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OK...I've gone berserk. Placed two orders totaling over 100 books; by my calculations I'm getting these for almost 60% below guide collectively:

Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) 140 VF $5.00
Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) 154 VF $3.60
Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) 184 VF $3.00
Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) 187 VF $2.50
Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) 189 VF $1.50
Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) 196 VF $4.80
Avengers (1963-1996 1st Series) 63 VF $15.50
Crew (2003) 1 NM $1.49
Crew (2003) 2 NM $2.10
Crew (2003) 3 NM $2.10
Crew (2003) 4 NM $1.49
Crew (2003) 5 NM $2.10
Crew (2003) 6 NM $2.10
Crew (2003) 7 NM $2.10
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 112 VF $5.50
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 117 VF $3.30
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 133 VF $4.80
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 134 VF $2.40
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 135 VF $2.40
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 136 VF $2.40
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 137 VF $3.00
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 139 VF $4.50
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 140 VF $4.50
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 143 VF $4.50
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 144 VF $5.40
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 145 VF+ 8.5 $3.24
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 147 VF $2.70
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 148 VF $4.50
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 151 VF $4.50
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 31 VF $16.50
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 57 VF $13.20
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 59 VF $11.40
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 64 VF $10.80
Daredevil (1964-1998 1st Series) 96 VF $4.20
Doctor Strange (1974 2nd Series) 29 VF $1.49
Doctor Strange (1974 2nd Series) 35 VF $1.49
Doctor Strange (1974 2nd Series) 60 VF $1.49
Doctor Strange (1974 2nd Series) 7 VF $4.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 140 VF $10.20
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 144 VF $10.20
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 148 VF $8.50
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 152 VF $5.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 154 VF $6.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 160 VF $6.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 162 VF $3.60
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 164 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 164 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 165 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 176 VF $3.60
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 177 VF $3.60
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 179 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 180 VF/NM- 9.0 $4.80
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 181 VF $2.50
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 182 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 183 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 184 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 185 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 191 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 193 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 194 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 197 VF $2.50
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 198 VF $2.50
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 199 VF $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 208 VF $1.80
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 100 VF $10.80
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 104 VF $3.00
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 110 VF $2.50
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 119 VF $1.80
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 123 VF $3.60
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 124 VF $3.60
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 125 VF $3.00
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 129 VF $1.80
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 67 VF $6.00
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 81 VF $4.80
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 82 VF $4.00
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 84 VF $2.40
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 88 VF $4.80
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 93 VF $3.60
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 98 VF $3.00
Iron Man (1968-1996 1st Series) 99 VF $3.60
Marvel Spectacular (1973) 5 VF $1.49
Marvel Spotlight (1971 1st Series) 28 VF $5.70
Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 156 VF+ 8.5 $22.80
Tales of Suspense (1959) 87 VF $12.00
Tales of Suspense (1959) 89 VF $12.00
Tales to Astonish (1959 1st Series) 84 VF $19.00
Tales to Astonish (1959 1st Series) 94 VF $11.40
Tales to Astonish (1959 1st Series) 96 VF $11.40
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 142 VF $21.50
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 179 VF $12.50
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 180 VF $18.60
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 220 VF $4.50
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 238 VF $1.80
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 254 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 255 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 256 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 258 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 259 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 261 VF $5.70
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 265 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 268 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 270 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 275 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 276 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 277 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 279 VF $1.49
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 286 VF $1.50
Thor (1962-1996 1st Series) 290 VF $1.50
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 104 VF08 $24.51
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 111 VF06 $14.73
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 113 VF $17.67
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 114 VF $14.73
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 116 VF $8.84
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 127 VF $10.93
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 140 VF $6.56
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 144 VF $5.70
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 146 VF $5.70

The issues I picked up are:

Action Comics (1938 DC) 419 VG 1 $3.20
Action Comics (1938 DC) 420 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 421 FN 1 $3.00
Action Comics (1938 DC) 422 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 423 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 424 FN 1 $1.80
Action Comics (1938 DC) 425 VG 1 $1.80
Action Comics (1938 DC) 426 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 427 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 428 FN 1 $1.80
Action Comics (1938 DC) 429 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 430 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 431 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 432 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 433 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 434 VG 1 $2.40
Action Comics (1938 DC) 435 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 436 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 437 VG 1 $8.00
Action Comics (1938 DC) 438 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 439 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 440 VG/FN- 5.0 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 441 FN 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 442 FN 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 444 VG 4.0 1 $1.80
Action Comics (1938 DC) 445 VG 1 $1.50
Action Comics (1938 DC) 446 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 447 FN 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 448 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 449 VG 1 $2.00
Action Comics (1938 DC) 450 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 451 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 453 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 454 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 455 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 456 VG 4.0 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 457 VG 1 $1.49
Action Comics (1938 DC) 458 VF 1 $1.49
Adventure Comics (1938) 459 VG 1 $4.80
Adventure Comics (1938) 460 FN 1 $2.70
Adventure Comics (1938) 461 VF 1 $10.50
Adventure Comics (1938) 465 VF 1 $3.00
Adventure Comics (1938) 466 NM 1 $5.76
Adventure Comics (1938) 489 FN 1 $1.60
Adventure Comics (1938) 490 FN 1 $1.60
Adventure Comics (1938) 497 VG 1 $6.00
Adventure Comics (1938) 498 VG 1 $6.00
Adventure Comics (1938) 499 VG 1 $6.00
Adventure Comics (1938) 500 VG 1 $6.00
Adventure Comics (1938) 502 VG 1 $6.00
Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 45 FN 1 $12.00
Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 48 GD 1 $6.00
Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 58 FN 1 $2.40
Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 59 VF 1 $1.50
Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 60 FN 1 $1.80
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 101 VG 1 $8.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 102 VG 4.0 1 $8.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 104 VG 1 $8.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 105 VG 1 $3.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 107 VG 1 $5.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 113 VG 1 $6.40
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 116 VG 1 $7.20
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 213 FN 1 $1.92
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 215 FN 1 $2.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 216 FN 1 $2.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 217 FN 1 $2.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 220 FN 1 $1.60
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 221 FN 1 $1.60
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 232 VF 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 233 VF 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 234 VF 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 235 FN 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 236 VF 1 $2.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 237 NM 1 $1.60
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 238 VF 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 239 VF 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 240 NM 1 $1.60
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 241 VF 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 254 VF 1 $1.49
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 260 VF 1 $2.00
Fantastic Four (1961-1996 1st Series) 262 VF 1 $2.00

Here is my order from Friday. I think I'm done for a while......

Action Comics (1938 DC) 360 VG 1 $10.26
Adventures of Superman (1939) 177 FN- 5.5 1 $7.70
Adventures of Superman (1939) 212 VG 4.0 1 $7.98
Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 10 VG02 1 $12.35
Flash (1959 1st Series DC) 138 VG01 1 $7.98
Flash (1959 1st Series DC) 156 VG03 1 $5.70
Green Lantern (1960 1st Series DC) 20 VG05 1 $9.12
Hawaiian Dick The Last Resort (2004) 3 NM 1 $2.40
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 36 VG 1 $6.84
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 37 VG 1 $6.84
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 38 VG05 1 $6.84
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 48 VG 1 $5.70

JLAFan wrote:Here is my order from Friday. I think I'm done for a while......

Action Comics (1938 DC) 360 VG 1 $10.26
Adventures of Superman (1939) 177 FN- 5.5 1 $7.70
Adventures of Superman (1939) 212 VG 4.0 1 $7.98
Aquaman (1962 1st Series) 10 VG02 1 $12.35
Flash (1959 1st Series DC) 138 VG01 1 $7.98
Flash (1959 1st Series DC) 156 VG03 1 $5.70
Green Lantern (1960 1st Series DC) 20 VG05 1 $9.12
Hawaiian Dick The Last Resort (2004) 3 NM 1 $2.40
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 36 VG 1 $6.84
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 37 VG 1 $6.84
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 38 VG05 1 $6.84
Uncanny X-Men (1963) 48 VG 1 $5.70

Great stuff! I'm so excited that you and I prefer different grades Bob, otherwise we would be sniping each others stuff too often.

Wood wrote: Great stuff! I'm so excited that you and I prefer different grades Bob, otherwise we would be sniping each others stuff too often.

No kidding. I'm in love with your "high grade" ways. It would be a drag if we were in conflict! I'd get so much less stuff, both from the basic prices, availability is less in the higher grades, and I'd be competing with you

JLAFan wrote:

Wood wrote: Great stuff! I'm so excited that you and I prefer different grades Bob, otherwise we would be sniping each others stuff too often.

No kidding. I'm in love with your "high grade" ways. It would be a drag if we were in conflict! I'd get so much less stuff, both from the basic prices, availability is less in the higher grades, and I'd be competing with you

Sometimes I wish I had gone your route b/c I just can never hope to fill complete runs in a great many series unless I'm willing to commit millions over the course of my life. But, it's kept me focused to where I have a few series I want complete runs and for the rest, I really try to stick to high grade "key" issues.

On that note, got word back from MCS that my first two orders have been confirmed and checked in. Looks like they had everything I asked for.

Wood wrote: Sometimes I wish I had gone your route b/c I just can never hope to fill complete runs in a great many series unless I'm willing to commit millions over the course of my life. But, it's kept me focused to where I have a few series I want complete runs and for the rest, I really try to stick to high grade "key" issues.

Well, you could stick to VF & up on "key" books, and fill in the rest in lower grades at some point in the future once you get all the key books you are looking for.
A nice VG still has some decent "eye appeal" IMO. If you're ever on the West Coast, let me know, I'll have you over.

Wood wrote: On that note, got word back from MCS that my first two orders have been confirmed and checked in. Looks like they had everything I asked for.

Very good! I only have one order (the one from Friday) that is not checked in yet.

