An open letter to all COMIC STORE OWNERS/CON DEALERS

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

I've been pondering this a lot lately, seeing as how I've been kicking around the idea of opening a LCS/collectible's store for many years...

So I just wanted to say this, to anyone who might care:

If you own a comic shop or sell at local cons...seriously consider selling things for an average eBay price, as opposed to 'the standard Overstreet plus 100%'.

I was at my local con yesterday, AGAIN lamenting the fact that no one will wheel and deal. I'm not asking for people to GIVE me their books. BUT...I'm also not asking for the latest hot books on the cheap. I'm TIRED of seeing things like Amazing Spiderman #298 for $45, and then having sellers be MORTALLY offended when I offer them $10 (you know, what they SELL FOR ON EBAY)...or, even worse, #301-up, for $1-$2. 'That book GUIDES for $XX!!!' At that point, I put the books down and walk away.

If, for example, I see a Fine+ Star Spangled War Stories #94....and Guide on it is $65 (roughly)...I'll be able to buy that on eBay, GENERALLY, for 25-35% of Guide, and it will probably be close. I'm NOT paying the $50 you want for it, because...IT'S NOT A HOT BOOK. Only ECLECTIC collectors are going to want it, and you're NOT going to get top dollar for it!

So...I offered the guy $18, and, figuring in shipping, that's probably what I would have paid on eBay...and I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. I'm not out to 'rip people off'...but eBay has established a MARKET...why is it taking SO LONG for storefronts and con dealers to MEET that market! There are only a couple of dealers that I do business with at the con, and that's because they will sell books at MARKET PRICE. There are DOZENS and DOZENS of people with whatever books in their boxes or on their display racks for 100% or more of Guide.

I don't....EVER....EVER....give them money.

Harley Yee is a great example. I go to the con, he's got MILLIONS of dollars worth of Gold and Silver. MILLIONS. So I look at a Batman #7 he's got...and it's got MAJOR, MAJOR cheapo crappy restoration...it was, at best, a Fair to begin with...

And he's got it priced at $320.

WHY?

That's Guide for a GOOD copy! So WHY would a cheapo crappily restored Fair copy be 'worth' $320?

And yet...Harley laments that he has a 'so so show'. Well, DUH!

Yes, yes, I KNOW the argument of 'well at least he HAS it for sale'...that argument became moot with eBay. There are few things that aren't for sale every day, every week, every month, every year.

So, I say to all of you who are regular sellers...SERIOUSLY CONSIDER people like me....I spend THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars EVERY YEAR on comics. BUT...I don't spend THOUSANDS of dollars with ANYONE who marks EVERYTHING up to full Overstreet (and frequently MUCH more because of overgrading.)

If I can get it on eBay....CLOSE to accurately graded (and it's kinda hard to screw up a VG THAT badly.)...for a FRACTION of Guide...then I'm going to do it...but I'd RATHER do business with people I KNOW and LIKE.

What's the answer? BUY CHEAP. When someone walks into your store, or at a local con, and offers you something for sale, BUY it...but buy it at 10-15% of Guide, unless you know for a flat fact you'll be able to sell it for more.

Don't buy it with the objective of letting it gather dust on the wall or in your con box for ten years!

Don't say 'no one will sell to me at prices to support such a thing!' because I KNOW that there are stores who turn down buying constantly. Believe me, there's a buyer for EVERYTHING...at the right price. There are stores around here who refuse to buy ANYTHING....at ALL! After a few rounds of THAT, people who want to sell will come back...and if they don't come back...hey, they got a better deal somewhere else, good for them! But...in this market, 9 times out of 10, they'll come back.

Anyhoo...that's my request. Consider markets like me, and know that we are out there. Know that we're willing to pay MARKET price for these books...if you're interested in selling them.

[mrwoogieman]

I think you're giving the dealers too much credit by saying they have too much invested in the book to sell it for a better price so they should pay less for their stock.

The fact is, a lot of these dealers buy for pennies on the dollar and still sell at full guide plus. Saying it doesn't mean it's true, it's just another line to use while they try to get your cash.

[whetteon]

Here is an email I recieved from a seller over his cgc Doctor Strange #1 in 9.4 condition. I was interested on a whim as it was a first issues, a bronze age book and in nm. I offered him $59. Here is the response I got back after he told me that it's the selling season and I need to be less conservative. I had to ask when the selling period was and well, your caught up to speed now..

