I remember when I was short on cash and out of work about ten years ago and had to sell of my childhood comic collection. Amid all the other stress in my life, it was a miserable experience because comic book dealers are some of the most deceptive, sneaky, low-balling people on the planet. I wanted to sell my stuff to collectors who would love and enjoy them like me, but all I got was vultures from local comic stores and online dealers looking to cheat me out of my books and flip them quickly. They would ask what I wanted for something and I'd tell them, and the guy would be like "that's what I'd put on it in my shop" and my feeling was "you can lowball me if I bring my books to your shop, but you came to my apartment to look through my stuff; I could care less what profit you feel you have to make." Out of desperation, I ended up selling the whole collection for probably 30% of its actual value because I needed money and the only people who answered my ads were dealers. I sold one book to a guy for $50 because that was a fair market price at the time, and he literally posted it on craigslist the next day (using my photo of the book from my own ad) for $250. I have always hoped he never was able to get that for it and lost money when he finally resold it. It's totally a rigged game taken over by speculators now and not a nice place for people who just love comics.
when HAVING TO SELL ANYTHING bring along lots of Vasaline & prepared to bend over. No wonder most of these 'business men's were despised when growing up. They are generally spiteful, greedy & nasty creatures. I buy most of my old comics at outside flea markets. They are in mint shape but the folks actually seem wanting to sell them to anybody.
I totally feel for you. I have over 50 comic boxes of comics I've accumulated, read, collected and enjoyed the last 4 decades. I use to sell at flea markets. Low key stuff for the time (25 years ago) pretty much 70's to 90's comics I'd sell for $1 a piece. Never had a problem. Until one day a "collector", after going thru a box of about 200 plus comics, offered me $30 for the whole box. Told him "No", that was ridiculous... he basically berated me. Saying I was ridiculous and asking for too much. The box was filled with stuff like Marvel Team Up. Marvel Two In One. Firestorm. Nova. Black Lightning. Karate Kid. Captain America. Etc... all in Fine to Near Mint shape. Comics that weren't burning up the back issue bins back then, but $1 a book wasn't a bad price. He felt otherwise. I had close to 7 other boxes there. Actually making sells. I told him $150 for the box. He eventually upped his offer to $50. Needless to say, I didn't take the deal. As much as I needed cash, I was selling more to create space an unload books. At some point, I know I'm going to be looking to unload again. The experience you just layed out is a reminder of what's to come.
You can guarantee that if those dealers thought any of THEIR cgc books were not graded properly they wouldn't tell you and sure as hell wouldn't change the price....
In my experience, comic dealers at these cons are mostly predatory commodities traders. Part of the reason is the enormous cost of setting up a booth at these conventions. I avoid most cons these days if I'm looking for comics
@@bobwho9527 Predatory??? For a lot of smaller comic stores who fight to stay alive who've managed to hang on through comic boosts and busts, it's important to their bottom line. And HOW do you feel insulted over a comic book???? You want to play the market? Can't deal with human transactions? Use eBay. OF COURSE IT'S A MONEY GAME. Do you think they run cons as a non-profit corporation? it That's the nature of a free market economy. You wouldn't last 10 minutes at SDCC, believe me.
If you have graded books, you are generally (almost always) better off selling them on line somewhere. Dealers generally can’t compete with the price you will make by selling it to the end customer yourself. I never bother to try and sell graded books to a regular dealer… but I will occasionally try to work a trade if it goes heavily in their favor (sometimes I want a less popular book for myself and I am willing to trade a more popular book to get it). I don’t even take slabs into shows unless I have something pre-arranged.
@@Stickygoose Without knowing anything about your experiences, the changing market (and the overall economy) could be a big part of the difference. As the economics get tougher, dealers tend to get much pickier about their purchases… which makes sense. So you might be looking at a book and thinking “this book is worth $400”… while he might be thinking “this book is worth $400 but I am going to need to unload it fast because it is dropping, so I will offer $100, initially price it at $400, but realistically I’ll probably sell in a few months for $200”. The kind of financial risk scenario can cause a lot of disconnect between the buyer and seller and make for a lot of unhappy, or downright unpleasant, situations. And unfortunately, this happens a lot when the market is in decline.
@@Stickygoose I feel like dealers sell high and buy low because they have to make a profit. Sounds like selling to actual collectors is the better option to get Fair Market Value.
After vending at Cons for several years, we've found them to be an interesting beast. It's expensive to set up a booth, and most vendors are interested in quick sales and high volume. A Comicon is not the place to bring a stack of stuff that you want to trade or sell - that's what going to a comic shop on a non-busy day is for. So yes, they might tell you to come back later, or the guy whom you want to might not be there, because he's on a break or off running his actual brick-and-mortar store. We encounter this same problem trying to convince shops at Cons to buy some of our own original comics, so we are extremely appreciative when owners take the time to look at our comics and take a chance on stocking them (we're in 200 shops across the country using a direct approach method). Many of them will tell us to wait until the final few hours on Sunday, when they know how much money they've made, so that's the best time to get transactions done. If they have a warm feeling about how the weekend went, they'll be more likely to part with a few bucks of their hard-earned coffers. But, if you're a vendor, Comicons are a must, because there's nothing like a real-life positive interaction, knowing that a customer made a purchase and became a fan! It's hard to feel that kind of love online (except, of course, in RUclips comments and chats).
"I'm not a comicon guy, I'm a comic show guy ..." Well said ... This is pretty much how I feel these days. I don't want to spend $50 and up for admission to a comic convention, which doesn't feature much in the way of comics, when I can spend $5 for admission to a small show with comics. Also, at these larger shows, the fees are higher so the Sharks tend to surface and charge way more.
Spot on. Nerd culture has become a monolithic brand that people now want to be a part of because it's the current pop culture zeitgeist. For many, it's more important to engage with the fandom than with the material you're ostensibly a fan of. I generally don't care and don't favor gatekeeping in any sense, but I also don't want to wade through (and subsidize) all of this extraneous noise just to get some books to fill out a run. Similarly, GenCon is no longer about tabletop gaming.
Probably cost a lot to rent a place like that. Travel cost. Overnight accommodations. I’m sure in this day and age a lot of it is over priced due to greed.
Howdy bro, I think your being pretty narrow minded about all of this….no dealer showed up there , paid fees, setup and decor, business Liscence with the state, maybe even insurance was bought,,, all that definitely wasn’t done to wait for you to show and buy your books for FVM, and pass them down for generations with a tale of what a great and knoble person you were. Everyone basically was thinking ,” you got all these high dollar books your trying to sell at this convention but not put the effort in a booth like we all did?” I’m actually surprised you didn’t pick up on this info and adjust your review of this day accordingly…. But what do I kno. Thanks for reading this
I started collecting comics when I was around 5 years old (I'm 60 now) and the 70's and 80's was a wonderful time to be a collector. For me the problem started in the 90's when all the variant covers started to come out. It wasn't really about reading comics anymore and became more about collecting variants just to put on a shelf and gather dust. When I started collecting there were no comic shops or conventions, you just had to go to your local drugstore once a week and hope that your next issue of your favourite comic was there.
I grew up collecting comics in the sixties. You would go from dime store to drug store hoping to find the comics that you wanted. You did not always find them. It was always a treat to find the books that you wanted, especially if they were in good condition, and not bent up from kids bending them over in the comic book rack. It was like striking a gold mine when you found someone with a pile of old comic books that would just give them to you to get rid of them, or trading comics with your buddies. To this day, I have never even seen or held an Amazing Fantasy #15, a ASM #1, or an FF #1, and I looked hard for these books as a kid. These guys who make videos showing off these books, who have the cash to just buy them; I don't know; more power to them, but it just doesn't seem right.
I heard once about a guy who took a large BOX of (name your hero) Variant #27 to a dealer. Just a way for the publishers to make money. I bought my first Marvel comics from a revolving rack in a hospital gift shop.
The comic market (like everything else) is crashing. People are looking to sell at peak comic boom prices and not accept a loss when they bought at high prices. Pocket your money for now, don't sell, and look to buy when the market has crashed and the timing is right. I pulled out of making any purchases in April and have zero regrets. I've also been seeing more of this at "comic" conventions - tons of booths filled with Funko Pops, cosplay stuff, anime, replica weapons, and every other fandom that they can cram into these buildings.
Hate those dealership tactics. Putting your product down to negotiate a better price. Same thing is happening in sports cards. Dealers bought at highs and are unwilling to take a loss in a down market.
This is the same thing that happened to me at Megacon price wise. I was specifically looking for Moon Knight #1 and this is right before the show so I knew prices would be slightly inflated but when I got there they were all asking 200-300 for 9.0s! I was appalled and just instead went hope empty handed and bought it online for 90
Pro tip, when you go to those big cons you have to go the first day early. If it’s a Friday,Saturday,Sunday go Friday soon as it opens. People are setting up then you can wheel and deal. Saturday it’s just a party and it’s packed. The last day is also a good day dealers are trying to deal then as well.
I feel you. I really do. The 90s was a much better time for comics in my opinion. So tired of people buying just based off TV shows and movies. So few actual comic fans. I have nothing against people making money... *sigh* I feel you.
There is a great deal of irony in referencing the 90s here (when speculators entered the market en masse). Makes me think this has been the trend for a very long time.
@@RaymondRich You are not wrong, but without being an expert the 90's still felt very different then what is going on now. The people who claimed to be comic book fans, were actual comic book fans. Not so much anymore if you ask me.
Im really loving this vlog style vids dude! Keep it up and damm what a view in the beginning. I did a trade recently for a bunch of books and what I did was show the dealers pics of the books on my phone before I took them out of my bag. That way you're not wasting your time.