I had 5 books show up as "not available" on one of my early orders. I re-ordered 3 of those 5 on a subsequent order and they are checked in now (which means MCS should get a little better at maybe offering you an alternate choice via an e-mail when something is unavailable instead of cancelling it out of hand).

I had 1 book on a Thursday order show up unavailable. So, out of everything, I am down by 3 books total. Not bad out of something around 300.

Wow...talk about fortuitous timing. I had another 50 or so books in my cart but hadn't yet pulled the trigger on the orders. Well, when I log in today I noticed my cart says the total value is now about 2x what it was the other day. Upon opening my cart, I see that the vast majority of books in my cart, which had AT LEAST 50% discounts as of last week, are now MUCH higher priced. On average, the discount went from 55% per book to just under 15% per book. WOW.

Now, it looks like this is indeed an inventory driven issue as some books are still hugely discounted. I'm not yet sure if other books that weren't that discounted last week are now more discounted, but it could very well be that MCS did a little one week inventory blow out and we just happen to have caught it.

I think you are right.......Lot fewer BIG DEALS, but there are still some to be had.

I really think it is inventory driven, and now that a lot of folks have bought up the stock, less stuff deeply discounted.

We'll have to keep an eye out for next time they get overstocked & prices go DOWN!

JLAFan wrote:I think you are right.......Lot fewer BIG DEALS, but there are still some to be had.

I really think it is inventory driven, and now that a lot of folks have bought up the stock, less stuff deeply discounted.

We'll have to keep an eye out for next time they get overstocked & prices go DOWN!

Yep...there were some stunning discounts now that are just gone. Just have to keep an eye out for the next time they make a big inventory purchase. What I'm not aware of is how often Lone Star re-stocks back issues versus Mile High, where we get weekly updates from Rozanski about his buying sprees.

Wood wrote:What I'm not aware of is how often Lone Star re-stocks back issues versus Mile High, where we get weekly updates from Rozanski about his buying sprees.

True, but you do have to pick the useful comics related info out from Rozanski whining about his latest illness, relapse of West Nile virus, etc. or ranting about growing vegetable or mending a fence or some such nonsense.......

I just received a HUGE shipment of some of the Iron Fist books I ordered last week.

MARVEL PREMIERE 17
MARVEL PREMIERE 19
MARVEL PREMIERE 21
MARVEL PREMIERE 22
MARVEL PREMIERE 25

IRON FIST 2
IRON FIST 9
IRON FIST 13

Now, I only need ONE issue of Iron Fist pre-Heroes for Hire and that's #14. I don't give a damn about Sabretooth or his first appearance, so that's keeping me from spending the $30 that's the lowest price I have seen this issue for anywhere online.

Darth Kramer wrote:I just received a HUGE shipment of some of the Iron Fist books I ordered last week.

MARVEL PREMIERE 17
MARVEL PREMIERE 19
MARVEL PREMIERE 21
MARVEL PREMIERE 22
MARVEL PREMIERE 25

IRON FIST 2
IRON FIST 9
IRON FIST 13

Now, I only need ONE issue of Iron Fist pre-Heroes for Hire and that's #14. I don't give a damn about Sabretooth or his first appearance, so that's keeping me from spending the $30 that's the lowest price I have seen this issue for anywhere online.

That's one of the few issues of that series I DO own I have a thing for collecting 1st appearances. It gets costly but I love to have them on display.

Wood wrote:

Darth Kramer wrote:I just received a HUGE shipment of some of the Iron Fist books I ordered last week.

MARVEL PREMIERE 17
MARVEL PREMIERE 19
MARVEL PREMIERE 21
MARVEL PREMIERE 22
MARVEL PREMIERE 25

IRON FIST 2
IRON FIST 9
IRON FIST 13

Now, I only need ONE issue of Iron Fist pre-Heroes for Hire and that's #14. I don't give a damn about Sabretooth or his first appearance, so that's keeping me from spending the $30 that's the lowest price I have seen this issue for anywhere online.

That's one of the few issues of that series I DO own I have a thing for collecting 1st appearances. It gets costly but I love to have them on display.

I actually picked it up on Saturday! I went down to my LCS and told the owner that I want to get it, but I seriously don't care about condition. He gave me a VG book and charged me G price ($10) since he knew I wasn't going to turn around and sell it for a profit. I also picked up a bunch of Bronze Age $1 books, like Omega the Unknown #1, Man-Thing #1, a bunch of Marvel Team-Up, and a few issues of Jungle Action. They had a near-complete run of Nova in the dollar boxes. I can't wait until the end of the month when he brings out the DC boxes!!!

Yay for your LCS guy! Sounds like a cool shop!

The fact that they even HAVE bronze-age books like that for sale puts them into a category occupied by only about 10% of stores (by my observations as I travel around and visit shops across the land)......

Many shops have no back issues, the next tier has back issues, but only recent (last couple of years) or maybe back into the 90s. These cover about 90% of shops.

Then there are the shops with Bronze/silver (10%). Of those, about half price gouge or seriously mis-grade.

So, your LCS is "Top 5%", they sound like a keeper!!!