London comicon report (October 5th)

[JohnBull]

It takes one to know one.

 

I mean really, I've only been here a very short time and even I would be prepared to lay money on who you are.

[Trimmer_n_more-migration]

I mean really, I've only been here a very short time and even I would be prepared to lay money on who you are.

And I'd be prepared to lay money on you being wrong.

[JohnBull]

OK. Send me a PM telling me who you really are and if I'm wrong, I'll send you $10. If I'm right, I'll send you $20. Gotta be a good deal ?

[EwanUK]

Steady on there! And I do stand by much of what I say - I'm just open to compromise: being a reasonable chap who knows that maintaining bridges can always come in handy on a rainy day.

 

Silveracre - I posed the question because the impression they give is one of total professionalism - and I have to say the comics I've ordered from them have been accurately graded (well, apart from the one with the chocolate stain on the cover - least I think it was chocolate). Darryl is always friendly but I've heard him adopt an 'attitude' to certain "types" of people. Has anyone sold anything to him?

 

US Dealers - I've begun buying from US ebay dealers - who would you recommend as being the best?

 

New subject - what does everyone think of the UK comics magazines scene - i.e. Comics International. I feel it's become a little predictable and dull. Rose tinted glasses again - but I remember Fantasy Advertiser, BEM, Speakeasy, Arkensword and the like...

 

p.s. MY other hobby is playing roulette. Won £1200 on Saturday - now how could I spend that?

[chrisco37]

Like Blowout, I think it's very interesting to hear about markets outside North America. The UK market is a little different than NA. But, I would guess that most of that results from being further away from the "source".

 

One thing that I have noticed absent from our UK members posts about cons are the (apparent) lack of discounts offered. Every US show I go to, the prices are negotiable. Even at a small show (like Tyson's) will anyone rarely pay the "marked price". At bigger shows (like B'more), you can walk in knowing the sticker price will hardly ever be what I pay.

 

For example (and at the risk of making him sound like a "softy" ), Bob Storms has always been negotiable on his prices. As is Ted from Superworld. I know that I can always get quality material from these guys. And chances are, they will cut me a break.

 

Is this common or non-existant at UK cons? Is the sticker price THE price. Or will dealers give breaks to either repeat customers or customers buying, say, 5 or more books at a clip?

 

Thanks!

Chris

[Ian_Levine]

Well I have to say that Darryl may not be perfect, and I was a bit angry on one occasion that I tried to return a box of doubles that I'd bought off him over a period which came to £297 and he offered me fifteen quid for the whole box, which infuriated me, and another time I bought some comics through him which he got off a German dealer which were overpriced and lower graded than I was told, and he told me to take it up with the German guy who I'd never even met, and that it wasn't his (Darryl's) responsibility, but in fairness I have had some WONDERFUL bargains off him, and although he tends to be on the pricier side, he HAS looked after me, and he is second to none when it comes to runs of seventies, eighties and nineties stuff, and I couldn't have filled in all the gaps without that.

Plus his wife Mel is the sweetest, nicest, most warmhearted considerate and genuine person you could ever wish to meet. Yes, granted Darryl is no saint, but I think you've all been a bit harsh on him. Remember bigger dealers, including Harley as well, have HUGE overheads. I'm the last person to give feint praise, having made a lifetime career of falling out with people for shouting my mouth off, but in Darryl's case, calling him a shifty weasel just because someone took an off-guard photo is a bit unfair, don't you think ?

[chrisco37]

US Dealers - I've begun buying from US ebay dealers - who would you recommend as being the best?

 

Bob Storms (aka blazingbob) is the best. His website is easy to use, and he has tons of books. Also a large selection of raw books, and his grading is top notch. Check it out

 

Superworld Comics is run by Ted VanLiew. The nicest guy you will ever meet. His website is nice as well. And he has a great selection. His grading is a little looser than Bob's (especially the further back you go). But his Bronze Stuff is dead-on and very nice.

