Tradin' Up to the Grail in the Sky

[Engine-migration]

I've been wanting to try something like the guy who traded a giant paper clip for a house, but less amazing. I'd like to start with three random and low key items and continously trade upwards to a grail item. One of the three can be picked and a trade will be made. I hope to take that item and trade up again, and again... I've thought a long time about what the grail should be and I want it to be good, but nothing crazy like Action 1. It might be a reach, but I'd like to go for Tales of Suspense #39, hopefully in at least fine condition. For the first round I have this to offer-

Wanted #1 Death Row Edition signed by Mark Millar at Wizard World Chicago 2004

Or a regular Tales of The Teen Titans #44 which has the Origin of Deathstroke, 1st Jericho and first Grayson as Nightwing.

Lastly is a sketch of Iron Man done by Jerry Beck at Wizard World Chicago in 2004. It cost me ten bucks. The sketch is pencil shading outlined by a darker pencil.

If anyone wants to trade, please PM what you have to offer.

Just to let everyone know, 500 was my original username and I had a bit more than 200 posts. However, I stopped to concentrate on school, since graduating I don't have a huge focus anymore and when I decided to start posting again I'd forgotten my password and the email account used is defunct.

However, I will take into account that my low post count can be regarded as untrustworthy, and risky to work with, and if you want to trade but are unsure because of it, PM me and maybe we can take precautions or build up the level of trust.

This is supposed to be fun, see if it can be done project, if it falls flat on its face then so be it, someone else can try, hopefully with better luck. Or if this has already been done, or is regarded by everyone as stupid, I'll delete it and post with the stigma of being that guy with the dumb idea from now on.

[MutantKeys]

[Carnage]

PM sent

[Engine-migration]

bump and an update

 

2 offers so far anyone else want in at the start?

[october]

That's a badass sketch.

[skinny_white_boy]

[Engine-migration]

New Item on the Trading Block

The first decision was pretty hard, I was also offered an ASM 300, but I ended up choosing the 299 because it was in better condition. Thank you Erato!

Amazing Spiderman #299

and the back

[MutantKeys]

<p>New Item on the Trading Block

 

<p>The first decision was pretty hard, I was also offered an ASM 300, but I ended up choosing the 299 because it was in better condition. Thank you Erato!

 

<p>Amazing Spiderman #299

<p>

 

<p>and the back

<p>

 

What condition was the 300??

[Engine-migration]

There was a considerable difference between the 299 and the 300. The three hundred had blunted corners, color breaking creases, a stressed spine, and I think a few stains on the cover.

 

It was still enough to make me think it over for two days.

[ComicsAndCode]

I'm sort of doing the same (not a trade-up, but a traditional buy/sell strategy)...started with $600 in Jan 06. Now at approx. $8,500..nearly a 15-fold turnaround. I've been setting several milestone goals rather a single ultimate goal. By smaller goals with short intervals, I don't get discouraged from the long process. Plus, at each milestone, I can sit down and review what has worked and what hasn't in regards to purchases, sales, and marketing. As an example, my first milestone was to acquire a mid-grade Amazing Fantasy #15 at a relatively low price, turnaround and sell it at 2x the cost. Achieved.

 

My knowledge about the comics business has evolved in the course of it all. I understand better how to negotiate with sellers (namely, dealers who ridiculously overprice their books). And as a comic fan, I have seen and read so many great stuff than ever before!!

 

Not easy and it has to be thought out and planned well. Excel spreadsheet with formulas is a must...don't know if certified dealers even bother with this!! Plus, the fact that I am a programmer has helped too. I let my programs do things that I couldn't possibly do myself ina timely fashion (eg. automated ebay auctions sniffer, personal inventory management).

 

Good luck on the trade-up project!

 

Pete

[*paull*]

How many trades and how much time did it take to get where you are now?

[ComicsAndCode]

How many trades and how much time did it take to get where you are now?

 

Is this question for me?

[*paull*]

Yes... when I say "time", I actually mean hours of work.

[ComicsAndCode]

Ok, so I made 8 acquisitions since Jan 06. Spent 30mins on average with the seller each time to neg. and do the transaction. 3 purchases were for single books. 5 were for collections that I did not break apart and sell individually. Then, if you consider the time to list on eBay, picking up packaging material, and finally shipping via USPS, approx. 18-20 hours of actual work.

[*paull*]

Not bad! Nice second job, I'd say.

[ComicsAndCode]

Yeah, and decided to squander it away by transforming my 3rd bedroom into Pee-Wee's playhouse.