Miscellaneous Discussion Thread II
Quote: billryanQuote: DRichI just read that Costco sells 200 million hot dogs per year at their food court stands. That number shocked me. That means $300 million a year in hot dog sales.
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That is an impressive figure, but the real number that counts is profit, and most people say Costco's dogs are a loss leader.
Yet another unique American experience I have missed out on, as I've never been in a Costco.
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The Polish dog was better, IMO.
Not good enough to make me keep my membership however, and shortly after I stopped renewing my membership, they removed the Polish dog from the menu.
Getting sauerkraut was always a nuisance.
Quote: DieterQuote: billryanQuote: DRichI just read that Costco sells 200 million hot dogs per year at their food court stands. That number shocked me. That means $300 million a year in hot dog sales.
link to original post
That is an impressive figure, but the real number that counts is profit, and most people say Costco's dogs are a loss leader.
Yet another unique American experience I have missed out on, as I've never been in a Costco.
link to original post
The Polish dog was better, IMO.
Not good enough to make me keep my membership however, and shortly after I stopped renewing my membership, they removed the Polish dog from the menu.
Getting sauerkraut was always a nuisance.
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Costco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
Quote: rainmanCostco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
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If you're going to steal the membership, why not just steal the hot dog and pizza too? Or do they make you pay in advance? (I've been there but never ordered those things)
Even better, steal a bunch of valuable merchandise. Those receipt checkers aren't armed.
I think the term "hack" is used for ways to get more for your money, not outright theft.
Quote: rainman
Costco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
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Hey wait a minute, I'm a battery guy and nobody ever comes over and talks to me.
In the Costco that I go to ,the battery guy is in a separate building, also now you have to swipe your card at the kiosk before you order your hotdog.Quote: rainmanQuote: DieterQuote: billryanQuote: DRichI just read that Costco sells 200 million hot dogs per year at their food court stands. That number shocked me. That means $300 million a year in hot dog sales.
link to original post
That is an impressive figure, but the real number that counts is profit, and most people say Costco's dogs are a loss leader.
Yet another unique American experience I have missed out on, as I've never been in a Costco.
link to original post
The Polish dog was better, IMO.
Not good enough to make me keep my membership however, and shortly after I stopped renewing my membership, they removed the Polish dog from the menu.
Getting sauerkraut was always a nuisance.
link to original post
Costco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
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Quote: KevinAAQuote: rainmanCostco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
link to original post
If you're going to steal the membership, why not just steal the hot dog and pizza too? Or do they make you pay in advance? (I've been there but never ordered those things)
Even better, steal a bunch of valuable merchandise. Those receipt checkers aren't armed.
I think the term "hack" is used for ways to get more for your money, not outright theft.
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When I used to go, they made you pay for the food court transactions before the items were released to your possession.
I absolutely gained building access with an expired membership card for a while. They only scanned the card at the main registers, not the food court or the entrance.
Their dirty water dogs were much better than the usual roller grill junk, but their usual store merchandise did not interest me.
Quote: KevinAAQuote: rainmanCostco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
link to original post
If you're going to steal the membership, why not just steal the hot dog and pizza too? Or do they make you pay in advance? (I've been there but never ordered those things)
Even better, steal a bunch of valuable merchandise. Those receipt checkers aren't armed.
I think the term "hack" is used for ways to get more for your money, not outright theft.
link to original post
At my local Costco a membership is not needed for the food court.
Quote: DRichQuote: KevinAAQuote: rainmanCostco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
link to original post
If you're going to steal the membership, why not just steal the hot dog and pizza too? Or do they make you pay in advance? (I've been there but never ordered those things)
Even better, steal a bunch of valuable merchandise. Those receipt checkers aren't armed.
I think the term "hack" is used for ways to get more for your money, not outright theft.
link to original post
At my local Costco a membership is not needed for the food court.
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Do you enter the food court through the exit? Maybe that's how the stores in my area operate, you also don't need a membership card you just order pay with credit card and wait for your number to be called.
