My road to success (Moving Update 2) 8 8

[uchiha101]

 

No the one piece of advice I can think I don't listen to is people telling me to stop buying and selling comics.

 

And there is the problem. At this stage that is the one price of advice you should be taking. Why do you think you shouldn't take this advice?

 

Because it's something I'm half decent in and believe me when I say that.

[Kenners]

I think this thread has gotten to the point where it is doing more harm than good. I would suggest that the moderators close this thread.

 

I have to agree with Red here regarding the thread doing more harm than good. I think we've past the point where good advice is going to have any impact whatsoever. Gabe is either too stubborn or too ignorant to take any of this advice onboard, this has been proven over and over.

 

I'm not saying that he makes these constant mistakes on purpose or for our entertainment, but he must be enjoying the attention to some extent.

 

I wonder if we all completely stopped posting here what the effect would be. At the very least it would free up the time Gabe spends responding to every post with his insightful, well thought out, rational and coherent replies. This would give him more time to "look" for a job.

 

I don't enjoy the attention and I never have what I enjoy is getting advice and experience from those that are smarter and better off then I am.

 

So, why don't you act on the good advice that you're given?

[Red84]

So, you say you're learning. What have you learned?

 

No offense but you just bought an 8.0 thinking it was an 8.5 and overpaid for it. I don't understand how this can happen when you don't have a large margin for error with your flipping.

 

I only overpaid 30 dollars for it currently but with the graders notes I'd be able to get a 8.5 max that means that my margin will be razor thin but I'd be able to do it.

 

What are you talking about?!?! You paid $956 for an 8.0. 90 day average on an 8.0 is $863. You overpaid by almost $93. Your purchase would be bad if you were buying it to keep in your collection. Your purchase is horrible as a book to flip. There is zero profit to be made. Sell it for $900 and take your loss like an adult. But you won't because you know far more about this then all of the people giving you advice. You'd rather spend $100+ on pressing and grading and hold the book for months and then take a $200 or $300 loss. And that's assuming you don't get a popped staple during the press or the book just happens to grade out as a 7.5. Do what you want, but don't kid yourself into thinking you are doing this correctly.

[Red84]

Also, here's some unrelated advice. Change your youtube name. You should not use your actual full name as your youtube name. You don't want employers looking you up.

[uchiha101]

All the comic buying/selling/trading shenanigans aside, here's one part I can't get past.

 

The OP keeps saying that he wants to get a job that offers more hours, yet he has a job.

 

When I managed a restaurant, I never gave hours to anyone...employees earned their hours.

 

My superstars...the ones that went above and beyond by either covering a last minute call-off, cleaning in between other jobs, or just having great attitudes were the ones I took care of. I always made sure they had the hours they were looking for. I couldn't do my job well without them.

 

Even the people a step down from my superstars...the people that were always on time for their shift, who followed directions well, and had good attitudes were sure to get 30-40 hours a week depending on their needs. I'd work with them because they made my life easier.

 

But the bums...the ones that showed up late for shifts, never covered a shift outside of their schedule, people with bad attitudes who obviously took no pride in what they did, these people would generally get 15 hours or less. Even the people who were good at a specific job but had poor attitudes, they are bums to me. I'd take an unskilled hard-worker over a skilled diva with a poor attitude any day.

 

What I'm saying to the OP is that if you're not getting enough hours at work, it's nobody's fault but yours.

 

Do a self-assessment:

 

• Are you there early every day? No exceptions? Remember, if you're "on-time", you're late. Be 5 minutes early for every shift.
• Is your uniform clean, nails clean and trimmed, hair washed, combed and out of the way? I don't care if you work in the back, you need to look presentable at work at all times.
• Check your attitude. When you're assigned a job, do you grumble and meander over to it, or is your response a peppy "sure thing!" with physical enthusiasm to match?
• What are you doing during slow times? If you're a dishwasher, what do you do between trays of dishes to be done? Is your station spotless? If not, clean it. If the area is perfect, grab something like a pot or a board and give it a deep cleaning. Make it like new again. Things like this is restaurants get dingy after time. A little elbow grease goes a long way.
• Are you smiling? I don't care if you hate the job. SMILE! It goes a LOOOOOONG way.
  

 

First off I don't smiled if I don't like something I don't fake my feelings. I was always there about 30 minutes early, my hygiene was so-so when I came to facial hair, I was eager to help others and I had a good attitude until you pissed me off. Everything was so busy there's not really anytime for anything else.