 

Also, ebayer, "ejaenter" (Jason Ewert?) is a seller that I recently won a book from. I highly recommend this guy. Extremely easy to deal with!

 

On the forums, Dr. Banner and Greggy both have nice books and are easy to deal with (yep. I said it! Greggy is easy to work with!!! ).

 

Hope that helps.

 

Chris

[JohnBull]

I sold a few bits to Darryl once. Happy to relate the story mouth to mouth if the situation ever arises.

 

US dealers - there's a few threads on these boards that cover the situation quite well. I'd recommend going to a few of the bigger ones to start with and buying a small amount. The easiest way to learn in life is to make the odd mistake. If you steer clear of the ones who don't specialise in comics (antique dealers or general book dealers or anyone who only does comics as a minority thing) and also the ones who are slagged off big time by the yanks, you probably won't go to far wrong. The general standard of grading over there is much better than it is in this country. We love ya guys ! You may like to start wars a little too frequently for my liking but your comics are great.

 

My sub to comics international ran out about 7 or 8 years ago. I do have some great DS stories that relate to Comicons around 79 to 81, but alas, you know what I'm going to say next. Since I haven't read a new comic since 1996 and never will again in my life, I'm not the person to give an opinion on this issue. Mind you, that won't actually hold me back !

 

Roulette is a bad hobby and I speak as someone who used to do the horses big time. I have a friend in a good job, who used to do casinos a decade or more ago. Unfortunately, the first time he went to one he won about 3 grand. If he'd lost a few quid instead, he'd have saved himself a lot of money in the long run. He's still paying off an enormous amount of his salary every month and apparently will be for some years to come.

 

That said, if I had £1200 in disposables that had come to me from a roulette table, I'd do the following. I'd go to an online casino and I'd watch the tables. As soon as I saw red come up 3 times in a row on a table, I'd put £10 on black. If I lost, I'd put £20 on black the next time and keep doubling up until I won. As soon as I won, I'd stop and take my £10 profit. I'd then come back next day and do the same thing the again and try to earn £70 a week or £3640 a year in buntz. I know you can do this in a real casino, but there are probably other overheads involved (like admission) and the discipline is harder as you have to physically go all the way there and then maybe leave after 1 throw.

 

Providing the tables are honest and you keep your balls, then you have to hit a stretch of 10 reds or 0's in a row to wipe out, which is not impossible, but unlikely. If they use US tables with a 00, I might be less likely to give it a go.

 

All the above is subject to a) you're having the time to actually make consecutive bets (if not, I'd look at every 2nd throw and bet like that instead, which mathematically comes out at the same thing) and b) the rules of the 'venue' allowing you to bet up to £640 in one hit.

 

Before anyone mentions it, I know all the above was seriously

[Ian_Levine]

"US Dealers - I've begun buying from US dealers - who would you recommend as being the best? "

 

Metropolis for sheer inventory.

 

Harley Yee for getting up off his butt and finding you whatever you want.

 

Joe Verenault for the best bargains EVER and also for getting up off his butt and finding you whatever you want.

 

Rich Muchin for great deals and a genuinely nice guy.

 

Robert Rogovin but you have to haggle a bit.

 

Motorcity Comics - Michael Goldman is a winderful guy to deal with.

 

John Verzyl - another wonderful and helpful guy

 

Gary Dolgoff - a real character, and great for Silver Age, but no good for Golden Age

 

 

 

[JohnBull]

Well I have to say that Darryl may not be perfect, and I was a bit angry on one occasion that I tried to return a box of doubles that I'd bought off him over a period which came to £297 and he offered me fifteen quid for the whole box, which infuriated me, and another time I bought some comics through him which he got off a German dealer which were overpriced and lower graded than I was told, and he told me to take it up with the German guy who I'd never even met, and that it wasn't his (Darryl's) responsibility, but in fairness I have had some WONDERFUL bargains off him, and although he tends to be on the pricier side, he HAS looked after me, and he is second to none when it comes to runs of seventies, eighties and nineties stuff, and I couldn't have filled in all the gaps without that.

