My road to success (Moving Update 2) 8 8

[october]

You started this thread almost 2 years ago.

I would occasionally take a look to see this experiment.

 

After 2 years it's been nothing short of disaster.

Sadly kiddo, it's time to find another path.

You clearly don't have what it takes and that was evident by

 

Businesses take an average of 2 years to be successful

and that's with doing things properly.

about page 40 or so.

 

You're no entrepreneur and its my opinion that your work ethic

is lacking. That seems to be normal with your generation these days.

 

I wish you luck to be happy and not harm others.

 

Where did you get that info? I've been told it's 5-7 years

 

I think restaurants are like 5.

 

I don't think this counts as a business, but it does count as a failure.

 

Tons of people on the boards put in between 1-5 hrs a week as a side hobby to flip a few comics a year, and easily turn $1000-$5000 PROFIT without putting in more than $500-$800. And those same people have full time (most likely non-minimum wage) non-comic jobs, kids, families, gf's, school, etc. You've put in $11,000 in two years to lose $1000+. There are very very few actual real life RICH comic people who will spend $11,000 in two years on comics, and you've done it while on government assistance with a learning, mental, emotional problems living with your parents in CANADA.

 

Can you tell me who the people are that put in 1-5 hours a week and only $500-$800 that flip a few comics a year and make $1000-$5000 profit? I would like to bend their ears a little as I'm obviously doing something wrong.

 

 

I don't mean they're making that much a week, just 'working' working that much a week, I mean over the course of a year $1-5K. Not too big of a deal to make 2-5x their investment I think. The hourly pay may not be great, but its assumed that one is having fun at the same time I think. It usually just takes one or two big 'finds' per year.

 

I'm just wondering if you could point me in the right direction as I didn't realize it was that easy.

 

Pretty confident that a lot of guys on the board could make $1000+ in profit on a $500-800 nut given 50-250 hours over the course of a year. Hell, a lot of guys do it during setup at any given convention in the span of a few hours. I mean, I've done that walking into a random store.

 

I was joking

 

k

[uchiha101]

You started this thread almost 2 years ago.

I would occasionally take a look to see this experiment.

 

After 2 years it's been nothing short of disaster.

Sadly kiddo, it's time to find another path.

You clearly don't have what it takes and that was evident by

 

Businesses take an average of 2 years to be successful

and that's with doing things properly.

about page 40 or so.

 

You're no entrepreneur and its my opinion that your work ethic

is lacking. That seems to be normal with your generation these days.

 

I wish you luck to be happy and not harm others.

 

Where did you get that info? I've been told it's 5-7 years

 

I think restaurants are like 5.

 

I don't think this counts as a business, but it does count as a failure.

 

Tons of people on the boards put in between 1-5 hrs a week as a side hobby to flip a few comics a year, and easily turn $1000-$5000 PROFIT without putting in more than $500-$800. And those same people have full time (most likely non-minimum wage) non-comic jobs, kids, families, gf's, school, etc. You've put in $11,000 in two years to lose $1000+. There are very very few actual real life RICH comic people who will spend $11,000 in two years on comics, and you've done it while on government assistance with a learning, mental, emotional problems living with your parents in CANADA.

 

Can you tell me who the people are that put in 1-5 hours a week and only $500-$800 that flip a few comics a year and make $1000-$5000 profit? I would like to bend their ears a little as I'm obviously doing something wrong.

 

 

I don't mean they're making that much a week, just 'working' working that much a week, I mean over the course of a year $1-5K. Not too big of a deal to make 2-5x their investment I think. The hourly pay may not be great, but its assumed that one is having fun at the same time I think. It usually just takes one or two big 'finds' per year.

 

I'm just wondering if you could point me in the right direction as I didn't realize it was that easy.

 

Pretty confident that a lot of guys on the board could make $1000+ in profit on a $500-800 nut given 50-250 hours over the course of a year. Hell, a lot of guys do it during setup at any given convention in the span of a few hours. I mean, I've done that walking into a random store.

 

You're like the successful resellers I know and that just proves how much better I need to become at this.