Quote: rainmanQuote: DRichQuote: KevinAAQuote: rainmanCostco hack for you guys, Walk in the out door if anyone looks at you just say you need to talk to the battery guy then walk straight over and order a dog a $9 pizza or whatever you want works every time never had a problem most times I just walk in and never even use the battery guy excuse.
link to original post
If you're going to steal the membership, why not just steal the hot dog and pizza too? Or do they make you pay in advance? (I've been there but never ordered those things)
Even better, steal a bunch of valuable merchandise. Those receipt checkers aren't armed.
I think the term "hack" is used for ways to get more for your money, not outright theft.
link to original post
At my local Costco a membership is not needed for the food court.
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Do you enter the food court through the exit? Maybe that's how the stores in my area operate, you also don't need a membership card you just order pay with credit card and wait for your number to be called.
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Fun fact I grew up in the city Costco opened their first store and named their signature brand after right down the street as a matter of fact.
Then the Post Office union opened a store called FedMart, which was open only to Federal workers and their families.
Neither lasted very long.
Quote: billryanThe first membership club I remember was called Unity,in 1979,, and it only had a small showroom where you'd pick stuff out of a catalog. Usually, they'd pull it from their vast warehouse, and you could pick it up in about thirty minutes. I remember buying a car stereo there for a much lower price than elsewhere.
Then the Post Office union opened a store called FedMart, which was open only to Federal workers and their families.
Neither lasted very long.
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There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
Quote: DRichI just read that Costco sells 200 million hot dogs per year at their food court stands. That number shocked me. That means $300 million a year in hot dog sales.
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Isn't that close to how many gas station hot dogs you eat in a year
Quote: EvenBobQuote: DRichI just read that Costco sells 200 million hot dogs per year at their food court stands. That number shocked me. That means $300 million a year in hot dog sales.
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Isn't that close to how many gas station hot dogs you eat in a year
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Not anymore. I don't think I have had a gas station hot dog in a few years. In Vegas my office was attached to a convenience store/gas station so that was a typical lunch.
Mom and baby doing well.
What comes around goes around. I helped train the anesthesiologist who took care of my daughter in law (C Section).
I look at the newborn pictures and what I see is POTENTIAL.
I hope to be around to play a round of golf with him and his sister!
Quote: SOOPOOSeems miscellaneous enough. I am now a grandfather for the second, and likely last, time. Granddaughter turns 2 tomorrow. Grandson born yesterday.
Mom and baby doing well.
What comes around goes around. I helped train the anesthesiologist who took care of my daughter in law (C Section).
I look at the newborn pictures and what I see is POTENTIAL.
I hope to be around to play a round of golf with him and his sister!
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Congrats Grandpa.
I also have a granddaughter and a one year old grandson.
Quote: EvenBobQuote: DRichI just read that Costco sells 200 million hot dogs per year at their food court stands. That number shocked me. That means $300 million a year in hot dog sales.
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Isn't that close to how many gas station hot dogs you eat in a year
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Most gas stations don't have a cooler that big.
Congratulations on the birth of your grandson!
Dog Hand
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: billryanThe first membership club I remember was called Unity,in 1979,, and it only had a small showroom where you'd pick stuff out of a catalog. Usually, they'd pull it from their vast warehouse, and you could pick it up in about thirty minutes. I remember buying a car stereo there for a much lower price than elsewhere.
Then the Post Office union opened a store called FedMart, which was open only to Federal workers and their families.
Neither lasted very long.
link to original post
There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
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I remember Service Merchandise. I think I bought my golf clubs at one. To me it was a silly concept. Why fill out a form then wait for my stuff to come up from the back room? Kind of USSR style.
Quote: AZDuffmanQuote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: billryanThe first membership club I remember was called Unity,in 1979,, and it only had a small showroom where you'd pick stuff out of a catalog. Usually, they'd pull it from their vast warehouse, and you could pick it up in about thirty minutes. I remember buying a car stereo there for a much lower price than elsewhere.
Then the Post Office union opened a store called FedMart, which was open only to Federal workers and their families.
Neither lasted very long.
link to original post
There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
link to original post
I remember Service Merchandise. I think I bought my golf clubs at one. To me it was a silly concept. Why fill out a form then wait for my stuff to come up from the back room? Kind of USSR style.
