xmen 1 cgc 9.4 sells for $57K on comiclink!!!!!!!!!!

[fantastic_four]

ComicLink is essentially the operator/owner of an unregulated marketplace. I’ve heard of no plans of ComicLink to become regulated/audited by an independent third party.

 

Are ANY collectibles markets regulated by independent third parties? I dunno really, but I doubt it. Total volume isn't high enough, and with the exception of a few individuals who overspend, nobody's health or livelihood would be negatively impacted if those markets just crashed entirely.

[namisgr]

How about this concept when dealing with Comiclink or, for that matter, any comic seller:

 

Bid only what you are willing to pay.

 

You make an excellent point about the lack of transparency with transactions conducted by Comiclink. The same is true for Heritage, with the lack of disclosure of buyer and seller. The same can also be said for all comic dealers supplying Overstreet with market information who are not selling over E-bay. Unless I am mistaken, E-bay is the ONLY completely transparent comic marketplace, and for this transparency one must often pay premium prices to acquire books. Moreover, E-bay prices are guided by Overstreet, which in turn is guided by market data not available to the general buying public.

 

I buy books from Comiclink, Heritage, major dealers through the mail, major dealers at comic cons and shows, and E-Bay. The lack of transparency in the vintage comic marketplace influences all of these resources. By paying what I perceive to be a reasonable price for each acquisition, coupled with periodic selling of books to get returns of current market value, I work with the lack of transparency as best I can.

[fantastic_four]

Unless I am mistaken, E-bay is the ONLY completely transparent comic marketplace, and for this transparency one must often pay premium prices to acquire books.

 

E-Bay isn't transparent at all to sellers or buyers who don't want to be transparent. It's the people who want to scam or deceive who you've got to worry about, and there aren't ANY Internet sites yet where people can't hide if they want to go through a little effort to stay hidden.

[namisgr]

Good point, FF, about crooks on e-bay. As someone who has been burned, fortunately with great rarity, I should not describe e-bay as a completely transparent marketplace. Still, most transactions have disclosure of buyer, seller, and sale price that is simply lacking from all other vintage comic venues.

[njdevilsfan-migration]

To all forum members:

 

Just to be clear, I'm not stating ComicLink has done anything wrong or fraudulent.

 

However, when stories like this are discussed in public forum, their specific bussiness model/website software setup has such a lack of transparency that "high bidders" don't even know if they are truly the winner or not ("So how did the AF 15 9.6 PLOD thing turn out" )

 

Perhaps, instead of focusing on the ways ComicLink could take advantage of their position, let's discuss ways they could improve their site.

 

My first suggestion would be for them to immediately announce the login Id of the high bidder. Or at minimum, if you are the high bidder, the site should indicate immediately that are you the high bidder (this view only avialable to your login and not the public). Any thoughts/suggestions??

 

bhampel

[fantastic_four]

My first suggestion would be for them to immediately announce the login Id of the high bidder. Or at minimum, if you are the high bidder, the site should indicate immediately that are you the high bidder (this view only avialable to your login and not the public). Any thoughts/suggestions??

 

I agree. Now somebody call Josh and ask him why it works this way and whether or not he's going to fix it.

[njdevilsfan-migration]

I agree. Now somebody call Josh and ask him why it works this way and whether or not he's going to fix it.

 

Josh already emailed me a few minutes ago in regard to my public comments on this thread in regard to ComicLink. Therefore, he is reading this specific thread.

 

IMHO, if he wanted to answer he would. Otherwise, I take his silence as deafening...

 

bhampel

[Murph]

When I recently "bought" something, I immediately got something saying that someone else had "bought" it first. Perhaps the seller or Josh was online, but this was definately a much quicker response that I'd gotten in the past.

 

Brian

[COMICLINK]

Hello everyone,

 

What follows is the communication that I've had with Brian Hampel regarding this thread. I attempted to resolve this in private but it appears that Mr. Hampel continues to try to discredit ComicLink and my character personally and air his grievances publicly (see his comment about my "deafening silence"). For all who are interested, what follows is a series of email communications between us, initiated by my response to his accusations. Though I may not be able to respond quickly, because I am working on a separate project today, I welcome your feedback. Maintenance of integrity is one of the biggest reasons why ComicLink is a success, and accusations that I would behave unethically are slanderous, not to mention an insult.