I’m sorry man but this was actually really refreshing and commiserating for me to watch. It reminded me of my experience last month at my comic con. I tried to tell myself I was having a great time but I ended up exhausted and with nothing to show for it
I live down the street from Queen City Comics, i go there regularly. He doesn't put those dollar books out at his own shop, i wish he would. He always has killer dollar bins at that show every year, I filled my back pack to capacity 2 years ago with Iron Man and Fantastic Four like you did. I almost came to the con this year just to hit those Dollar bins from Jeff at Queen City.
At Vintage Stock's $bin, I finally found the last book of "Tailgunner Jo", which is real obscure but cool. /cyberpunk evil corp, his DAUGHTER'S BRAIN is wired into his cyborg body, so she is his "tailgunner." The art is great and so is the characterization. Check it out. ComicBob
My experience with dealers is they all follow the adage of “buy low, sell high” and that’s disappointing sometimes. I remember when I was trying to sell a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300 9.8 for 1500, signed by Stan Lee and Todd Mcfarlane at the time. Every dealer I tried to sell kept lowballing me. Highest offer I got was about $700. Like you I had one guy tell me that the 9.8 is what folks in the industry call a “soft 9.8” pointing out nicks and ticks that weren’t clearly there. Worst one was dealer that attempted to crack open the case saying he had to make sure that it was a legit 9.8. I took it away from that dumbass so fast.
Newsflash: As a dealer (not of comic books), that's HOW it works. In order for us to profitably operate, we HAVE to buy low and HOPE to sell high. The booths are NOT free. The gasoline to get there, especially thanks to Bidum, is not cheap. The hotel stay is NOT free either. A dealer will typically ONLY offer you 50% of the retail value of an object. No one is putting a gun to your head to SELL.....THAT decision is yours. IF that doesn't work...then don't DO IT.
@@dancalmpeaceful3903 True, and understandable but if you’re going to give me an offer at least be honest and respectful with it and not treat me like an idiot. There’s nothing wrong with saying “hey this is what I can give or how high I can go or have you tried this guy or this place”. Pointing out imaginary damage, saying that the grade of the book is not a genuine 9.8, or like the moron I mentioned trying to crack open the case and say that he needed to make sure that the book was indeed a 9.8 grade. Things like that rub me the wrong way.
The dollar bins are really helpful for completing runs and at the same time finding some gems. I noticed lately a lot non-key back issues are selling from 3 to 7 dollars so it’s gettng kinda tough to complete runs. I am presently trying to complete my Master of Kung run from the 70s. Prices at Comic Conventions I noticed are a bit overpriced so I have back off going to them. I live in New Jersey so there seems to be almost two every month. I mostly look for people who want to unload their collection for a reasonable price. I also learned to be patient and not fall into FOMO. Good content btw!
Sorry to see such a bad experience. I was at NYC Comic Con and actually met really nice guys at the comic bins. I was buying, not selling, but I haggled some good deals with them for decent prices.
Spot on with them over valuing their books and under valuing yours. That’s how it was for me at Vegas Comic Con. Was really disappointing for my first con.
You covered it, but yes practically all big conventions are a mix of different types of vendors like this one. I'd recommend checking out C2E2 if you can - that would be the closest larger show to get your feet wet more if interested. You definitely need to be in the right mood to deal with crowds and deals not panning out. I think a lot of dealers are still getting used to the prices coming down and people not wanting to pay the Spring prices. Was that Stuart Sayger (the artist) that grabbed the whole stack?? I didn't know he bought books, too. I like his art though.
Why would you expect dealers to give you collector prices? They're the ones setting up and paying those ridiculous booth fees. They cant pay you full retail and then sell it for retail.
Im so happy there is someone out there who goes through what I do 😂. Im from metro detroit and all the comic shows around here have similar comic dealers it seems. Best of luck brotha!
Me too, near Sterling Heights actually...I can't even remember when I actually found action figures priced decently, every soccer mom thinks their beat to hell He-Man figures worth 30+bucks. Can't even really find any diverse figures, it's all the same crap table to table...
First time watcher and new subscriber of the channel. I attended NYCC on a Friday. Imagine the Cinci Con, but with 3-4 times more traffic. I was on a mobility scooter and it was almost impossible to get around. Plus the aisles for smaller exhibitors were much narrower. Regarding the comics, you could tell the good stuff changed hands between dealers before the doors opened to the public. I love reading comics and collecting, but the convention organizers need to start limiting tickets. Otherwise I don’t see myself returning. I look forward to watching your videos.
Hey i heard you mentioned a cracked cgc slab “the older ones”. Are they known to sometimes open on the sides after time??? Collected my select comic books about 10 years ago and recently i noticed 3 CGC slabs from 2013-2014 signature series labels that have a bit of opening to them on the side. Still secure but i always thought they were pretty tight by design. Is this a common thing for the older slabs from back then?? Love the vids. Just found the channel.
and your video is what proves my point about comics today, it's not about the fun anymore...vendors jacking up prices and that one vendor HAVING THE NERVE to tell you your CGC got it wrong on the grading...WTF!!!, now he's insulting you and those 2 boys, when u told them your HULK 181 was 4 grand they started giggling, I am not knocking you...that is a classic bronze age book and that's what it is worth, but these kids today don't have that type of loot. I'm 51, I just feel bad for this generation because this kids will not know the pleasure of buying comics books (back issues or present day books) because they are so damn expensive. it's actually cheaper to get a PS5 and a few games...in the long run. it's all money game now, all about that CGC grade and what it's worth.
100% agree with you. As a kid I got to know the owner at my local store very well. He would give me a little discount and I’d sometimes trade. I wouldn’t get full value but that’s ok he has to make money but he would give me a fair trade. That relationship part of comics is completely gone now. I mainly buy online now since repeat business doesn’t mean anything these days.
I hate when sellers insult other people's books. Whenever I'm buying from a collector, I always try respect their books. I've found when their books are respected, they feel respected and then they are more likely to respect me as a buyer and be willing to negotiate.
I used to do it for a living and (for raw books) pointing out problems with the books is generally a good thing as long as you are not a jerk about it. Many customers are unaware how picky other customers will be when making a purchase, so pointing out things like that helps to set more reasonable expectations AND it also helps the person know what to look for when they make further purchases. That said, picking at graded books is pointless unless there is a major glaring issue that somehow got missed during slabbing. It’s better just to refuse the book entirely and say nothing.
@@Eyrrll Totally agree that pointing out problems is a good thing. What I'm talking about is the tendency I've seen some sellers have to be a jerk as you mentioned. I think there's a world of difference between a seller saying: 1. "Man, these books are in terrible shape, looks like they've just been thrown in a box, etc." in order to shame you in the hopes that you sell them the book at a low price vs 2. "Man, you've put together a nice collection here and I'd love to be able to buy some of these books from you. Some of the flaws I notice on this comic, however, are x, y and z, which does impact its value, so I could offer x." 100% agree that most people are unaware of how picky customers can be, so it is definitely helpful to set reasonable expectations, etc. by pointing out the flaws. All I'm saying is that there is a way to point out the flaws that make the other person feel respected and ways to do it that makes them feel shamed.
@@wahoocomics Agree on all points. I will say that this type of behavior from sellers tends to be more common at shows (rather than stores), probably because the dealers are confident that they may never see the seller again. I’m not making excuses for the dealers in question, but it has always kind of been that way.
You are not obligated to buy anything from anyone and of course you have to make money. You are not running a charity but the respect part (as you said) is missing now a days. Talk to a collector looking to sell and if you can’t reach an agreement shake their hand and say thanks for stopping by. Thanks for being one of the good guys. I recently gave up on my local shops, after spending good money there they just don’t care. I mainly buy online now and I miss walking in, looking around and having a quick chat with the owner or person who works there.
I was hoping to bringing some slabs to Baltimore Comic Con and try trading. It was good seeing your experience. Can't say that I'm not surprised by the dealers reactions. Got a lot of autographs to deal with 1st but you know ill do a complete recap on the channel. I liked all of those iron man and Spider-Man books, grew up reading all of those.
Great video. I've got to say your preaching to the choir here. I had been going to the NY Comic Con since 2007 up until 2015 when it got so damn crowded you literally were packed in like sardines and would have to wait close to 10 minutes just to move like 50 feet in the dealers room. It was like being at a sold out concert at Madison Square garden or at Times Square during New Year's. I always complained to my friends that went with me, that adult comic book dudes like us were way outnumbered by all the anime teens and gamers running around and clogging things up. I stopped going when the Marvel movies started getting big around the time of phase 2 of the Marvel movies. By then there were lots of new Marvel fans but most were kids and teens. Your Con by the looks of it was practically empty in comparison to NY Comic Con and looked like the old Cons I used to go to at smaller venues in NY, NJ, and Pennsylvania. I really wish that they organized the Cons for the various fans by having themes and focusing on different genres on different days. Like Anime folks and Furries on Friday, Comic books, Sci-fi and Fantasy fans on Saturday, and Sunday should be reserved for kids, teens and families.
What bag do you uses for carrying your books in? It looks nice and I am trying to find one. Plus I agree vendors always mark up books at the big cons and even the small local ones too. I have met only a couple vendors that will trade but they always try to get one over you.
Never been to a comic con myself and I know when I do, I’ll be more mentally prepared thanks to your video. My small town comic store doesn’t have a dollar bin so I never knew what kind of goodies can be found
Thanks for the video, really enjoyed how you recorded the show. I'm sorry you weren't able to sell what you wanted. That's the thing with collectibles, when you want to sell in a market slowdown there is no liquidity. I love those dollar bins, I'm working on a web run as well ! Thanks again !
