Comiclink 4 4

[KirbyCollector]

Once again, another CL auction ends without me realizing... congrats to whoever won the two pages I was interested in, you saved at least $3000 (and the consignors lost at least $3000), thanks to the "we don't need to send auction reminder emails" insufficiently_thoughtful_persons in charge. Maybe it is something in the water in Maine which makes them this dense...

[stinkininkin]

On 3/6/2024 at 5:51 PM, KirbyCollector said:

Once again, another CL auction ends without me realizing... congrats to whoever won the two pages I was interested in, you saved at least $3000 (and the consignors lost at least $3000), thanks to the "we don't need to send auction reminder emails" insufficiently_thoughtful_persons in charge. Maybe it is something in the water in Maine which makes them this dense...

I don't get this. I get so many email reminders about their auctions, it drives me crazy! It's so continuous that I have considered opting out of the notifications, but then I'd get nothing. Wish I could opt for a happy medium. That said, if you are signed up for email reminders, how are you not seeing them?

[Twanj]

I get so many reminder emails from CL that I automatically delete without even scanning the title so I miss things.

[KirbyCollector]

No, it not the regular email... just a simple reminder mail about auctions I am bidding on, like Heritage does. Life gets busy, I travel and those little emails Heritage sends does the trick every time.

[Unstoppablejayd]

There was an email like 2 hours before the lots started ending  that said the art is ending tonight. 

[stinkininkin]

On 3/6/2024 at 7:58 PM, Unstoppablejayd said:

There was an email like 2 hours before the lots started ending  that said the art is ending tonight. 

Exactly. I'm at a loss how missing these Clink auctions is even possible. Clink is far from perfect, but reminders are NOT one of their problems!

[tth2]

If only there was a way to enter a date and time in a calendar on one's computer or phone and have it send you a reminder on that date and time! 

I think there's a fortune to be made by anyone smart enough to create such an app! 

 

[ShallowDan]

I will say that Heritage's system of allowing you to opt in to texts to notify you when an auction is about to start, and even better, when a lot is coming up, has really spoiled me and is something I wish some of the other guys would emulate.

[KirbyCollector]

On 3/7/2024 at 5:38 AM, ShallowDan said:

I will say that Heritage's system of allowing you to opt in to texts to notify you when an auction is about to start, and even better, when a lot is coming up, has really spoiled me and is something I wish some of the other guys would emulate.

Exactly. Their job to to get a higher bid from you and their system does the job perfectly by putting you right in the final bid window. Is that lazy for me to rely on them? Maybe. But it's inexcusable why such a cheap and effective auction tool is not the industry standard.

[MyNameIsLegion]

On 3/7/2024 at 6:23 AM, KirbyCollector said:

Exactly. Their job to to get a higher bid from you and their system does the job perfectly by putting you right in the final bid window. Is that lazy for me to rely on them? Maybe. But it's inexcusable why such a cheap and effective auction tool is not the industry standard.

we are trolling you a bit that these are first world problems with lots of low effort solves but I will grant you that Comiclink's technical infrastructure for their auctions is analogous to the cheap collector that subsists on 2/99cents Jack-n-the-Box tacos, Captain Crunch, & Chef Boyardee Canned Ravioli, steals condiments from fast food chains, smokes cheap cigarettes, lives in their dead parents house, drives a 95 Chevy Cavalier, drinks PBR or the Beast, but has a complete run of DC Comics 1959-1982, most of the Charlton's and the single largest collection of Pogo, Snuffy Smith, and Gasoline Alley Strips and a massive VHS collection of porn.  Here's hoping that Steve can influence Josh to change, just a little, since a number of their consignments of A-list SA/BA art just lost 50% of their value.

Edited March 7 by MyNameIsLegion

[PhilipB2k17]

I targeted 3 pieces in the CLInk auction last night. I forgot about the first one and missed out on bidding on it -- but got sniped on the last two. 

The last two, I figured out when they were going up and set my timer on my phone. Then I watched amateur Deuling dealers until the pages came up. 

Someone got an absolute steal on the second of the two pieces I bid on, BTW. 

[Dr. Balls]

I generally leave a browser window open with the item(s) I'm bidding on for the duration of the auction. I won my auction last night in the final minute, but I had it open in my browser for at least three weeks and was able to camp out until the end of the auction (which many people might not be able to do). ComicLink does send a ton of emails, but I don't recall getting one to remind me about certain lots I am bidding on.

ComicLink's interface isn't as polished as HA or CC, but I'm thankful for that. I am also thankful for no BP if I pay immediately. CLink is by far my favorite, as I feel that HA and CC really pound it to the buyer with their various methods of stroking an auction.

