Why aren't there more quarter bins?

TKWill · Post by **TKWill** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:30 am

I have talked to a couple of my friends and we were trying to figure out why there aren't more bargain bins in comic stores. To all of us it makes sense that you would have some sort of bargain bin and it seems that I can't find one anywhere. A person can buy huge lots on ebay to stock back issue bins with and pay very little per book. Maybe look through and pull out anything of considerable value and then make double what you paid for them on the resale. Granted everything doesn't move but a lot of it will. Not to mention if I think that I am getting a bargain I will spend more money.

Not to mention it builds a little excitment. I can browse through a ton of boxes for an hour and maybe I will find something for a quarter that would be awesome and worth my time even though I wouldn't sell it I would have bragging rights. I am just tired of all of the cover price bins, I went out of town this last week and that is all that they had, it just seems lazy.

bnasty71 · Post by **bnasty71** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:22 am

Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.

quarters aren't completly worthless,you can still get a rubber from the condom machine at the local titty bar.

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:44 am

Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.

I think they both make sense. I thought quarter bins were always used to attract customers into the shop though. They go in to spend a bit of money on the quarter bins and then hopefully see smoething else they like and spend more money?

Rubiks-Q-Bert · Post by **Rubiks-Q-Bert** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:18 am

Jay Tomio wrote:
bnasty71 wrote:
Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.

quarters aren't completly worthless,you can still get a rubber from the condom machine at the local titty bar.
They used to give those away for free in high school!

They still do if you go to the health clinic and ask. I went with my GFs aunt awhile back because she wanted to get some for her son. Not that he used them. His GF is pregnant.

Stinger · Post by **Stinger** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:41 am

cobra_commander wrote:
Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.
I think they both make sense. I thought quarter bins were always used to attract customers into the shop though. They go in to spend a bit of money on the quarter bins and then hopefully see smoething else they like and spend more money?

Not really, my reaction when I first saw that $0.25 bin - I thought they were a bunch of garbage that I don't want to check out. I got into looking at the pile when the clerk pulled a Valiant comic from there.

*SQUEE* · Post by ***SQUEE*** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:44 am

My locale shop sells his Post-Unity Valiants for cover

. Wonder why he has so much?

RyanMcLelland · Post by **RyanMcLelland** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:46 am

Quarter bins suck...

RyanMcLelland · Post by **RyanMcLelland** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:48 am

...BUT I LOVE THEM SO!

COMICKINGS · Post by **COMICKINGS** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:56 am

at the Charlotte Heroes Convention 3 weeks ago I saw a dealer that had .50 boxes on top of his tables and .25 boxes on the bottom. I was pulling some stuff from his .50 boxes,but not alot and looked at the 20 or so boxes on the floor and asked myself,do I really want to go through all those...The 2nd box into them,I hit upon a run of Eternal Warrior around issue #30... as I go farther I see #46,47,48,49, & 2 copies of #50,bagged and boarded in near mint/mint condition...so I figured it's already worth it...ended up pulling Turok 44-47,Solar #59,60,Shadowman #43 x2,Rai #33 x2.....Harbinger #41...and Bloodshot #49,50...all bagged & boarded and in nm/m condition. It was hard to believe that kind of stuff could still be found at a show.

In my store I've got back issue bins that hold about 25 long boxes worth od $1 books. I've got'em $1 each..7 for $5..or 15 for $10...We pump alot of stuff through those bins. We try and buy collections and usually 85-90% of the stuff is $2-$5 back issues,so we just put all that stuff in there.I think we are the only store in this area that does it. It does generate business and the regular guys are always asking when are we going to be adding more stuff. Usually I'll rotate the boxes about every 6 months,if I've built up enough to replace whats there.

Every store in the country has got tons of books that you just can't get cover price for,but it's hard for some guys to sell anything below cover price.

thePike · Post by **thePike** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:17 am

MMMmmmmmm Quarter Bins (actually, it's the 3 for $1 at my LCS, but close enough

) *add homer simpson gargle here*

mobstirr · Post by **mobstirr** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:30 am

COMICKINGS wrote:at the Charlotte Heroes Convention 3 weeks ago I saw a dealer that had .50 boxes on top of his tables and .25 boxes on the bottom. I was pulling some stuff from his .50 boxes,but not alot and looked at the 20 or so boxes on the floor and asked myself,do I really want to go through all those...The 2nd box into them,I hit upon a run of Eternal Warrior around issue #30... as I go farther I see #46,47,48,49, & 2 copies of #50,bagged and boarded in near mint/mint condition...so I figured it's already worth it...ended up pulling Turok 44-47,Solar #59,60,Shadowman #43 x2,Rai #33 x2.....Harbinger #41...and Bloodshot #49,50...all bagged & boarded and in nm/m condition. It was hard to believe that kind of stuff could still be found at a show.