[newshane]

[W16227]

Some quick thoughts -

 

 

______________________________________

 

You have been attempting to do this for more than 2 1/2 years - 2 1/2 years ago you were asking for a repro cover for the JLA 1 you purchased.

 

This was after the whole - who will consign things for me time - as well as the "do I need to bag and board comics for sale" threads.....

 

In reality - not like this is years - or makes much difference in the story - but attention to detail is what makes that extra $$$$$$$.

 

_____________________________________

 

Resist the urge to answer many posts. In some cases you are only feeding trolls - in others, you are answering questions 25 times. No mater what - you re scrambling yourself up more if you are trying to give everyone an answer.

 

_______________________________________

 

See above - you have answered the question of how you are accounting for items like shipping several times. If the person consistently asks - send them the link to your last post about it.

 

______________________________________

 

Expenses - you probably are in the ballpark with some - probably well off with others.

 

Example - your computer blew up. You need a computer to do this job. You have to buy a new computer - so you will need to think of a fair % to use for an expense and this goes against profits. Same for scanner. Camera. Blacklight. GPA. Overstreet. The tools of the trade.

 

Comic Con - did you not attend one? - if your intentions were business related at all - this counts against profit.

 

Travel - how many times have you taken the bus for comics?

 

Any credit card interest?

 

So may little leaks that can crush you.

 

_______________________________________

 

Grading

 

One example you gave of a book that was not selling at a reasonable cost - you stated the board graded.

 

Your TEC - I had to point out to you at least 2x that you had listed 4 separate grades for the book before you reduced that to 2.

 

These are the kind of issues that lead people to believe you are not that good a grader. No idea how to fix them other than really learning and showing you know how to grade. I read your new TEC description- do you really think it is the same grade as before ?

 

________________________________________

 

You keep taking about getting scammed Being scammed is the failure mode - part of the result. You were scammed/lost money, The root cause (what caused the failure) - is POOR DECISION MAKING. This is a pattern we still see - with the latest ASM issue.

 

________________________________________________________

 

The budget you are on is a good thing - bit stop any buying for the time being to identify a real plan for the money - while learning how to sell using your existing stock. I have you a strategy a long time ago for the IG 1 books - same thing applies but with smaller numbers. Get 2 on the market now - over the next year as the movie builds add more. There is no reason to wait and try to sell all at once.

_______________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Beige]

Here is an example of what to do.

 

Deadpool 2 is coming out in 2018.

 

Hulksdaddy had a whole box of NM #87 2nd prints for sale.

 

I've worked with Dave on a fair few deals.

 

Dave should be noted as a superb boardie - great buyer, great seller. He grades accurately, sells at fair prices, and pays promptly when buying.

 

And he's a top bloke!

 

I got the whole box of 120 books shipped to me for $400

 

Prices have ranged (already) from as low as $1 to as high as $19 for a copy (raw).

Dave accurately graded them as an average of 9.4 (Box was pretty much undisturbed).

 

Slabs of 9.8 copies have a maximum (to date) sale price of $134 with a minimum of $13 according to GPA

 

So what to do?

 

I wait.

 

Wait until Cable is cast.

 

 

Wait until the trailers start.

 

 

Sell, as the most successful dealers say, on the sizzle, not the steak.

 

I asked my good friend Joey, to slab 10 copies that he guarantees as a 9.8.

 

My cost will be about $45 each after postage to Australia.

 

So to summarise:

 

Total cost books plus 10 slabbed 9.8's = $850

 

I expect to sell all raw copies for an average of $15 each (hoping for more)

 

I expect to sell each slab at an average of $120 each (hoping for more)

 

Total sales:

110 x $15 = $1650

Slabs 10 x $120 = $1200

 

Total sales = $2850

Cost = $850

 

Total profit after all fees (deduct $200 for fees) = $1800.

 

That is the minimum I expect to get.

 

We all know about movie fever - it could be twice as much as that.

 

One thing is for certain - I cannot lose money on this deal. At $850 total, I need to sell each book for only $7 to break even, and that includes 10 slabbed copies.

