What comics DIDN'T you buy today?

[starscape]

That's where I got mine. Cameron Toll.

[Phoenix]

It is not strictly taboo to haggle in a charity shop

Well I think it is, in fact I'd go as far as to say that it is virtually immoral.

the charity shop didn't pay for the comic or annual and if you manage to get half the price it says on the ticket the charity shop still makes a profit either way

No of course they didn't. Nor did they pay for anything else they are selling. Nor are they car boot stalls, where haggling is generally considered to be perfectly acceptable. You don't appear to understand the difference. Let me explain. Car booters do not give to charity any of the money they receive in exchange for their possessions that they have decided to sell. Charity shops do. So when you talk about your aim to try to get 50% off the marked price of an item in a charity shop, you are in effect asking the female pensioner who is giving up her spare time free of charge in order to support that charity to collude with you in cheating that charity. Just so that you can walk out of the door with a copy of Superman or Wolverine or whatever for which you have paid £2.50, fully aware that it is well worth £5. To me that is a shameful attitude.

[colcool007]

It is not strictly taboo to haggle in a charity shop

Well I think it is, in fact I'd go as far as to say that it is virtually immoral.

the charity shop didn't pay for the comic or annual and if you manage to get half the price it says on the ticket the charity shop still makes a profit either way

No of course they didn't. Nor did they pay for anything else they are selling. Nor are they car boot stalls, where haggling is generally considered to be perfectly acceptable. You don't appear to understand the difference. Let me explain. Car booters do not give to charity any of the money they receive in exchange for their possessions that they have decided to sell. Charity shops do. So when you talk about your aim to try to get 50% off the marked price of an item in a charity shop, you are in effect asking the female pensioner who is giving up her spare time free of charge in order to support that charity to collude with you in cheating that charity. Just so that you can walk out of the door with a copy of Superman or Wolverine or whatever for which you have paid £2.50, fully aware that it is well worth £5. To me that is a shameful attitude.

That is assuming that you are going to sell said item immediately for a gross profit. However, if you say that said item is not really worth £5 an issue, but worth £2 an issue and you proceed to pay £2 an issue in the knowledge that is what it is worth, how can that be immoral?

Leaving an item on sale, in a charity shop, for £15 when you are aware it is only worth £5 is worse. As you know that the charity shop will not realise any donations on that item if it continues to price the item beyond the list price.

Haggling or advising the charity shop of over the top prices is not immoral, as long as you are not cheating the charity of trade price for an item. However, it does help them to gain traction in the modern marketplace when items are priced realistically. I have lost count of the annuals I have not bought because a charity shop assumes that a shonky copy is worth the same as the Mint + copy that sold on Ebay last month for £50.

To my way of thinking, paid trade or list price, if you prefer, is a good example of paying from each according to their ability to pay, to each according to their need of being paid.

[dandy mad]

Shameful attitude indeed so getting a couple of quid or pence knocked off is such a heanus crime to do because it is a charity shop? Would it be such a travesty if I did the same in WH Smith or Waterstones? No it wouldn't and yes I do understand the difference between a charity shop and a car boot sale even though they both sell tat that nobody wants anymore

[dandy mad]

It is not strictly taboo to haggle in a charity shop

Well I think it is, in fact I'd go as far as to say that it is virtually immoral.

the charity shop didn't pay for the comic or annual and if you manage to get half the price it says on the ticket the charity shop still makes a profit either way

No of course they didn't. Nor did they pay for anything else they are selling. Nor are they car boot stalls, where haggling is generally considered to be perfectly acceptable. You don't appear to understand the difference. Let me explain. Car booters do not give to charity any of the money they receive in exchange for their possessions that they have decided to sell. Charity shops do. So when you talk about your aim to try to get 50% off the marked price of an item in a charity shop, you are in effect asking the female pensioner who is giving up her spare time free of charge in order to support that charity to collude with you in cheating that charity. Just so that you can walk out of the door with a copy of Superman or Wolverine or whatever for which you have paid £2.50, fully aware that it is well worth £5. To me that is a shameful attitude.

That is assuming that you are going to sell said item immediately for a gross profit. However, if you say that said item is not really worth £5 an issue, but worth £2 an issue and you proceed to pay £2 an issue in the knowledge that is what it is worth, how can that be immoral?

Leaving an item on sale, in a charity shop, for £15 when you are aware it is only worth £5 is worse. As you know that the charity shop will not realise any donations on that item if it continues to price the item beyond the list price.

Haggling or advising the charity shop of over the top prices is not immoral, as long as you are not cheating the charity of trade price for an item. However, it does help them to gain traction in the modern marketplace when items are priced realistically. I have lost count of the annuals I have not bought because a charity shop assumes that a shonky copy is worth the same as the Mint + copy that sold on Ebay last month for £50.

To my way of thinking, paid trade or list price, if you prefer, is a good example of paying from each according to their ability to pay, to each according to their need of being paid.

I don't collect for investment if I buy it I keep it from mere pennies to four figure sums for single items that I've paid over the years

[booksandcomics]

Charity shop pricing is a very big problem that I myself have encountered. My apologies this but example is not comics. A few years ago my local hospice shop had donated 4 signed Terry Pratchett first editions.