 

Josh Nathanson, ComicLink

www.comiclink.com

 

> --- "COMICLINK.COM" wrote:

> > Mr. Hampel:

> >

> > I do read the chat boards from time to time, and I

> > must say that I do not appreciate being accused of

> > displaying fraudulent or false sales information on

> > ComicLink. There is no basis for your accusation.

> > Basically, it is slander and you are challenging my

> > reputation as an honest service provider in this

> > marketplace, which I am. I also think that slander

> > should be a reason for CGC to take away a user's

> > chat board priveleges. The sale of the X-men #1 is

> > completely legitimate. After listing fake Marvel

> > Spotlight #5 artwork on the site, and the fact that

> > I gave you the benefit of the doubt in the form of

> > another chance to list items on the ComicLink web

> > site, I am surprised that you would accuse me

> > without evidence. What do you hope to gain from

> > this? Should I go on the forum and slander you

> > publicly saying that you tried to defraud buyers of

> > original comic artwork and try to ruin your

> > reputation? That is not my style, but frankly I am

> > tired of all the conspiracy theories by people who

> > don't know what they are talking about. Is it my

> > responsiblity to call you, Brian Hampel, and verify

> > ComicLink sales data? Brian -all sales are verified

> > by me and nothing is posted that is not a true sale

> > or sale pending. I take special care in making sure

> > all high end sales are legitimate. Sales such as

> > the X-men #1 sale are reported in the CBG, and the

> > Overstreet Price Review. If they were not

> > legitimate, I would risk losing my reputation if

> > someone found out about it. Dishonesty is as bad

> > for business as it is wrong. Why don't you post

> > that on the CGC chat board?

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Josh Nathanson, ComicLink

> > www.comiclink.com

> > Email - buysell@comiclink.com

> > Phone - 516/466-2770

> >

> > Don't forget to check out the large selection of new

> > listings each day (both For Sale and Auction) on our

> > new, automated site - www.comiclink.com

> > If interested in selling on ComicLink, login and

> > click "Sell" at the top to apply to become a

> > ComicLink seller.

> > And, if you are a collector looking for anything not

> > currently listed, try our new automated Wantlist

> > service to be notified automatically via email as

> > soon as the item you want in the condition you want

> > is listed!

> > ComicLink is now the ultimate tool for buyers and

> > sellers!

>

>----- Original Message -----

From: "Brian Hampel"

To: "COMICLINK.COM"

Cc: "STEVE BOROCK"

Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 2:40 PM

Subject: Re: Regarding Your Chat Board Comments

 

 

> Josh,

>

> What I said was, "ComicLink provides no real

> transparency on the actual buyers and sellers of

> sales. ComicLink also provides no indication of when a

> sale is actually completed (e.g. funds and book are

> transfered)". Therefore, if a "THRILL/JOY" bidder

> wanted to bid $57K on a XMEN #1 9.4 without the

> intention to pay; the CGC board members still report

> as if the new price for a XMEN #1 9.4 is now $57k.

>

> On ebay for example, the actual buyer and seller is

> contactable to verify if the transaction is completed.

> You web site does not provide this same level of

> transparency; which is not bad or good; but it is a

> fact.

>

> I've not accused you of any wrongdoing, just that

> there is a "lack of transparency" on these sales.

> This is an important subject matter given the credence

> of record 'high' prices your site has on the overall

> market. One sugestion might to put a "sucessfully"

> completed flag on deals that are in fact "Successfully

> Completed". This will help distinguish completed

> deals verse deals that are bid up by THRILL/JOY"

> bidders. Certainly you must get some deals that are

> NOT completed for one reason or other, right?

> However, the overall marketplace does know which are

> completed and which are not...

>

> I have no plans to remove my CGC forum statements as I

> do not consider them slanderous.

>

> However, I do look forward to your response to my

> proposed 'site enhancement' described above, as like I

> said, this is an important subject matter given the

> overall marketplace impact of sales data from

> ComicLink...

>

> Regards,

> Brian Hampel

 

>

 

Brian,

 

It would be different if you merely pointed out that the sale on ComicLink

may not be a completed one. Of course, I would not take personal offense to

that - after all, I am not paranoid. What you did is completely different.

You stop just short of stating that it is probable that I would personally

try to manipulate the market on high end comic books in order to make more

money. That is attacking my integrity and yes, that is slander (defamation

of character). You are stating to me privately that your concern is a

"thrill/joy bidder" but publicly you chose to try to discredit ComicLink and

myself personally as follows:

 

..."the ability to manipulate the market is available him as well as the

motivation to make a sh**load of money if he were to abuse that power. Ask

yourself this question, if you had that ability to manipulate the prices of

books sales, would you take advantage of that situation"

 

Why suggest that I would collude to fix prices? This is personal slander,

not merely educating forum members that the sale may not be complete (which

it is, though that is besides the point).