 

Looking forward to the next 'big thing' is not rocket science - just most won't talk about it.

 

It's not big money, but it certainly will allow me to put down a deposit on a book I want to keep, and all for the effort of pushing buttons on a keyboard, and boxing up some slabs in the appropriate manner.

 

To put in perspective, I expect to make 3 times more profit in one deal, that you have managed to lose in 3 years - and you have turned over $20000....

 

And this deal was here, right on these boards, and available to you to grab.

 

Buy $3-4 books BEFORE the sizzle. And then sell.

 

Surely after 3 years you must have grasped that the whole bloody idea is to buy books before they get "hot" - not when they do.

 

Does this take time and patience - yes. But if you want to acquire a great keeper collection, this is the way to do it. I love the thrill of the chase on deals, auctions, boot sales etc - but you have to work for it.

 

I'll probably get flamed for this post - but dude - this is how, at your level, you should be thinking.

Leave the big books to the experts.

 

(probably $2!)

 

 

[mysterio]

And his next question will be: "So what books do you think I should buy for the sizzle?"

[Wall-Crawler]

And his next question will be: "So what books do you think I should buy for the sizzle?"

 

NFL SuperPro

 

 

[mysterio]

And his next question will be: "So what books do you think I should buy for the sizzle?"

 

NFL SuperPro

 

 

It's top of my list too, alongside Terror, Inc.

[Logan510]

And his next question will be: "So what books do you think I should buy for the sizzle?"

 

That's the crux of the issue right there and unfortunately why he will never be successful at this.

 

 

[jsilverjanet]

Here is an example of what to do.

 

Deadpool 2 is coming out in 2018.

 

Hulksdaddy had a whole box of NM #87 2nd prints for sale.

 

I've worked with Dave on a fair few deals.

 

Dave should be noted as a superb boardie - great buyer, great seller. He grades accurately, sells at fair prices, and pays promptly when buying.

 

And he's a top bloke!

 

I got the whole box of 120 books shipped to me for $400

 

Prices have ranged (already) from as low as $1 to as high as $19 for a copy (raw).

Dave accurately graded them as an average of 9.4 (Box was pretty much undisturbed).

 

Slabs of 9.8 copies have a maximum (to date) sale price of $134 with a minimum of $13 according to GPA

 

So what to do?

 

I wait.

 

Wait until Cable is cast.

 

 

Wait until the trailers start.

 

 

Sell, as the most successful dealers say, on the sizzle, not the steak.

 

I asked my good friend Joey, to slab 10 copies that he guarantees as a 9.8.

 

My cost will be about $45 each after postage to Australia.

 

So to summarise:

 

Total cost books plus 10 slabbed 9.8's = $850

 

I expect to sell all raw copies for an average of $15 each (hoping for more)

 

I expect to sell each slab at an average of $120 each (hoping for more)

 

Total sales:

110 x $15 = $1650

Slabs 10 x $120 = $1200

 

Total sales = $2850

Cost = $850

 

Total profit after all fees (deduct $200 for fees) = $1800.

 

That is the minimum I expect to get.

 

We all know about movie fever - it could be twice as much as that.

 

One thing is for certain - I cannot lose money on this deal. At $850 total, I need to sell each book for only $7 to break even, and that includes 10 slabbed copies.

 

Looking forward to the next 'big thing' is not rocket science - just most won't talk about it.

 

It's not big money, but it certainly will allow me to put down a deposit on a book I want to keep, and all for the effort of pushing buttons on a keyboard, and boxing up some slabs in the appropriate manner.

 

To put in perspective, I expect to make 3 times more profit in one deal, that you have managed to lose in 3 years - and you have turned over $20000....

 

And this deal was here, right on these boards, and available to you to grab.

 

Buy $3-4 books BEFORE the sizzle. And then sell.

 

Surely after 3 years you must have grasped that the whole bloody idea is to buy books before they get "hot" - not when they do.

 

Does this take time and patience - yes. But if you want to acquire a great keeper collection, this is the way to do it. I love the thrill of the chase on deals, auctions, boot sales etc - but you have to work for it.