 

It seems like you don't exhibit the behaviors that an employer would find desirable and your attitude about your job is pretty bad. If you don't learn to control your emotions then you will never succeed in a job where you either work with other people or with the public. Your employer is paying you for your time to not only do a job but to also contribute to a team environment. If all you do is give people your attitude, don't smile, complain about the work you have to do, and come in with poor hygiene then you only have to blame yourself for not being able to move ahead in the workplace.

 

Yeah it does seem like that doesn't it? Yes my hygiene could definitely improve but I always came in on time, was willing to help and a team player. My attitude only come from people that get on my nerves and that didn't happen often there. I do have one employer with thee managers that liked me and said if I ever want a job it will always be there for me. My major thing is I wanted to be treated with respect even though yes I earn minimum wage I'm still a person because I treat others how they treat me it's that simple.

[uchiha101]

It's Gabe's boulder and we are all Sisyphus.

 

No idea what that means but that name sounds like greek mythology

[Kenners]

.. I like the way that you're ignoring my good-advice posts

[revat]

So, you say you're learning. What have you learned?

 

No offense but you just bought an 8.0 thinking it was an 8.5 and overpaid for it. I don't understand how this can happen when you don't have a large margin for error with your flipping.

 

I only overpaid 30 dollars for it currently but with the graders notes I'd be able to get a 8.5 max that means that my margin will be razor thin but I'd be able to do it.

 

ok, so you've done a full analysis of the costs involved with pressing, including shipping back and forth, grading, insurance, translation fees, any custom or border fees.

 

And OF course you've calculated some EDUCATED estimated probabilities of receiving a 8.5, 8.0, and 7.5.

 

And OF course you've calculated some CONSERVATIVE expected realized values per grade upon selling, after selling fees, translation, shipping, insurance, customs duties, and taxes.

 

 

And with this information, you've OBVIOUSLY used the probabilities and expected values to calculated a reasonable conservative expected value of return WITH PRESSING, and one WITHOUT PRESSING. And obviously, you've determined that its more worth it through all this math that PRESSING and RESUB is worth it.

 

 

Not that you owe an explanation to anyone, but IF you could do this calculation and show your work and estimates and assumptions, I think most of us would be much more supportive. And if you don't know what I'm talking about or can't do the math, there is literally ZERO chance YOU will ever be successful in buying and selling comics, and certainly not with this comic. (Which is not to say every successful dealer can do this kind of math, but those dealers are at least smart enough to buy with such obviously large margins that the math is somewhat moot.)

Edited September 8, 2016 by Revat

[uchiha101]

No the one piece of advice I can think I don't listen to is people telling me to stop buying and selling comics.

 

.. and there you have it, Gabe. You have brought your problem home in one sentence .. and it's not like it's the casual poster in this thread offering this advice to you .. it's virtually everyone .. because we can see what a mess you are slowly (but surely) getting in to.

 

Please don't reply with " .. what mess? .. " .. as there's 206 pages of your

up

deals, trades, whatever. You have got lucky on a couple. That's not the norm for you.

 

LISTEN TO THAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE! You might not like hearing it being repeated ad infinitum .. but, maaaan .. you do need to act on it.

 

I know I see that but my mistakes are being fixed one by one in terms of comics. My asm 129 is my latest mistake but that as well can be fixed.

[uchiha101]

All the comic buying/selling/trading shenanigans aside, here's one part I can't get past.

 

The OP keeps saying that he wants to get a job that offers more hours, yet he has a job.

 

When I managed a restaurant, I never gave hours to anyone...employees earned their hours.

 

My superstars...the ones that went above and beyond by either covering a last minute call-off, cleaning in between other jobs, or just having great attitudes were the ones I took care of. I always made sure they had the hours they were looking for. I couldn't do my job well without them.

 

Even the people a step down from my superstars...the people that were always on time for their shift, who followed directions well, and had good attitudes were sure to get 30-40 hours a week depending on their needs. I'd work with them because they made my life easier.

 

But the bums...the ones that showed up late for shifts, never covered a shift outside of their schedule, people with bad attitudes who obviously took no pride in what they did, these people would generally get 15 hours or less. Even the people who were good at a specific job but had poor attitudes, they are bums to me. I'd take an unskilled hard-worker over a skilled diva with a poor attitude any day.

 

What I'm saying to the OP is that if you're not getting enough hours at work, it's nobody's fault but yours.

