My road to success (Moving Update 2) 8 8

[Logan510]

I think if he's going to continue to flip the first thing he needs to do is make a realistic budget...some of the best advice yet. Set a aside a percentage of what you make at your job strictly for comics and have enough discipline to not exceed it. ....

 

And it has to be a very small amount. The point is to train his self-control, not indulge his impulses as much as he can afford.

 

 

A small amount like what?

See my Step 1 again:

1. Stop all comic-buying that costs more than you make in one-hour of work a week. Whatever you make per hour, that is your weekly budget for games/comics etc. for the rest of the year. This is the start of training your self-control which you already admit is the core of your problems.

Will you like it? No.

Will it feel good? No.

Is it necessary? Absolutely.

Will you do this? If your answer is "No", then say so and everyone will know that you refuse to restrain your emotions and impulses. "

 

 

What is your answer?

 

 

No because I don't understand it. My budget can't be anything over what I make in a hour so what I am allowed to spend?

 

Gabe, I know I said I was just going to be reading your journal, but like your comic buying .. I just can't help myself.

 

If you make $7.00c an hour (just a random figure I made up) .. $7.00c is the amount that you spend on comics a week.

 

Hopefully you'll understand that and be able to post 'Yes' or 'No' to the question.

 

If it were me I would say no. You can barely buy a couple of moderns for that money. I know he has a problem with impulse purchases, but there are other ways to do this.

 

Money earned per paycheck, minus bills, the rest that's left over his discretionary income. Anyone that tells him to save is being silly, there's not too much point saving money when you're hardly earning anything. If he can take that extra money and make more money, why not? Of course, he hasn't shown an ability to do this yet, but hopefully he starts taking some of the advice he's been getting and puts it to good use.

[Semicentennial]

Step 1 - Buy comic.

Step 2 - ?

Step 3 - Profit

 

Step 2 - Sell comic

 

In an earlier post you mentioned you and a friend were in a competition in selling comics and that he was leading you. Are you still in this competition? Is this also one of the reasons you don't want to give up selling?

[jcjames]

I think if he's going to continue to flip the first thing he needs to do is make a realistic budget...some of the best advice yet. Set a aside a percentage of what you make at your job strictly for comics and have enough discipline to not exceed it. ....

 

And it has to be a very small amount. The point is to train his self-control, not indulge his impulses as much as he can afford.

 

 

A small amount like what?

See my Step 1 again:

1. Stop all comic-buying that costs more than you make in one-hour of work a week. Whatever you make per hour, that is your weekly budget for games/comics etc. for the rest of the year. This is the start of training your self-control which you already admit is the core of your problems.

Will you like it? No.

Will it feel good? No.

Is it necessary? Absolutely.

Will you do this? If your answer is "No", then say so and everyone will know that you refuse to restrain your emotions and impulses. "

 

 

What is your answer?

 

 

No because I don't understand it. My budget can't be anything over what I make in a hour so what I am allowed to spend?

 

Gabe, I know I said I was just going to be reading your journal, but like your comic buying .. I just can't help myself.

 

If you make $7.00c an hour (just a random figure I made up) .. $7.00c is the amount that you spend on comics a week.

 

Hopefully you'll understand that and be able to post 'Yes' or 'No' to the question.

 

If it were me I would say no. You can barely buy a couple of moderns for that money. I know he has a problem with impulse purchases, but there are other ways to do this.

 

Money earned per paycheck, minus bills, the rest that's left over his discretionary income. Anyone that tells him to save is being silly, there's not too much point saving money when you're hardly earning anything. If he can take that extra money and make more money, why not? Of course, he hasn't shown an ability to do this yet, but hopefully he starts taking some of the advice he's been getting and puts it to good use.

 

You're enabling a gambling addict. You admit he "hasn't shown an ability" to control himself yet - and yet you give him an excuse to not even try.