 

I'll probably get flamed for this post - but dude - this is how, at your level, you should be thinking.

Leave the big books to the experts.

 

(probably $2!)

 

 

Saving this for future reference

 

[Kenners]

And his next question will be: "So what books do you think I should buy for the sizzle?"

 

That's the crux of the issue right there and unfortunately why he will never be successful at this.

 

 

Yup, agreed

[uchiha101]

Some quick thoughts -

 

 

______________________________________

 

You have been attempting to do this for more than 2 1/2 years - 2 1/2 years ago you were asking for a repro cover for the JLA 1 you purchased.

 

This was after the whole - who will consign things for me time - as well as the "do I need to bag and board comics for sale" threads.....

 

In reality - not like this is years - or makes much difference in the story - but attention to detail is what makes that extra $$$$$$$.

 

_____________________________________

 

Resist the urge to answer many posts. In some cases you are only feeding trolls - in others, you are answering questions 25 times. No mater what - you re scrambling yourself up more if you are trying to give everyone an answer.

 

_______________________________________

 

See above - you have answered the question of how you are accounting for items like shipping several times. If the person consistently asks - send them the link to your last post about it.

 

______________________________________

 

Expenses - you probably are in the ballpark with some - probably well off with others.

 

Example - your computer blew up. You need a computer to do this job. You have to buy a new computer - so you will need to think of a fair % to use for an expense and this goes against profits. Same for scanner. Camera. Blacklight. GPA. Overstreet. The tools of the trade.

 

Comic Con - did you not attend one? - if your intentions were business related at all - this counts against profit.

 

Travel - how many times have you taken the bus for comics?

 

Any credit card interest?

 

So may little leaks that can crush you.

 

_______________________________________

 

Grading

 

One example you gave of a book that was not selling at a reasonable cost - you stated the board graded.

 

Your TEC - I had to point out to you at least 2x that you had listed 4 separate grades for the book before you reduced that to 2.

 

These are the kind of issues that lead people to believe you are not that good a grader. No idea how to fix them other than really learning and showing you know how to grade. I read your new TEC description- do you really think it is the same grade as before ?

 

________________________________________

 

You keep taking about getting scammed Being scammed is the failure mode - part of the result. You were scammed/lost money, The root cause (what caused the failure) - is POOR DECISION MAKING. This is a pattern we still see - with the latest ASM issue.

 

________________________________________________________

 

The budget you are on is a good thing - bit stop any buying for the time being to identify a real plan for the money - while learning how to sell using your existing stock. I have you a strategy a long time ago for the IG 1 books - same thing applies but with smaller numbers. Get 2 on the market now - over the next year as the movie builds add more. There is no reason to wait and try to sell all at once.

_______________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because I was starting and didn't know things like that The JLA #1 cover was because I wanted to complete the copy I had but got impatient. The cosigning was because I didn't know how to pack the comics and didn't want to throw them away,and the bags and boards I asked about because I've had ebayers ship to me without bag and boards so I thought that was the right way

 

Questions: Even with my memory problems I know I answered some questions multiple time but I don't know where I answered them exactly and if it's a obvious troll thing to me I don't answer.

 

Grading: Yes I still think it's the same as before since the thing that was added was that damage that it got to the corner and I also added the tape pull and that robin has his hand erased a bit.

 

Scamming: I know and emotions play a big part in the decisions I make

 

Budget "I don't have the IG #1's anymore and haven't for a long time but I did have a plan with them, to sell some off and hold the rest.

 

Comic con: I went to a comic con but it wasn't business related I never been to one and wanted to go.

 

Tools of the trade: I buy the camera before I started comics, the laptop for both business and personal, I got overstreet for free and I'll add gpa which was a really good deal.

[uchiha101]

Here is an example of what to do.

 

Deadpool 2 is coming out in 2018.

 

Hulksdaddy had a whole box of NM #87 2nd prints for sale.

 

I've worked with Dave on a fair few deals.

 

Dave should be noted as a superb boardie - great buyer, great seller. He grades accurately, sells at fair prices, and pays promptly when buying.

 

And he's a top bloke!