For a seller the selling season starts in February and peaks in about September. It has it's dips that occur a couple of weeks before the major cons.

For the buyer the best time is November, December and January. People are usually spending money on Christmas (or recovering) and big ticket items usually go for much less. Sellers are willing to take less because they are also trying to get Christmas money.

If you're trying to buy right now you need to be willing to pay at or above GPA.

So apparently the only time I had a chance to buy this book at a reasonable price (I thought $59 was generous) was during the holiday seasons which of course didn't happen because all the things I wanted to buy were too damn expensive. Also, the seller was totally cool with me so I don't want to flame him, just show you the mentality of what ZWH is trying to get across about sellers today.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

I think you're giving the dealers too much credit by saying they have too much invested in the book to sell it for a better price so they should pay less for their stock.

The fact is, a lot of these dealers buy for pennies on the dollar and still sell at full guide plus. Saying it doesn't mean it's true, it's just another line to use while they try to get your cash.

Well, yes, but I was trying to be polite. I know full well what most of these good ol' boys pay.

[ckb]

I have things priced reasonably, under guide, and am willing to deal on stuff that would sit otherwise. I'm protective of my keys and high grade, and considering that I came home from NYC with little of either - maybe not enough.

Sometimes I think guys like you are describing are just running travelling museums.

[SolarFan777]

I know what you mean although I have never been to a Con. Fact is that our LCS has THOUSANDS of back issues from the 80-90's and everything is at cover price and higher. I've seen Harbys there with stickers on that reflect prices in '95 NOT '05. The .25 cent bin, .50 cent bin... WHAT'S THAT!

[jedimarley]

I know what you mean. AND I think I know what store you'r refering to.
Guy wont even sell a damaged book for under cover price :x

[X-O HoboJoe]

Sometimes I think guys like you are describing are just running travelling museums.

Man, CKB, you made diet Dr. Pepper shoot out my nose.

[BodaZoffa]

Here is an email I recieved from a seller over his cgc Doctor Strange #1 in 9.4 condition. I was interested on a whim as it was a first issues, a bronze age book and in nm. I offered him $59. Here is the response I got back after he told me that it's the selling season and I need to be less conservative. I had to ask when the selling period was and well, your caught up to speed now..

For a seller the selling season starts in February and peaks in about September. It has it's dips that occur a couple of weeks before the major cons.

For the buyer the best time is November, December and January. People are usually spending money on Christmas (or recovering) and big ticket items usually go for much less. Sellers are willing to take less because they are also trying to get Christmas money.

If you're trying to buy right now you need to be willing to pay at or above GPA.

So apparently the only time I had a chance to buy this book at a reasonable price (I thought $59 was generous) was during the holiday seasons which of course didn't happen because all the things I wanted to buy were too damn expensive. Also, the seller was totally cool with me so I don't want to flame him, just show you the mentality of what ZWH is trying to get across about sellers today.

Actually this guy has it backwards..... The best time to sell is in the Winter months & the best time to buy is in the Summer months.... at least on eBay.

Boda

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

Like I said...I'm not asking anyone to give their books away..and I'm not talking about keys, hot books, or uber high grades, either....but the reality of eBay is that there's an ACTUAL MARKET out there, and it makes no sense...as a buyer....to pay $XX dollars for ANYTHING when you can get the same exact thing for 30% of $XX, and grading is close 50-75% of the time.

I usually laugh when sellers at cons tell me 'Oh, that's just marked at guide, but I'll give you 20% off of that'...as if that's some sort of DEAL. Just SELL me your damn mid-run, mid-grade, NON KEY 100's Batmans for 35% of Guide, and I'll be HAPPY.

Lord.

[whetteon]

DOC LOVES THOSE MARVEL BRONZE AGE MARVEL.......Open up those wallets....this week are some of the more pricey Bronze age books, and in HIGH GRADE!!!!...... look for other auctions (especially my friend Ann at aps on Ebay, and combine shipping).....I will leave the CGC slabbing to you...have fun reading these wonderful books...check my feedback for grading accuracy comments...feel free to ask if you have questions regarding any comics... No Reserve...win extra auctions and save on shipping....extra comics for the BIG winners...

S/H: $3.00 (except if out of country + $1.30 for insurance)

Condition: VF...Neal Adams Cover

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 99645&rd=1

What a *SQUEE* market.