The Ethics of Buying Comic Collections: Don't Be a Scumbag...or is it More Complicated Than That?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- George O'Connor and I discuss the morals and ethics around buying comics and comic collections, and what your responsibilities are as the buyer. Do you educate naïve sellers? Is it your job to tell people what they have when they are offering a collection at a price they came up with?
I had my thoughts and opinions, but I realized it wasn't as black and white as I had imagined, and George (and Lana!) had some great perspectives that made me really re-think my opinions.
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Another excellent video
Thank you! I hope you know how much I appreciate the feedback!
I despise comic vultures on TH-cam, who bragged taking advantage of uneducated sellers.
It honestly makes me sick to my stomach. At MINIMUM you should at least tell them to do a bit of research, and let them know their stuff might be worth more.
No books to show? Well I'm done and here's a big ol fat thumbs down for ya! Just kidding 😅. You know it's really up to each collector to inform someone of the potential value of their collection. How many times has a widow or child of someone who passed away get completely taken to the cleaners from selling the collection they inherited or was left behind? If you have a will and valuable collectables make sure you document them and leave direction on how to find the current value and maybe even where and how to sell them if that's needed. There's a price tag on alot of peoples integrity you have to remember. Saw you on comic book palace and how Glenn manhandled your book. I hear he gets crap about that alot. 🤣
😆 Glen is the worst!
The subject has come up with my wife about my collection when I go (I plan to sell at some point near retirement, but anything can happen...), and she has flat out told me that she won't do any research and just sell the books and ask for an offer from someone. My assumption is that someone WON'T give her a fair offer, and that was another big part of why the subject was sensitive to me. I have to make sure I do a good job of keeping track of what I have and the worth, so she can get a fair value.
@@SwarmofComics its amazing how something that can be so important and even an addiction in a comic book collection to one person can be nothing but a burden to another who isn't interested in them no matter the potential value. I suppose if someone left me a funko pop collection I would likely donate them to good will or the like and call it better than tossing them in the trash which would be my first idea reaction so I guess I do understand it.
I'm kind of like George in this one. There are a lot of spokes in the wheels. On the one hand, being a scumbag, taking advantage of someone, and then bragging about it. Not cool. I've seen this happen too often over the years. On the other hand, sometimes you try to help people and it's like the jokers on Pawn Stars who were going to sell you something for a dollar, you told them it's worth one hundred and how much do they want. And then it's one hundred. I don't think that is cool, either. Things are usually in the middle. But I do also tend to want to sleep good at night, so I hate taking someone to the cleaners. Especially when it's someone you know and it could bite you in the rear end.
I'll tell a couple of stories. A neighbor had a baseball store where he also sold comics. I'm always on the prowl for old Ghost Rider western comics and I knew this guy collected a lot of westerns as a kid and thought he might have some low graders. I ask if he has any and he wasn't sure. He handed me his collection of westerns to go through. I'm going through...Found a Kid Colt that was beat up but that I just wanted as a reader. And then I find All-Star Western #10. Very decent condition. I had to ask. I was like: "How much do you want for this All-Star Western?" He tells me: "Ah, you can have anything in there for a dollar." I'm like: "No, really, man. This book is worth probably 400-500 dollars in this condition. There is no way I'm going to pay a buck for it." Long story short, it wasn't something I really wanted for my collection, so I didn't want to pay high, but I didn't want to low-ball him, so I passed. But I made a point to tell him some places online he could do price checks so he wouldn't be selling really rare stuff for pennies. I mean, it's always tempting to get the great deal. But I don't want to see the looks I'll get from thereon out when someone finds out I ripped them off. In this case, as far as I know, this gentleman kept selling books super-cheap. He just liked giving people good deals and getting some himself. Much respect.
Having learned from situations like this, I try to give people good deals when I sell. Especially if it's someone new to the hobby and they like certain characters. I've sold some really expensive books for next to nothing just because I know some new collector is really into a character. And if they come to me and say: "Hey, do you know you sold this too cheap?", I'll more than likely sell them some more well-priced stuff. I just want to see the comic collecting market thrive. So if I can make someone's year by selling them something they never thought they could get, it makes me happy, too, knowing it will probably make them love the hobby more.