 

I got the whole box of 120 books shipped to me for $400

 

Prices have ranged (already) from as low as $1 to as high as $19 for a copy (raw).

Dave accurately graded them as an average of 9.4 (Box was pretty much undisturbed).

 

Slabs of 9.8 copies have a maximum (to date) sale price of $134 with a minimum of $13 according to GPA

 

So what to do?

 

I wait.

 

Wait until Cable is cast.

 

 

Wait until the trailers start.

 

 

Sell, as the most successful dealers say, on the sizzle, not the steak.

 

I asked my good friend Joey, to slab 10 copies that he guarantees as a 9.8.

 

My cost will be about $45 each after postage to Australia.

 

So to summarise:

 

Total cost books plus 10 slabbed 9.8's = $850

 

I expect to sell all raw copies for an average of $15 each (hoping for more)

 

I expect to sell each slab at an average of $120 each (hoping for more)

 

Total sales:

110 x $15 = $1650

Slabs 10 x $120 = $1200

 

Total sales = $2850

Cost = $850

 

Total profit after all fees (deduct $200 for fees) = $1800.

 

That is the minimum I expect to get.

 

We all know about movie fever - it could be twice as much as that.

 

One thing is for certain - I cannot lose money on this deal. At $850 total, I need to sell each book for only $7 to break even, and that includes 10 slabbed copies.

 

Looking forward to the next 'big thing' is not rocket science - just most won't talk about it.

 

It's not big money, but it certainly will allow me to put down a deposit on a book I want to keep, and all for the effort of pushing buttons on a keyboard, and boxing up some slabs in the appropriate manner.

 

To put in perspective, I expect to make 3 times more profit in one deal, that you have managed to lose in 3 years - and you have turned over $20000....

 

And this deal was here, right on these boards, and available to you to grab.

 

Buy $3-4 books BEFORE the sizzle. And then sell.

 

Surely after 3 years you must have grasped that the whole bloody idea is to buy books before they get "hot" - not when they do.

 

Does this take time and patience - yes. But if you want to acquire a great keeper collection, this is the way to do it. I love the thrill of the chase on deals, auctions, boot sales etc - but you have to work for it.

 

I'll probably get flamed for this post - but dude - this is how, at your level, you should be thinking.

Leave the big books to the experts.

 

(probably $2!)

 

 

That's quite a way of think and I'll be adding it to my watchlist. I didn't buy that deal for two reasons: I didn't see it and I don't have the money at this time. Also you do the kinda deals I want to learn to do consistently well any really and not lose money on it.

[jsilverjanet]

let's try a different approach

 

Gabe stop buying comics

 

[chrisco37]

[Logan510]

[uchiha101]

let's try a different approach

 

Gabe stop buying comics

 

 

Haha

[revat]

Here is an example of what to do.

 

Deadpool 2 is coming out in 2018.

 

Hulksdaddy had a whole box of NM #87 2nd prints for sale.

 

I've worked with Dave on a fair few deals.

 

Dave should be noted as a superb boardie - great buyer, great seller. He grades accurately, sells at fair prices, and pays promptly when buying.

 

And he's a top bloke!

 

I got the whole box of 120 books shipped to me for $400

 

Prices have ranged (already) from as low as $1 to as high as $19 for a copy (raw).

Dave accurately graded them as an average of 9.4 (Box was pretty much undisturbed).

 

Slabs of 9.8 copies have a maximum (to date) sale price of $134 with a minimum of $13 according to GPA

 

So what to do?

 

I wait.

 

Wait until Cable is cast.

 

 

Wait until the trailers start.

 

 

Sell, as the most successful dealers say, on the sizzle, not the steak.

 

I asked my good friend Joey, to slab 10 copies that he guarantees as a 9.8.

 

My cost will be about $45 each after postage to Australia.

 

So to summarise:

 

Total cost books plus 10 slabbed 9.8's = $850

 

I expect to sell all raw copies for an average of $15 each (hoping for more)

 

I expect to sell each slab at an average of $120 each (hoping for more)

 

Total sales:

110 x $15 = $1650

Slabs 10 x $120 = $1200

 

Total sales = $2850

Cost = $850

 

Total profit after all fees (deduct $200 for fees) = $1800.