I've been at this since my first Chicago Comic Con in 88. You have to know that you are going to take a haircut whenever you trade to dealers. The key is always to find the deals you are willing to make. Dealers nearly universally will over value their books and under value yours. At my last show, I found a very nice raw ASM 252. With a press, could grade out at a 9.4-9.6. He was asking $375 for it. I offered up my slabbed trade books to see what he would be interested in. He selected $350 in books, told me they were worth about $250 and he'd offer half of that in trade value. In the end, he wanted to take my books and still charge me what I considered FMV for the book I wanted in cash. Ultimately, I did pick up an ASM 252 at that show, for less than half what he was asking. And I did make a trade where I got a $90 raw book for a $120 slab. Also, the ComicCon has changed a LOT in the last 15 years. Conventions realized that they could bring in more people, therefore more $$ by catering to every fandom and celebrity auto seekers. Comics have been shuffled off to the side in favor of pop culture. You can still find some good comics at good prices, but there are a lot less of them these days. And far fewer comic creators anymore.
Funny thing all the comic sellers always say " Low Grade is Better Than NO Grade" I do agree with this saying, but when it comes to up grading through trading the story changes. I'm glade I am a collector and yes I do sell but to upgrade.
The problem with big cons is that it's so expensive to set up ad a vendor. So vendors really mark their books up because they know the bug shows bring in big crowds. Some collectors that go like you and me still will not over pay for a book even if it's a key. Some people don't care how much a book is. If they want it, they buy it with 0 research. The amount of insults though from the dealers about your books... Jesus. What a bunch of rude people. All they had to say was, nice books, but we're not interested. Thanks for letting me look. I'm honestly not a fan of big cons either. Too many people and grossly overpriced books never is a good time. The small shows are where it's at.
The only advice I have being a newer collector is to not attempt to sell at these shows as a convention goer. Focus your selling at a smaller, local show. Over here in Virginia we have something called the Schoff Comic and Hobbies Show which he does a few every month in Annadale, VA. If you are ever in the area, check it out. You'll be talking more so to local vendors and collectors so higher chance of cutting deals.
I loved this video man. I have yet to attend a con but this would be me. Annoyed at everyone. I live in NYC and haven’t attended any cons. That slab pricing would have definitely gotten me PISSED!!
7:39 in...... We are in a deepening Worldwide Financial depression(Not a recession, and soon worse then 1929), and its going to get much worse. More and more are catching on to that,and are really tightening there belts. Great video !
It's amazing to see politicians and economists warn that "we are in danger of entering a recession." Sure, technically (in terms of shrinking GDP or whatever) maybe we have not been in a recession for quite a while but to the average working person, whose money is worth a lot less without anywhere close to a correction in wages, we are in an an obvious depression.
@@jbbrolic Exactly, here in Canada the government is lying left ,right,and center, saying inflation is 8 - 9%,when everyone making less then 100k a year ,can clealry sees its at least 40 to 50% and going higher !
I go to a lot of cons here in the south (I am in Houston) and it is the same every where -- dealers are consistently overvaluing their books and undervaluing yours. I do not even take stuff to trade anymore. Rather sell on an auction and take the money to spend. I have talked to some respectable dealers recently and they are surprised too at the prices some dealers are asking -- but they also said that they are getting some of the prices too. It is just where the market is right now, sadly.
I’m a little to the east of you in SETX, how is Comicpalooza over there? I was thinking about going, but if the trade/buy scene isn’t any better I’ll probably just go and enjoy the show instead of hoping for anything good lol
Sticky, I'm a 50 year old comic reader/collector and I feel your pain. I don't attend comic conventions anymore because the internet ruined them. In decades past, getting a good deal at cons was easy because no one could check global prices and rare merchandise was mostly acquired locally. Now EVERY convention price I see is "eBay matching" or over-inflated. So what's the point of driving to a con, overpaying for admission, parking and food when I can just buy my shit on eBay and have it delivered in a few days? The hunt is no longer fun and not worth the trouble. I HATE that the younger generations will NEVER read the classic Marvel/DC stories because the books are literally unavailable and overpriced. All the great stories of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's? Nobody under 40 years old will EVER get to read them. Within a generation or two, all the great comic storylines will be forgotten and only the DC/Marvel films will be remembered because of the public's limited access to the comic books.
I call your experience the Chuck Rozanski effect. Most dealers seem to believe that simply by owning these books, the value is automatically higher. Rozanski, if you're unfamiliar with Mile High Comics, routinely prices dollar books in the $15 to $20 range. Then, if you try to sell a book, every dealer turns into Rick Harrison, "because they're taking all the risk on the book".
I’ve been doing shows for about 14 years, mainly in Artist alley, from micro conventions to shows like Planet Comicon and C2E2. Fandoms and hobbies have intersected in ways I’ve not seen in years past. There are shows that travel like Collect A Con that are mainly all hype and pop culture based events. I’m sorry you dealt with rude dealers, I only ever hit the dollar boxes when I do any looking for comics. I have no interest in graded books, but I can appreciate them. I’ve watched what you’ve gone through happen a LOT these days.
Never deal with any dealer that doesn't have a "Wall" of raw comics. If they just have a small number of graded books they aren't big enough for you to mess with. Try Baltimore or Heroes Con. Both full of dealers who will buy.
I’m from Buffalo, NY. Live in South now. Queen City comic is my local shop in Buffalo. It’s nice to see that had good finds for people and treat people well. Love that store.
I had the same experience at Wicked Comic Con in Boston. I had several slabs to try and sell and I got all the same responses you got. I had one guy literally pull out a wad of cash to show me and then said he isn't buying. Even though his sign clearly stated buying/selling comics. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
I would have snatched up those Infinity Inc books that you skipped in the dollar bin. #13 was a first published DC artwork by McFarlane ($8 in high grade) and #16 was a first Mr Bones ($40 in high grade raw). Not huge books, but some early McFarlane stuff. I am trying to collect everything (pre Image) from McFarlane. His panel work in those Infinity books was solid. As for the dealers, I have never been a huge fan. Many come off as smug and to your point, their 9.6 is special and your 9.6 is "meh...". They are there to sell and only buy if they can get it cheap and sell it for a significant markup.
It could a number of factors, their rent and utilities have gone up at their stores, homes and so on. Inflation is destroying small business and comic books are not priority for some people. We are probably going to get better deals online.
I got back into comics this summer after quitting 20 years. After collecting so many different things. Fandom can be heartbreaking. I hope I can dig in the wild in peace falling in love with comics all over again as if time stood still the last 20 years.
Im skipping cons for the next few years. Im not selling my collection, not trying to buy their over valued product, and with so many people in attendance the experience has become frustrating. Since my local comic shop started bringing in artists and writers, I get my signatures there. At this point, Cons are ONLY there for Vendor Alley, and with so many casuals involved people are THROWING money at damn near anything of value.
I have been in the comic industry and own my own comic store. Have participated in many comic cons and understand what you are saying. What everyone needs to understand is that you are rarely going to receive top dollar for your personal collections from a dealer or comic store owner. The reason is that they are not collectors, but rather running a business. You will never make money if you pay top dollar for a comic as you are not going to sell it for a profit. If you really want to make top dollar then you need to sell to another personal collector who wants to keep it and not reselling for a business. That is why pawn shops will never give you full value as they will not make money if they do. Just my opinion and experience. I do agree with you that many dealers feel they have to downgrade a comic to justify not paying full selling value. I do not agree that is a good strategy and I am always honest with people and tell them that I cannot give them full asking price if I plan to resell it. Thank you for sharing your experience.
You are correct-you'd be happier at a comic book show. These Comic-cons are big deals. They are held in large arenas, as opposed to comic book shows in a local Armory or Community building. Because the Comic Cons are so big, partially to handle the bigger crowds, they need lots of vendors. And a large Hall in Cincinnati is going to have expensive booth spaces. So there will be no bargains.
Dealers do insult sellers books, hoping to discourage you to sell cheap. People like that I cannot stand, respect someones's books and if you don't want them then say 'pass' and leave it there. Don't try and re-grade a slabs, especially down, as guess what, when they come to sell it, it will be the 'this is the best copy I have EVER seen'. You had some nice books and if someone tell you otherwise they they are 'use appropriate profanities please'
I mean auction houses take 10% minimum, heritage takes 25% so dealers are typically gonna give you like 70% of what it's worth, if its an easily sellable book that isn't gonna go down 40% overnight during this recession and lose them money. Still talking someone's books down and not being upfront is not respectable. Dave and Adam's goes to bigger shows and buys everyone's books for like 70-75% of gpa price straight up and that's not a horrible deal for most casual comic people, but you're better off investing your time and selling your own. The rest of your criticism is very valid. Lots of related nerdy genres under 1 roof and somewhat misrepresented. Lots of people selling raw books like 3.0 at 5.0 prices.
I've learned that most big comic cons are more aimed at pop culture than just comics. Due to the cost to exhibit, books are priced on the high side. The Cincinnati con is great to meet tv/movie stars and such, but other than dollar bins, usually not good for getting deals. I have much better luck with small shows that are actually organized by comic book stores and held at colleges or hotels, where the price of a table is not very much. Sorry you didn't enjoy the show.
