in maybe 5-10% of this cannabalizing some of your existing sales and theft/damage and you're still doing well!  

Agreed, safest to start with cheaper books and see how it goes.  I'd toss in a few minor keys, especially if I had multiple copies, just explore the idea and to get a little price variety.

I'll be in Ottawa for training with the Federal Government this summer.  Any stores I should visit for back issues?

I’d do it at $100.  Put in some $2 to $5 books.  Even $1 books.  Should be easy to make money.  You’re talking $3 a day to display up to 9 longs of product

$100 a month is dirt cheap.  I'd do it in a heartbeat.

27 minutes ago, Wall-Crawler said:

I would be furious over him owing $700 - Says a lot about the guy.

Sadly, I guess it is true, when money gets involved for some people, you really never can tell.  I really appreciate the advice and even though I have been going there for a long time, best to make whatever arrangement as "iron clad" as it can be but I am thinking if I do go for it, I might just set up my cheapie bins.  We shall see and as always, I do appreciate the advice/insight.

If the rent on the table is reasonable to you do it.  Start with cheaper items and see how it goes.  You're very good at presentation and organization so I know you'll make it look good.  This could lead to a further collaborations or god knows part owner of the store if it works and these guys want a better representation of back issues and your expertise.  

42 minutes ago, Wall-Crawler said:

I don't think they will be going out of biz anytime soon and yes for sure it would require some organization on my end and more info on how they would track sales. 

Nothing is final, just an idea proposed to me that is interesting but for sure more details need to be sorted out and ultimately the cost per month for the space could also be a major deciding factor.

We did a consignment deal with a local store, someone we’ve known for  more than 20 years and someone we consider a friend, a short box worth of decent books that he populated a wall with.

We have a list of what we gave him and what we took home so we have a good idea what sold but he didn’t keep track of what sold or for how much.

End result is he paid us for a couple books that were a package deal we okayed and know what they sold for but doesn’t seem interested in paying us for the rest of the “missing” books.  We’ve reminded him he owes us money but he still hasn’t paid us.  Hell, he even approached us in the fall about more consignment books and we reminded him he still owes us money.  

Its not a great deal of money, perhaps $700, but now we’d probably have to go to small claims court to recover our money and it’s not worth it.

just pointing out that things can go sideways.  

Yes, there's the risk of theft.  There's also the risk that the store doesn't pay you for what sells or goes out of business and you have trouble getting your books back.  You'll also have to keep a list of what you put in the store.  I'm not saying it's a bad idea, just that there's some risk 

Dang autocorrect, pullido

10 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

If you know don't keep me guessing!

I think I got the Lady Death artist - Monte Michael Moore: https://www.mavarts.com/comic-art but sig looks like Brian Pullido's...And looks very similar to some CGC SS books with his sig I have seen...

 

Pull UFO signed a lot, will check books I have with his signature to see if they match

6 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

Does anyone know the artist signature on these?

 

Probably the right move.  Getting involved in a different collectible market has it's risks.  If you can get in very cheap and have a very good margin of error why not but in this case it sounds like you were paying a fair amount and any errors or bad surprises could be a problem.

Last year I looked at a small comic collection, mostly junk except for about a dozen interesting 1950s books and a few decent BA books, and about 800 wrestling posters from early 1990s to perhaps 2000.  He owned a bar that did pay per view wrestling events.  I know nothing about wrestling posters and a quick ebay search indicated a few sales between $30 and $10 each.  If I could have picked the posters up cheap, say $1 per, I think it would have been a good gamble but I wasn't willing to pay a lot and take a great deal of risk on a collectible market I didn't know.  

Where would I sell them?  Should I display some in cheap frames, or on cardboard shrink wrapped or in an art portfolio?  Would they fly out at local pop culture shows or would I only sell a couple per show and they wouldn't pay for the space they took up?