 

That is the minimum I expect to get.

 

We all know about movie fever - it could be twice as much as that.

 

One thing is for certain - I cannot lose money on this deal. At $850 total, I need to sell each book for only $7 to break even, and that includes 10 slabbed copies.

 

Looking forward to the next 'big thing' is not rocket science - just most won't talk about it.

 

It's not big money, but it certainly will allow me to put down a deposit on a book I want to keep, and all for the effort of pushing buttons on a keyboard, and boxing up some slabs in the appropriate manner.

 

To put in perspective, I expect to make 3 times more profit in one deal, that you have managed to lose in 3 years - and you have turned over $20000....

 

And this deal was here, right on these boards, and available to you to grab.

 

Buy $3-4 books BEFORE the sizzle. And then sell.

 

Surely after 3 years you must have grasped that the whole bloody idea is to buy books before they get "hot" - not when they do.

 

Does this take time and patience - yes. But if you want to acquire a great keeper collection, this is the way to do it. I love the thrill of the chase on deals, auctions, boot sales etc - but you have to work for it.

 

I'll probably get flamed for this post - but dude - this is how, at your level, you should be thinking.

Leave the big books to the experts.

 

(probably $2!)

 

 

That's quite a way of think and I'll be adding it to my watchlist. I didn't buy that deal for two reasons: I didn't see it and I don't have the money at this time. Also you do the kinda deals I want to learn to do consistently well any really and not lose money on it.

 

 

I don't have an opinion on whether that guy will or will not meet his minimum profit estimate, but even if he doesn't, he has built in a HUGE amount of cushion to ensure that he doesn't LOSE money. And he's betting on the general market, which is a million times more predictable (though no guarantees) than your ability find undergraded keys, or find already hot comics that hopefully haven't reached their maximum hotness, or your ability to match coverless non-megakeys with their covers.

 

Do you seriously think about all of these things? Are you equipped to?

 

Procurement - You have to think like a businessman making an investment, not some dude buying a few comics. How much seed money do I have, how much available cash to I want to have available at any one time? What are my desired rate of returns? What are my expected minimum rates of returns? How long do I expect turnover time to be on this specific investment? How does turnover time affect my desired and expected minimum rate of return? What are the risks (scamming, customs, return fees if I'm not satisfied, not the grade I hope for), and what values do I assign to those risks? Are there any other costs that need to be spent to prepare any items for sale (slabbing, pressing, signing). Real dealers

 

Inventory - What are the costs of holding inventory (space, insurance, security, opportunity cost)? How long should you hold it if it hasn't sold when you wanted it? If the price is on the way up should you sell or wait? Howabout if its on the way down? Should I turn something over at a less than optimal price so I have more available cash?

 

Selling - Pricing, venue, terms, fees, Rate of return, taxes, customs, translations. Returns, scams, insurance, shipping.

 

 

 

 

 

[Logan510]

Here is an example of what to do.

 

Deadpool 2 is coming out in 2018.

 

Hulksdaddy had a whole box of NM #87 2nd prints for sale.

 

I've worked with Dave on a fair few deals.

 

Dave should be noted as a superb boardie - great buyer, great seller. He grades accurately, sells at fair prices, and pays promptly when buying.

 

And he's a top bloke!

 

I got the whole box of 120 books shipped to me for $400

 

Prices have ranged (already) from as low as $1 to as high as $19 for a copy (raw).

Dave accurately graded them as an average of 9.4 (Box was pretty much undisturbed).

 

Slabs of 9.8 copies have a maximum (to date) sale price of $134 with a minimum of $13 according to GPA

 

So what to do?

 

I wait.

 

Wait until Cable is cast.

 

 

Wait until the trailers start.

 

 

Sell, as the most successful dealers say, on the sizzle, not the steak.

 

I asked my good friend Joey, to slab 10 copies that he guarantees as a 9.8.

 

My cost will be about $45 each after postage to Australia.

