Thoughts on Baltimore Convention 2018 3 3

[G.A.tor]

Just now, ygogolak said:

Yes, you can only sell what you have. I'm saying, walk around a con of this size and look who is there. Tons of people go to ogle comics, meet artists, get toys, etc... There are many different types of stands for different people. And there are plenty of people who can't image spending a couple hundred dollars on a book and especially not thousands. Look at the map and list of exhibitors. Many more of the other booths than there are comic dealers.

Would be interesting to see the split amongst comic buyers. Not talking about general con attendees but comic book attending buyers. 

[ygogolak]

3 minutes ago, G.A.tor said:

Would be interesting to see the split amongst comic buyers. Not talking about general con attendees but comic book attending buyers. 

I agree. They probably had 15,000 - 20,000 attendees? And how many people to do you have a transaction with. Maybe 200?

[jsilverjanet]

36 minutes ago, blazingbob said:

Just an fyi but I didn't exactly start out with the inventory I have now.  Took years of paying my dues,  buying and selling and learning.  There are a number of guys out there moaning that they can't make money because all they want are home runs and think that buying keys is the way to go.  Home run's are nice to have but that is not how you make money in the comic business.  

I was told years ago by a dealer that "I'm not in business to make you money".  So if you want to build your business buying from auction houses and other dealers you should have a lot of money and work on thin margins.

You also need to be right a lot more times then you can be wrong.  And everyone will make mistakes.   

 

I think the disconnect for many (like 1cool) is long term vs short term. You're definitely in this for the long term, your approach suggests that. I think 1cool is probably more short term, doesn't see himself doing this for the rest of his life whereas for you this is how you make your living.

I've thought the same for years (short term, one more year etc) but I've been doing this now for 5+ years. I may need to change my mindset and start thinking long term. This year has been one of my best. I'm successful now but I maybe more successful long term if I made some slight adjustments.

 

[blazingbob]

I am not really sure what the younger generation dealer is thinking and I'm not trying to come off as the elder statesman.

If you want to make money in the hobby you can go it alone or you can partner with somebody who brings something to the table YOU don't.  

You don't have to be the BIGGEST or the CHEAPEST to make money.  Your reputation is everything,  it can take 5 minutes to ruin years of a good reputation.  This hobby is very small and frankly you really don't want a bad reputation.  

I have a few partners I do deals with.  They all bring something to the table.  If you don't bring something to the table why would I partner with you?

Put your fragile little ego aside.  If you a one of those prima donna's who thinks he doesn't need anybody,  think again.  There is always a deal bigger then you.  There is nothing more satisfying or gives you self confidence then knowing you have the capital to buy any deal.  Doesn't mean you win them all but at least you get to play.

 

Edited October 1, 2018 by blazingbob

[G.A.tor]

22 minutes ago, ygogolak said:

I agree. They probably had 15,000 - 20,000 attendees? And how many people to do you have a transaction with. Maybe 200?

That’s probably a little High but I haven’t recapped. But there were at least 20-30? Silver and Golden age inventory dealers there, so if everyone did even 25-50 transactions not duplicated (absolutely there is duplication ) then there was probably 10-15% Of total attendees buying gold or silver. 

But of those 15,000-20,000 attendees I suspect well less than a half (maybe 25%) are there for just Comics. So “if”  that’s the situation , % of vintage buyers could be well over 50%?

just speculating , I could be way off 

Edited October 1, 2018 by G.A.tor

[shortboxed]

Here's my haul  

 

[blazingbob]

1 minute ago, shortboxed said:

Here's my haul  

 

Nice

 

[G.A.tor]

9 minutes ago, shortboxed said:

Here's my haul  

 

Can’t believe I didn’t have anything that caught your eye 

[Foolkiller]

2 hours ago, blazingbob said:

Wasn't exactly what I saw when I went through Glen's inventory.

He has some nice books where with the discount you could make some money selling them.

I didn't buy keys from him,  I bought some very nice inventory stock and some cool CGC books.

Grade well,  price fairly and don't be afraid to discount and you can make money.

Not directed at you but If you cannot make money in today's market you really don't know what you are doing.  

Glenn's inventory was excellent for a smaller dealer, and he had prime material as well as some bargain stuff.  I spent a very large chunk with him and was excited to do so.  Glenn was fair, grades accurately and the deal was good for both of us.  Bob also found a lot of great books, and there were other dealers who I think were really straight shooters.  I found more guys in Baltimore who knew how to price to market and were looking to actually sell books instead of have a museum.  I thought this year's Baltimore was one of best for buying from a variety of dealers both large and small.  people were friendly and the deals were fair.  About all I can ask for from a comic show.

[miraclemet]

1 hour ago, shortboxed said:

Here's my haul  

 

I eye balled quite a few of those! Nice pickups! I looked at that Diary Secrets Nd the Captain Science for a while...great books

[shortboxed]

58 minutes ago, G.A.tor said:

Can’t believe I didn’t have anything that caught your eye 

Everything in your booth caught my eye, Rick  

You'll be hearing from me...