 

This has nothing to do with comicbooks - it's about learning self-control and maturity, impulse-control. The point is not to give him a budget to continue buying lots of books - it's to create a habit within himself to CONTROL his emotions and impulses and see that he CAN pass up "great deals" and his world won't collapse. He will learn self-control and THAT will be worth far more in his life in the long run than any money he maybe-coulda-possibly-mighta made on a "deal" in the short term.

 

And your statement that "there's not too much point saving money when you're hardly earning anything" is utterly stupid and destructive to a spending-addict like Gabe. The less you make, the MORE you should save!!

 

This is how addictions are enabled and supported.

 

 

 

 

[rsouxlja7]

Step 1 - Buy comic.

Step 2 - ?

Step 3 - Profit

 

Step 2 - Sell comic

 

and you guys don't think he knows what he's doing

[revat]

Step 1 - Buy comic.

Step 2 - ?

Step 3 - Profit

 

Step 2 - Sell comic

 

and you guys don't think he knows what he's doing

 

Step 1 is always 'cut a hole in a box'

[Logan510]

I think if he's going to continue to flip the first thing he needs to do is make a realistic budget...some of the best advice yet. Set a aside a percentage of what you make at your job strictly for comics and have enough discipline to not exceed it. ....

 

And it has to be a very small amount. The point is to train his self-control, not indulge his impulses as much as he can afford.

 

 

A small amount like what?

See my Step 1 again:

1. Stop all comic-buying that costs more than you make in one-hour of work a week. Whatever you make per hour, that is your weekly budget for games/comics etc. for the rest of the year. This is the start of training your self-control which you already admit is the core of your problems.

Will you like it? No.

Will it feel good? No.

Is it necessary? Absolutely.

Will you do this? If your answer is "No", then say so and everyone will know that you refuse to restrain your emotions and impulses. "

 

 

What is your answer?

 

 

No because I don't understand it. My budget can't be anything over what I make in a hour so what I am allowed to spend?

 

Gabe, I know I said I was just going to be reading your journal, but like your comic buying .. I just can't help myself.

 

If you make $7.00c an hour (just a random figure I made up) .. $7.00c is the amount that you spend on comics a week.

 

Hopefully you'll understand that and be able to post 'Yes' or 'No' to the question.

 

If it were me I would say no. You can barely buy a couple of moderns for that money. I know he has a problem with impulse purchases, but there are other ways to do this.

 

Money earned per paycheck, minus bills, the rest that's left over his discretionary income. Anyone that tells him to save is being silly, there's not too much point saving money when you're hardly earning anything. If he can take that extra money and make more money, why not? Of course, he hasn't shown an ability to do this yet, but hopefully he starts taking some of the advice he's been getting and puts it to good use.

 

You're enabling a gambling addict. You admit he "hasn't shown an ability" to control himself yet - and yet you give him an excuse to not even try.

 

This has nothing to do with comicbooks - it's about learning self-control and maturity, impulse-control. The point is not to give him a budget to continue buying lots of books - it's to create a habit within himself to CONTROL his emotions and impulses and see that he CAN pass up "great deals" and his world won't collapse. He will learn self-control and THAT will be worth far more in his life in the long run than any money he maybe-coulda-possibly-mighta made on a "deal" in the short term.

 

And your statement that "there's not too much point saving money when you're hardly earning anything" is utterly stupid and destructive to a spending-addict like Gabe. The less you make, the MORE you should save!!

 

This is how addictions are enabled and supported.

 

 

 

 

He's never going to follow your plan, NEVER. Knowing this, I think the best way is for him to just do what he's doing now, only better.

 

What's he supposed to save up for when he earning minimum wage working 20 hours a week..a new car? Down payment on a house?

[jcjames]

 

He's never going to follow your plan, NEVER. Knowing this, I think the best way is for him to just do what he's doing now, only better.

 

What's he supposed to save up for when he earning minimum wage working 20 hours a week..a new car? Down payment on a house?