When enquiring the price they were asking for £200 each for them. I was told they had been priced according to a shop expert who it turned out had looked on Abe books.

Consulting abebooks myself it turned out the top price was £200, most of the other prices were between £80 to £150, a bit of a broad price margin depending on the seller.

These books sat in there glass cabinet for 6 months literally gathering dust as they were overpriced.

They wouldn't accept offers as 'they have been professionally priced'. After 6 months they disappeared from the shop and after enquiring they had been moved to a different shop. On checking the other shop they were still at the same price.

I agree that charity shops are not carboots. I myself have volunteered in 2 shops myself and know the difficulty in running shops with voluntary staff. Charity shops are a great source of community support.

However I cannot understand a shop refusing to budge on prices which are priced on a whim (I.e. we've checked on Abe or eBay). What good is it for them to have stock sitting on shelves that aren't being turned into cash in the till?

When it comes to actual quality donations (owing to the number of charity shops in my home town, sadly, stock in the shop is becoming increasingly more and more poorer and mostly junk), I feel annoyed that charity shops often price the very top price band and play the card "we are a charity".

That said, running a charity shop is immensely difficult. Never forget that each charity shop is seen by there regional managers as a business. Shop managers have to be paid. From working in them myself we are expected to hit daily, weekly and monthly targets.

This all boils down to cash in the till. Equally this entirely depends on QUALITY donations coming in regularly. Thirdly a regular turn over is essential thus prices on QUALITY items they must be priced fairly. Too cheap risks people coming in to buy and sell on for profits taken away from the charity. Too expensive is money not going into the charity cash till.

There was a series of letters and articles on this in the 'Book and Magazine Collector' before in stopped publication. Really interesting arguments on charity shops pricing on books and comics. Did anyone read these?

[Phoenix]

However, if you say that said item is not really worth £5 an issue, but worth £2 an issue and you proceed to pay £2 an issue in the knowledge that is what it is worth, how can that be immoral?

You are here introducing a new concept, Colin, which has nothing to do with what I have previously said, and certainly has no relevance to dandy mad's approach in charity shops. His modus operandi is to offer half of what he knows the comic is worth, and if the assistant accepts his offer he exits gleefully with said item, happy to have got a bargain. Your idea of suggesting to the assistant that the comic you fancy is priced up at twice its actual value on the grounds that you are a comics expert and therefore knowledgeable in such matters, should be treated with suspicion by the assistant, who has no idea of its actual worth, because your approach could be interpreted as a variation on dandy mad's. I would be more interested in a situation in which either of you go into a charity shop and see a comic priced up at £10 when you know it's worth £20. What would your reaction be then? To explain to the assistant that you really want to buy it for your collection but as they have priced it too low you will have to leave it because your conscience will not allow you to buy it as the shop will be shortchanging its charity? My best guess is that neither of you would say anything, you would buy it for the £10, but dandy mad would only buy it if he could get it for a fiver.

[colcool007]

However, if you say that said item is not really worth £5 an issue, but worth £2 an issue and you proceed to pay £2 an issue in the knowledge that is what it is worth, how can that be immoral?

You are here introducing a new concept, Colin, which has nothing to do with what I have previously said, and certainly has no relevance to dandy mad's approach in charity shops. His modus operandi is to offer half of what he knows the comic is worth, and if the assistant accepts his offer he exits gleefully with said item, happy to have got a bargain. Your idea of suggesting to the assistant that the comic you fancy is priced up at twice its actual value on the grounds that you are a comics expert and therefore knowledgeable in such matters, should be treated with suspicion by the assistant, who has no idea of its actual worth, because your approach could be interpreted as a variation on dandy mad's. I would be more interested in a situation in which either of you go into a charity shop and see a comic priced up at £10 when you know it's worth £20. What would your reaction be then? To explain to the assistant that you really want to buy it for your collection but as they have priced it too low you will have to leave it because your conscience will not allow you to buy it as the shop will be shortchanging its charity? My best guess is that neither of you would say anything, you would buy it for the £10, but dandy mad would only buy it if he could get it for a fiver.

Actually, Derek, I have done just that in several shops. I've gone through piles of comics in charity shops and advised them that prices were either too low or too high. I also explained the reason for the corrected prices as in foxing, wear and tear, fading and missing pages. AND I've paid the higher price too.

Don't assume that everyone is out to do everyone else over. It demeans us all.

[paw broon]

I think that starscape is writing about the same charity shop in Linlithgow where I, vaguely knowing the person behind the counter, mentioned to the volunteer that the prices for the comics were too expensive. Given the condition of the comics and the state of the market, I suggested that they should be priced at 40p. each and 3 for £1. Unfortunately, no change was made on the pricing and they are still sitting there doing nothing but deteriorating.
I should just note that I have no interest in the comics, my intervention being simply based on a desire to give them a better chance at shifting some stock.
Anyone can look up ebay or Abe Books but, unless that person has some idea of the market and even an inkling of how condition can affect the desirability of a comic or book, the use of headline figures on those sites is next to useless.