 

Do a self-assessment:

 

• Are you there early every day? No exceptions? Remember, if you're "on-time", you're late. Be 5 minutes early for every shift.
• Is your uniform clean, nails clean and trimmed, hair washed, combed and out of the way? I don't care if you work in the back, you need to look presentable at work at all times.
• Check your attitude. When you're assigned a job, do you grumble and meander over to it, or is your response a peppy "sure thing!" with physical enthusiasm to match?
• What are you doing during slow times? If you're a dishwasher, what do you do between trays of dishes to be done? Is your station spotless? If not, clean it. If the area is perfect, grab something like a pot or a board and give it a deep cleaning. Make it like new again. Things like this is restaurants get dingy after time. A little elbow grease goes a long way.
• Are you smiling? I don't care if you hate the job. SMILE! It goes a LOOOOOONG way.
  

 

First off I don't smiled if I don't like something I don't fake my feelings. I was always there about 30 minutes early, my hygiene was so-so when I came to facial hair, I was eager to help others and I had a good attitude until you pissed me off. Everything was so busy there's not really anytime for anything else.

 

Smiling isn't a feeling. It's a physical expression. You can not like something and still smile. It's a skill, and a useful one if you want to move up in any job/career. I can't think of a single job out there where you're not going to have to put up with something/someone you don't especially like. It doesn't mean you have to grimace your way through it. If nothing else, consider it a form of training for voice acting. Your character's emotion won't always match up with your personal emotion. Despite what you're feeling inside, you need to be able to convey a positive outward appearance.

 

And having a good attitude "until you pissed me off"? Give me a break. A while back in this thread, before you found your current job, people were telling you that in an entry-level position you don't have the luxury of being "pissed off" if you want to succeed. You take your lumps and use your dissatisfaction with the job as motivation to improve to eventually EARN your way to a better position. Remember that bosses don't give more hours/promotions/raises...employees EARN them. When you stop trying to blame your boss and realize that you hold all the cards when it comes to improving yourself, you will vastly improve your station.

 

As far as it being so busy that you don't have time for anything else, make time! Go above and beyond. Tell yourself "I'm going to wash these dishes so fast that I'll have 10 minutes at the end of the night to deep scrub that pot until I can see myself in it". Wow your boss.

 

And if your hygiene was only "so-so" in any area and you work in a restaurant, that needs to be addressed IMMEDIATELY. In my experience, customers will give you a second chance if the service is bad or the food isn't perfect, but they will never come back if they think the restaurant or the people who worked it were dirty.

 

Re-read what I bulleted in my previous post. These aren't things where you can do them part-way. You're either doing them or you're not. Comics won't break the cycle of poverty you claim to be in, but your job might. It will take a lot of effort on your part, though.

 

Voice acting is something that I haven't fully done yet. Well my hygiene was really my fingers nail and facial hair and yeah that needs to improve. I had a couple times where I finished before I was supposed to and that felt good and I did that a few times and I tried to ask my boss for different hours and she cut them that was a nice thanks I got.

[uchiha101]

At this point it just sounds like someone w a gambling addiction

Yep. Exactly.

 

It's an addiction. He CAN'T stop himself.

 

He doesn't have the self-control to take the ONLY bit of advice that is nearly unanimous from dozens of longtime experts and professionals in the field for the past year or more in this thread.

 

Comics are his crack. They are his craps table. He is addicted to the possibility of finding that next big score - exactly how a gambler is addicted to the next round of betting.

 

He hasn't hit rock bottom yet, he might in a year or two. But he's not there yet. So downward he goes continuing to dig ignoring everyone who's telling him to stop digging.

 

 

I continue because I know I can fix this.

[uchiha101]

I think this thread has gotten to the point where it is doing more harm than good. I would suggest that the moderators close this thread.

 

I have to agree with Red here regarding the thread doing more harm than good.

 

I agree. The board is simply feeding his addiction for attention.

 

I don't know if the moderators should close the thread, but perhaps we should all think twice before posting here. At this point, everyone is simply banging their head against the wall.

 

It's not a addiction for attention at all.

[uchiha101]

I think this thread has gotten to the point where it is doing more harm than good. I would suggest that the moderators close this thread.

 

I have to agree with Red here regarding the thread doing more harm than good.

 

I agree. The board is simply feeding his addiction for attention.

 

I don't know if the moderators should close the thread, but perhaps we should all think twice before posting here. At this point, everyone is simply banging their head against the wall.

