Potential Wizard bankruptcy???

[catrick339]

I put the price on the back of the book with a nice little sticker that comes off. No big company labels that require goo be gone or other product to remove.

 

If you've read many a thread there seems to be the camp that believes if I'm putting post it notes on my books I'm upping the price at the show.

 

There are those that believe that a price sticker strategically placed at the front must be hiding a defect.

 

I also don't think that post it notes are very professional looking.

 

If you are serious about the book I have no problem bringing it down for you to look at.

 

Not many buyers I know can see from 4-6 feet away and make a decision even if it was priced on the front.

 

While I see your YELLING POINT POST OF WANTING TO SEE THE PRICE my objective is to get the buyer to stop and look, engage the buyer and try and find out what they are looking for. Not all of my books are on the wall, I don't bring 35K books to the show. You know, communicate, maybe give them a card and possibly even sell them something.

 

As far as the stories go they get a little old since I've been in the comic business since 1973.

 

This.

 

If I go to a show and am behind the table when you walk by, you either have to be fast on your feet or hard of hearing for me not to engage you somehow in at least a short conversation. My stuff doesn't sell itself, or at least not as well as if I give it a friendly boost.

 

Oh, and the answer to the "Mom threw my stuff away" is either your own tale of woe, or "Those Doggone Moms" depending on how busy your are.

[blazingbob]

If someone actually thinks there were zero comic sellers based on my comment then they have way bigger problems than comic books. A variety of sellers means more than a few. I like to visit a lot of booths and see what people have. Different booths sell different stuff.

 

I expect comic shows to have lots of comic sellers. I don't care why they don't. That's not my job. Did I email Wizard? Nope. I just cross it off my list of shows. If my grocery store starts having terrible selection I just go somewhere else. I'm not going to take it up with them when there are plenty of alternatives.

 

I appreciate you responding which gives me and hopefully a promoter or two out there in cyber land an insight into what your expectations are. As with others you cross it off the list and go elsewhere. While I'm doing the promoters job your response does not just impact the promoter but any of the remaining dealers that do the show.

 

I'm sure there are more then just you doing the same thing. Unfortunately not all of those customers post on the boards or I can email to find out why they don't come anymore. Not everyone has the same reason but I hope you agree that it is important to find out why and maybe where those customers are going.

[wombat]

Sorry if my posts came off as harsh. In reading them again I was getting defensive when I didn't need to.

 

I'll give you a comparison. Baltimore seemed to have about ten times the amount of comic booths. (I'm sure that is an exaggeration, but that is what it felt like). I rather just save whatever I was going to spend in Philly and take it there. You have the big dealers plus lots of smaller ones.

 

And I think someone else mentioned, there are more comics at some of the local NJ/PA shows (Essington/Cherry Hill) then I saw in Philly.

[shadroch]

I have spent well over $50,000 on comics and art in the last decade, perhaps double in fact, but I rarely buy a big book at a show. It's just too inconvenient. I don't want to be dragging

a $5,000 book from booth to booth, then out to dinner with a few friends and a dozen strangers, then on the train and to the bar before I get home. Last big book I bought was an Avengers 2 in 9.0 that the seller refused to let me walk away from.

In this day of internet sales and overnite delivery, I'm surprised many big books get sold to the general public. My personal experience has been anything I want, I can find cheaper and with less hassle on the net. Often from the same people.

As my main focus the last two or three years has been Schomburg Captain America's and classic covers, it's been an exercise in futility looking for bargains at the few shows I attend.

Just offering my prospective, for whatever it's worth.

[Sqeggs]

I put the price on the back of the book with a nice little sticker that comes off. No big company labels that require goo be gone or other product to remove.

 

If you've read many a thread there seems to be the camp that believes if I'm putting post it notes on my books I'm upping the price at the show.

 

There are those that believe that a price sticker strategically placed at the front must be hiding a defect.

 

I also don't think that post it notes are very professional looking.

 

If you are serious about the book I have no problem bringing it down for you to look at.