 

Phew, gotta catch my breath. Nice to see the odd positive word even if I can't stand the guy, but full stops (*) do come in handy every now and then.

 

(*) That's a period yank. Now sod off and get back to your own side of town (joke).

[Phantom-migration]

I'd go to an online casino and I'd watch the tables. As soon as I saw red come up 3 times in a row on a table, I'd put £10 on black.

Actually, there's no need to wait for red to come up 3 times in a row for your scenario. The study of statistics shows that, even if you did, the odds of the next one landing on black are still going to be 50/50.

[JohnBull]

Yes, that's very true. If red has come up 100 times in a row the chances of it coming up next time (assuming the table is fair) are still 1 in 2.

 

However, we are looking at buying into an infinitely large sequence. With £1200 to spare, we can afford 6 losses in a row, the seventh wipes us out. Now the math is slightly out due to the presence of the 0, which is the casino's edge, but we'll have to ignore that for conveniences sake.

 

If we hit into a sequence which is already 3 red's old, we lose if 7 more red's come up. Whilst the chances of any one of those reds happening is 1 in 2, the chance, a priori, of a 10 red sequence happening is 1 in 1024.

 

Now let's say we start our sequence when the first black appears. We now get wiped out by a sequence of only 7 consecutive reds and the a priori chance here is only 1 in 128.

 

Which sequence do you want to try and buy into ?

 

Incidentally, when I was young I was bought the 1972 Guiness Book Of Records. I'll always remember that copy mentioning the casino record as, I think, 27 of one colour in a row ! Don't know if it's changed in 30 years, but that's not a sequence I'd want to come accross !!!

[JohnBull]

Hmm, having thought about this I've decided you're right and I'm wrong after all. I don't just lose my money on any 7 red sequence, I lose it 8, 9, 10 or any 7+ sequence. When I buy into the table, I have no idea how long the sequence is going to become and I may even buy into the 4th hit of the big 27 number run.

 

I still think I'd do it my way though. The security may be an illusion, but at least it makes me feel that I have some control and that it's not completely random.

[Phantom-migration]

If we hit into a sequence which is already 3 red's old, we lose if 7 more red's come up. Whilst the chances of any one of those reds happening is 1 in 2, the chance, a priori, of a 10 red sequence happening is 1 in 1024.

 

Now let's say we start our sequence when the first black appears. We now get wiped out by a sequence of only 7 consecutive reds and the a priori chance here is only 1 in 128.

The funny thing about statistical probability though, is that once those first three reds show up and get put into the history books, they do absolutely no good in figuring the statistical odds that come later.

 

If 3 reds show up before you start placing bets, the odds for the next seven rounds are going to be exactly the same as if you hadn't waited for the first three reds to show in the first place. It seems a little strange, but that's the way it works out.

[comicmankev]

Getting back on track here, I was just stating GP that I wanted to change my words about UK dealers to ALL dealers worldwide. Look at Mile high prices, ideal collectables etc. There prices compare with UK dealers qite well.

 

The difference is your more likely to get a deal from a US dealer than a UK one. 90% that I ask say 'thats the price' about the label, which is sad.

 

And i'm not backing off from anyone! I'm first to say if someone has p@~sed me off. And talking of Darryl, yep he's done me! And he is now on my blocked bidders list.

[Foolkiller]

Ugh... I've really gotta disagree with that list you put up Ian.

 

If people are reading this looking for suggestions, please, please, please stay AWAY from Richie Muchin: You will get either terrible service and/or undisclosed restored books. He's famous for it, ask around.

 

 

Motorcity is nice enough, but if you don't want to quite literally pay with your arms and legs, i suggest avoiding them... there's a classic example of a dealer where you really can get it cheaper elsewhere.

 

I say the same about Harley... nice enough, but I've seen the same high grade books at the same shows he's at for generally 25% less. Now that is overpriced.