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The appeal of these places was the low prices. Unity used to advertise that members got merchandise at cost plus a few percentage points.
Most stores were selling stereo equipment at a 50% markup, so if it cost $50, they would sell for $100, while Unity sold for $60ish. I think the membership was about $100 a year.
Quote: AutomaticMonkey
There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
link to original post
I would be fine ordering more things by conveyor belt in-store. Better than waiting for an employee to unlock a case. For repeat buys and things you don't need to look at or test first, great also.
Quote: rxwineQuote: AutomaticMonkey
There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
link to original post
I would be fine ordering more things by conveyor belt in-store. Better than waiting for an employee to unlock a case. For repeat buys and things you don't need to look at or test first, great also.
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I think this is going to be hard to compete with the business model that leaves the item on your doorstep.
There are certain protected items, like states that don't really allow alcohol delivery, but so many consumers enjoy asking the guy behind the counter if they have Blanton's (Yeah? Which cork?), Weller, or Taylor that this doesn't seem likely to catch on.
that's a 100% markup , 50% gross profit marginQuote: billryan
The appeal of these places was the low prices. Unity used to advertise that members got merchandise at cost plus a few percentage points.
Most stores were selling stereo equipment at a 50% markup, so if it cost $50, they would sell for $100,
Sorry to be over-pedantic but you wandered into a "bugs me" zone of mineQuote:... while Unity sold for $60ish. I think the membership was about $100 a year.
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Even worse is to hear someone quote a net profit margin that they heard about, to go on to show they think it means gross profit margin
Quote: AZDuffmanQuote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: billryanThe first membership club I remember was called Unity,in 1979,, and it only had a small showroom where you'd pick stuff out of a catalog. Usually, they'd pull it from their vast warehouse, and you could pick it up in about thirty minutes. I remember buying a car stereo there for a much lower price than elsewhere.
Then the Post Office union opened a store called FedMart, which was open only to Federal workers and their families.
Neither lasted very long.
link to original post
There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
link to original post
I remember Service Merchandise. I think I bought my golf clubs at one. To me it was a silly concept. Why fill out a form then wait for my stuff to come up from the back room? Kind of USSR style.
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A few good reasons. The biggest one probably was that they could fit much more product in the same footprint if the building was set up as mostly warehouse than mostly selling floor.
Then you have less shrink, and fewer slip & falls and behavioral incidents with customers, so less need for security and legal expenses. With modern tech and communications the business model should be even more efficient. Somebody might revisit it.
Quote: DieterQuote: rxwineQuote: AutomaticMonkey
There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
link to original post
I would be fine ordering more things by conveyor belt in-store. Better than waiting for an employee to unlock a case. For repeat buys and things you don't need to look at or test first, great also.
link to original post
I think this is going to be hard to compete with the business model that leaves the item on your doorstep.
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Yeah, but I'm one those rare few who leave their house.
Amazon perfected the system, but Walmart is closing the gap at an amazing rate. I can't imagine how many billions of dollars it would take to compete with them.
Quote: rxwineQuote: DieterQuote: rxwineQuote: AutomaticMonkey
There used to be two chains called Consumers and Service Merchandise that were catalog warehouses. You walked in, filled out a form or used a terminal and a bit later what you ordered would come out on a conveyor belt.
I'm surprised that concept hasn't been resurrected, with all the retail theft and bad behavior in stores going on.
link to original post
I would be fine ordering more things by conveyor belt in-store. Better than waiting for an employee to unlock a case. For repeat buys and things you don't need to look at or test first, great also.
link to original post
I think this is going to be hard to compete with the business model that leaves the item on your doorstep.
link to original post
Yeah, but I'm one those rare few who leave their house.
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I probably leave my house twice a week now.
Quote: rxwineQuote: Dieter
I think this is going to be hard to compete with the business model that leaves the item on your doorstep.
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Yeah, but I'm one those rare few who leave their house.
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I'm out here with you.
I only visit a fixed address about once every ten days, so it is quite challenging to get deliveries for myself.