4 hours ago, uchiha101 said:

Let's clear a few things up. It's not a token amount but the cheapest going rate for a room and yes I've been checking. As for my parents, you have no idea how they treat me so don't begin to speak of them as you do. I know what they have done for me in the past and I'm thankful but they're terrible people.

Cheapest going rate for a room sounds like a token amount.  And clearly it can't be much because you're currently on welfare and you're monthly income is a token amount when compared to the cost of living today.  $600 a month?  $700 a month welfare rate?   Even if you give them every penny that's nothing when you look at the cost of housing, utilities, food, internet and phone, maid service, transportation, taxes and on and on.

And you're right, I don't know your parents and it doesn't really matter.  You've already admitted they did a reasonable job getting you to 18 years of age and they've done what parents are supposed to do.  Every parent will help their kids to different degrees once they reach adulthood but at this point they owe you nothing.  They may not be perfect but JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT DOESN'T MAKE THEM SELFISH OR AWFUL.  

Try doing some navel gazing.  You're an adult male who can't keep a job.  You live with your parents and aren't close to paying your way in life.  You owe money to credit card companies and ignored their calls for some time and you plan to pay them back someday.  Rather than focus on constructive plans you've focused on ridiculous ideas like buying and selling a million $$ comic, bitcoin, etc - and I'm sorry, you're underfunded and ill equipped for any of these plans and you're wasting your time and we've told you that for years.  You're clearly angry and hostile towards your parents and it's clear here and I'm sure it's clear to your parents.  

If you honestly look at yourself you'll see an angry young man who's immature, selfish - yes selfish because you're always doing what you want rather than what will help others or yourself long term, avoids responsibility, constantly makes poor decisions, blames others and can't or won't work.   Face it, your parents don't want you there for very good reasons and you've documented it here for years.  Try standing in their shoes for a minute and imagine how difficult this is for them.  

On 1/15/2019 at 10:26 PM, uchiha101 said:

Yes, it is and since you're the one that tells me I have a lack of comprehension you read what I said again. She is greedy and selfish so don't get it twisted. She didn't do that out of the good of her heart but to sell the house faster. I didn't want to move any of my stuff upstairs because I didn't want anything to happen to it. Freeload? I pay rent, for the food, and I use my own circumstance to HELP THEM with food! Don't you call me a freeloader again. Unlike me, they have nothing wrong with them and deserve all that's coming to them.

The token amount you pay for rent and whatever food you bring to the table may be meaningful contributions in your mind but hardly compensate your parents for the joy of taking care of you.  Welfare won't come close to paying real rent and all the other associated costs of living so calling you a freeloader is at least partially accurate.  Move out on your own and pay all the expenses and prove me wrong.

Clearly your parents have struggled with your issues, as have you, for your entire life, and clearly they're tired of it.  It's absolutely clear that you don't appreciate their help, make no mistake Gabe they're helping you now and they've helped you all your life, and you're angry and hostile towards them.

Glad you had fun at the Toronto show.

Once a you start selling rather than just being a dealer your thought process likely changes.  You realize how common a lot of those run filler books are and how much effort it requires to sell them versus keys, semi keys and GA books.  I also know that that average book will eventually pop in a collection I buy so why go looking for it.  I also have so many longs of comics piled up in the basement and feel no reason to add to the pile.

" I am going to keep up with the journal whenever I even have something mildly of interest to report."

Good, I think your journal has been a great read.

7 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

Well, I likely closed out the year with picking up another but  SMALL two long box collection from a guy I have bought stuff off from before.  I have said this before, but this has been my slowest buying year since I have started buying/selling.

Admittedly, I paid a little bit more than I wanted to but he still has some books he wants to offload but he is just not ready yet but I wanted to keep him happy with our arrangement - He calls me first when he is "ready" to sell something. 

He is contemplating getting rid of his print collection (assorted but focused on the good/bad girl art). I don't have a lot of knowledge there but hey, anything to bring eyes to the booth and online.

