what's up with Mile High Prices?4097
 Suck it up, buttercup!!
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KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Been noticing lately that while some books are at or about guide prices others are multiples over. Just wondering what is going on - is it just they are closer to the real world demand and future publications of Overstreet will catch up? |
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OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I've never been real impressed with their prices. Miles above the rest, too high for me! | ||
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 Collector
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Jaydknight private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Yeah, they've always been extremely over priced on everything I wanted to purchase from them. I also don't know what grading guidelines they use, but from my personal experience with them, they claim books are better condition than what they actually come as. |
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Deadpoolica private msg quote post Address this user | |
They're....mile high  |
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FN_2199 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| They price aggressively to take advantage of those who do not know any better. | ||
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Suck it up, buttercup!!
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KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by FN_2199 But they must get those prices at least on occasion - yes? I had a bulk buy of loose bronze recently and found a few gems in the bunch - was happy with the guide prices (a few years old guide at that). i.e. Weird War Tales 64 (first Miller DC work) in my guide says $75 at NM but Mile High has it at almost $160! |
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therealtimmyp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I stick with MCS. They have the best selection and have been pleased with their condition descriptions. | ||
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OrbitCityComics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Mile High only has one distinct advantage, they have what's possibly is the largest selection. They literally have millions of books. They're worth shopping if you shop their discounts, but other than that you will pay a premium. |
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50AE_DE private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Their prices are still way over guide even after their discounts. | ||
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cseale0223 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Super high. I went in and found a dollar bin book. Guy wanted to charge me $16 for it. I laughed in his face and walked out. | ||
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 COLLECTOR
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shrewbeer private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by KatKomics Chuck regularly discounts the entire store 40-50% off. Pretty much every major holiday. Sign up for his mailing list and only shop then  He basically lists everything way over guide then does the deep discounts to sell off shitloads of books. Kohls got in legal trouble for that practice (because they ALWAYS are "on sale"  , but Mile high does it right. It's a sales tactic that works. Some good deals can be had though |
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andy49 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Use their "code word" to get the books at a somewhat reasonable price, but knock a grade off (or two) to avoid disappointment. I tried them a few times and gave up, can't keep paying near mint prices for 7.5/8.0 books. |
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X51 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Their prices are high because they are working off a "One stop shopping" model which costs more to sustain. They try to literally stock everything you might want so that you don't have to search endlessly. That means they have more money tied up in inventory and they have to make more per book to pay their operating expenses. You are paying for the convenience. | ||
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Deadpoolica private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by X51 Always eBay  |
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 I'm a #2.
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BigRedOne1944 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I got some books from them a couple of times. Never again! Overpriced, Overgraded and absolutely non-existence customer service. I avoid them at all cost like the plague. | ||
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 COLLECTOR
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DarthLego private msg quote post Address this user | |
| MH has always had prices too high. But do not put so much stock in what Overstreet guide says, they are only a "guide" and by the time they publish are already 6 months behind the real world marketplace. | ||
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Towmater private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Why is it that people single out Mile High Comics? I've never gotten it. | ||
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Suck it up, buttercup!!
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KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Towmater I'm sure there are others too..I was just on the site recently checking what I found in a bulk mix of bronze books and was surprised at the difference between guide and their prices and wondered if anyone else thought it was a bit weird. Hey if I can flip some of these books for what they ask I'll be even further ahead!! |
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vacaboca private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Towmater I definitely think they stand out in terms of their pricing. I've bought from them here and there over the years, almost always during one of their "50/60% off the whole inventory" sales. I first bought a large order from them via their eBay account, and then started getting their Star Wars variants when they did the cool Boba Fett one for Star Wars #1. I don't think I've found a similar store online in terms of selection that had as consistently high pricing as they do... not just higher than average, but statistically significantly higher. I think @shrewbeer nailed their general model. Personally, the only real thing that's been an issue is that when I've been getting their own variants, at $20 each, they tend to not arrive in very good shape... either shipping or handling damage consistently, for brand new books that are theirs from the printer. I haven't complained though, so that's on me I guess. |
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Drogio private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Someone posted a YouTube video that had chuck(?) explain the business model...it was based off some local mom-pop hardware store...and I walked away from it wondering how they can survive in his day and age selling comics with that model... | ||
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TommyJasmin private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by X51 You hit the nail on the head here @X51. You find the world's best collection, ever, and you can ride that wave a long time, but that alone shouldn't make you king forever. I'm not a big fan myself. I've seen this model in practice and it turned me off. Rozanski used to show up at regional cons with his crew in tow and restock by buying up dealer inventory at shows. Word would spread that "Chuck is here and he's buying!" and you'd see these dealers start salivating like Pavlov dogs. And I'm thinking, if he's buying from dealers to stock his stores, then what does he charge to make up that margin? My main takeaway here is please, all of ya, don't let their asking prices lull you into thinking any book is worth that - they are only worth what you are willing to pay for them my friends. |
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 CBCS broke up with me over Facebook.
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CFP_Comics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Peyote. | ||
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Loiselle313 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Mile High has always had insanely high pricing. Like this copy of New Mutants #98... raw direct edition. Near Mint... they're asking $1,350.00 for it. Seriously?!? Or this newsstand copy with a certain ad in it... again, raw... $3,600. Are you out of your damn mind, Chuck?!?!? |
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Homer private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Either I have a knack of finding books priced below value, or I'm very unlucky. Three books in a row from Ebay, were canceled and I was told out of stock. No book for me. Mile highs Ebay store. | ||
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Towmater private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @TommyJasmin So, you are saying that he buys like other dealers do at shows? How does that make him any different from any other large dealer? | ||
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OrbitCityComics private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Towmater It depends on what prices he is paying. For him, every book he buys is overhead. If he's paying FMV for every book he's buying, then he has to charge more to recoup his investment and cover his overhead. I do not believe that his GMROI can be all that high. |
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shrewbeer private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Whatever he's doing, he's not failing. So theres that anyways. | ||
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OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Homer  |
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Towmater private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by OrbitCityComics I don't think any dealer at a show ever pays FMV for a book. It doesn't matter if that's Chuck or anyone else. No idea, on his business and its GMROI. |
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JLS_Comics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Chuck wants you to know it's a privilege purchasing from his curated, prestige mile high collection. He's operating on the same model he used when he was a mail-order ad in the middle of your latest marvel comic book. His "keyword sale" strategy is akin to a clearance inventory sell-out: jack up the original price then mark it down 35-50%. Sounds like a deal but you're back at the original price. |
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