Reading through all the comments... 1) Your vlog doesn't show a crowded show floor at all. Perhaps it did get busier later? NYCC is absolutely a tight fit. 2) Honestly, did you expect any different from most of those dealers? 3) It is rare to connect with true personal collectors with tables at the Cons. Just is these days. I have gone to the last 5 NYCCons, learning more and more after each one. My main focus is Artist's Alley, which is absolutely fun. Getting to meet hundreds of creators in one mammoth-sized area is a great thrill. As for the rest of the Con, I do enjoy browsing through all the various vendors and corporate booths. It is a sad fact that the true comic bins and collections take up a small corner area of the show floor. I did find some cool older comics there at very good raw pricing; at least in my opinion. I'd recommend to you a simple plan. If you don't already have a master list of your actual physical collection, start one. Go through EVERYTHING. Decide what you treasure to keep and what you believe you can make a profit on. However, my one caveat for you, based on your commentary: Not everyone will value your collection as you do. You shouldn't take any "criticism" of your comic books personally, especially if you are so willing to make money off of them. Most importantly, do your research across as many resources as possible. Use as much verifiable information as you can get access to. Be prepared. Good luck with future shows.
The con seemed very similar to what I have seen to conventions both small and large lately. It is hard to find a good mix of vendors for all the diverse interests out there. The dealers not buying has been fairly common as well, I think many dealers are bulk buying at pennies on the dollar and are very reluctant to purchase slabs at even 60-75% of market. I have been close on a few deals but walked away because they only wanted to offer on one book. I did very well filling holes on silver age avengers this year so I'm not looking for quite what the mobs are chasing.
Why would you want to sell to a reseller anyway? They HAVE to pay less, they have to be critical. The entire point of slabbing is so that anyone can sell them online for full price.
Speculators have ruined the hobby in many ways. The day is coming when nobody will be able to actually read any classic comics any more because they will all be encapsulated, lmao.
I’ve had the same experience at local comic shops. New LCS opened almost 2 years ago near me. I got to know the owner spent thousands there over 1.5 years. Tried several times to get store credit on some books and he was offering like 60% fair market value, keep in mind I was asking for store credit and said I’d use the store credit and add money to it to buy some pricey books from him. No one seems to care about the buying experience and working with a repeat customer who spent good money at your store. I almost exclusively buy online now and I’m much happier for it.
It's all about walking away. If you are curating a collection, which is why we collect, that will have value one day, you are not their customer. It may be tough at first, but you need to be as shrewd and even ruthless as possible with the negotiation. The dealer is not your friend, at least not 90% of them. ... They have too much equity [locked up in the books] and need airfare or vacation cruise monies. [They] are the investors with investor mentality. .... You may need to make more private deals, just a thought. I think shows are just a gauge of what is hot, which ='s avoid for the next 6 mo.+ [Dealers need cash! not trades] I buy prime books from them at my price because THEY are short on cash.
@Brer247i Let me fix it for you. would not want your viewers to think this is a seller's market. So, to understand it better. Walking away from a terrible deal is the hardest thing. You have a plan and believe you are going to succeed. You invest yourself into the process, like your video. Then you find out that you are not appreciated by the very people you want to do business with. Their plan is to do as I would do. Offer peanuts. Tell you your trades are junk. They piss you off. In the Hope's you will buckle. That does work. Look, shows are ok to trade books if that is what you want to hear. Good luck. I'll keep watching your post. Try not to sound so unhappy.
In the early 2000s I stopped going to the big conventions because they were moving so far away from actual comics and into all the other stuff. I grew up with the old time comic shows in the back room of a bowling alley. And I wish they were still like that, fun and piles of comics.
I've been going to quite a few conventions in recent years. It's funny how similar the experience is at diffenent cons, for different hobbies. They're a huge money drain, and typically way too crowded. They're fun, but I'm starting to be pickier and attend less cons, less often.
I would have walked around towards the end of the show when they still have all of their books on the wall. Cash is king. In the vendors defense they have a lot of overhead and will always trade heavily in their favor. Best to trade online with people, that has worked best for me.
The guy at 5:15 owns a Shop in Richmond Kentucky. He’s a nice guy but genuinely does not give a shit about what you have unless it’s bulk for wholesale price. I tried to sell him 3 slabs, one signed by Kevin Eastman, and one signed by DellOtto, and he had zero interest in buying them. Wouldn’t even give me an offer.
The shops you liked the dollar bins are most of the best ones in the area. Cincy used to have a legit comic show run by Tony Moore but it didn’t last very long unfortunately. If you’re ever in the area again check out Nostalgia Ink. They are the best shop in this area and super fair on prices.
You would definitely be blown away by NYCC. It's far, far more packed and the cosplay genuinely is on another level but it's largely filled with non-comic tables. I think you hit the nail on the head by saying you're a comic show guy vs. a con guy. I totally get that.
The worst people I have ever met in my life were comic book dealers. Yelling, condescending, eye-rolling ayeholes. The guy on the Simpsons is more realistic than most people think.
WOW what awful people. So just because people are vendors make them better than everyone else? I am going to be a vendor at Retro Expo in TX and Fan days next year. Not that I needed it but thank you for letting me know how some vendors are and not how I should act .....Ughh.... Great Video.
I'm sorry you didn't have a good time at the convention. You got some great books out of the dollar bins, though; nice job. It's fun watching your con recaps in a vlog style.
The problem with the Comic-cons the first day you go they will not budge on prices and they lie alot. The last day is the best because they will budge unless they made huge amounts of cash. The reason they take you down is they want to get it at a lower price, so they can sell at a higher price. Its the reason I sit on my silver and gold books.
While I think it's crappy that some of the dealers talked poorly of your books I think it's just as crappy to get mad that none wanted to trade with you. They are ultimately there to make sales as trades won't pay the bills or their booth fees.
Nice video, some things to note. SDCC is super big compare to this. Expect the aisles to be 20x more packed. Dealers have to pay a huge sum for their booth. I'm sure that's the main reason they have to lower your value, and increase their's. Expect 40-50% off of your's for them to even want to take it. Factor the cost for them, plus all their other expenses, that would be expected. Best bet is to sell your stuff independently away from a comic con.
ok but like..... you went to a comic convention where dealers are trying to sell their goods.... trying to sell your goods....and you were disappointed that they didnt wanna pay full price when that is the business they are in? im confused....
@@Stickygoose I mean thats great and all but thats like a tertiary benefit of a convention. the main purpose is for vendors to sell their stuff...they pay for that spot. you coming in buying nothing, not looking to trade and wanting full FMV from a small business owner is like a slap in the face. not to mention the recession... small business owners are having a hard enough time selling their own stuff for fair value....
The big Comic Cons you're not going to get a deal on books, the dealers are overpriced on their books and usually you can get even a better price on eBay and never take graded books to show it's a lot easier just to sell them online you'll get top dollar because they're graded but I do understand the dealers looking and saying that this is not whatever grade especially in the 9.6 and 9.8 books as it seems that sometimes a 9.8 book by cgc is actually not it's easier just to sell online get top dollar and you'll get usually market value prices stick to the smaller shows if you're buying Comics you can get much better deals usually the only time I go to the big shows is to meet the artist and actors if I want to buy books always the local small shows for best deals
I remember when I was short on cash and out of work about ten years ago and had to sell of my childhood comic collection. Amid all the other stress in my life, it was a miserable experience because comic book dealers are some of the most deceptive, sneaky, low-balling people on the planet. I wanted to sell my stuff to collectors who would love and enjoy them like me, but all I got was vultures from local comic stores and online dealers looking to cheat me out of my books and flip them quickly. They would ask what I wanted for something and I'd tell them, and the guy would be like "that's what I'd put on it in my shop" and my feeling was "you can lowball me if I bring my books to your shop, but you came to my apartment to look through my stuff; I could care less what profit you feel you have to make." Out of desperation, I ended up selling the whole collection for probably 30% of its actual value because I needed money and the only people who answered my ads were dealers. I sold one book to a guy for $50 because that was a fair market price at the time, and he literally posted it on craigslist the next day (using my photo of the book from my own ad) for $250. I have always hoped he never was able to get that for it and lost money when he finally resold it. It's totally a rigged game taken over by speculators now and not a nice place for people who just love comics.
when HAVING TO SELL ANYTHING bring along lots of Vasaline & prepared to bend over.
No wonder most of these 'business men's were despised when growing up. They are generally spiteful, greedy & nasty creatures.
I buy most of my old comics at outside flea markets. They are in mint shape but the folks actually seem wanting to sell them to anybody.
Same here. Now I enjoy screwing them over.
I totally feel for you. I have over 50 comic boxes of comics I've accumulated, read, collected and enjoyed the last 4 decades. I use to sell at flea markets. Low key stuff for the time (25 years ago) pretty much 70's to 90's comics I'd sell for $1 a piece. Never had a problem. Until one day a "collector", after going thru a box of about 200 plus comics, offered me $30 for the whole box. Told him "No", that was ridiculous... he basically berated me. Saying I was ridiculous and asking for too much. The box was filled with stuff like Marvel Team Up. Marvel Two In One. Firestorm. Nova. Black Lightning. Karate Kid. Captain America. Etc... all in Fine to Near Mint shape. Comics that weren't burning up the back issue bins back then, but $1 a book wasn't a bad price. He felt otherwise. I had close to 7 other boxes there. Actually making sells. I told him $150 for the box. He eventually upped his offer to $50. Needless to say, I didn't take the deal. As much as I needed cash, I was selling more to create space an unload books. At some point, I know I'm going to be looking to unload again. The experience you just layed out is a reminder of what's to come.