Anyway, I have made some nice sets from it already which will be good for shows and I gave away a nice stack of assorted commons from it to a co-worker to give to her grandson. The highlights were a few art books/hardcovers, some variant covers (Marvel, DC and Zenescope) and a nice little BP run with 1st Shuri and Thor God of Thunder with the whole first Knull/Venom thing.

Smaller purchases can often work out quite well.  Less stress to go through them and often there are less guys chasing the small purchases.

5 hours ago, Wall-Crawler said:

Promoter is unlikely to leave location as it is literally next door to his antique shop.  Something "really bad" would have to happen I think.

My wife suggested I might even want to consider just try renting out a small boardroom at a hotel or something and advertise like crazy myself via social media and see what happens given the last local show it was pretty much regulars that showed up anyway.  There is also a big indoor yard sale in the late spring I might try to unload some $1 books...Tables are like $15 for an 8 footer...

3 or 4 times a year a dealer from Calgary rents a hotel ballroom or a community hall in Edmonton and hauls up a big truckload of comics.  He advertises on facebook etc.  He keeps coming back so I'm guessing he's selling a lot.  I haven't gone but I've been told it's mostly $1 type books with a bit of SA and no GA.  

I've been thinking of doing the same as I have a lot of stuff that never gets to shows.  It's not that expensive to rent a community hall and I could share the cost with a few other local dealers.

I'd have a problem setting up at that promoter's show if he didn't change venue.  If the venue is willing to double book events they can't be trusted.  And in reality, that's exactly what the venue did, booked in a second event before the first event could possibly be packed up.  I'd imagine the organizer had a signed contract that stipulated what time the facility was available for setup and what time vendors had to be cleared out.

1 hour ago, Wall-Crawler said:

Thanks Torch...Yeah new journal format not user friendly at all.

I had a discussion with the promoter and the venue screwed him. I believe him. He apologized for it to. I suggested if the venue is going to behave like that there are plenty of other venues in town.

I also think they may have been a little over confident based on the success of their first show and there was a lot of other stuff going on in town...But still....

They also need to only do this show ONCE a year. Even NGE and Sudbury Graphic Con which are bigger shows are only one day and once a year.

I gave a bit of an ultimatum too and said if they want me there in the future I refuse to set up in that side room again and must be in the main room. He agreed. So we will see.

Might be a moot point though as for their spring show they scheduled it for the same day as Northern Game Expo which is has been better for me historically so I am going to NGE in April 2019 instead. 

 

If I was the promoter I'd find a different location and as a vendor I wouldn't support the show if it set up there again.  The venue must know there's a booking in there until 6 pm and they must be aware that it's comprised of vendors who require time to pack up.  I can only believe the venue saw an opportunity to make money by booking the second event and essentially said F him.

I know the promoter of the local show never went back to the hotel after they bumped him and the hotel  lost a twice yearly event.  Short term gain and long term loss not to mention damage to their reputation.

Just fount this thread Tyler .

That show sounds terrible and that promoter didn’t do his job.  Kicking you out of your spot before the show ended is absolutely unreasonable.  Booking a birthday party into a space that’s already occupied makes no sense.  I have seen some venues who have done somewhat similar things to promoters - a local show was bumped for a wedding because the wedding was more lucrative- so it is possible the venue screwed the promoter.

I've been thinking about limiting my collection to a defined size.  Say one short box.  To make it work I'd have to sell a book every time I bought a book.  The collection would be manageable in size,  the quality would improve every time I added a book and the collection would be easy to sell when that time came.  

Ultimately, we all have to live with our collections and the size and scope are both very personal and self defined.   Mine's currently out of control  

15 minutes ago, Ken Aldred said:

It was in Bolton, to the north of Manchester, during the early 90s. Can't even recall its name now.

Very claustrophobic, and the shop reeked a bit.  I figured out why - the owner’s dog was farting.  Extremely off-putting.  

I only went back one more time, the dog persisted with its noxious air pollution, and I just gave up and left.

And the owner couldn't figure out why customers wouldn't come back