I used to go to Sidebottom’s shop when I was attending San Jose State University in the 70s. It was just a few blocks from the university. It was small, cramped, dark and musty inside. As I recalled he sold other things besides comics. I remember he had drug paraphernalia like roach clips, pipes, and cigarette paper. He sold a lot of underground comix. I remember the Mr. Natural sign he would put out on the sidewalk in front of the shop. On the floor were piles and piles of comics randomly mixed. Those he sold for a quarter each or 5 for a dollar. Except when you found something worth more. Then he’d charged you more, quoting a price off the top of his head. That’s where I bought my first back issue, a Tarzan #217.
Bob was a cranky man. My feeling was he just didn’t like most people. At best, I think he barely tolerated me. One time I pulled a Unknown Worlds #47 (Williamson story) from the 25¢ piles on the floor. He wanted $2.00. I offered $1.00. He just took the comic from my hands and put it behind the counter.
Comics & Comix opened a shop just around the corner (about 1974?). Also, there were a couple of used bookstores on the block that sold back issues. There was a kid that priced the comics for one bookstore. He used to let me have some of the comics for cheaper. I remember he re-priced an Avengers #100 from $1.00 to 50¢ for me. He was a big Neal Adams fan. I think his name was Adam.
I remember Hal Verb at the Berryessa Flea Market. He priced everything at mint prices (when Overstreet used Mint instead of NM), even beaters which a lot of his comics were. I don’t think he cared about condition or knew how to grade.