Quote: billryanA copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, just sold for 15 million dollars. This particular high-grade copy was once owned by Nick Cage and was stolen from his house after a small party. It was found in a California storage unit years later and was subject to an extensive legal battle. Cage had recieved an insurance settlement of some $250,000, but the book was worth millions when it was recovered. He wanted to return the settlement and get his book back; the insurance company wanted to keep the book; and the guy who recovered it was angling for the biggest reward he could extract. It was quietly settled out of court, and the book was given a five-million-dollar valuation.
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And you know this personally, or did you rip it off a news site and refuse to provide attribution?
Quote: KevinAAQuote: billryanA copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, just sold for 15 million dollars. This particular high-grade copy was once owned by Nick Cage and was stolen from his house after a small party. It was found in a California storage unit years later and was subject to an extensive legal battle. Cage had recieved an insurance settlement of some $250,000, but the book was worth millions when it was recovered. He wanted to return the settlement and get his book back; the insurance company wanted to keep the book; and the guy who recovered it was angling for the biggest reward he could extract. It was quietly settled out of court, and the book was given a five-million-dollar valuation.
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And you know this personally, or did you rip it off a news site and refuse to provide attribution?
link to original post
As stated before, there are such people who retain knowledge and information that you or others may not.Those people tend to do well on some game shows or the local pub's trivia night.
Quote: DieterQuote: rxwineQuote: Dieter
I think this is going to be hard to compete with the business model that leaves the item on your doorstep.
link to original post
Yeah, but I'm one those rare few who leave their house.
link to original post
I'm out here with you.
I only visit a fixed address about once every ten days, so it is quite challenging to get deliveries for myself.
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The Amazon drop boxes work well on road trips.
Not a new concept- long distance hikers can't carry everything they need with them from the start, not even close, but they know where all the post offices are along the route and they have someone sending boxes to them general delivery.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: KevinAAQuote: billryanA copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, just sold for 15 million dollars. This particular high-grade copy was once owned by Nick Cage and was stolen from his house after a small party. It was found in a California storage unit years later and was subject to an extensive legal battle. Cage had recieved an insurance settlement of some $250,000, but the book was worth millions when it was recovered. He wanted to return the settlement and get his book back; the insurance company wanted to keep the book; and the guy who recovered it was angling for the biggest reward he could extract. It was quietly settled out of court, and the book was given a five-million-dollar valuation.
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And you know this personally, or did you rip it off a news site and refuse to provide attribution?
link to original post
As stated before, there are such people who retain knowledge and information that you or others may not.Those people tend to do well on some game shows or the local pub's trivia night.
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This isn't something that happened a long time ago. Do a search for the first sentence he wrote "A copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, just sold for 15 million dollars." You'll find several sites with this information posted within the last two days.
This is clearly yet another IP rip-off. Billryan has the same attitude towards property rights as the bums he enables. Bums just sit around wherever they feel like and they steal whatever they want. Billryan and his bums' concept of property rights is sorely lacking and we should not be making excuses for them.
Quote: gordonm888Congrats on the grandkids Soopoo. I have five (and I think my daughters are not planning for anymore) They range from 7 years down to one year old. A great joy when I get to be around them.
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A great joy to me is my grandkids live on the east coast and I never have to see them. My wife goes to visit by herself which is fine with me. I am not a kid person, they drive me nuts in about 135 seconds. I know lots of men feel this way but they'll never say it because it makes you sound like an ogre. My response is that's what women are for, to raise the children. I have a friend who's 90 now and both his parents were Jewish lawyers in New York City. Him and his sister had to dress up for dinner every night and they were not allowed to speak unless they were spoken to. Which meant dinner was in silence most of the time. My friend had five children and they had a ton of grandchildren but his parents never saw any of them nor did they have any desire to see any of them. And nobody thought that was strange at all.
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: DieterQuote: rxwineQuote: Dieter
I think this is going to be hard to compete with the business model that leaves the item on your doorstep.
link to original post
Yeah, but I'm one those rare few who leave their house.
link to original post
I'm out here with you.
I only visit a fixed address about once every ten days, so it is quite challenging to get deliveries for myself.
link to original post
The Amazon drop boxes work well on road trips.