So YOU'RE the one that beat me to those in Charlotte!

Actually, I think I may have bought from the same seller.

danthecomicman · Post by **danthecomicman** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:51 am

Quarter bins are a dying concept in my LCS. In speaking with the owners as to the reason, the common answer is that they can generate more revenue with that floor space with other comics/merchandise. Unforuantely for us quarter-bin freaks, it makes sense....

Cons are the only place I have found decent quarter-bins recently. Even then, it's usually 3 for a buck or as much as $1 books on the floor.
Still, I have found some decent stuff in bargain bins in recent shows although I've had better luck in the dollar bins finding gems.

D.

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:52 am

Inflation...is a b!tch

Zero · Post by **Zero** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:52 am

Given a choice between .25 cent bins where the comics have no bags/boards & a dollar bin where the books are all bagged/boarded, I choose the dollar bin.

Zero · Post by **Zero** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:53 am

cobra_commander wrote:Inflation...is a b!tch

That's what I hear...

tarheelmarine · Post by **tarheelmarine** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:49 am

COMICKINGS wrote:at the Charlotte Heroes Convention 3 weeks ago I saw a dealer that had .50 boxes on top of his tables and .25 boxes on the bottom. I was pulling some stuff from his .50 boxes,but not alot and looked at the 20 or so boxes on the floor and asked myself,do I really want to go through all those...The 2nd box into them,I hit upon a run of Eternal Warrior around issue #30... as I go farther I see #46,47,48,49, & 2 copies of #50,bagged and boarded in near mint/mint condition...so I figured it's already worth it...ended up pulling Turok 44-47,Solar #59,60,Shadowman #43 x2,Rai #33 x2.....Harbinger #41...and Bloodshot #49,50...all bagged & boarded and in nm/m condition. It was hard to believe that kind of stuff could still be found at a show.

In my store I've got back issue bins that hold about 25 long boxes worth od $1 books. I've got'em $1 each..7 for $5..or 15 for $10...We pump alot of stuff through those bins. We try and buy collections and usually 85-90% of the stuff is $2-$5 back issues,so we just put all that stuff in there.I think we are the only store in this area that does it. It does generate business and the regular guys are always asking when are we going to be adding more stuff. Usually I'll rotate the boxes about every 6 months,if I've built up enough to replace whats there.

Every store in the country has got tons of books that you just can't get cover price for,but it's hard for some guys to sell anything below cover price.

Couldn't make it this year, but I ran into the same deal when i was there last year. I got a lot of good stuff from the .25 and .50 bins. HEROS CON rocks!

TKWill · Post by **TKWill** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:23 am

COMICKINGS wrote:at the Charlotte Heroes Convention 3 weeks ago I saw a dealer that had .50 boxes on top of his tables and .25 boxes on the bottom. I was pulling some stuff from his .50 boxes,but not alot and looked at the 20 or so boxes on the floor and asked myself,do I really want to go through all those...The 2nd box into them,I hit upon a run of Eternal Warrior around issue #30... as I go farther I see #46,47,48,49, & 2 copies of #50,bagged and boarded in near mint/mint condition...so I figured it's already worth it...ended up pulling Turok 44-47,Solar #59,60,Shadowman #43 x2,Rai #33 x2.....Harbinger #41...and Bloodshot #49,50...all bagged & boarded and in nm/m condition. It was hard to believe that kind of stuff could still be found at a show.

In my store I've got back issue bins that hold about 25 long boxes worth od $1 books. I've got'em $1 each..7 for $5..or 15 for $10...We pump alot of stuff through those bins. We try and buy collections and usually 85-90% of the stuff is $2-$5 back issues,so we just put all that stuff in there.I think we are the only store in this area that does it. It does generate business and the regular guys are always asking when are we going to be adding more stuff. Usually I'll rotate the boxes about every 6 months,if I've built up enough to replace whats there.

