LordRahl

On 6/23/2017 at 1:52 PM, namisgr said:

All true, but it's got an awesome new Gil Kane cover.

The first 9.8 would most definitely fetch silly money, especially since it can be argued that #3,452 for the Fantucchio copy is already silly money.

You are correct in that it is silly money however it won't hold up. I was the underbidder. Apparently the top bidder is either unwilling or unable to follow through so they offered me the book for my underbid... which I declined as I didn't feel that I should bid against myself and pay a price that was inflated by a thrill bidder. 

I assume it will just go to auction again at some point. Sweet copy for a 9.6, hence my silly bid. The last 9.6 I had wasn't a 9.6 as it had a corner crease on the front cover. On a black cover book, even a small crease stood out like a sore thumb.

I'd love to see what a 9.8 would fetch, if one ever gets certified.

1 hour ago, Transplant said:

You're seeing current TATs, but you're not seeing (unless you go to the pdf with prices, etc.) the "normal" estimated TATs.  And the pdf doesn't even have an estimated "normal" TAT for Moderns at all.

Why do those matter? Isn't "current TAT" what people use to gauge when they will get their books? Maybe they eliminated it because it wasn't relevant.

2 hours ago, Transplant said:

Isn't it weird that CGC removed Estimated TATs for moderns?  They also removed the estimated TATs from the web page showing current TATs for all tiers.  Strange decisions.

Come again, what did they remove now? I'm seeing current TAT's posted on their site.

18 hours ago, namisgr said:

Over the Memorial Day weekend, this thread will offer a slew of unrestored near mint range bronze age comics.  Many publishers will be represented, and the books will cover a wide variety of price points.  The sale particulars: The list prices are firm, but I am happy to negotiate discounts for purchases of 5 or more books.  Payments are accepted by check, money order, or PayPal.  Shipping is by USPS Priority and costs $14 in the US for up to 4 slabbed comics and $11 for up to 8 raw books - other locations will be a bit extra.  There are no returns on CGC-graded books, unless a slab is damaged despite my bomb-proof packaging.  Raw comics may be returned within 7 days of receipt for a full refund of the book price - this is a hassle for everyone concerned, so before pulling the trigger feel free to request a detailed description of the condition and flaws of any comic.

Disclosure: none of these comics was pressed under my ownership, or to my knowledge beforehand.

 

To get things started...

 

• Avengers #93
• cgc 9.4 ow/w
• $550

Old label copy with exceptional cover registration and a brilliant, clean front cover, which are very tough to find on this ish.  This giant-sized book is one of the very best Bronze Age comics, featuring a Roy Thomas continuation of the Kree-Skrull war, over 30 pages of Neal Adams Avengers art, and a spectacular chapter entitled 'Journey to the Center of an Android'.  Awesome!

 

30 minutes ago, jbud73 said:

I think it just reinforces that some books are not encapsulation candidates if your goal is resale. The 2-5 dollar increase does not occur in a vacuum, the increase and overall cost for those selling CGC books is set against the average valuation of the book and the era GA, SA, BA, Copper/Modern.  Hard to say if CGC has done the quantitative assessment or just wants to increase revenue.  Time will tell, there are a large section of books that are and now more so just not slabbing candidates with CGC.

Not directing this at you Jason.

If you are slabbing for resale only and $2 on a modern or $5 on a SA book is the difference between you making money and not making money...... you are doing it wrong. Fact is that for resale, a lot of books weren't worth the grading cost. That number of books does not significantly change with this increase.

2 hours ago, elektra101 said:

Modern SLOW track

Received 3/28/17 Tuesday

Shipped Safe 4/14/17 Friday

 

VERY VERY VERY FAST.  

13 Business days total.  SUPER SUPER SUPER fast.

Grading was tight still but I can live with that.