[miraclemet]

I was happy to see on Sunday there were dealers who had bought at the show and had the books up on their wall when I went back on Sunday.

[Murphman13]

It was a great show for me. A huge thanks to Brian, Bob, Kevin, Ted, Wally and Big Earl for the purchases. It was good to see fellow boardies Junkdrawer, Wombat, Timmay, Tsp99, Bedrock, Jason and Nikelspot. Richard, I'm sorry I never made over to Camden Yards for a game but I was just too tired each evening. Doing a large show like Baltimore by myself was quite a feat especially load in and load out. My help had to bail on me at the last minute but everything went smoothly. When I walked out of the show to get my truck in line to load out I had no idea it would take over three hours before I got back in . Now that I am hearing a thief was snatching boxes I feel it was fortunate I wasn't hit. Taking a few extra minutes to cover all my inventory and place some racks on top of them may have saved me after I left.

Oh, this guy dropped in and claimed to be famous on these boards but I have my doubts. At least he bought something from me.

 

 

 

[kav]

Never heard of him.

[Hudson]

20 hours ago, G.A.tor said:

Can’t believe I didn’t have anything that caught your eye 

I think anyone who truly loves GA comics could not help but drool over the display you put up.

If a GA collector passed your booth and something did not catch his/her eye, then I would be forced to conclude that collector was blind.   

[1Cool]

20 hours ago, jsilverjanet said:

I think the disconnect for many (like 1cool) is long term vs short term. You're definitely in this for the long term, your approach suggests that. I think 1cool is probably more short term, doesn't see himself doing this for the rest of his life whereas for you this is how you make your living.

I've thought the same for years (short term, one more year etc) but I've been doing this now for 5+ years. I may need to change my mindset and start thinking long term. This year has been one of my best. I'm successful now but I maybe more successful long term if I made some slight adjustments.

 

I would agree.  Bob is definetely a full time dealer and put his full energy into doing it to the best of his ability (ie web site, killer booth) where as this is a part time gig for me.  I put about 40-45 hours in to my full time job so I usually try to limit comic stuff to 15-20 hours a week.  It’s been very successful as a side hustle but I don’t see make it a full time job anytime soon.

Hector - what do you mean by making the long term switch?  Setting up a web site?  Expanding your advertising expenses?  Expanding your inventory in stock rather then doing yearly blowouts?

[kav]

5 minutes ago, Hudson said:

I think anyone who truly loves GA comics could not help but drool over the display you put up.

If a GA collector passed your booth and something did not catch his/her eye, then I would be forced to conclude that collector was blind.   

He could still tap at the books with one of them canes-

[snitzer]

On 10/1/2018 at 4:58 PM, shortboxed said:

Here's my haul  

 

What an awesome cross-section of material! Only thing missing is a mainstream superhero book...but who’s counting?

I have to agree with others. This show, more than others, really stood out to me given how much quality material was available. The dealers really knocked it out of the park in terms of GA, SA and BA. Next October can’t arrive soon enough 

[Hudson]

On ‎10‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 4:48 PM, blazingbob said:

 

You don't have to be the BIGGEST or the CHEAPEST to make money.  Your reputation is everything,  it can take 5 minutes to ruin years of a good reputation.  This hobby is very small and frankly you really don't want a bad reputation.  

 

 

Bob,

I cannot agree with you MORE that a person's reputation (buyer or seller) is of utmost importance.  I can always make more money; it is a relatively cheap commodity.  My reputation, however, means the world to me. (Please note here that I am a buyer only).  Unfortunately I don't think everyone views it this way (especially a few of the dealers out there).  It never ceases to amaze me how when you talk about certain dealers (Gator, Bedrock, Reese, and some others), that most everyone seems to agree they are stand up guys.  Then there are a few dealers (who I don't know how they stay in business) that when their names get brought up, everyone winces.

How many bad experiences does it take to turn a buyer off to a certain dealer?  Probably not many (if more than one).

I know that when I walked into this year's Baltimore Convention, the first dealer I saw was someone that I had had a bad experience with earlier this year (at the Wonder Con in Florida).  He usually has a nice selection of books (and I have purchased from him in the past), but after my experience in FL, I walked right by (now uninterested in doing ANY further business with this dealer), and a short distance later I was at Gator's booth.  There I saw Rick who is always nice, professional, friendly, and a pleasure to talk with or do business with.

Later I met up with a few other board members and we were discussing dealers in the room.  When I mentioned that I had bypassed that certain dealer, I wasn't completely surprised to find out that I was NOT the only one who had had problems with this same guy.  The experience one other board member had was a LOT worse than mine.  I am not sure how this guy stays in business, but I am guessing that as time moves forward he is losing the business of more and more buyers.  For me, one bad experience is all it takes.

So, Bob, you are correct when you say, "This hobby is very small and frankly you really don't want a bad reputation."  

 

 

[FlyingDonut]

On 10/1/2018 at 4:58 PM, shortboxed said:

Here's my haul  

 

But...but....but.....there was no Golden Age there!