#3334376 - 07/26/09 09:17 PM
I'm Sick of This Hobby
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tth2
TOTAL NEWBIE
Registered: 12/04/03
Posts: 23319
Loc: Hong Kong
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After doing a last bit of due diligence by checking Heritage's archives, I realized that the 9.4 copy of Adventure 267 in the Comiclink auction is the pressed and upgraded version of the 9.0 Toth copy that sold on Heritage in May 2008.
This was the first book I'd been really excited about in a while, and I had been planning on putting in a 5-figure bid to do basically whatever it took to get the book. That excitement is now gone, replaced with revulsion at what has happened to this hobby. Needless to say, any plans on going hard after this book are now gone, and I was reminded why my spending on this hobby has dramatically tapered off from 4-5 years ago.
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#3334396 - 07/26/09 09:24 PM
Re: I'm Sick of This Hobby
[Re: tth2]
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plady69
Talkative?
Registered: 02/08/06
Posts: 715
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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I've been collecting since 1962 and own zero CGC books. I have cracked out about 10, though, because I wanted to read them and put them in acid free boards and 4 mil Mylars for the future.
I guess my point is, don't buy comics for the wrong reasons, buy them to enjoy!
Good luck and have fun.
_________________________
Wanted for my collection: Adventure #65-#67 #69-#72 (2.0 or better) All-American #45 (coverless copy) All-Star #32 #34-#37 #39 #41 #42 #44 #45 #47 #50 #54 #55 #57 (3.0 or better) Blonde Phantom #22 (3.0 or better) Brave & Bold #28 (3.0 or better) More Fun #68-#71 #73 #75 #76 (2.0 or better) Phantom Lady #13 #22 (Fox) (3.0 or better) Special #1 (coverless copy) Strange Adventures #1 (cover or missing pages) World's Finest #87 (5.0 or better) Blonde PhantomPhantom LadyBlonde Phantom Tribute Movie
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#3334427 - 07/26/09 09:36 PM
Re: I'm Sick of This Hobby
[Re: tth2]
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otherworldsj33
Up 20 words per minute since I signed up
Registered: 12/04/05
Posts: 1124
Loc: NY
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Hey TT,
See something I wrote about this just last week in a GC thread about a Spider-man 55 9.8 book which sold for 16K...
Joe
Re: VALPARAISO SPIDEY 55 9.8................SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [Re: fingfangfoom]
otherworldsj33 otherworldsj33
Up 20 words per minute since I signed up
Registered: 12/04/05
Posts: 1004
Loc: NY RD, your right, If the seller is satisfied, who am I to say anything. But did you ever purchase something that you were happy with for a time, and when it came time to sell were unhappy?
And of course it's true the market determines prices. All I am saying is that I belive that these prices are not sustainable, due in part to the pressing issue, and also I belive the market is need of an adjustment (pressing aside). The adjustment part of it is a natural component of how markets work. The pressing issue irks me, not from a business standpoint, I would do the same. Its smart, good business. I am defintely not passing judgement on anyone. There are buyers, probably the majority who know whats going on, and maybe are purchasing only, or mostly, for the investment factor, so be it. But for those who may be a somewhat unaware, imho, there current joy is going to turn into disappointment when it comes time to sell. The question I am asking myself is why aren't more collectors just having their books pressed themselves, rather then passing on the profit, in may cases huge numbers, onto the dealers? I do feel that SOME of the buyers were duped. What if a seller purchased his own book back, that previously was a 9.4, now a 9.8? You don't think they would not feel some intense emotions about that? I belive in the long run this pressing is going to hurt the values of many books, and the hobby in general, and that pressing is a grey area, a loophole, so to speak, in the grading system.
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#3334452 - 07/26/09 09:47 PM
Re: I'm Sick of This Hobby
[Re: Bronty]
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otherworldsj33
Up 20 words per minute since I signed up
Registered: 12/04/05
Posts: 1124
Loc: NY
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It's OA for me at this point, until someone finds a way to screw that up.
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#3334458 - 07/26/09 09:49 PM
Re: I'm Sick of This Hobby
[Re: tth2]
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CaptainOfIndustry
I would like to issue a formal apology to myself for allowing myself to inflict this thread on myself.
TOTAL NEWBIE
Registered: 11/13/02
Posts: 9745
Loc: Prospecting for oil in 1898
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Tim, you know I have tons of respect for you, so I hope you don't take what I'm about to say the wrong way...
Collectors such as yourself who are uncompromising in their pursuit of "the best" are the reason why the crack, press and resub game exists.
I realize that you don't chase labels blindly, and I also understand wanting pristine, untouched 9.4+ examples of tough to find books. Even though I like to poke fun at DCs, the fact is, I've always admired the fact that you were very patient and discriminating with your collecting. But being aware that there is an inevitable limit to CGC's ability to be consistent, that pressing is rampant, and that the scarce and expensive nature of the books you collect is going to attract this kind of activity, you're going to have to either 1) be ok with paying a premium for pressed books, 2) shift your attention to slightly lower grades, which will not in itself solve the pressing problem, but it will at least lower the stakes, or 3) stop collecting.
I get what you're feeling, that's why I sold most of my collection, and it's why I'm now considering books I wouldn't have looked at 5 years ago. Ultimately, you have to decide whether you can be flexible enough to roll with the punches and change your collecting paradigm. If not, you may have to find another hobby, since "the game" isn't going to change. Just my 
_________________________
Heaven is a chinese cook, an English house, an American salary, and a Japanese wife.
Hell is a Chinese salary, an English cook, a Japanese house, and an American wife.
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