 

You're missing the point. It's not about comics or money.

 

He has an addiction that is fed by his own admission of his lack of emotional control and impulsiveness when it comes to buying comics.

 

It's about him learning impulse-control. It's about him learning how to say "no" when he CAN buy something and WANTS to buy something that costs a lot of money.

 

It's about him learning a HABIT of self-control. Once he has that for several months, then he can start working on saving for far more important things in his life like moving out and fully supporting himself.

 

He needs to learn HOW to put comic-buying and flipping on the back burner because - as you said - he CANNOT stop and WILL not stop and it is an anchor around his neck and that is the essence of ADDICTION.

 

 

 

 

ETA: In his current state of stunted maturity and lack of self-control, even if he won the lottery - his impulsiveness and immaturity would put him right back into poverty in a year or two because NO amount of money will teach him how to control his emotions and his impulses. And THAT is what I'm trying to help him with.

 

Like I said a while ago - this journal is no longer about comics - it's about helping an addict who admits he cannot control his emotions and impulses when it comes to spending on comics.

 

 

 

[Logan510]

Good luck with that.

[Red84]

The answer to the problem is simple. Crack it out, and list it on ebay as a nm.

 

You think so? But people would get angry if it wasn't unless I would say it's my opinion.

 

He was joking. Don't do this.

[Red84]

I'll get it pressed and regraded because I have a presser that assured me that he can do it but in that case something happens he'll pay for the comic.

 

Show your math for this please. Just because you can press a book doesn't mean its worth while. Show all costs you will have to pay.

 

OK

 

ASM 129 CGC 8.0

 

Paid $956

 

Expected grade 8.5

 

Last sale $1200

90 day average $1075

 

Costs of cpr

 

Shipping $30

Pressing $15

Grading $75

 

Total

 

956+30+15+75 = 1076 which is 1 dollar over the 90 gpa average of a 8.5

 

Expected value

 

1200

 

Now I would take the expected value and take it away from how much everything cost me

 

1200-1075 = $125 profit

 

 

 

Does the cost of grading above (75$) include return shipping to Canada? Selling for 1200 =/= (does not equal 1200 in your PayPal, but rather 1153.20 at 3.9% fee).

 

Gabe your presser may tell you he can get you a bump but what happens if it stays an 8.0? What happens if drops are you financially safe to lose another 150 for an 8.0 or like 350 if it drops to a 7.5?

 

I would have to check again as I believe he would cover the difference should that happen. The 75 would cover shipping and the return cost to Canada. Would I be able to handle the financial loss? I would but I wouldn't like it.

 

CGC's base rate for return shipping to Canada is via FedEx international @ $60 USD. You can't grade this book for $15. What grading tier are you planning to submit this book under? Economy? I don't think that will fly with CGC but you can try...mean it has to go standard which is $53 with a 20% dealer discount (do you get the 20% discount?). Leaving you with $22 for return shipping...Not sure that's possible.

 

I would submit this comic under the standard tier which is $60 usd and though I'm not a dealer the presser I would use has a 20% discount and it's been a while since I used cgc but I know there's a cheaper shipping option I'll check my invoices as the closest comparable would be my ba12 cgc 9.6

 

If you're flipping books, you should know all of the costs involved with pressing & grading like the back of your hand.

 

You should also know that a presser has no control over CGC's grading and as such, will not "cover the difference" if a book drops in grade after it is re-subbed.

 

The only conceivable way a presser in his right mind would cover a drop in grade is if he damaged the book, while working on it, or while the book was in his possession.

 

Books that have been CPR'd by competent pressers rarely drop in grade, however they do, on some occasions...be it a change in grading standards since the book was originally graded or something along those lines.

 

As if all of this wasn't ridiculous in the first place....you do realize that no competent presser will press a book with a FMV of around $1000 for fifteen bucks, without a lag time of several months?

 

I would not touch this book for less than $50, but that's besides the point.

