Hopefully, I can put the fun back into collecting for everyone.
I’ve always had an interest in ‘fantasy’ realms growing up, and to this day. As I grew older, my interest grew with me. Ever since I can remember I never left the house without a Spider-man comic, or Darth Vader figure in my hand. Or Shredder. I started with just a single comic and Ninja Turtle figure, and now my comics number in the hundreds of thousands. But fond childhood memories aren’t what led me to where I am today.
When I was a youngster and I had my weekly $5 burning a hole in my pocket, I couldn’t wait to go over to my comic store and get something with it. I’d look around and try to find something with a $5 label on it, normally to no avail. It wasn’t until much later in my life did I realise how much of a cold, stagnant, and unhappy environment the comic shops were. They weren’t supposed to be high volume retail established conglomerates like Wal-mart or McDonald’s.
The people that worked there were always so mean and miserable, and never cared to speak to me because I only had my hard earned allowance to spend there. Most of the time they were unapproachable; On the phone, or trying to talk someone into buying a $300 statue they had very meticulously displayed.
I was about 16 one day, still hanging around in the shops. I think this was during my X-men figure craze, when Toy Biz was the hottest thing out there. Pokemon cards were the most popular they ever were, and there was an entire display case devoted to them at just about every shop you went to. School just let out, and a bunch of the younger guys piled in. They threw all their money on the counter for a few packs of cards. The packs of cards were something outlandish, $6 for 8 cards. One of them found a rare card, and showed it to the Shop Owner. He said he would give 5 more packs for the one card. The young boy was very excited, and anxiously took the packs.
After they left, he put the card on display in the case with a price tag of $250.
“Is that the card that little guy just got?”, I asked. “Yes, only one per 500 packs.”, he mockingly replied. I’ll never forget that short conversation as long as I’m around, and how I felt leaving that shop (That closed about a year later.).
My goal, whether it be at a Comic/Action Figure convention, on this website, through eBay; Or eventually, an actual storefront, is to supply quality, yet cost effective items to every collector. In a friendly atmosphere, that accentuates the entire ‘good’ of what collecting is. Not to exploit children, or ask ridiculous prices for items, in a quiet sterile environment. I’ll always have a deal around for you, no matter what type of collector you are. Serious, casual; Or just a parent trying to pick up something for your young guy.
For more information please check out my homepage, www.robvader.com.
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