 

Not many buyers I know can see from 4-6 feet away and make a decision even if it was priced on the front.

 

While I see your YELLING POINT POST OF WANTING TO SEE THE PRICE my objective is to get the buyer to stop and look, engage the buyer and try and find out what they are looking for. Not all of my books are on the wall, I don't bring 35K books to the show. You know, communicate, maybe give them a card and possibly even sell them something.

 

As far as the stories go they get a little old since I've been in the comic business since 1973.

 

This.

 

If I go to a show and am behind the table when you walk by, you either have to be fast on your feet or hard of hearing for me not to engage you somehow in at least a short conversation. My stuff doesn't sell itself, or at least not as well as if I give it a friendly boost.

 

It's your rugged good looks that do most of the selling for you.

[Sqeggs]

I have spent well over $50,000 on comics and art in the last decade, perhaps double in fact, but I rarely buy a big book at a show. It's just too inconvenient. I don't want to be dragging

a $5,000 book from booth to booth, then out to dinner with a few friends and a dozen strangers, then on the train and to the bar before I get home. Last big book I bought was an Avengers 2 in 9.0 that the seller refused to let me walk away from.

In this day of internet sales and overnite delivery, I'm surprised many big books get sold to the general public. My personal experience has been anything I want, I can find cheaper and with less hassle on the net. Often from the same people.

As my main focus the last two or three years has been Schomburg Captain America's and classic covers, it's been an exercise in futility looking for bargains at the few shows I attend.

Just offering my prospective, for whatever it's worth.

 

Excellent point. I'm assuming, though, that BB and his cronies don't make most of their dough at cons from selling $5,000 books. Or, if they do, it's to each other rather than to collectors. I would think that it's volume sales of books well below that price that make for a successful con.

 

But maybe not ... as I wrote that, it popped into my head that at NYCC, Metro seemed to bring almost nothing but higher-dollar books despite, obviously, having a vast inventory that would have filled out many a long box.

 

Maybe con strategies differ significantly across dealers.

[blazingbob]

Easier and cheaper on the net.

 

This statement clearly shows what is prevalent in today's "retailing" marketplace.

 

How does the retailer drive you to the website or to the convention?

 

Are shows marketed by a big list of what guests will be there? The Location and tourist attractions of the local area? Comic dealers revealing new collections? The artists providing sketch and signature series opportunities? Exclusives? TV or Movie announcements?

 

While I find that if buying CGC books with a couple of good scans it is much easier to buy online. However, I am not going to try and find every retailers website for stuff to buy. While I've seen some "comic" attempts at Expedia or Hotels.com type search engines I'm still not using them with much regularity. I don't know how many web surfers put in that level of effort when searching for books. A 3 day convention provides that "concentration" of potentially having everything I'm looking for in one place.

 

The person who comes up with the "You can make money on this book" button will make a lot of business when it is created.

 

For me raw books require up close and personal examination. I've yet to find scans that capture the subtle defects that angling a book shows. And frankly as a online retailer I don't have all day to post 8 pictures of a book from every angle. I look at the convention as a place where the retailer has the ability to showcase their grading/pricing abilities. From there I hope that experience gives the buyer confidence to order online. That is what I do when buying from other dealers.

 

 

 

 

[MrBedrock]

Wizard is not a Back Issue Comic Convention company. They are a Pop Culture Event organizer who bought a Back Issue Comic Convention in Chicago and somehow managed to keep the back issue flavor of that show, most probably through the actions of the dealers that already were setting up there. But the rest of their shows are not Back Issue Comic shows. If someone promoted a Back Issue Comics convention could it be profitable, and could it ever compete with the Pop Culture Events that so many promoters are now organizing? Maybe those of us who are Back Issue dealers at shows need to realize that our niche is getting more and more marginalized at these shows. In my opinion it is us, the vintage dealers, that need to change our expectations of convention business and adjust our model. We either need to start looking at these events as marketing opportunities, acquisition opportunities, or simply vacations because sales cannot seriously be considered the primary motivation for doing some of these shows. I love Wizard New Orleans. It is close, the town is awesome (even in the dead of winter), the people are a blast. But the last two years I barely broke even at the show (due to buying a couple of nice collections), and barely broke even at the Casino. I could have made more money by having one booth, taking no staff, selling no product, advertising the web-site and going to look at collections while I was in town. San Diego was sort of the same this year. I'm glad I set up and took some stuff to sell mainly because it created the opportunity to do a large trade of merchandise. Otherwise I lost money on the show.