But he will find rare material...

 

Metropolis is great for their sheer volume, and since the arrival of Vinny, much better at customer service.

 

Joe Verenault is a great guy, but his selection seems to be deteriorating a little.

 

I totally echo the thoughts of chrisco... check out www.highgradecomics.com and www.superworldcomics.com Bob's grading is almost always spot on and he'll work with you. Ted is also fantastic and probably the nicest, friendliest dealer there is. If you're looking for mainstream silver or bronze, check these guys out. The experience will just be better.

 

I only felt the need to comment because if you're not from the US, there's certain guys to stay away from... and Muchin's one of them.

 

 

[goldust40]

Oh now COME ON, Kev! You can't be serious when you say that U.K. dealers prices compare favourably to Mile High's. Even the most expensive Brit dealers are nowhere near as pricey as Chuck! Compare prices on his website and then any U.K. dealers for evidence! Talk about sweeping generalizations - Chucky has an F.F. 48 (this is just ONE example) in FN at $756 AND it's on sale!! (It was $945). He also has an F.F. 48 in CGC VF 8.0 for $2488! (before the sale it was $3110). It guides for $697, and would go for a bit less on ebay. At present, on my website, www.goldustcomics.com, I have an F.F. 48 in VFN- at £325, which is about $520.

 

I could go on and on and on! That was an ABSURD post! Just go to Chuck's website - he's the most expensive dealer in the world!!!!!!! He HAS to be!

 

As for ideal collectables, have you checked the prices on their CGC stuff???? Please!

[deathlok]

Ugh... I've really gotta disagree with that list you put up Ian.

 

If people are reading this looking for suggestions, please, please, please stay AWAY from Richie Muchin: You will get either terrible service and/or undisclosed restored books. He's famous for it, ask around.

 

 

Motorcity is nice enough, but if you don't want to quite literally pay with your arms and legs, i suggest avoiding them... there's a classic example of a dealer where you really can get it cheaper elsewhere.

 

I say the same about Harley... nice enough, but I've seen the same high grade books at the same shows he's at for generally 25% less. Now that is overpriced.

But he will find rare material...

 

Metropolis is great for their sheer volume, and since the arrival of Vinny, much better at customer service.

 

Joe Verenault is a great guy, but his selection seems to be deteriorating a little.

 

I totally echo the thoughts of chrisco... check out www.highgradecomics.com and www.superworldcomics.com Bob's grading is almost always spot on and he'll work with you. Ted is also fantastic and probably the nicest, friendliest dealer there is. If you're looking for mainstream silver or bronze, check these guys out. The experience will just be better.

 

I only felt the need to comment because if you're not from the US, there's certain guys to stay away from... and Muchin's one of them.

 

 

 

I have to agree with Foolkiller on everything. Harley is a terrific dealer as far as his books, but you will pay for them.

 

Meteropolis overcharges for books you can possibly find cheaper elsewhere.

 

Superworld was one of the best experiences I have had with a dealer. At th SD con I went to their booth and looked over a few of their books. After talking with Ted about the grades, he gave a really great deal on them, and they came back from CGC with the exact grade or slightly higher.

 

I think most of the big name dealers overcharge for their books because they have such a diverse customer base who might be willing to pay such amounts. That and they wouldn't be in business long if they had discount rates on everything all the time.

[comicmankev]

Well, I did'nt realise that I was gonna have to show comparisons, but here goes:

 

Look at this?

 

 

Now, lets take a look at the 9.0 on your site??? I make yours $1340 and a whole 2 points lower?

 

If I had more time, I'd find quite a few more. Maybe I'll do that on monday when I get off this dial-up!

[Ian_Levine]

I think that is SO unfair about Rich Muchin.

He has been reliable, friendly, and ALWAYS delivers with great bargains. And he genuinely cares about the comics and knows his stuff.

I can only speak from experience, but I would defend him to the hilt.

I'm amazed you dissed him so badly.

He's an all round good guy.