Y’all gotta lay off resellers 😂 y’all ain’t the only ones strapped for cash. Sound like Indian givers
I know how you feel man I've had comic dealers be jealous over my collection and insults on my books
You can guarantee that if those dealers thought any of THEIR cgc books were not graded properly they wouldn't tell you and sure as hell wouldn't change the price....
BINGO!
In my experience, comic dealers at these cons are mostly predatory commodities traders. Part of the reason is the enormous cost of setting up a booth at these conventions. I avoid most cons these days if I'm looking for comics
“I swear I know better than professional graders.” Give me your credit card it’s worth more than CGC tells you 😂
@@bobwho9527 Predatory??? For a lot of smaller comic stores who fight to stay alive who've managed to hang on through comic boosts and busts, it's important to their bottom line.
And HOW do you feel insulted over a comic book????
You want to play the market? Can't deal with human transactions? Use eBay.
OF COURSE IT'S A MONEY GAME. Do you think they run cons as a non-profit corporation? it That's the nature of a free market economy.
You wouldn't last 10 minutes at SDCC, believe me.
If you have graded books, you are generally (almost always) better off selling them on line somewhere. Dealers generally can’t compete with the price you will make by selling it to the end customer yourself.
I never bother to try and sell graded books to a regular dealer… but I will occasionally try to work a trade if it goes heavily in their favor (sometimes I want a less popular book for myself and I am willing to trade a more popular book to get it).
I don’t even take slabs into shows unless I have something pre-arranged.
I’ve had success before doing this though
@@Stickygoose Without knowing anything about your experiences, the changing market (and the overall economy) could be a big part of the difference.
As the economics get tougher, dealers tend to get much pickier about their purchases… which makes sense. So you might be looking at a book and thinking “this book is worth $400”… while he might be thinking “this book is worth $400 but I am going to need to unload it fast because it is dropping, so I will offer $100, initially price it at $400, but realistically I’ll probably sell in a few months for $200”.
The kind of financial risk scenario can cause a lot of disconnect between the buyer and seller and make for a lot of unhappy, or downright unpleasant, situations. And unfortunately, this happens a lot when the market is in decline.
Well said. the dealers are not really there to buy but to make money at the end of the day. Best bet is ebay or whatnot but you never know. Good luck.
@@Stickygoose I feel like dealers sell high and buy low because they have to make a profit. Sounds like selling to actual collectors is the better option to get Fair Market Value.
Agree 100%
After vending at Cons for several years, we've found them to be an interesting beast. It's expensive to set up a booth, and most vendors are interested in quick sales and high volume. A Comicon is not the place to bring a stack of stuff that you want to trade or sell - that's what going to a comic shop on a non-busy day is for. So yes, they might tell you to come back later, or the guy whom you want to might not be there, because he's on a break or off running his actual brick-and-mortar store. We encounter this same problem trying to convince shops at Cons to buy some of our own original comics, so we are extremely appreciative when owners take the time to look at our comics and take a chance on stocking them (we're in 200 shops across the country using a direct approach method). Many of them will tell us to wait until the final few hours on Sunday, when they know how much money they've made, so that's the best time to get transactions done. If they have a warm feeling about how the weekend went, they'll be more likely to part with a few bucks of their hard-earned coffers. But, if you're a vendor, Comicons are a must, because there's nothing like a real-life positive interaction, knowing that a customer made a purchase and became a fan! It's hard to feel that kind of love online (except, of course, in RUclips comments and chats).
"I'm not a comicon guy, I'm a comic show guy ..."
Well said ... This is pretty much how I feel these days. I don't want to spend $50 and up for admission to a comic convention, which doesn't feature much in the way of comics, when I can spend $5 for admission to a small show with comics. Also, at these larger shows, the fees are higher so the Sharks tend to surface and charge way more.
Exactly
Spot on. Nerd culture has become a monolithic brand that people now want to be a part of because it's the current pop culture zeitgeist. For many, it's more important to engage with the fandom than with the material you're ostensibly a fan of. I generally don't care and don't favor gatekeeping in any sense, but I also don't want to wade through (and subsidize) all of this extraneous noise just to get some books to fill out a run. Similarly, GenCon is no longer about tabletop gaming.
Probably cost a lot to rent a place like that. Travel cost. Overnight accommodations. I’m sure in this day and age a lot of it is over priced due to greed.
Howdy bro, I think your being pretty narrow minded about all of this….no dealer showed up there , paid fees, setup and decor, business Liscence with the state, maybe even insurance was bought,,, all that definitely wasn’t done to wait for you to show and buy your books for FVM, and pass them down for generations with a tale of what a great and knoble person you were. Everyone basically was thinking ,” you got all these high dollar books your trying to sell at this convention but not put the effort in a booth like we all did?” I’m actually surprised you didn’t pick up on this info and adjust your review of this day accordingly…. But what do I kno. Thanks for reading this
FIFTY DOLLARS? Holy crud. Goose is right, this was just guys hoping to make big dollars from books they'll never read!
I started collecting comics when I was around 5 years old (I'm 60 now) and the 70's and 80's was a wonderful time to be a collector.
For me the problem started in the 90's when all the variant covers started to come out. It wasn't really about reading comics anymore and
became more about collecting variants just to put on a shelf and gather dust. When I started collecting there were no comic shops or conventions,
you just had to go to your local drugstore once a week and hope that your next issue of your favourite comic was there.
I grew up collecting comics in the sixties. You would go from dime store to drug store hoping to find the comics that you wanted. You did not always find them. It was always a treat to find the books that you wanted, especially if they were in good condition, and not bent up from kids bending them over in the comic book rack. It was like striking a gold mine when you found someone with a pile of old comic books that would just give them to you to get rid of them, or trading comics with your buddies. To this day, I have never even seen or held an Amazing Fantasy #15, a ASM #1, or an FF #1, and I looked hard for these books as a kid. These guys who make videos showing off these books, who have the cash to just buy them; I don't know; more power to them, but it just doesn't seem right.
The variants are back with a vengeance. It is amazing how a common book can jump up into the hundreds because of it's cover.
Disgusting.
I heard once about a guy who took a large BOX of (name your hero) Variant #27 to a dealer. Just a way for the publishers to make money. I bought my first Marvel comics from a revolving rack in a hospital gift shop.
The comic market (like everything else) is crashing. People are looking to sell at peak comic boom prices and not accept a loss when they bought at high prices. Pocket your money for now, don't sell, and look to buy when the market has crashed and the timing is right. I pulled out of making any purchases in April and have zero regrets.
I've also been seeing more of this at "comic" conventions - tons of booths filled with Funko Pops, cosplay stuff, anime, replica weapons, and every other fandom that they can cram into these buildings.
Hate those dealership tactics. Putting your product down to negotiate a better price. Same thing is happening in sports cards. Dealers bought at highs and are unwilling to take a loss in a down market.
I quit messing with them years ago.
This is the same thing that happened to me at Megacon price wise. I was specifically looking for Moon Knight #1 and this is right before the show so I knew prices would be slightly inflated but when I got there they were all asking 200-300 for 9.0s! I was appalled and just instead went hope empty handed and bought it online for 90
good for you!!
AT ONE TIME TIME DEALERS WERE FELLOW COLLECTORS BUILDING THERE OWN OWN COLLECTION NOW ITS A PROFITABLE BUSINESS. NO FUN OR HISTORY.
I don’t think these guys even like comics
Pro tip, when you go to those big cons you have to go the first day early. If it’s a Friday,Saturday,Sunday go Friday soon as it opens. People are setting up then you can wheel and deal. Saturday it’s just a party and it’s packed. The last day is also a good day dealers are trying to deal then as well.
I feel you. I really do. The 90s was a much better time for comics in my opinion. So tired of people buying just based off TV shows and movies. So few actual comic fans. I have nothing against people making money... *sigh* I feel you.
There is a great deal of irony in referencing the 90s here (when speculators entered the market en masse). Makes me think this has been the trend for a very long time.
@@RaymondRich You are not wrong, but without being an expert the 90's still felt very different then what is going on now. The people who claimed to be comic book fans, were actual comic book fans. Not so much anymore if you ask me.
Im really loving this vlog style vids dude! Keep it up and damm what a view in the beginning. I did a trade recently for a bunch of books and what I did was show the dealers pics of the books on my phone before I took them out of my bag. That way you're not wasting your time.
I did that Friday night.
I’m sorry man but this was actually really refreshing and commiserating for me to watch. It reminded me of my experience last month at my comic con. I tried to tell myself I was having a great time but I ended up exhausted and with nothing to show for it
It took me days to recover from that trip lol
Bro, I had no choice but to subscribe. The way you described those vendors...LOL
Hahahaha kinda turned into a roast session
I live down the street from Queen City Comics, i go there regularly. He doesn't put those dollar books out at his own shop, i wish he would. He always has killer dollar bins at that show every year, I filled my back pack to capacity 2 years ago with Iron Man and Fantastic Four like you did. I almost came to the con this year just to hit those Dollar bins from Jeff at Queen City.
At Vintage Stock's $bin, I finally found the last book of "Tailgunner Jo", which is real obscure but cool. /cyberpunk evil corp, his DAUGHTER'S BRAIN is wired into his cyborg body, so she is his "tailgunner." The art is great and so is the characterization. Check it out. ComicBob
I feel your pain... I never try to sell to dealers only direct to collectors!
My experience with dealers is they all follow the adage of “buy low, sell high” and that’s disappointing sometimes. I remember when I was trying to sell a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300 9.8 for 1500, signed by Stan Lee and Todd Mcfarlane at the time. Every dealer I tried to sell kept lowballing me. Highest offer I got was about $700. Like you I had one guy tell me that the 9.8 is what folks in the industry call a “soft 9.8” pointing out nicks and ticks that weren’t clearly there. Worst one was dealer that attempted to crack open the case saying he had to make sure that it was a legit 9.8. I took it away from that dumbass so fast.