[dandy mad]

However, if you say that said item is not really worth £5 an issue, but worth £2 an issue and you proceed to pay £2 an issue in the knowledge that is what it is worth, how can that be immoral?

You are here introducing a new concept, Colin, which has nothing to do with what I have previously said, and certainly has no relevance to dandy mad's approach in charity shops. His modus operandi is to offer half of what he knows the comic is worth, and if the assistant accepts his offer he exits gleefully with said item, happy to have got a bargain. Your idea of suggesting to the assistant that the comic you fancy is priced up at twice its actual value on the grounds that you are a comics expert and therefore knowledgeable in such matters, should be treated with suspicion by the assistant, who has no idea of its actual worth, because your approach could be interpreted as a variation on dandy mad's. I would be more interested in a situation in which either of you go into a charity shop and see a comic priced up at £10 when you know it's worth £20. What would your reaction be then? To explain to the assistant that you really want to buy it for your collection but as they have priced it too low you will have to leave it because your conscience will not allow you to buy it as the shop will be shortchanging its charity? My best guess is that neither of you would say anything, you would buy it for the £10, but dandy mad would only buy it if he could get it for a fiver.

How dare you sling assumptions and guess work about me with no proven facts just because your narrow mindedness has driven you to type these words you will no doubt believe that they are 100% accurate when in truth they are not

[paw broon]

Here we go again. dandy mad is quite correct in replying in this way. But he shouldn't have to. Perhaps moderators should have a think about de-fusing an increasingly worrying series of exchanges.

[Phoenix]

Actually, Derek, I have done just that in several shops. I've gone through piles of comics in charity shops and advised them that prices were either too low or too high. I also explained the reason for the corrected prices as in foxing, wear and tear, fading and missing pages. AND I've paid the higher price too.

Well you are the proverbial one in a million, Col, so congratulations. But the assistant who listened to your explanation still, and quite correctly, made you pay the marked price.

Don't assume that everyone is out to do everyone else over. It demeans us all.

I'm not doing that at all because I know perfectly well that there are always exceptions to any general rule.

Would it be such a travesty if I did the same in WH Smith or Waterstones?

What is the point you are making here? You can't just go into any branch of W. H. Smiths or Waterstones and offer to pay them half their marked price for anything they are selling. I read The Guardian every day so I would certainly have been made aware if either concern had inexplicably turned their outlets into car boot stalls or charity shops.

How dare you sling assumptions and guess work about me with no proven facts

I was under the impression that you had already condemned yourself out of your own mouth. I still am, and this is my final word on the matter.

[starscape]

I think people need to learn that if someone has been criticising other people* for months on end, then use of the Foes list is in order. Click on User Control Panel, Friends & Foes, then Add Foe. That way, you never have to read the tiresome trollish comments of a certain member who goes out of his way to try to make people unhappy.

If you wouldn't speak to someone in the pub, don't waste your time online. It's your choice. Blaming trolls for trolling is like blaming a dog for barking. It's what they do.

Do you really feel better justifying yourself to someone who you have never met and whose name you don't even know? Then you know the solution.

(*as I'm not aware of any personal argument with me but then, I have a number of people on my Foes list, so who knows the criticism that may or may not have taken place)

[dandy mad]

Actually, Derek, I have done just that in several shops. I've gone through piles of comics in charity shops and advised them that prices were either too low or too high. I also explained the reason for the corrected prices as in foxing, wear and tear, fading and missing pages. AND I've paid the higher price too.

Well you are the proverbial one in a million, Col, so congratulations. But the assistant who listened to your explanation still, and quite correctly, made you pay the marked price.

Don't assume that everyone is out to do everyone else over. It demeans us all.

I'm not doing that at all because I know perfectly well that there are always exceptions to any general rule.

Would it be such a travesty if I did the same in WH Smith or Waterstones?

What is the point you are making here? You can't just go into any branch of W. H. Smiths or Waterstones and offer to pay them half their marked price for anything they are selling. I read The Guardian every day so I would certainly have been made aware if either concern had inexplicably turned their outlets into car boot stalls or charity shops.

How dare you sling assumptions and guess work about me with no proven facts

I was under the impression that you had already condemned yourself out of your own mouth. I still am, and this is my final word on the matter.

Oh dear then you stick to your distorted opinion as I don't give a damn about it plus taking a generalisation and then taking it as fact as you are "under the impression" again with no credible evidence to back up your claim is laughable and how have I condemned myself? Because I've got a couple of quid off a comic/annual that has obviously pricked your moral stance on life to take to your computer and then type your opinions then post your distain just because I've got a bargain in your mind is that the right thing to do to belittle and in some respect bully me to see the error of my ways well that won't work I'm afraid and for the record you can go on into any store and ask to get a better deal than the RRP ticket says

[abacus]

We seem to have stirred up an hornet's nest here.Everyone has to be respected whether you agree with them or not and if you feel you are on the wrong end of an argument just remember the old saying sticks and stones---.etc.People don't know you so don't take it personally.They probably think I'm a chinese astronaut.