 

CCS charges $60 for pressing books of this sort of FMV, with an actual turn around time of about one month.

 

The best case scenario is that you ship this slab to your presser...after paying over $100 (or more), you are able to sell this book for a profit of less than $100....if you get an 8.5

 

Assuming the book is actually a good pressing candidate...overlooking the fact you bought it off eBay and were not able to see subtle bends etc up close/in hand...even then, you have to have a very good eye (and understand the mechanics of paper, humidification, heat and pressure) to see pressable defects.

 

Even if you have such a good eye, it is hard to tell the extent of such defects when the book is encapsulated.

 

By some strange feat of luck and beating the lofty odds involved with this CPR project of yours, let's say that you get back an 8.5.

 

That will take about 4 months of having a $1000 tied up, to make a profit of about fifty bucks.

 

....and that is if you are lucky, and you don't get back an 8.0...or a 7.5.

 

 

 

 

I don't see where 4 months is coming from but what I see getting is a 8.5. I went over the comic when I got it and saw lots of pressable defects and also cgc didn't note the staple tear for whatever reason.

 

Which means it may have happened after the book was encapsulated.

 

EXACTLY! You may have a book that was damaged in shipping when the cover is locked in place and the interior of the book moves causing a tear. If this is the case then you probably have a 7.0 book sitting in an 8.0 case. Another reason NOT to crack, press, re-submit.

 

But then again, we all know you're going to do whatever you want, so have fun getting that "8.5"

[HarveySwick]

He doesn't have an addiction.

 

He's just a millennial who wants to make it big doing as little work to get there as possible. He "can't" do things because he's lazy and doesn't want to put in hard work. He "cant" follow the heating up threads because he has a learning disability. All he needs to do is put in the time and effort and write stuff down. He doesn't want to work - he wants everyone to do the work for him. You see threads spring up all the time - "what books are hot that no one knows about yet" - because kids like Gabe don't want to put in the work. It's all about instant gratification.

 

Stop saying he has an addiction because it's insulting to people who actually do have an addiction.

[HarveySwick]

Back to lurking and watching this trainwreck of a thread.

 

It's taken the place of PIF as far as entertainment value.

[jcjames]

He doesn't have an addiction.

 

He's just a millennial who wants to make it big doing as little work to get there as possible. He "can't" do things because he's lazy and doesn't want to put in hard work. He "cant" follow the heating up threads because he has a learning disability. All he needs to do is put in the time and effort and write stuff down. He doesn't want to work - he wants everyone to do the work for him. You see threads spring up all the time - "what books are hot that no one knows about yet" - because kids like Gabe don't want to put in the work. It's all about instant gratification.

 

Stop saying he has an addiction because it's insulting to people who actually do have an addiction.

He openly admits he can't control his emotions and impulses when it comes to spending money on comics.

 

He is extremely impulsive to the point where he buys a 8.0 thinking it's an 8.5.

 

He has thousands of dollars in the just past couple years worth of these mere "mistakes". And yet he keeps on making them and admits his problem.

 

Vegas thrives on people like that.

 

As others have pointed out - he CAN'T stop himself. He gets a rush from finding that "next great deal". When he's surfing the web looking for deals, is brain is probably acting just like a gambler watching for that next roll of the dice and thinking "If only I learn this game better, I'll win even more", all the while - he - keeps -making - huge - blunders... and all these blunders are because he can't control his impulses and his emotions.

 

So you can dismiss it as just being lazy - and that's your opinion. Just like a gambler or smoker or alcoholic is just too "lazy" to quit.

 

 

 

[Red84]

He doesn't have an addiction.

 

He's just a millennial who wants to make it big doing as little work to get there as possible. He "can't" do things because he's lazy and doesn't want to put in hard work. He "cant" follow the heating up threads because he has a learning disability. All he needs to do is put in the time and effort and write stuff down. He doesn't want to work - he wants everyone to do the work for him. You see threads spring up all the time - "what books are hot that no one knows about yet" - because kids like Gabe don't want to put in the work. It's all about instant gratification.