 

The shows that are appealing to me are things like OAF Con. A two day show with maybe 500 people in attendance, all interested in collectibles. Table costs and hotel expenses incredibly low (total expenses well less than $1000), I go in knowing I'm not going to sell that much, but I am going to buy like crazy and have fun doing it, then make a bunch of money in the weeks after the show selling.

 

Certainly I could approach the other shows as solely as buying opportunities as well, but then why buy booths at $1000 each or more? And if I'm not buying booths I'm not helping the promoter promote the show in anyway other than attending. There would just be one more dealer booth filled with swords, Funko Pops, or mystery boxes.

[the blob]

Seems that even if you don't but the book at a con, you can look at it an buy it from the dealer later. Not to mention, no cash discount? True, maybe you don't want to walk around with $15k in your pocket. Last time I did that I was buying a house.

[Foolkiller]

Wizard is not a Back Issue Comic Convention company. They are a Pop Culture Event organizer who bought a Back Issue Comic Convention in Chicago and somehow managed to keep the back issue flavor of that show, most probably through the actions of the dealers that already were setting up there. But the rest of their shows are not Back Issue Comic shows. If someone promoted a Back Issue Comics convention could it be profitable, and could it ever compete with the Pop Culture Events that so many promoters are now organizing? Maybe those of us who are Back Issue dealers at shows need to realize that our niche is getting more and more marginalized at these shows. In my opinion it is us, the vintage dealers, that need to change our expectations of convention business and adjust our model. We either need to start looking at these events as marketing opportunities, acquisition opportunities, or simply vacations because sales cannot seriously be considered the primary motivation for doing some of these shows. I love Wizard New Orleans. It is close, the town is awesome (even in the dead of winter), the people are a blast. But the last two years I barely broke even at the show (due to buying a couple of nice collections), and barely broke even at the Casino. I could have made more money by having one booth, taking no staff, selling no product, advertising the web-site and going to look at collections while I was in town. San Diego was sort of the same this year. I'm glad I set up and took some stuff to sell mainly because it created the opportunity to do a large trade of merchandise. Otherwise I lost money on the show.

 

The shows that are appealing to me are things like OAF Con. A two day show with maybe 500 people in attendance, all interested in collectibles. Table costs and hotel expenses incredibly low (total expenses well less than $1000), I go in knowing I'm not going to sell that much, but I am going to buy like crazy and have fun doing it, then make a bunch of money in the weeks after the show selling.

 

Certainly I could approach the other shows as solely as buying opportunities as well, but then why buy booths at $1000 each or more? And if I'm not buying booths I'm not helping the promoter promote the show in anyway other than attending. There would just be one more dealer booth filled with swords, Funko Pops, or mystery boxes.

 

You nailed it.

 

And from the perspective of someone who buys mostly for resale (and some for a collection), smaller one or two day shows with dealers in all comics is certainly my preference. While I still feel compelled to check out what larger national dealers acquire, maybe I don't need to go to everyone of these shows that are clearly no longer being geared towards vintage product.

[shadroch]

A simple question.

If a show is bad for selling comics, are you buying books from other dealers or are they walking in the door?

[TheShadowKnows]

I'm sure someone else will step in to fill the void.

 

It's happening. There are board members and other promoters building grass roots shows slowly from the ground up in many cities across the country.

 

And to be fair, the show circuit is a lot more competitive than it used to be.

 

Just a few short years ago, you could say that there may have been a weekend without a major show.

 

Now you have multiple shows on every weekend.