 

and you go further trying to build some sort of a case for my dishonesty...

 

..."The ability for manipulation is here as well as the motivation to make a

sh**load of money. e.g. Has the 'real buyer' of the restored AF #15 9.6 been

determined yet, or this book sitting in vaults of ComicLink?"

 

In addition, the person that wanted to purchase the Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC

9.6 restored was told (TRUTHFULLY) that three buy orders were placed for the

book, as well as the exact times up to the second that each buy order was

purchased. His buy order was the second to to be placed. I am not sure,

but I believe his complaints on the chat board about possible impropriety

were prior to learning this and prior to learning how the ComicLink system

works in general. It was his first order (and probably his last considering

it appears he still has sour grapes and blames the ComicLink system itself

and not the fact that another buyer beat him to the book). What would the

first buyer to place the order say if ComicLink gave it to the second buyer

instead? Would that make sense? Maybe instead of a first-come-first served

system, the system should be automated to recognize which buyers would be

most abusive to ComicLink on the CGC forums and give them first priority

 

Of course, regarding suggestions for enhancements to the site - they are

always welcome, and all enhancement suggestions are considered.

 

Josh

[Ian_Levine]

Hello Josh

 

Nice to see you on here.

 

Can't we just come down to DOUBLE guide for that Detective 5 ?????

[COMICLINK]

Sheesh, Ian - you are relentless! I would love to get you the book - selling it is the only way I can make any money, after all. However, it is the seller's decision and not mine. I did talk to him personally because your situation is pretty special and he just has more into it then you want to pay, and does not want to lose money. Have I ever not tried to get you a book that you wante to fill in your collection?

[BachelorOfComix]

After listing fake Marvel Spotlight #5 artwork on the site, and the fact that I gave you the benefit of the doubt in the form of another chance to list items on the ComicLink web site, I am surprised that you would accuse me without evidence.

[dam60]

Hello Josh

 

Nice to see you on here.

 

Can't we just come down to DOUBLE guide for that Detective 5 ?????

 

wow - what a surprise - another post by Ian about HIS collection!! Who would have thunk it?

[gpanalysis]

GPA just tracks eBay and Heritage correct? I don't know if it tracks the other auctions sites (Mastro, Vault, etc.).

 

We track Heritage, eBay, Mastro, All-Star, Vault, JP-Mint and Yahoo.

[njdevilsfan-migration]

We track Heritage, eBay, Mastro, All-Star, Vault, JP-Mint and Yahoo.

 

Why not ComicLink?

[Ian_Levine]

Sheesh, Ian - you are relentless! I would love to get you the book - selling it is the only way I can make any money, after all. However, it is the seller's decision and not mine. I did talk to him personally because your situation is pretty special and he just has more into it then you want to pay, and does not want to lose money. Have I ever not tried to get you a book that you wante to fill in your collection?

 

If you check, Josh, you will see that I sprang to your defence the other day, and said some very nice things about you.

[gpanalysis]

We track Heritage, eBay, Mastro, All-Star, Vault, JP-Mint and Yahoo.

 

Why not ComicLink?

 

We would be more than happy to include comic-link sales in GPA, however at the moment (and Josh correct me if I am wrong here) his final listed prices don't mention whether the sale has reached reserve (sold) or not. So we can't make the assumption based on the final price. If Josh starts to include that information on his site, or provides results to us directly, we will include it.

[Ian_Levine]

wow - what a surprise - another post by Ian about HIS collection!! Who would have thunk it?

 

I can't win.

I get criticised for not posting in other people's threads, then when I do I get...........

 

Oh wait a minte........

 

It's Dam60

 

THAT explains it.

[Foolkiller]

Uh... I really have no idea why Comiclink would be fraudulently making up a sale, but this seems to be taking the conspiracy theory to whole new level. I'm not saying it couldn't be possible, but it doesn't sound fair to guess like this when it's total speculation that the sale might not have been for real and we're attacking somebody then for no real reason.

[Foolkiller]

y'know what Ian, I've stayed away from the personal attacks, but good God man,

GET OVER YOURSELF ALREADY!!!!!!!!!