Newsflash: As a dealer (not of comic books), that's HOW it works. In order for us to profitably operate, we HAVE to buy low and HOPE to sell high. The booths are NOT free. The gasoline to get there, especially thanks to Bidum, is not cheap. The hotel stay is NOT free either. A dealer will typically ONLY offer you 50% of the retail value of an object. No one is putting a gun to your head to SELL.....THAT decision is yours. IF that doesn't work...then don't DO IT.
@@dancalmpeaceful3903 True, and understandable but if you’re going to give me an offer at least be honest and respectful with it and not treat me like an idiot. There’s nothing wrong with saying “hey this is what I can give or how high I can go or have you tried this guy or this place”. Pointing out imaginary damage, saying that the grade of the book is not a genuine 9.8, or like the moron I mentioned trying to crack open the case and say that he needed to make sure that the book was indeed a 9.8 grade. Things like that rub me the wrong way.
The dollar bins are really helpful for completing runs and at the same time finding some gems. I noticed lately a lot non-key back issues are selling from 3 to 7 dollars so it’s gettng kinda tough to complete runs. I am presently trying to complete my Master of Kung run from the 70s. Prices at Comic Conventions I noticed are a bit overpriced so I have back off going to them. I live in New Jersey so there seems to be almost two every month. I mostly look for people who want to unload their collection for a reasonable price. I also learned to be patient and not fall into FOMO. Good content btw!
I’m going to be making a video about patience
Sorry to see such a bad experience. I was at NYC Comic Con and actually met really nice guys at the comic bins. I was buying, not selling, but I haggled some good deals with them for decent prices.
You said it right. Vendors can care less about the correction in prices we are the ones who still have to pay too dollar
Dealers at recent comic show basically said their high prices were being dictated by how much THEY paid for them back during the boom.
I’ve heard that bs too. That’s on them
Spot on with them over valuing their books and under valuing yours. That’s how it was for me at Vegas Comic Con. Was really disappointing for my first con.
You covered it, but yes practically all big conventions are a mix of different types of vendors like this one. I'd recommend checking out C2E2 if you can - that would be the closest larger show to get your feet wet more if interested. You definitely need to be in the right mood to deal with crowds and deals not panning out. I think a lot of dealers are still getting used to the prices coming down and people not wanting to pay the Spring prices.
Was that Stuart Sayger (the artist) that grabbed the whole stack?? I didn't know he bought books, too. I like his art though.
That guy was actually someone known…bahahahaha ok that just made my day
Why would you expect dealers to give you collector prices? They're the ones setting up and paying those ridiculous booth fees. They cant pay you full retail and then sell it for retail.
Because I’m cute
Im so happy there is someone out there who goes through what I do 😂. Im from metro detroit and all the comic shows around here have similar comic dealers it seems. Best of luck brotha!
We suffer together!
Me too, near Sterling Heights actually...I can't even remember when I actually found action figures priced decently, every soccer mom thinks their beat to hell He-Man figures worth 30+bucks. Can't even really find any diverse figures, it's all the same crap table to table...
First time watcher and new subscriber of the channel. I attended NYCC on a Friday. Imagine the Cinci Con, but with 3-4 times more traffic. I was on a mobility scooter and it was almost impossible to get around. Plus the aisles for smaller exhibitors were much narrower. Regarding the comics, you could tell the good stuff changed hands between dealers before the doors opened to the public. I love reading comics and collecting, but the convention organizers need to start limiting tickets. Otherwise I don’t see myself returning. I look forward to watching your videos.
Thank you for watching and welcome aboard
Hey i heard you mentioned a cracked cgc slab “the older ones”. Are they known to sometimes open on the sides after time??? Collected my select comic books about 10 years ago and recently i noticed 3 CGC slabs from 2013-2014 signature series labels that have a bit of opening to them on the side. Still secure but i always thought they were pretty tight by design. Is this a common thing for the older slabs from back then?? Love the vids. Just found the channel.
Older cgc slabs are trash you can pull them apart
@@Stickygoose ok good to know thanks.
Comic Cons are exactly that..A CON! Full of Con Artists!
and your video is what proves my point about comics today, it's not about the fun anymore...vendors jacking up prices and that one vendor HAVING THE NERVE to tell you your CGC got it wrong on the grading...WTF!!!, now he's insulting you
and those 2 boys, when u told them your HULK 181 was 4 grand they started giggling, I am not knocking you...that is a classic bronze age book and that's what it is worth, but these kids today don't have that type of loot.
I'm 51, I just feel bad for this generation because this kids will not know the pleasure of buying comics books (back issues or present day books) because they are so damn expensive. it's actually cheaper to get a PS5 and a few games...in the long run.
it's all money game now, all about that CGC grade and what it's worth.
100% agree with you. As a kid I got to know the owner at my local store very well. He would give me a little discount and I’d sometimes trade. I wouldn’t get full value but that’s ok he has to make money but he would give me a fair trade. That relationship part of comics is completely gone now. I mainly buy online now since repeat business doesn’t mean anything these days.
You’re right! That’s what leading people to Veve and nfts. Completely away from physical market
I hate when sellers insult other people's books. Whenever I'm buying from a collector, I always try respect their books. I've found when their books are respected, they feel respected and then they are more likely to respect me as a buyer and be willing to negotiate.
I used to do it for a living and (for raw books) pointing out problems with the books is generally a good thing as long as you are not a jerk about it. Many customers are unaware how picky other customers will be when making a purchase, so pointing out things like that helps to set more reasonable expectations AND it also helps the person know what to look for when they make further purchases.
That said, picking at graded books is pointless unless there is a major glaring issue that somehow got missed during slabbing. It’s better just to refuse the book entirely and say nothing.
@@Eyrrll Totally agree that pointing out problems is a good thing. What I'm talking about is the tendency I've seen some sellers have to be a jerk as you mentioned. I think there's a world of difference between a seller saying: 1. "Man, these books are in terrible shape, looks like they've just been thrown in a box, etc." in order to shame you in the hopes that you sell them the book at a low price vs 2. "Man, you've put together a nice collection here and I'd love to be able to buy some of these books from you. Some of the flaws I notice on this comic, however, are x, y and z, which does impact its value, so I could offer x."
100% agree that most people are unaware of how picky customers can be, so it is definitely helpful to set reasonable expectations, etc. by pointing out the flaws. All I'm saying is that there is a way to point out the flaws that make the other person feel respected and ways to do it that makes them feel shamed.
@@wahoocomics Agree on all points.
I will say that this type of behavior from sellers tends to be more common at shows (rather than stores), probably because the dealers are confident that they may never see the seller again. I’m not making excuses for the dealers in question, but it has always kind of been that way.
You are not obligated to buy anything from anyone and of course you have to make money. You are not running a charity but the respect part (as you said) is missing now a days. Talk to a collector looking to sell and if you can’t reach an agreement shake their hand and say thanks for stopping by. Thanks for being one of the good guys. I recently gave up on my local shops, after spending good money there they just don’t care. I mainly buy online now and I miss walking in, looking around and having a quick chat with the owner or person who works there.
Show respect get respect
I was hoping to bringing some slabs to Baltimore Comic Con and try trading. It was good seeing your experience. Can't say that I'm not surprised by the dealers reactions. Got a lot of autographs to deal with 1st but you know ill do a complete recap on the channel. I liked all of those iron man and Spider-Man books, grew up reading all of those.
Thanks for watching
The DC and Marvel pics in the back. Where did you get them?
Those are Alex Ross prints they can be purchased from his store or sideshow collectibles
Great video. I've got to say your preaching to the choir here. I had been going to the NY Comic Con since 2007 up until 2015 when it got so damn crowded you literally were packed in like sardines and would have to wait close to 10 minutes just to move like 50 feet in the dealers room. It was like being at a sold out concert at Madison Square garden or at Times Square during New Year's. I always complained to my friends that went with me, that adult comic book dudes like us were way outnumbered by all the anime teens and gamers running around and clogging things up. I stopped going when the Marvel movies started getting big around the time of phase 2 of the Marvel movies. By then there were lots of new Marvel fans but most were kids and teens. Your Con by the looks of it was practically empty in comparison to NY Comic Con and looked like the old Cons I used to go to at smaller venues in NY, NJ, and Pennsylvania. I really wish that they organized the Cons for the various fans by having themes and focusing on different genres on different days. Like Anime folks and Furries on Friday, Comic books, Sci-fi and Fantasy fans on Saturday, and Sunday should be reserved for kids, teens and families.
What bag do you uses for carrying your books in? It looks nice and I am trying to find one. Plus I agree vendors always mark up books at the big cons and even the small local ones too. I have met only a couple vendors that will trade but they always try to get one over you.
That’s actually a magic the gathering back pack made by pirate labs I think
Never been to a comic con myself and I know when I do, I’ll be more mentally prepared thanks to your video. My small town comic store doesn’t have a dollar bin so I never knew what kind of goodies can be found
Now you are ready to face the pain
I'm not dragging any collection with me to a con. Set your price online save that gas , time , and energy...
Comic dealers are about as honest as car dealers. Always keep that in mind. Always.
best analogy ever!
Thanks for the video, really enjoyed how you recorded the show. I'm sorry you weren't able to sell what you wanted. That's the thing with collectibles, when you want to sell in a market slowdown there is no liquidity. I love those dollar bins, I'm working on a web run as well ! Thanks again !