 

 

I don't know that it's doing more harm than good...I don't know if it's doing anything at all really. It's his journal, we're just tourists.

 

Thanks

[uchiha101]

My road to success

 

please don't give me this "hard work n stuff" bull

 

 

Top contender for CGC Board Quote of the Year.

 

 

That sums it all up right there. I don't think he even really wants advice / help as he certainly doesn't appear to be doing anything more than paying lip service to most of what people have said to him.

 

 

I do listen to some advice that's given to me here and if I ever get stuck I come back here and see what to do.

[uchiha101]

Gabe, I've been following this thread since page 20 something a while back and it has been informative and educational, if for nothing else than stimulating conversation from the forum about buy/selling.

 

I applaud you for not spending what money you have on drugs and porn. I realize you do not want to stop flipping comics so...

 

You know, buying a short box or long box can be just as fun, or more fun, than buying an expensive, hot book. A long box full of nice condition moderns with a few keys is nice, especially when you get them for $1 each. Churning through dozens or hundreds of moderns keeps your hands busy and flipping a $1 book for $25 is fulfilling.

 

I also like buying modern keys from Canadians because Americans do not often bid those up to regular prices. Get those cheaper Canadian books pressed and slabbed if you really want to press something. Then sell them for profit.

 

I realize some here won't agree with my advice, but I'm a realist. If you spend less money for more books that have profit potential, that is a step in the right direction. It's like what a probation officer I met (during a college lecture) once said, "I considered one specific case a success because I got the man to switch from huffing diesel fuel to unleaded gasoline. While still unhealthy, it was an improvement."

 

Not terrible advice, if he could restrain himself to 'smaller investments'. But if he's still in the 'game' of comics, he will most likely come across potential 'can't miss' deals that he won't be able to resist throwing too much money at.

 

Its like cutting back on your prostitute problem by just going to strip clubs instead.

 

 

It's absolutely terrible advice as the OP has shown ZERO inclination for having any feel for this business. He's currently $1100 in the hole and with the recent ASM 8.5 / 8.0 snafu, that hole appears like it's going to get deeper.

 

With all this great advice he's getting, he might as well get a Paypal business loan or another credit card, he can use that to pay off the first credit card.

 

 

Even somewhat hard to say weather or not the $1100 is really the full tale. We (lots of different boardies) - have written up basics of how you account for a small business - earlier - Gabe looked at it from a money spent vs money collected standpoint not considering purchased items as inventory.

 

I believe he has that fixed in his latest number - but the lack of understanding of the accounting concepts leads me to believe that the 1100 might be larger than he is stating.

 

The ASM..... have to add another one of these out there,,,,,

 

 

This illustrates exactly why you need to back off comics for a while. Once you have the REST of your life in order - go back and start small.

 

 

Seriously. If the book was an 8.5 - you paid pretty much FMV for it. Trying to flip for a profit? - not a lot of potential. But as an 8? --- ZERO GPA sales of this book over 1000. How exactly will you convince people to pay 10% to 20% over FMV?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My numbers for what I have I debt is exactly as you see it

 

how much I bought- how much I sold = my profit or debt number

 

How I would convince people to pay 10-20% over gpa? After I check the graders notes I'll decide what to do but even then it's very simple I will offer it as time payments with a 20% non-refundable deposit to make sure people are serious about buying it and not wasting my time.

 

 

You have to sell at 10-20% over GPA to BREAK EVEN. Not including any fees that have to be paid....

 

Didn't you have a local comic shop owner interested? - What did they offer?

 

Once you hit that 8.0 with a key book ( and in many cases lower grades for keys as well) - EVERY grade bump matters. Every one. You are insisting on working with single high value books - and since you cannot spread purchase price over a collection and work with averages - you HAVE to focus on every single cent.

 

You state that paying the same price for a book that is a lower grade us what you would have done anyway - this just confirms that you are NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH to be playing with $1000 on a single book. With patience - you could have found a better initial deal for the comic.

 

Heck - you think you will sell the 8.0 for 1200? - without even sweating - I found a 8.5 for 1200 and 2 others for 1250, This is without any offer or back and forth with the sellers. Why would anyone pay 1200 for an 8.0 --- when it is perfectly reasonable to think that there are three chances at an 8.5 for 1100 to 1150. - maybe less.....

 

 

 

 

You need to track a LOT more as far as profit and/or loss goes......

 

Paid 100 for a comic - sold for 200 - does not necessarily mean that you are up 100. (or down 100 if you reverse the values) .