12 books  48%  9.8

9 Books    36%  9.6

2 books    8%   9.4

2 Books     8%   9.4

 

E

 

Yes, super fast TAT's right now. But grading is not only tight, it's inconsistent. Probably because they have a bunch of new people but really, CGC needs to address it. As others have pointed out in this thread, 9.6's getting 9.6 for no apparent reason. It seems like they are purposely not grading things as 9.8 to keep the 9.8 numbers on the lower side. I'm getting back 45 modern tier books, most being copper age books and some early Walking Dead. A bunch of 9.6's with grading notes like lite spine stress and fingerprints. Fine. But then there are also a bunch of 9.6's with no notes. If you saw something like "light fingerprints center of back cover" to bring one book down to 9.6 and you noted it, then you must have seen something to bring these other books down too. So why no notes? Probably because there was nothing to note. Which should mean that it should have been a 9.8. Either note the defects so I know what you are downgrading for, or if there are no notable defects give it the 9.8 it deserves. 

As for inconsistency. One book received a 9.6 with the only note being "small lite printers crease  right center of front cover". I can show you plenty of 9.8s with huge multiple printers creases. When did they start downgrading for printers creases? How about making that known to your customers? They went years without downgrading for that defect. Now apparently they are. Either don't switch your grading criteria, or at least inform us that you are so we know what to expect.

CGC - I know you read these boards. Fix your grading problems. Fast TAT's are great but not at the expense of inconsistent grading.

1 hour ago, Martin Sinescu said:

Not a fan, to be honest. CGC should be neutral -- the case, the label, etc. When they start embellishing their presentation with specialized touches such as this, it crosses over being a neutral, third-party service and becomes more fanboy-type stuff. It just doesn't seem professional, more of a trite novelty.

You know those 2 things aren't mutually exclusive, right? And how CGC having a comic related, branded label makes them any less neutral is beyond me. That's some next level conspiracy theory right there.

33 minutes ago, Lego said:

CGC's Custom Labels

Has this been discussed to death?  I have to say, I don't like it.  It's definitely pushing the boundary of "manufactured collectible" and that's just not a path I'd like to see comics go down.

How is this a manufactured collectible exactly? It's just aesthetic. If you want a pretty label, pay for it. If not, don't. I don't see any problem. Nor do I see how this is a "manufactured collectible".

Here is the Detective 475 I am donating in case people want to see it before picking it. It's a 9.4 in my opinion but slight possibility of a 9.2 on a bad day.

5 minutes ago, toro said:

@LordRahl If thou art truly a Lord you will accept my challenge.  I challenge you to grade these books head to head against me in this round and try to have the honor of undisputed 3rd place in this contest!  Do you accept @LordRahl? 

I humbly accept thy challenge 

4 hours ago, thirdgreenham said:

Thanks for the challenge, LordRahl. It was an honour to play against a previous winner. 

I knew I was in trouble this round. Good luck in the final!

1 hour ago, Tsp99 said:

I second that!   That grade is

What's wrong with the grade on the SG? I had it at 8.0 but I mean 8.5 isn't out of the realm of possibility. It's certainly not egregiously over-graded

1 hour ago, BlowUpTheMoon said:

Here's your 2017 CGC March Madness Final Four

2    thirdgreenham 24-3
N/A    LordRahl
    
1    Betty-Bates 24-2
1    toro 32-3

1 hour ago, BlowUpTheMoon said:

 

Gotta play the guy that runs his own grading contest 

Best of luck Andy! I hope to keep it close at least. But I do want that bounty 

1 hour ago, thirdgreenham said:

What have you done for me lately.

Not a whole lot 

44 minutes ago, jgallo said:

MY grades are in, I believe if I checked right I am going up against last years champion....

 

James G

That was last year and this is a "what have you done for me lately" kind of world. But we'll see how it goes. Good luck! Looking forward to the showdown

I'll donate a NMish copy of Detective 475 (Rogers Joker cover) with free shipping. Don't have a scan currently. I'll try and get a pic up in the next few days.

3 hours ago, DeadOne said:

Good books.
I'd be okay with Magazines, but I have no idea how poster grading works.

*

+1 

Mags = fine

Posters = 

2 hours ago, sckao said:

He told me the last PM he had from you was from 2016 so something may be wrong...Using the old board? Still time to fix things I guess...

 

 

I just sent you a PM. Let me know if you don't get it here, maybe my PM's aren't working. Which would be unfortunate.

