New/inexperienced buyers: stick with slabs.5344
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
| If you are new to buying comics, or are unsure of your ability to grade and/or detect restoration, stick with buying already graded books. That's why the grading companies exist: so that people can buy with a high measure of assurance that the book is what the label says it is. If you buy raw books, and you don't know what you're doing, you're going to get burned. If you buy raw books and you DO know what you're doing, you can still get burned. As Marilyn Milian is fond of saying: "Lo barato sale caro." Cheap now, expensive later. The "premium" you'll pay for slabbed books is far and away ameliorated by the time, effort, energy, and frustration you don't have to expend on bad deals and hidden problems. |
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det_tobor private msg quote post Address this user | |
| And for those of you that find that unclear.. Try buying an OLD book from a local comic store and find out that it was touched up by marker....and no one saw it until you sent it to be slabbed. | ||
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Yep. No new comic buyers should ever buy raw books. Bwaahahahaha What if they just want to read them, or don't care about having 9.8's and such? Revise your opening statement please. |
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Collector
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by conditionfreak Nobody said anything even remotely like this. Quote: Originally Posted by "conditionfreak" No. If you don't like the thread, make your own. Stop trying to start fights and mucking up other people's threads. |
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Your holier than thou and smarter than everyone else attitude needs to be called out. Respond to my comments. You demanded that I respond to questions in several threads. So I am only doing what you did to me. Cuts doesn't it. |
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by conditionfreak This is off-topic, trolling, and against CBCS rules. Please go away. Thanks. |
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COLLECTOR
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown O'really "New/inexperienced buyers: stick with slabs." |
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COLLECTOR
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by DocBrown No. |
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Collector
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det_tobor private msg quote post Address this user | |
| How long till a mod closes this thread ...which had a legitimate need it was TRYING to help. | ||
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 Forum Crier
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OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
My apologies, I don't promote arguing or going to far off topic as it leads to locked threads. Disregard my boxing bell. Quote:Originally Posted by OGJackster |
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det_tobor private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by OGJacksterTHANK YOU!! for that. |
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Forum Crier
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OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by det_tobor It's okay to have fun but, feelings get hurt to easily and it turns to  |
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
| If those of you who appreciate legitimate, serious topics, and don't want off-topic trolling to endlessly derail those topics, would stand up and say something to moderation, these kinds of things would stop. But only if you say something. This is a good topic, and worth discussion. It is not worth someone with an ax to grind coming in and shitting all over it, discouraging serious participation, and getting it locked down. But you have to do your part. |
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 I had no way of knowing that 9.8 graded copies signed by Adam Hughes weren't what you were looking for.
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drchaos private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I would like to think that most new comic buyers should start as most of us did by buying books when they come out or even lower than cover price back issues. That way their risk of loss is low, they can read the books if they wish without worrying about damaging something worth hundreds of dollars. That way they can figure out what they like and get the gist of what is going on with the books. When they get more comfortable buying more valuable books they will have a better idea of what they are doing. |
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Collector
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by drchaos Unfortunately, too many "investors", as we have seen a lot around here, are only interested in buying "expensive" books, and they end up getting badly burned...and a lot of them leave altogether. Obviously, it goes without saying that this doesn't apply to people who are buying new books (or old books, mostly) to read...this is for anyone spending more than a few pennies on a back issue. And, in this environment, that's too many people. |
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 Why just the women? I like bears.