Thanks for watching!
I've been at this since my first Chicago Comic Con in 88. You have to know that you are going to take a haircut whenever you trade to dealers. The key is always to find the deals you are willing to make. Dealers nearly universally will over value their books and under value yours. At my last show, I found a very nice raw ASM 252. With a press, could grade out at a 9.4-9.6. He was asking $375 for it. I offered up my slabbed trade books to see what he would be interested in. He selected $350 in books, told me they were worth about $250 and he'd offer half of that in trade value. In the end, he wanted to take my books and still charge me what I considered FMV for the book I wanted in cash. Ultimately, I did pick up an ASM 252 at that show, for less than half what he was asking. And I did make a trade where I got a $90 raw book for a $120 slab.
Also, the ComicCon has changed a LOT in the last 15 years. Conventions realized that they could bring in more people, therefore more $$ by catering to every fandom and celebrity auto seekers. Comics have been shuffled off to the side in favor of pop culture. You can still find some good comics at good prices, but there are a lot less of them these days. And far fewer comic creators anymore.
Ohhhh That Fantastic Four find is GREAT!! congratulations of finding those in the dollar bins!
Funny thing all the comic sellers always say " Low Grade is Better Than NO Grade" I do agree with this saying, but when it comes to up grading through trading the story changes. I'm glade I am a collector and yes I do sell but to upgrade.
“The key to any good comic con is to be slightly hungover.” 😂😂😂😂😂
Haha it may have also led to my negative disposition
The problem with big cons is that it's so expensive to set up ad a vendor. So vendors really mark their books up because they know the bug shows bring in big crowds. Some collectors that go like you and me still will not over pay for a book even if it's a key. Some people don't care how much a book is. If they want it, they buy it with 0 research. The amount of insults though from the dealers about your books... Jesus. What a bunch of rude people. All they had to say was, nice books, but we're not interested. Thanks for letting me look. I'm honestly not a fan of big cons either. Too many people and grossly overpriced books never is a good time. The small shows are where it's at.
Yea I’m gonna stick to shows
The only advice I have being a newer collector is to not attempt to sell at these shows as a convention goer. Focus your selling at a smaller, local show. Over here in Virginia we have something called the Schoff Comic and Hobbies Show which he does a few every month in Annadale, VA. If you are ever in the area, check it out. You'll be talking more so to local vendors and collectors so higher chance of cutting deals.
I loved this video man. I have yet to attend a con but this would be me. Annoyed at everyone. I live in NYC and haven’t attended any cons. That slab pricing would have definitely gotten me PISSED!!
The con vibe is just not for me
Similar at ECCC this year. EVERY blue chip book was grossly overpriced. I wanted to go home with something big but why when it’s cheaper online.
Exactly!
7:39 in...... We are in a deepening Worldwide Financial depression(Not a recession, and soon worse then 1929), and its going to get much worse. More and more are catching on to that,and are really tightening there belts. Great video !
Manny C! How you feeling today
It's amazing to see politicians and economists warn that "we are in danger of entering a recession." Sure, technically (in terms of shrinking GDP or whatever) maybe we have not been in a recession for quite a while but to the average working person, whose money is worth a lot less without anywhere close to a correction in wages, we are in an an obvious depression.
@@jbbrolic Exactly, here in Canada the government is lying left ,right,and center, saying inflation is 8 - 9%,when everyone making less then 100k a year ,can clealry sees its at least 40 to 50% and going higher !
@@Stickygoose Mostly ok,until I need to gas up the car,at what is over 2x the fill up cost of 12 months ago.
I go to a lot of cons here in the south (I am in Houston) and it is the same every where -- dealers are consistently overvaluing their books and undervaluing yours. I do not even take stuff to trade anymore. Rather sell on an auction and take the money to spend.
I have talked to some respectable dealers recently and they are surprised too at the prices some dealers are asking -- but they also said that they are getting some of the prices too. It is just where the market is right now, sadly.
I’m a little to the east of you in SETX, how is Comicpalooza over there? I was thinking about going, but if the trade/buy scene isn’t any better I’ll probably just go and enjoy the show instead of hoping for anything good lol
Lol I just keep watching thinking... you think these aisles are crowded? Lol ain't got nuttin on NYCC.
Great show breakdown!
Sticky, I'm a 50 year old comic reader/collector and I feel your pain.
I don't attend comic conventions anymore because the internet ruined them.
In decades past, getting a good deal at cons was easy because no one could check global prices and rare merchandise was mostly acquired locally.
Now EVERY convention price I see is "eBay matching" or over-inflated.
So what's the point of driving to a con, overpaying for admission, parking and food when I can just buy my shit on eBay and have it delivered in a few days?
The hunt is no longer fun and not worth the trouble.
I HATE that the younger generations will NEVER read the classic Marvel/DC stories because the books are literally unavailable and overpriced.
All the great stories of the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's?
Nobody under 40 years old will EVER get to read them.
Within a generation or two, all the great comic storylines will be forgotten and only the DC/Marvel films will be remembered because of the public's limited access to the comic books.
What was the app you use to check the fantastic four ones?
clz keeps track of my collection
I call your experience the Chuck Rozanski effect. Most dealers seem to believe that simply by owning these books, the value is automatically higher. Rozanski, if you're unfamiliar with Mile High Comics, routinely prices dollar books in the $15 to $20 range. Then, if you try to sell a book, every dealer turns into Rick Harrison, "because they're taking all the risk on the book".
That dude is an actual nut job
I’ve been doing shows for about 14 years, mainly in Artist alley, from micro conventions to shows like Planet Comicon and C2E2. Fandoms and hobbies have intersected in ways I’ve not seen in years past. There are shows that travel like Collect A Con that are mainly all hype and pop culture based events.
I’m sorry you dealt with rude dealers, I only ever hit the dollar boxes when I do any looking for comics. I have no interest in graded books, but I can appreciate them. I’ve watched what you’ve gone through happen a LOT these days.
Never deal with any dealer that doesn't have a "Wall" of raw comics. If they just have a small number of graded books they aren't big enough for you to mess with. Try Baltimore or Heroes Con. Both full of dealers who will buy.
I will do that!
I’m from Buffalo, NY. Live in South now. Queen City comic is my local shop in Buffalo. It’s nice to see that had good finds for people and treat people well. Love that store.
I had the same experience at Wicked Comic Con in Boston. I had several slabs to try and sell and I got all the same responses you got. I had one guy literally pull out a wad of cash to show me and then said he isn't buying. Even though his sign clearly stated buying/selling comics. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
Yea lol they all saying buying comics for cash. Love the name of the con btw
I would have snatched up those Infinity Inc books that you skipped in the dollar bin. #13 was a first published DC artwork by McFarlane ($8 in high grade) and #16 was a first Mr Bones ($40 in high grade raw). Not huge books, but some early McFarlane stuff. I am trying to collect everything (pre Image) from McFarlane. His panel work in those Infinity books was solid.
As for the dealers, I have never been a huge fan. Many come off as smug and to your point, their 9.6 is special and your 9.6 is "meh...". They are there to sell and only buy if they can get it cheap and sell it for a significant markup.
It could a number of factors, their rent and utilities have gone up at their stores, homes and so on. Inflation is destroying small business and comic books are not priority for some people. We are probably going to get better deals online.
I got back into comics this summer after quitting 20 years. After collecting so many different things. Fandom can be heartbreaking. I hope I can dig in the wild in peace falling in love with comics all over again as if time stood still the last 20 years.
Im skipping cons for the next few years. Im not selling my collection, not trying to buy their over valued product, and with so many people in attendance the experience has become frustrating. Since my local comic shop started bringing in artists and writers, I get my signatures there. At this point, Cons are ONLY there for Vendor Alley, and with so many casuals involved people are THROWING money at damn near anything of value.
I've been going to cons for over 30 years. This is just how they are. Nothing surprising here.
I love department of the truth
Bro. I’m so sorry for your experience but I love your commentary. You’re hilarious
Thank you!
These are the best videos to watch! Also, I have noticed that the comic prices on ebay for "buy it now" are way over-priced also
Thanks doc
I have been in the comic industry and own my own comic store. Have participated in many comic cons and understand what you are saying. What everyone needs to understand is that you are rarely going to receive top dollar for your personal collections from a dealer or comic store owner. The reason is that they are not collectors, but rather running a business. You will never make money if you pay top dollar for a comic as you are not going to sell it for a profit. If you really want to make top dollar then you need to sell to another personal collector who wants to keep it and not reselling for a business. That is why pawn shops will never give you full value as they will not make money if they do. Just my opinion and experience. I do agree with you that many dealers feel they have to downgrade a comic to justify not paying full selling value. I do not agree that is a good strategy and I am always honest with people and tell them that I cannot give them full asking price if I plan to resell it. Thank you for sharing your experience.
You are correct-you'd be happier at a comic book show. These Comic-cons are big deals. They are held in large arenas, as opposed to comic book shows in a local Armory or Community building. Because the Comic Cons are so big, partially to handle the bigger crowds, they need lots of vendors. And a large Hall in Cincinnati is going to have expensive booth spaces. So there will be no bargains.
Dealers do insult sellers books, hoping to discourage you to sell cheap. People like that I cannot stand, respect someones's books and if you don't want them then say 'pass' and leave it there. Don't try and re-grade a slabs, especially down, as guess what, when they come to sell it, it will be the 'this is the best copy I have EVER seen'. You had some nice books and if someone tell you otherwise they they are 'use appropriate profanities please'
Show respect get respect
I mean auction houses take 10% minimum, heritage takes 25% so dealers are typically gonna give you like 70% of what it's worth, if its an easily sellable book that isn't gonna go down 40% overnight during this recession and lose them money. Still talking someone's books down and not being upfront is not respectable. Dave and Adam's goes to bigger shows and buys everyone's books for like 70-75% of gpa price straight up and that's not a horrible deal for most casual comic people, but you're better off investing your time and selling your own.