Sometimes I'm known to give good deals on things because I get ticked off and just do something wacky. The best story I have about this took place about a year after the Pokemon cards got going in the U.S. I had tried the game, didn't like it, so I was selling my cards at a flea market for around a quarter a piece just go get rid of them. A young kid comes up and starts looking through them. He's being very picky, and checking how much money he has, so I know he's trying to find the ones he wants the most for what he has. I could tell he didn't have a lot of cash...I'm just letting him look and leaving him be. After a few minutes, another kid comes up with what I guess was his dad or granddad. They're obviously well-off. He sees the Pokemon cards, pushes the other kid out of the way, and yells: "Look, Pokemon!" Rather than have a talk with him about being rude, rich grandad comes up and starts: "Yes, my boy! Buy all you want!" Rather than seeing dollar signs, my blood starts to boil. The other kid just looks kind of downcast and starts to walk away. I say to him: "Hey, how much money do you have?" He says: "Five dollars." I didn't want to take all of his cash, but I didn't want him to lose face by me just giving them to him, so I say: "Four dollars and you can have all of these cards." He gladly hands me the five and I give him a dollar back and box full of Gen 1 Pokemon cards. The other kid is like: "But...But....I wanted some!" I give a big smile and I'm like: "Talk to him. They're his now." Sometimes I just like snobby people to know not everyone can be bought. And sometimes someone down on their luck can get an even break. People now ask: "Well, how do you feel about selling thousands of dollars worth of cards for four bucks." My response? "Great! I got the four bucks and that kid got a small fortune in cards. I hope he either sold them and got a good deal or he just got to enjoy the heck out of them." I don't care. It was worth four bucks to me.
To finish up, in my case, I know comics. I try to give good deals and if someone asks if I know what I'm doing, it makes me happy they're honest and I feel even better. But the thing is: I KNOW comics! I'm just being nice. But it's not cool to find someone who doesn't have a clue and just take them for all they're worth. A good deal is nice, but when you knowingly bamboozle someone, it's not good karma. There's a middle path. We all want a good deal. But it's the best deal if we all get what we want.
PS: One final thing. Something that cracks me up lately is watching these flipper jerks crying and screaming on TH-cam because someone wouldn't sell them a one hundred thousand dollar collection for fifty bucks. Boo-hoo! Poor little pickers can't get rich! I'll say this: If I'm at the flea market, someone had better not present themself to me as a flipper. I'll refuse to sell and go home broke just because I like so-called "pickers" so little. Go back to watching A&E.
Those are amazing stories! And ultimately they are how I feel, just do the right thing, and try to make the hobby better.
There are grey areas, and I get that. Everyone loves a good score, me included. Like you, I just couldn't sleep at night if I ripped off a card store owner that didn't know what they had...but I also know that it's on them to do the research on the things they are selling. You did the right thing as far as I'm concerned.
If we aren't helping other people, what are we even doing here?
I enjoy sleeping at night too much to take advantage of someone.
Same! I'd feel gross. I know I'm not a flipper or seller, but I'd like to think I'd do the right thing no matter what.
Wait until you see the upcoming video (yes, I know I'm slow...) where I'm hit with a BUNCH of grails helping a co-worker go through a collection...and they had no idea what they had. I feel like it was a good test or trust and ethics.
What if you sell your collection to a dealer and they havnt paid you in weeks what is your option on what to do? After they avoid your emails A friend of mine is in this pickle
First of all, I feel for your friend. That's just shitty.
I feel like your options are few: If the place is local you go down there with a few pals to remind the dealer to pay up. (not realistic, but we all think that's what we'd do, but we don't)
You contract a lawyer, pay a huge retainer, and probably waste so much money on suing them that it's not worth it in the end.
You take them to small claims court...but that's only plausible if the total value is under certain amount the court allows.
And I guess you could start calling them out on social media IF you have a big enough following, and IF they are even on the socials.
The short answer? I don't know. If they have proof that there was a deal in text messages or emails, they'd have a case against them. Maybe court is the best option.
Regardless of which side you take on the subject; if you feel slimy then you should know it’s intrinsically wrong.
Truer words were never spoken, my friend.