 

Competition means you either put out a solid product or you get left behind.

 

It is happening.DT's Eucon was well run and sucessful.For a area with no shows in 20 years the first year attentance was really good.

 

[MrBedrock]

A simple question.

If a show is bad for selling comics, are you buying books from other dealers or are they walking in the door?

I buy from dealers, walk-ins, and from customers bringing in stuff they are no longer collecting looking to sell to raise money to buy stuff they are.

[lizards2]

I'm sure someone else will step in to fill the void.

 

It's happening. There are board members and other promoters building grass roots shows slowly from the ground up in many cities across the country.

 

And to be fair, the show circuit is a lot more competitive than it used to be.

 

Just a few short years ago, you could say that there may have been a weekend without a major show.

 

Now you have multiple shows on every weekend.

 

Competition means you either put out a solid product or you get left behind.

 

It is happening.DT's Eucon was well run and sucessful.For a area with no shows in 20 years the first year attentance was really good.

Sorry I missed it - elk tags conflicted. Spent a good ten days armed-camping in the woods, with bon-fires every night. It was awesome!

[1Cool]

Wow - this thread turned into a fantastic read.

[Dale Roberts]

-

Greg Reece and I were selling comics in Philly.

 

Had a lot of comics for sale.

 

I guess we don't count.

 

I have done a lot of philly shows over the years.

 

I've done Derek shows, I've done a lot of Wizard Philly shows.

 

It isn't like the comic collecting base in PA supports the dealers that do the shows which is why they don't come back. The fact that dealers aren't there is because they are not making money. Believe me, if dealers/retailers are making money at a show they will put up with a PITA promoter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which is basically all of them...

[Dale Roberts]

If someone actually thinks there were zero comic sellers based on my comment then they have way bigger problems than comic books. A variety of sellers means more than a few. I like to visit a lot of booths and see what people have. Different booths sell different stuff.

 

I expect comic shows to have lots of comic sellers. I don't care why they don't. That's not my job. Did I email Wizard? Nope. I just cross it off my list of shows. If my grocery store starts having terrible selection I just go somewhere else. I'm not going to take it up with them when there are plenty of alternatives.

 

I appreciate you responding which gives me and hopefully a promoter or two out there in cyber land an insight into what your expectations are. As with others you cross it off the list and go elsewhere. While I'm doing the promoters job your response does not just impact the promoter but any of the remaining dealers that do the show.

 

I'm sure there are more then just you doing the same thing. Unfortunately not all of those customers post on the boards or I can email to find out why they don't come anymore. Not everyone has the same reason but I hope you agree that it is important to find out why and maybe where those customers are going.

 

And honestly, whats so hard about engaging Wizard to tell them what you were hoping for at the show and why you were disappointed? It takes about 2 to 3 minutes of time. Especially at a Wizard show, there are people everywhere that work for Wizard. Maybe convention promoters should have a customer satisfaction survey......

[1Cool]

If any Wizard people are reading I'd love to set up and sell books at the local Wizard show in Cleveland but the $1,100 price tag is not doable. If you dropped it to $800 for a small market I'd be on board but you have effectively priced me (and I assume a ton of other people) out of doing your show.

[blazingbob]

I guess you are not aware of the multi-show discounts. 3-5 shows is a 10% discount; 6-11 shows is a 15% discount; 12-15 shows is a 20% discount and 16+ shows is 25% off

[blazingbob]

"I have spent well over $50,000 on comics and art in the last decade, perhaps double in fact, but I rarely buy a big book at a show. It's just too inconvenient".

 

This is a open question to all, not just Shadroch on the boards.

 

If you are not buying a big book at a show are you THAT comfortable doing the transaction online? Or do you go to a show, meet the seller and then order off their website? I have had a large number of post show big book transactions AFTER meeting the buyer at the show. Which means that I have to be at SOME shows for them to meet me in the first place. I still feel that shows are not just selling events but networking opportunities.

 

Or have we all just become so comfortable that we assume everybody is honest?