The rest of your criticism is very valid. Lots of related nerdy genres under 1 roof and somewhat misrepresented. Lots of people selling raw books like 3.0 at 5.0 prices.
I've learned that most big comic cons are more aimed at pop culture than just comics. Due to the cost to exhibit, books are priced on the high side. The Cincinnati con is great to meet tv/movie stars and such, but other than dollar bins, usually not good for getting deals. I have much better luck with small shows that are actually organized by comic book stores and held at colleges or hotels, where the price of a table is not very much. Sorry you didn't enjoy the show.
Reading through all the comments...
1) Your vlog doesn't show a crowded show floor at all. Perhaps it did get busier later? NYCC is absolutely a tight fit.
2) Honestly, did you expect any different from most of those dealers?
3) It is rare to connect with true personal collectors with tables at the Cons. Just is these days.
I have gone to the last 5 NYCCons, learning more and more after each one. My main focus is Artist's Alley, which is absolutely fun. Getting to meet hundreds of creators in one mammoth-sized area is a great thrill. As for the rest of the Con, I do enjoy browsing through all the various vendors and corporate booths. It is a sad fact that the true comic bins and collections take up a small corner area of the show floor. I did find some cool older comics there at very good raw pricing; at least in my opinion.
I'd recommend to you a simple plan. If you don't already have a master list of your actual physical collection, start one. Go through EVERYTHING. Decide what you treasure to keep and what you believe you can make a profit on. However, my one caveat for you, based on your commentary: Not everyone will value your collection as you do. You shouldn't take any "criticism" of your comic books personally, especially if you are so willing to make money off of them. Most importantly, do your research across as many resources as possible. Use as much verifiable information as you can get access to. Be prepared. Good luck with future shows.
I think what you were experiencing is the dealers are just coming to grips with the fact the comic market has crashed.
The con seemed very similar to what I have seen to conventions both small and large lately. It is hard to find a good mix of vendors for all the diverse interests out there. The dealers not buying has been fairly common as well, I think many dealers are bulk buying at pennies on the dollar and are very reluctant to purchase slabs at even 60-75% of market. I have been close on a few deals but walked away because they only wanted to offer on one book. I did very well filling holes on silver age avengers this year so I'm not looking for quite what the mobs are chasing.
Why would you want to sell to a reseller anyway? They HAVE to pay less, they have to be critical. The entire point of slabbing is so that anyone can sell them online for full price.
Were you there mainly just to sell and not buy anything? Can’t rely on hoping someone will buy one of your books especially if you’re driving 5 hrs.
I was there to sell and trade to upgrade my hulk 181 and tod 10
Speculators have ruined the hobby in many ways.
The day is coming when nobody will be able to actually read any classic comics any more because they will all be encapsulated, lmao.
It will be a beautiful day every book encased in plastic bahahahah
I was offered 40% low low FMV for my Avengers 8 at 4.5. Like $600. The sellers are no longer in the drivers seat
I’ve had the same experience at local comic shops. New LCS opened almost 2 years ago near me. I got to know the owner spent thousands there over 1.5 years. Tried several times to get store credit on some books and he was offering like 60% fair market value, keep in mind I was asking for store credit and said I’d use the store credit and add money to it to buy some pricey books from him. No one seems to care about the buying experience and working with a repeat customer who spent good money at your store. I almost exclusively buy online now and I’m much happier for it.
The best deals are on Instagram
It's all about walking away. If you are curating a collection, which is why we collect, that will have value one day, you are not their customer. It may be tough at first, but you need to be as shrewd and even ruthless as possible with the negotiation. The dealer is not your friend, at least not 90% of them. ... They have too much equity [locked up in the books] and need airfare or vacation cruise monies. [They] are the investors with investor mentality. .... You may need to make more private deals, just a thought. I think shows are just a gauge of what is hot, which ='s avoid for the next 6 mo.+ [Dealers need cash! not trades] I buy prime books from them at my price because THEY are short on cash.
@Brer247i Let me fix it for you. would not want your viewers to think this is a seller's market. So, to understand it better. Walking away from a terrible deal is the hardest thing. You have a plan and believe you are going to succeed. You invest yourself into the process, like your video. Then you find out that you are not appreciated by the very people you want to do business with. Their plan is to do as I would do. Offer peanuts. Tell you your trades are junk. They piss you off. In the Hope's you will buckle. That does work. Look, shows are ok to trade books if that is what you want to hear. Good luck. I'll keep watching your post. Try not to sound so unhappy.
I walked away all weekend…I walked right out the door
@@Stickygoose I saw by the vlog. Most usually don't. Great pick up's on the books. Nice $1 bins.
In the early 2000s I stopped going to the big conventions because they were moving so far away from actual comics and into all the other stuff. I grew up with the old time comic shows in the back room of a bowling alley. And I wish they were still like that, fun and piles of comics.
Not the "Captain Morgan Pose" lmfao 😂😭💀🤡😆😆😂
This video just became me riffing on dealers
I've been going to quite a few conventions in recent years. It's funny how similar the experience is at diffenent cons, for different hobbies. They're a huge money drain, and typically way too crowded. They're fun, but I'm starting to be pickier and attend less cons, less often.
Same with gun shows a bunch of over priced vendors looking down at people yet they expect you to do business with them. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Never been to a gun show
I would have walked around towards the end of the show when they still have all of their books on the wall. Cash is king. In the vendors defense they have a lot of overhead and will always trade heavily in their favor. Best to trade online with people, that has worked best for me.
IG has the best deals
The beginning of the end...again. This cycle repeats every few decades.
The guy at 5:15 owns a Shop in Richmond Kentucky. He’s a nice guy but genuinely does not give a shit about what you have unless it’s bulk for wholesale price. I tried to sell him 3 slabs, one signed by Kevin Eastman, and one signed by DellOtto, and he had zero interest in buying them. Wouldn’t even give me an offer.
He legitimately did not care what I had at all lol
The shops you liked the dollar bins are most of the best ones in the area. Cincy used to have a legit comic show run by Tony Moore but it didn’t last very long unfortunately. If you’re ever in the area again check out Nostalgia Ink. They are the best shop in this area and super fair on prices.
Unfortunately I will probably never go back up there
You would definitely be blown away by NYCC. It's far, far more packed and the cosplay genuinely is on another level but it's largely filled with non-comic tables. I think you hit the nail on the head by saying you're a comic show guy vs. a con guy. I totally get that.
The worst people I have ever met in my life were comic book dealers. Yelling, condescending, eye-rolling ayeholes. The guy on the Simpsons is more realistic than most people think.
WOW what awful people. So just because people are vendors make them better than everyone else? I am going to be a vendor at Retro Expo in TX and Fan days next year. Not that I needed it but thank you for letting me know how some vendors are and not how I should act .....Ughh.... Great Video.
I'm sorry you didn't have a good time at the convention. You got some great books out of the dollar bins, though; nice job. It's fun watching your con recaps in a vlog style.
Thank you
No dealers wants to accept the market has corrected. Sad but true
By the looks all those comic sellers in that con were in some sort of dialogue.
The problem with the Comic-cons the first day you go they will not budge on prices and they lie alot. The last day is the best because they will budge unless they made huge amounts of cash. The reason they take you down is they want to get it at a lower price, so they can sell at a higher price. Its the reason I sit on my silver and gold books.
I always find wall books and key issues are over priced at cons.
Overpriced books, not willing to buy or trade, sounds like we are back to 2018 convention economy.
While I think it's crappy that some of the dealers talked poorly of your books I think it's just as crappy to get mad that none wanted to trade with you. They are ultimately there to make sales as trades won't pay the bills or their booth fees.
Nice video, some things to note. SDCC is super big compare to this. Expect the aisles to be 20x more packed. Dealers have to pay a huge sum for their booth. I'm sure that's the main reason they have to lower your value, and increase their's. Expect 40-50% off of your's for them to even want to take it. Factor the cost for them, plus all their other expenses, that would be expected. Best bet is to sell your stuff independently away from a comic con.
Your not going to get full value of your cgc in trade, you know that, and your not going to get close if selling for cash man
Have before
ok but like..... you went to a comic convention where dealers are trying to sell their goods.... trying to sell your goods....and you were disappointed that they didnt wanna pay full price when that is the business they are in? im confused....
I’ve had a lot success doing this
@@Stickygoose I mean thats great and all but thats like a tertiary benefit of a convention. the main purpose is for vendors to sell their stuff...they pay for that spot. you coming in buying nothing, not looking to trade and wanting full FMV from a small business owner is like a slap in the face. not to mention the recession... small business owners are having a hard enough time selling their own stuff for fair value....
The big Comic Cons you're not going to get a deal on books, the dealers are overpriced on their books and usually you can get even a better price on eBay and never take graded books to show it's a lot easier just to sell them online you'll get top dollar because they're graded but I do understand the dealers looking and saying that this is not whatever grade especially in the 9.6 and 9.8 books as it seems that sometimes a 9.8 book by cgc is actually not it's easier just to sell online get top dollar and you'll get usually market value prices stick to the smaller shows if you're buying Comics you can get much better deals usually the only time I go to the big shows is to meet the artist and actors if I want to buy books always the local small shows for best deals