Sign me up for more 'spicy' videos like this! The deal is one element of the equation as I see it, using it to then generate views is another. I've heard of TH-camrs adding books to make it appear that they scored bigger than they actually did. I have seen other flippers go back and give the seller more money once they realize the true value of the item/s. Makes you wonder why people selling are becoming more skeptical and doing their research which will see reasonable deals out the window altogether. Let's put some faith that the karma train will do it's job on these charlatans ;)
I know that a "very" well known youtuber has been accused of adding books to a collection for sure. Though he seems pretty genuine, so who knows!
#faithinthekarmatrain
@@SwarmofComics Bizarre ain't it. I am an avid Lunch Money Comics subscriber. Mike certainly is the poster boy of what a genuine comic book lover is all about. Super honest, unashamed of having his own biases / loves ie Dave Stevens. Even his latest video promoting that auction app/website he was super upfront and used it to give back to his community, amazing stuff. You and he definitely would hit it off I believe, 2 passionate comic book aficionados ;)
I sure as shit wish more people acted like Mike.
#actlikemike
@@jdilena dammit, I lost a superlong reply to you about meeting and talking to Mike before, and he seems so genuine, and weary of the deals he gets from dealers, and of the auction thing.
DAMMIT.
If someone is trying to sell me an item....I can't buy it AND sale it. If they hand me an Action #1 and say "I'll sell this to you for $100", I'm handling them $100 and sleeping like a baby. Conversely, If they had said "I don't know anything about this, what is it worth?" I would tell them a million dollars, send it to Heritage.
And that's certainly reasonable. Someone made the point that if you are selling a storage unit full of comics, and you just don't have the time or care about what the value is, and you set a price, no harm no foul. Someone just might need that money fast and not want to expend the energy to deal with it.
A great topic but may I suggest you show comica while you hold the discussion? Give us some cool visuals?
Absolutely! Great idea, my friend!
Hi, Randy! Hi, George! Love ya both! Great video and philosophical discussion. In a perfect world, everyone would act with integrity. That buyer who dunked on the seller by asking for even LESS knowing he had some prime books on his hand is just completely gross.
I'll stand by my point that people do have to do their research. Whether it's comics or purchasing a brand new product and reading reviews. (Granted, I'm one of those weirdos who will read every last consumer report or read 3-4 books on a topic before diving in.) But even if people don't have the time or patience to do their own research, it's worth it to pay someone to help them so they don't get screwed over. Hell, they can even pay the grandkids to do some research online and see how much some of those books are worth, chunking it up over time.
I agree completely with George's point that some people may know they have some gems, but it's just worth it to them for any reason (downsizing, moving, saying goodbye to old memories, saving on storage bills, etc.) to unload comics or collectibles and sell them for a fixed price. But it's just shady when some people go into it twirling an invisible mustache and reveling in fleecing someone... Ew. I get that flippers have to eat, too. But there should be some (comics) code of honor. I'm not as entrenched in the community as you are, but it seems like a small world. With that in mind, I would hope that if some flippers are unethical, word would get around and people may blackball them or not want to purchase from them, leaving more room at the table for people who do operate with integrity.
Also... I'm 5'1", damnit!!! ** shakes fist in Hobbit.**
Really great video and food for thought!!!
As always, TERRIFIC thoughts, Lana! I wish I had you here with us for the video. Some day!
Sells don't have to sell. The fact of the matter is most books are filler. The stuff that goes into .50/dollar bins.
Now if the seller separated the value books and put them with the books that's a little different, but if there's just a hot drop of books all the burden is on the buyer. They have to sort the collection (as a lot of collections aren't), bagging and boarding and housing them and trying to sell them.
And there is DEFINITELY that aspect of it for sure. And my friend Lana that we mentioned has that point in a comment above.
But I feel that applies more to large collections where you just can't possibly look through everything on the spot. And ultimately the question is, if the seller has given you a price for a collection, is it your job to tell them if there are expensive books in there and offer more? Why should you? Is that burden on you?
That's why I wanted to do the video, because of questions like that that friends posed, and it was no longer black and white for me.
Love the feedback, brother!
Best. Video. Ever.
Heyyyyy....that user name seems familiar...