Not a new concept- long distance hikers can't carry everything they need with them from the start, not even close, but they know where all the post offices are along the route and they have someone sending boxes to them general delivery.
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I can get parcels delivered to the office and collect them within about a week and a half.
For less exotic items, I can visit a store.
General delivery still means visiting a particular post office during business hours, which is often inconvenient to my lifestyle.
(Not going Amazon & lockers; they can lump it.)
Quote: DRich
I probably leave my house twice a week now.
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Twice a week, I wouldn't know where to go. Last time I went anywhere was it December 16th, and I got no plans. I filled my gas tank and it might need filling again in April, but maybe not.
Quote: AutomaticMonkey
Not a new concept- long distance hikers can't carry everything they need with them from the start, not even close, but they know where all the post offices are along the route and they have someone sending boxes to them general delivery.
link to original post
And they often screw it up by getting there too early not being able to wait 2 days so they have it sent farther down the trail and they're always chasing a box.
Quote: EvenBobQuote: AutomaticMonkey
Not a new concept- long distance hikers can't carry everything they need with them from the start, not even close, but they know where all the post offices are along the route and they have someone sending boxes to them general delivery.
link to original post
And they often screw it up by getting there too early not being able to wait 2 days so they have it sent farther down the trail and they're always chasing a box.
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The fellow I know who walked the whole Appalachian Trail told me the surest way to find yourself on a Greyhound bus riding home is to go too fast and neglect to take a break every hour. Your knees will swell up and once that happens you won't be able to move well enough to stay safe.
Quote: EvenBobQuote: DRich
I probably leave my house twice a week now.
link to original post
Twice a week, I wouldn't know where to go. Last time I went anywhere was it December 16th, and I got no plans. I filled my gas tank and it might need filling again in April, but maybe not.
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Do you use a fuel treatment to prevent it going "stale"?
Quote: KevinAAQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: KevinAAQuote: billryanA copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, just sold for 15 million dollars. This particular high-grade copy was once owned by Nick Cage and was stolen from his house after a small party. It was found in a California storage unit years later and was subject to an extensive legal battle. Cage had recieved an insurance settlement of some $250,000, but the book was worth millions when it was recovered. He wanted to return the settlement and get his book back; the insurance company wanted to keep the book; and the guy who recovered it was angling for the biggest reward he could extract. It was quietly settled out of court, and the book was given a five-million-dollar valuation.
link to original post
And you know this personally, or did you rip it off a news site and refuse to provide attribution?
link to original post
As stated before, there are such people who retain knowledge and information that you or others may not.Those people tend to do well on some game shows or the local pub's trivia night.
link to original post
This isn't something that happened a long time ago. Do a search for the first sentence he wrote "A copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, just sold for 15 million dollars." You'll find several sites with this information posted within the last two days.
This is clearly yet another IP rip-off. Billryan has the same attitude towards property rights as the bums he enables. Bums just sit around wherever they feel like and they steal whatever they want. Billryan and his bums' concept of property rights is sorely lacking and we should not be making excuses for them.
link to original post
Show us on the the doll where Bill hurt you...
Quote: KevinAAQuote: billryanA copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, just sold for 15 million dollars. This particular high-grade copy was once owned by Nick Cage and was stolen from his house after a small party. It was found in a California storage unit years later and was subject to an extensive legal battle. Cage had recieved an insurance settlement of some $250,000, but the book was worth millions when it was recovered. He wanted to return the settlement and get his book back; the insurance company wanted to keep the book; and the guy who recovered it was angling for the biggest reward he could extract. It was quietly settled out of court, and the book was given a five-million-dollar valuation.
link to original post
And you know this personally, or did you rip it off a news site and refuse to provide attribution?
link to original post
My friend Vinny, who I've known since the early 1980s announced the sale on a forum we both participate in. As I own the custom frame that once contained this book, I've followed this book's saga since it turned up in a storage locker a few years ago. Vince and his partner not only sold the book to Cage, but also helped recover it. They sold his collection and the custom frames Cage had made after he ran into money issues.. After Superman #1 earlier this summer knocked Metro off the perch as top seller, they decided it was time to reclaim the top spot.