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Gaard private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I remember when money wasn't even given a thought when collecting comics. It was all about the art & stories. Nowadays, it's ALL about the value of them. 9.8 this, ncb tics that. | ||
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MR_SigS private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by conditionfreak I'd hate to pay $200 for what turns out to be a $20 reader though. |
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Collector
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det_tobor private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Problem is new buyers AREN'T aware of what goes on. | ||
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Collector
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
| In 2010-ish, I had the opportunity to buy an Avengers #1 for about $600 at House of Secrets in Burbank. Having had over 20 years experience in the hobby at that point...and a tiny, tiny contributor to the Overstreet Grading Guide (2nd ed.)...I knew what I was doing. I checked the book...it was gorgeous. No color touch (which is ultra common on the mostly red cover), no trimming, no tear seals...just a nice, solid mid-grade book. Got it signed by Stan at SDCC 2010. Came back 5.5...MARRIED 5th wrap! ARGH! Who marries the 5th wrap?? So, what would potentially have been a several thousand dollar book turned into an albatross...so it can happen to anyone. If you're unsure, and not buying a new book off the stands...if you're paying north of $100 or something on a book...do yourself a favor, and buy it already graded. It will save you endless headache down the road. |
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Collector
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DocBrown private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Gaard Ever since someone paid more than cover price for a comic book, it's always been about money. When Lonestar advertised a Fantastic Four #1 for 25 cents in the fall of 1961, it was about the money. When the guy who bought his Action #1 for 35 cents in 1950 at a used book store, it was about the money. That's true whether you're buying a 9.8 Ms. Marvel #1, or a 3.5 Action #1. |
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Collector
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Comicnewbie private msg quote post Address this user | |
| As a newbie, I tend to lean toward slabbed. My Issue is worrying about overpaying. A quick story. As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I was a coin guy. Early on I bought raw coins “graded” by the seller. When I sent them in to NGC (sister company of CGC) not only were they far lower in grade some were counterfeit. Doesn’t happen w graded and slabbed items. There are just rotten people out there. | ||
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COLLECTOR
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
| At some point, every one of us was a new buyer. At some point, every one of us decided on whether to stop buying comics, or start buying expensive comics, invest in comics, or purchase professionally graded comics. My point now is that a blanket statement to newbies, that does not entertain the various goals, likes and limitations of the multitudes, is limited knowledge for a new buyer. Crawl before you walk, and walk before you run. Dip your toes in the water before you jump in headfirst. Starting off by buying professionally graded comic books is folly. IMO. The title and first post in this thread is just not enough guidance for a newbie. The best advice I could give to a newbie, is talk with a long time collector or investor often. Ask questions about everything that isn't obvious to you. Become a friend to a long time collector or at least visit this forum often and read, read, read. You can't advise a new buyer in one paragraph the best ways and reasons to by comics. |
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Collector
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det_tobor private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @DocBrown, post #20 was a fantastic example of what's needed here and why. New readers who want to become investors hear all kinds of things about buying old cars or houses, but what sellers do to upgrade book appearances are things they have no ideas about. (And you did it in a short distinct style that showed AND taught in a way that all could enjoy.) |
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 COLLECTOR
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shrewbeer private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Buying raw is half the fun. Kill the fun, kill the hobby. A hobby without some level of risk is boring af | ||
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Collector
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Comicnewbie private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @shrewbeer I do have some raw books. Mostly bought bc of the cover art. My son has so many. I would guess it’s at least 200-300 and he is 8. He has those as story reading and entertainment. I will say it was so much easier when we were buying him what he wanted for no other reason than he wanted them. Then I got this knucklehead of an idea to but some that may be worth more in the future. Stressful and certainly not as much fun. Plus I’m not good at it...so far | ||
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det_tobor private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by shrewbeermost people today don't have loads of money to easily lose. There are decades where this hobby went from constant putdowns to worse for collectors. No one enjoyed any of that. |
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 I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Buying raw is also risky with issues such as trimming, color touch, and making sure all centerfolds are attached and not loose or missing. | ||
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 Collector
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Homer private msg quote post Address this user | |
| If ones grading skills and restoration detection skills are limited, I would recommend that collector purchase slabbed books when the price point gets close to $200.00, or when they start to feel uncomfortable. | ||
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COLLECTOR
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shrewbeer private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by det_tobor Of course not. There are exceptioms to the statement. Maybe “buy only slabbed if you cant afford to lose the money”. It cant be just a black and white blanket statement |
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