 

So to summarise:

 

Total cost books plus 10 slabbed 9.8's = $850

 

I expect to sell all raw copies for an average of $15 each (hoping for more)

 

I expect to sell each slab at an average of $120 each (hoping for more)

 

Total sales:

110 x $15 = $1650

Slabs 10 x $120 = $1200

 

Total sales = $2850

Cost = $850

 

Total profit after all fees (deduct $200 for fees) = $1800.

 

That is the minimum I expect to get.

 

We all know about movie fever - it could be twice as much as that.

 

One thing is for certain - I cannot lose money on this deal. At $850 total, I need to sell each book for only $7 to break even, and that includes 10 slabbed copies.

 

Looking forward to the next 'big thing' is not rocket science - just most won't talk about it.

 

It's not big money, but it certainly will allow me to put down a deposit on a book I want to keep, and all for the effort of pushing buttons on a keyboard, and boxing up some slabs in the appropriate manner.

 

To put in perspective, I expect to make 3 times more profit in one deal, that you have managed to lose in 3 years - and you have turned over $20000....

 

And this deal was here, right on these boards, and available to you to grab.

 

Buy $3-4 books BEFORE the sizzle. And then sell.

 

Surely after 3 years you must have grasped that the whole bloody idea is to buy books before they get "hot" - not when they do.

 

Does this take time and patience - yes. But if you want to acquire a great keeper collection, this is the way to do it. I love the thrill of the chase on deals, auctions, boot sales etc - but you have to work for it.

 

I'll probably get flamed for this post - but dude - this is how, at your level, you should be thinking.

Leave the big books to the experts.

 

(probably $2!)

 

 

That's quite a way of think and I'll be adding it to my watchlist. I didn't buy that deal for two reasons: I didn't see it and I don't have the money at this time. Also you do the kinda deals I want to learn to do consistently well any really and not lose money on it.

 

 

I don't have an opinion on whether that guy will or will not meet his minimum profit estimate, but even if he doesn't, he has built in a HUGE amount of cushion to ensure that he doesn't LOSE money. And he's betting on the general market, which is a million times more predictable (though no guarantees) than your ability find undergraded keys, or find already hot comics that hopefully haven't reached their maximum hotness, or your ability to match coverless non-megakeys with their covers.

 

Do you seriously think about all of these things? Are you equipped to?

 

Procurement - You have to think like a businessman making an investment, not some dude buying a few comics. How much seed money do I have, how much available cash to I want to have available at any one time? What are my desired rate of returns? What are my expected minimum rates of returns? How long do I expect turnover time to be on this specific investment? How does turnover time affect my desired and expected minimum rate of return? What are the risks (scamming, customs, return fees if I'm not satisfied, not the grade I hope for), and what values do I assign to those risks? Are there any other costs that need to be spent to prepare any items for sale (slabbing, pressing, signing). Real dealers

 

Inventory - What are the costs of holding inventory (space, insurance, security, opportunity cost)? How long should you hold it if it hasn't sold when you wanted it? If the price is on the way up should you sell or wait? Howabout if its on the way down? Should I turn something over at a less than optimal price so I have more available cash?

 

Selling - Pricing, venue, terms, fees, Rate of return, taxes, customs, translations. Returns, scams, insurance, shipping.

 

 

 

 

 

Let me simplify that:

 

 

Buy low, sell high

[uchiha101]

Here is an example of what to do.

 

Deadpool 2 is coming out in 2018.

 

Hulksdaddy had a whole box of NM #87 2nd prints for sale.

 

I've worked with Dave on a fair few deals.

 

Dave should be noted as a superb boardie - great buyer, great seller. He grades accurately, sells at fair prices, and pays promptly when buying.

 

And he's a top bloke!

 

I got the whole box of 120 books shipped to me for $400

 

Prices have ranged (already) from as low as $1 to as high as $19 for a copy (raw).

Dave accurately graded them as an average of 9.4 (Box was pretty much undisturbed).

 

Slabs of 9.8 copies have a maximum (to date) sale price of $134 with a minimum of $13 according to GPA

 

So what to do?

 

I wait.