By the way- Nick Cage took his stage name from Luke Cage, Marvels first American black super-hero.
Quote: avianrandySpeaking of comics,which word did marvel trademark for their exclusive publishing use? Superpower,zombie or villain? Answer
zombie however in 1996 marvel lost the trademark because it became impossible to enforce
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The original owners of Marvel practiced very shady business practices. They jumped on trends and flooded newsstands with whatever might sell. In the early 1960s, Marvel was a division of a much larger publisher, and published 8 comics a month, while the crossword division of the company was putting out fifty digests, and the men's adventures division had even more.
Quote: billryanQuote: avianrandySpeaking of comics,which word did marvel trademark for their exclusive publishing use? Superpower,zombie or villain? Answer
zombie however in 1996 marvel lost the trademark because it became impossible to enforce
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The original owners of Marvel practiced very shady business practices. They jumped on trends and flooded newsstands with whatever might sell. In the early 1960s, Marvel was a division of a much larger publisher, and published 8 comics a month, while the crossword division of the company was putting out fifty digests, and the men's adventures division had even more.
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Exactly what is "shady" about "jumping on trends" and "flooding" the marketplace "with whatever might sell?" That's exactly what many companies do, including the food industry, the toy industry, the sports industry, the movie industry and the political advocacy industry. That's exactly what DC comics (Marvel Comic's competitor) did in the 1970s and 1980s. Why are you calling such a practice "shady"? Are you losing your comprehension of what the words in your sentences mean?
Then again, while Timely was cuddling up to the mob, DC Comics was actually owned by the mob in the 50s and into the early 1970s.
Let me know when you know enough to have a conversation on the subject or just keep taking cheap shots. They seem to be doing wonders for your reputation here.
You mention they had 8 comic books. Let me see, off the top of my head:
Strange Tales; Journey into Mystery; Tales to Astonish; Tales of Suspense
Millie the Model
Rawhide Kid; Two Gun Kid; Kid Colt
Is that the eight you're thinking of?
So you're referring to the era before Fantastic Four #1 which hit the news stands about October 1961? With a date of Nov 1961 so that it would be displayed for two months on news stands. Right? I would characterize the early sixties as a time of great innovation and creation at Marvel which literally transformed the industry -first the comics industry and eventually (in the 2000s) the movies and entertainment industry.
The industry leader in the marketplace at that time was DC Comics who began as National Periodicals and who ran Fawcett Comics out of the business by the early 1950s with phony baloney lawsuits claiming that Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family were an infringement on their Superman character. Right? DC, who also published comic books using lots of shady and infantile practices -comic books that the comics collecting marketplace now place a relatively low value on. Right?
Why do you seemingly assume that the people you're chatting with here don't know anything?
The comic book publishing business was a rough and tumble place at that time, as were many businesses, I believe. IMO, the phrase "ties to the mob" is a lazy way of slurring and denouncing people. Many businesses had "ties to the mob" as did many famous politicians. What is your point?
Joe Simon created Captain America and brought him to Marvel Comics, where he was hired as editor and art director. Goodman promised him ownership and a ten percent royalty on future sales. When Captain America was a runaway hit, Goodman fired Simon and Kirby and never paid a dime in royalties. When Simon sued to regain ownership, Goodman warned his employees that if Simon won the case, he'd fold the comic division and they'd all lose their jobs. Simon mostly left comics and made a small fortune in advertising and real estate. When Disney cut him a check for the first Captain America movie, it was the first payment he had received for his creation in 60 years.
In the mid-1970s, Goodman got upset that Marvel had not kept his son Chip on in his no-show/no-work job and announced he was starting a new comic company. Six months later, he folded it, screwing his employees, the printer, and the advertisers, many of whom'd paid for year-long contracts and gotten little for their money. On a personal note, I subscribed to three of his books for twelve issues. I recieved four issues of one book, two of another, and no refund for the issues he never published.
He'd attracted top talent by offering both royalties and health insurance- something no other comic company offered. They ended up with nothing, and many of them were blackballed from Marvel when they tried to return.