Every store in the country has got tons of books that you just can't get cover price for,but it's hard for some guys to sell anything below cover price.

I would just like to say that I wish more stores would follow your plan. People that help push the stock out the door are rewarded, great idea. Now if I could get my LCS to do the same. Every time I go in there I am the only person looking through their back issue bins, it just seems like they're not moving through them like they should.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:26 am

Quarter bins are getting few and far between in my area as well. It's a shame cause most of their stock just sits around collecting dust cause no one wants pay cover for common back issues.

COMICKINGS · Post by **COMICKINGS** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:44 am

mobstirr wrote:
COMICKINGS wrote:at the Charlotte Heroes Convention 3 weeks ago I saw a dealer that had .50 boxes on top of his tables and .25 boxes on the bottom. I was pulling some stuff from his .50 boxes,but not alot and looked at the 20 or so boxes on the floor and asked myself,do I really want to go through all those...The 2nd box into them,I hit upon a run of Eternal Warrior around issue #30... as I go farther I see #46,47,48,49, & 2 copies of #50,bagged and boarded in near mint/mint condition...so I figured it's already worth it...ended up pulling Turok 44-47,Solar #59,60,Shadowman #43 x2,Rai #33 x2.....Harbinger #41...and Bloodshot #49,50...all bagged & boarded and in nm/m condition. It was hard to believe that kind of stuff could still be found at a show.
So YOU'RE the one that beat me to those in Charlotte!
Actually, I think I may have bought from the same seller.

I got to the guy Friday morning. He was talking about going to .10/book on Sunday...I'm hardly ever around those big shows on the last day,but I know some of those guys were just saying they were gonna blow out whatever they had left.It does pay to dig under those tables!

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:43 pm

It seems in my area, there are no LCS' with quarter/.50 bins. I only see these at local "cons" and the bigger shows.

-slym

Chiclo · Post by **Chiclo** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:16 pm

Rubiks-Q-Bert wrote:
Jay Tomio wrote:
bnasty71 wrote:
Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.

quarters aren't completly worthless,you can still get a rubber from the condom machine at the local titty bar.
They used to give those away for free in high school!
They still do if you go to the health clinic and ask. I went with my GFs aunt awhile back because she wanted to get some for her son. Not that he used them. His GF is pregnant.

That would be an interesting trip.

What kind of small talk do you make in the car for that trip?

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:01 pm

Chiclo wrote:
Rubiks-Q-Bert wrote:
Jay Tomio wrote:
bnasty71 wrote:
Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.

quarters aren't completly worthless,you can still get a rubber from the condom machine at the local titty bar.
They used to give those away for free in high school!
They still do if you go to the health clinic and ask. I went with my GFs aunt awhile back because she wanted to get some for her son. Not that he used them. His GF is pregnant.
That would be an interesting trip.

What kind of small talk do you make in the car for that trip?

And isn't it a bit late if she's already pregnant?

How does that condom work?

Zero · Post by **Zero** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:03 pm

I'm getting the impression she wasn't prego yet. Aunty got the rubbers & cuz didn't use 'em. Then came the prego.

Please forgive if the order of events is off.

etos45 · Post by **etos45** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:10 pm

Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.

I have to ask... what did you drive that 25 cents could give you a quarter of a tank of gas? 10 years ago (to my memory) gas was somewhere between 85c and 90c a gallon...

I know... I'm nitpicking... but I'm angry, man.... I used to be able to fill up for $15 and now it costs me $100.... grrrrr!

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:12 pm

etos45 wrote:
Jay Tomio wrote:A couple things come to mind (and mind you I can't even verify if there are less quarter bins or not). probably a better question for one of the shop owners or it might be unique local phenomenon

One, the dollar isn't worth anything so we can do the simple division 10 years ago a quarter was more than 1/4 tank of gas for me.

Two, (which relates to one) might be a cost/space issue. If I sell 200 quarter bin comics a day, I probably did more work ringing you up than was worth my time.
I have to ask... what did you drive that 25 cents could give you a quarter of a tank of gas? 10 years ago (to my memory) gas was somewhere between 85c and 90c a gallon...

I know... I'm nitpicking... but I'm angry, man.... I used to be able to fill up for $15 and now it costs me $100.... grrrrr!

Now I'm getting really confused. How many trips are you making to the Health Clinic??