 

Stop saying he has an addiction because it's insulting to people who actually do have an addiction.

He openly admits he can't control his emotions and impulses when it comes to spending money on comics.

 

He is extremely impulsive to the point where he buys a 8.0 thinking it's an 8.5.

 

He has thousands of dollars in the just past couple years worth of these mere "mistakes". And yet he keeps on making them and admits his problem.

 

Vegas thrives on people like that.

 

As others have pointed out - he CAN'T stop himself. He gets a rush from finding that "next great deal". When he's surfing the web looking for deals, is brain is probably acting just like a gambler watching for that next roll of the dice and thinking "If only I learn this game better, I'll win even more", all the while - he - keeps -making - huge - blunders... and all these blunders are because he can't control his impulses and his emotions.

 

So you can dismiss it as just being lazy - and that's your opinion. Just like a gambler or smoker or alcoholic is just too "lazy" to quit.

 

 

 

That's not an addiction. He just repeatedly makes very bad decisions.

[HarveySwick]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

[jcjames]

A fool and his money are soon parted.

 

Unless they learn self-control.

 

THAT is what this is all about. It's not about becoming a better buyer, it's about him learning how to control his emotions and his impulses, period.

 

It doesn't matter how much money he has. It doesn't matter how much knowledge he has. If he can't learn to control his impulses and emotions - it doesn't matter how knowledgeable about comics he becomes.

 

 

 

There is a LCS in the area run by a greedy lying owner who is very knowledgeable and experienced about buying/grading/selling comics, but his emotions and his lack of character are ruining him and his business.

 

You are trying to teach Gabe about the comics business, I'm trying to teach him about himself.

 

 

[jcjames]

That's not an addiction. He just repeatedly makes very bad decisions.

A rose by any other name smells just as sweet, and a compulsion by any other name ruins just the same.

 

 

[Red84]

That's not an addiction. He just repeatedly makes very bad decisions.

A rose by any other name smells just as sweet, and a compulsion by any other name ruins just the same.

 

 

It's not a compulsion. He already established that he has set a limit on his spending. His limit is just too high and his purchases are stupid. That's not an addiction. Calling it such does him a disservice as it gives him another excuse as to why he is failing so miserably.

[Semicentennial]

Back to lurking and watching this trainwreck of a thread.

 

It's taken the place of PIF as far as entertainment value.

 

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[jcjames]

That's not an addiction. He just repeatedly makes very bad decisions.

A rose by any other name smells just as sweet, and a compulsion by any other name ruins just the same.

 

 

It's not a compulsion. He already established that he has set a limit on his spending. His limit is just too high and his purchases are stupid. That's not an addiction. Calling it such does him a disservice as it gives him another excuse as to why he is failing so miserably.

 

That's why I gave him a limit that HE isn't comfortable with and asked him to agree yes or no to it.

 

If he says yes, he has no excuse for overspending.

 

If he says no, he still has no excuse overspending.

 

Buying a ragged-raw Stormwatcher #3 for $6 is a "stupid" purchase - but it doesn't risk destroying him financially. He can still learn about comics while on a VERY tight and uncomfortable budget and make the inevitable mistakes that come with learning along the way.

 

I'm not giving him an excuse by explaining the reality of his own current inability to control his impulses. He says he set a limit - just that the limit is too high. Then that's not a limit.

 

At this point, he has no real limit because, as you said, it's still WAY too high for his income and his situation (near poverty).

 

And WHY is it still way too high?

 

Because he won't control himself.

 

Now is his chance to either admit that he WON'T control himself (take the hours-worth-of-pay/week budget) or that he WILL control himself even when he's uncomfortable with it.

 

 

Let me ask you - do YOU think he has good self-control when it comes to comic-spending?

 

What is more important for his whole life, learning to control his impulses, or learning to buy better books?