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Collecting Comics and other Cool Stuff Part 3

Contributed by: "Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics on 7/18/2006

Where to collect

Where do I find the good stuff is the collector's constant query. It can be at a store or shop blocks to miles away or it could be on a card table in the yard across the street on a Saturday morning. Much of the hunt depends on what you collect. If it's a current item like beanie babies, hot wheels, precious moments, or comics it could be readily available at a local retail store. But often the older or hard to get piece may be in a garage, yard sale, church sale, flea market, or dark forgotten shelf of an antique/collectable store.

Go where you feel comfortable. Sometimes a small store may be jammed full of lots of things but do you feel stiff or clausterfobic when moving around. Treasures may surround you waiting to be found, but will a sudden turn knock a glass or ceramic piece from its shelf or a small two step foot shuffle catch on something and send you to the floor? If you feel to "cramped" it generally takes away from the shopping experience. Many stores realize that not everyone is there to shop, so they may have a table and chairs inside [or outside] for a wife, husband or mother and child to rest at while others shop. Many times a bench outside the store serves as a respite and local place to "chew the fat", as my Grandfather used to say. These things show a genuine concern for the shoppers and there comfort.

Does your dealer know his product? Are you working with someone who knows and loves the same collectables as you or is it someone just there for the money or paycheck? If you ask for a particular item, does the sales person try to help you or are you told" It's over there somewhere if we have it!" and given a point or nod towards it direction. Granted it's not always possible for a retailer to step from behind the counter and give one on one service. But if he can he should be courteous and tell you of your item/collectable. They should hand you an item to be examined more closely and possibly give you a history or insight into its qualities or value. Remember as a shopper, never feel you are being troublesome or asking a stupid question. Knowledge is a give and take thing.

Variety is still the spice of life. A store that specializes in what you want is good, but are they open to the popularity of and desire for other products? Now I don't expect a comic book store to start selling bass boats, but cartoon glasses, movie posters, hot wheels, art prints, fantasy games, clothing and gaming cards shouldn't be to far fetched. A dealer should listen to what the public is curious about or wants to buy. Yes a privately owned store has the right to sell what they want. But aren't they really there to serve and sell to you? If you and others ask for an item from a shop over a period of time then it serves the owner well to get a sample or variety of product to see if the buyer likes it. As I was recently told "a thousand odd items for $1.00 each over a month is quite simply $1,000.00 at the end of the month."

Respect for the collector and his quest is a must. If a dealer bad mouths his fellow dealer in front of you, does he also speak the same way of the collectors? When they don't buy enough or just browse with hopes to return for a needed piece are they also belittled to others? Or does the dealer suggest other dealers and fans in the area that may help in your search. The Red Rooster [north of Airport Road on US1] and the White City Mercantile [on Midway Road in White City] are two great examples of A-1 customer service. They have always been courteous and helpful to there customers. Often during the season they have flyers with maps and addresses for people to find many other fun stores in Saint Lucie County. All in all there's no one place to look for your collectables so keeping an eye and ear open is a collector's first job. Just have fun with your searches and respect others with similar interests.

Our next installment of collecting comics and other cool stuff: how to store and protect your items.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

"Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics has posted 384 stories and 3 comments since joining on 5/5/2006. "Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics 's average story rating is 4.95.
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