 

Wait until Cable is cast.

 

 

Wait until the trailers start.

 

 

Sell, as the most successful dealers say, on the sizzle, not the steak.

 

I asked my good friend Joey, to slab 10 copies that he guarantees as a 9.8.

 

My cost will be about $45 each after postage to Australia.

 

So to summarise:

 

Total cost books plus 10 slabbed 9.8's = $850

 

I expect to sell all raw copies for an average of $15 each (hoping for more)

 

I expect to sell each slab at an average of $120 each (hoping for more)

 

Total sales:

110 x $15 = $1650

Slabs 10 x $120 = $1200

 

Total sales = $2850

Cost = $850

 

Total profit after all fees (deduct $200 for fees) = $1800.

 

That is the minimum I expect to get.

 

We all know about movie fever - it could be twice as much as that.

 

One thing is for certain - I cannot lose money on this deal. At $850 total, I need to sell each book for only $7 to break even, and that includes 10 slabbed copies.

 

Looking forward to the next 'big thing' is not rocket science - just most won't talk about it.

 

It's not big money, but it certainly will allow me to put down a deposit on a book I want to keep, and all for the effort of pushing buttons on a keyboard, and boxing up some slabs in the appropriate manner.

 

To put in perspective, I expect to make 3 times more profit in one deal, that you have managed to lose in 3 years - and you have turned over $20000....

 

And this deal was here, right on these boards, and available to you to grab.

 

Buy $3-4 books BEFORE the sizzle. And then sell.

 

Surely after 3 years you must have grasped that the whole bloody idea is to buy books before they get "hot" - not when they do.

 

Does this take time and patience - yes. But if you want to acquire a great keeper collection, this is the way to do it. I love the thrill of the chase on deals, auctions, boot sales etc - but you have to work for it.

 

I'll probably get flamed for this post - but dude - this is how, at your level, you should be thinking.

Leave the big books to the experts.

 

(probably $2!)

 

 

That's quite a way of think and I'll be adding it to my watchlist. I didn't buy that deal for two reasons: I didn't see it and I don't have the money at this time. Also you do the kinda deals I want to learn to do consistently well any really and not lose money on it.

 

 

I don't have an opinion on whether that guy will or will not meet his minimum profit estimate, but even if he doesn't, he has built in a HUGE amount of cushion to ensure that he doesn't LOSE money. And he's betting on the general market, which is a million times more predictable (though no guarantees) than your ability find undergraded keys, or find already hot comics that hopefully haven't reached their maximum hotness, or your ability to match coverless non-megakeys with their covers.

 

Do you seriously think about all of these things? Are you equipped to?

 

Procurement - You have to think like a businessman making an investment, not some dude buying a few comics. How much seed money do I have, how much available cash to I want to have available at any one time? What are my desired rate of returns? What are my expected minimum rates of returns? How long do I expect turnover time to be on this specific investment? How does turnover time affect my desired and expected minimum rate of return? What are the risks (scamming, customs, return fees if I'm not satisfied, not the grade I hope for), and what values do I assign to those risks? Are there any other costs that need to be spent to prepare any items for sale (slabbing, pressing, signing). Real dealers

 

Inventory - What are the costs of holding inventory (space, insurance, security, opportunity cost)? How long should you hold it if it hasn't sold when you wanted it? If the price is on the way up should you sell or wait? Howabout if its on the way down? Should I turn something over at a less than optimal price so I have more available cash?

 

Selling - Pricing, venue, terms, fees, Rate of return, taxes, customs, translations. Returns, scams, insurance, shipping.

 

 

 

 

 

To be honest up until 2-3 months ago I haven't been giving it as thought as I do recently an when I buy things I asses the grade, see what it's worth raw or gpa, ask about half to 75% of that, I check what I can make the most money on when I buy and how quickly I can flip it and also shipping and import fees since they are expensive here.

 

Regarding space: I'm not at the point where I have to consider it because it's not like I've bough hundreds of comics or many boxes so I consider myself lucky there. I do want to test what difference me getting a handle on my emotions and being on a budget will do my guess it will make a significant difference.