1 hour ago, thirdgreenham said:

Have you got his phone number, from a previous Raffle form?

Negative on the phone number. I'm messaging him on this board not the old one. I didn't think you could PM in the old board anymore.

9 hours ago, BlowUpTheMoon said:

I sent Unca Scrooge a PM letting him know what's up.

Are you getting my PM's? I replied both to the one you sent me yesterday and the March Madness one you started a couple of weeks ago. I figure since you said in your PM yesterday that you can't see the March Madness one, you may not be getting PM's from me. I don't know how to fix that though 

On 3/12/2017 at 3:18 PM, sckao said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I get kicked out? I don't see my name in there anywhere

4 hours ago, delekkerste said:

By all accounts, things worked out pretty well for Gene since 2002. 

I also heard he has long since disavowed any forecasts made 15 years ago. 

 

Smart man. I didn't mean to single you out, I just know we debated this quite a bit back then but there have been plenty of people that have called it a bubble throughout my time here. My only point was that people have been calling it a bubble for 15 years and said "bubble" hasn't burst yet. It may burst tomorrow if indeed it is a bubble but then again it may keep on bubbling for another 15 years. Lots of potential opportunity lost (financial and enjoyment of the hobby) if you get all wrapped up in the "it's a bubble" mentality.

3 hours ago, NP_Gresham said:

Bubble

When it bursts, the usual suspects will be wringing their hands and bemoaning that " How could anyone have seen this coming".

I almost wish it would happen sooner than later, to give it a softer landing.  But as long as you have the cheer leaders hailing the latest and greatest 'variant' cover, you will continue to see the balloon inflate.

It is unfortunate, but it has always been so, and so it must always be.  

Gene (delekerste) was telling us all this in 2002 when I joined these boards. How's that worked out so far?

4 hours ago, comicwiz said:

Whatever is happening, is happening across other collecting areas, not just comics.

I frequently check in a few thrift shops, and without fail, I always see a handful of people in the store holding something and checking eBay prices. We have long winters, so this will happen with yard/garage sales soon as well.

The real miscue in this "frenzy" is that everyone thinks there's no shortage of buyers, but what they aren't realizing is it's because everyone's become a dealer.

This is mostly true. Maybe not everyone is a dealer, but most do a little selling and buying. However, maybe that's not a bad thing in the long term. I know I spend wayyy more on comics because I'm able to fund it through selling than I would if I didn't do that. Because of the internet mostly and 3rd party grading secondly, it has become easy to sell books at/close to/above what you paid for them in order to finance other purchases. Let's face it, everyone has some sort of budget, whether it be thousands per month or $10 per month. The fact that you can in effect "trade" one comic for another by selling and buying something else that appeals to you more at the moment just makes collecting easier. 

Pre-internet days, it was difficult to do this. If you spent $100 on a book you were lucky to get $50-60 in trade at an LCS, assuming they had what you now wanted to begin with. You needed a constant flow of new funds and you lost a lot of money on books that you had lost interest in. These days, if you spend $10K on a bunch of books, you can likely cycle that same $10K indefinitely and constantly get new books. That makes it fun. It also keeps money in the hobby. Of course there is also new money coming in but just the fact that most people aren't getting fleeced every time they lose interest in a book and liquidate it is keeping that money in the hobby. Of course there are exceptions to this, like buying at the height of movie speculation and expecting a windfall a few months later. However, I think the amateur dealer mentality a lot of people have in this hobby is likely a good thing for the long term health of the hobby.

There is no guarantee that there are actually more slabs hitting the market on a daily basis. Is the quicker TAT because of a higher capacity of CGC to crank out books or because of fewer submissions? If the latter, than there aren't more slabs hitting the market. 

I know what you are going to say... "CGC says they are cranking them out faster because of process improvements and extra staff etc". Well of course that is what CGC would say. They certainly aren't going to say that their submission numbers are down and that is why they are faster. Maybe they are able to handle more capacity but until we have some approximate number of what they were cranking out a year ago versus today, it's impossible to make any correlation between their capacity to crank out slabs and the market for said slabs. As far as I know, no one has any clue how many books they slab per day now or in the past. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd actually love to know what they slab in a day.