 

Did you pay for packaging?

Did you pay ebay fees?

Did you need a laptop, scanner or other electronics?

Shipping fees....

Paypal/credit fees?

 

ALL of this (and more) - go into a profit/loss calculation.

 

Most likely you are at least 20% more in the hole than you think.

 

 

 

quick edit -

 

you also stated you get graders notes on books - this is part of the expense column as well.....

 

 

 

When I calculate that I already add that to what I buy and sell because it wouldn't make sense to add it like that and I have yet to bring the comic to the comic shop owner but he was interested in it.

 

 

um - no idea how you have to report taxes on home based businesses in Canada - but that is basically how we have to track items in the states.

 

For a smaller business (cash based accounting) - you track expenses and cost of goods sold separately than individual inventory costs. You do this so at the end of the year - you can calculate your yearly profit/loss. You do this separately as there are MANY expenses that you incur that are not set per individual book - but part of the entire business. Like - say - a COMPUTER which is pretty much a requirement for any business these days.

 

And - well - ANY LCS would say they are interested in an ASM 129.

 

A very high percentage would not be interested in paying retail price for one. Even lower percentage paying well over FMV for it.

 

 

Separately? Every comic I ever bought is calculated separately if that's what you mean. All my expenses that I have with comics have been calculated so am I wrong to add everything together? For example I sell a comic

 

I calculate how much a bought it for then I take away this

 

How much I sold it for

Shipping cost of the comic

Ebay and paypal fees

 

and after all that I get the amount of profit.

[uchiha101]

There's a tool here alright.

 

 

You think that's me haha no I just say what I mean to others and no one forced red to come here.

 

No, I don't think. Haha You're pretty insolent for someone in your situation

 

No you can say what you wish but I don't like being insulted.

[jaybuck43]

Am I the only one wondering if Gabe bought the ASM 129 off of eBay?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Spider-Man-129-CGC-8-5-1ST-Punisher-First-No-reserve-/222219767166

 

This one would explain the 8.5/8.0 confusion and the price paid, as opposed to the glossed over questions regarding the icomiCExchange copy.

[uchiha101]

Keith doesn't want the book he already has an 8.0 not to mention he isnt going to pay 20% over market. If he really wanted it that badly I would have sourced him one. Heck I have an 8.5 I'll be bringing into his shop in 2 weeks time

 

Is it wrong to say I'm going to laugh when you cpr the book and it doesn't get a grade bump... You don't have the knowledge or the funds to gamble on a grade bump. Many have said cgc us tight atm coupled that with if it doesn't go up a full point (9.0 you are still losing!!!)

 

If you want to sell comics and make money I have some short boxes filled with $1 books I would gladly sell for $0.33c a unit and heck I would even drive them over just to free some space.

 

The best I see the asm 129 getting is a 8.5 and I didn't expect him to overpay since he's in the business to make money. I don't want any more 1 dollar comics I don't even know what to do with the ones I have.

 

You do realize that you have just a big if not bigger chance of making the tear worse and having a grade drop, right?

 

Yeah I realize that but the presser I found says he can handle it so I have to trust him with that.

[uchiha101]

Keith doesn't want the book he already has an 8.0 not to mention he isnt going to pay 20% over market. If he really wanted it that badly I would have sourced him one. Heck I have an 8.5 I'll be bringing into his shop in 2 weeks time

 

Is it wrong to say I'm going to laugh when you cpr the book and it doesn't get a grade bump... You don't have the knowledge or the funds to gamble on a grade bump. Many have said cgc us tight atm coupled that with if it doesn't go up a full point (9.0 you are still losing!!!)

 

If you want to sell comics and make money I have some short boxes filled with $1 books I would gladly sell for $0.33c a unit and heck I would even drive them over just to free some space.

 

The best I see the asm 129 getting is a 8.5 and I didn't expect him to overpay since he's in the business to make money. I don't want any more 1 dollar comics I don't even know what to do with the ones I have.

 

Why have a small profit on a dollar book when you can have a large loss on an expensive book! #winning

 

Because I won't have a loss on the comic even though you don't see it that way.

[Iceman399]

Am I the only one wondering if Gabe bought the ASM 129 off of eBay?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Spider-Man-129-CGC-8-5-1ST-Punisher-First-No-reserve-/222219767166

 

This one would explain the 8.5/8.0 confusion and the price paid, as opposed to the glossed over questions regarding the icomiCExchange copy.

 

No he bought it from ICE.