[Dr. Balls]

On 3/7/2024 at 7:09 AM, PhilipB2k17 said:

The last two, I figured out when they were going up and set my timer on my phone. Then I watched amateur Deuling dealers until the pages came up.

I was there as well. I hadn't placed my bid just in case DD had something I wanted more than the auction item. Didn't see anything on the show, so I was able to roll into my CLink auction right afterwards.

[Dr. Balls]

On 3/7/2024 at 6:21 AM, MyNameIsLegion said:

we are trolling you a bit that these are first world problems with lots of low effort solves but I will grant you that Comiclink's technical infrastructure for their auctions is analogous to the cheap collector that subsists on 2/99cents Jack-n-the-Box tacos, Captain Crunch, & Chef Boyardee Canned Ravioli, steals condiments from fast food chains, smokes cheap cigarettes, lives in their dead parents house, drives a 95 Chevy Cavalier, drinks PBR or the Beast, but has a complete run of DC Comics 1959-1982, most of the Charlton's and the single largest collection of Pogo, Snuffy Smith, and Gasoline Alley Strips and a massive VHS collection of porn.

I take issue with that. I've never collected Charlton Comics.

[tth2]

On 3/8/2024 at 12:08 AM, Dr. Balls said:

ComicLink does send a ton of emails, but I don't recall getting one to remind me about certain lots I am bidding on.

ComicLink's interface isn't as polished as HA or CC, but I'm thankful for that. I am also thankful for no BP if I pay immediately. CLink is by far my favorite, as I feel that HA and CC really pound it to the buyer with their various methods of stroking an auction.

Everything you mention which makes Clink favorable for bidders is a reason why consignors should avoid them! 

[AndyFish]

Couldn't agree less-- CLINK is by far my favorite auction site.   I set my own reminders-- got a phone with a calendar in it.  If something is important enough to bid on it then it's important enough to make the effort.   I also use Dr Balls method on my laptop.  I win about 90% of the time, and comparing fees, shipping time and shipping fees there is no comparison.  I get my CLINK win in under 5 days.   I love those guys.

[Dr. Balls]

On 3/7/2024 at 9:27 AM, tth2 said:

Everything you mention which makes Clink favorable for bidders is a reason why consignors should avoid them! 

I'm not real sure of that. I was going to consign a large amount of PCH books to HA - until I did the math. The fees at HA are not beneficial to selling unless you have huge margin built into what you're getting rid of (20% BP + 10% seller fees). For example, the one book I had that had made large gains (at least via GPA and previous HA sales) would have netted me only $800 (which was only a 7% profit) and that is if it had tied or beaten the previous record sale. And I wasn't looking for whorehouse profits - my goal was at least 10% overall.

While that risk does result in a profit, it may not work that way down the line to the smaller books I was trying to sell. After doing the top 8 big books I had, the risk of taking a loss was way too great to consign with HA. Their BP and fees really skew the real value of books to the seller - I sent these off to be consigned on IG, sold all but one book and made 10% profit across the board, which was acceptable. I was looking at a minimum 10% loss on the same books at HA.

Many of my books I'd only been holding for a few years - people looking to sell books they've had for 8-10 years are probably going to see a lot of action, but I've discovered that the only people really making money on this stuff is Heritage at 30% of the hammer price. Buying stuff at Heritage artificially inflates the value, and immediately puts you at risk if you are even remotely concerned about future sellability. I don't even really look at HA anymore because I know that I'm behind on value instantly when I buy something.

Edited March 7 by Dr. Balls

[KirbyCollector]

On 3/7/2024 at 11:31 AM, AndyFish said:

If something is important enough to bid on it then it's important enough to make the effort

But that's just it -- NO collectible is that important. It's not family or work or food or fuel or shelter... it's disposable income you can spend in any number of directions. The easier a business makes it for me to spend that disposable income, the more likely I am to spend it with them.

Edited March 7 by KirbyCollector

[tth2]

On 3/8/2024 at 12:40 AM, Dr. Balls said:

The fees at HA are not beneficial to selling unless you have huge margin built into what you're getting rid of (20% BP + 10% seller fees).

Almost no one who consigns on Heritage pays full boat.  At a minimum, you should be able to negotiate away the 10% seller fee.

[KirbyCollector]

On 3/7/2024 at 11:50 AM, tth2 said:

Almost no one who consigns on Heritage pays full boat.  At a minimum, you should be able to negotiate away the 10% seller fee.

I pay 7.5%