There seems to be a full court press on the local blogs to try to hold a positive light to the real estate situation in Bend.

Fine. As long as everyone remembers that these were the same arguments they used to say that there never would be a slow down in the first place. These are many of the same people who sold subprime and dubious loans without a inch of warning. The same people who made no effort whatsoever to put the purchase of a house in Bend in any kind of perspective. The same people, in other words, who dug this hole in the first place.

Ironically, it's not my credibility at stake here. I own a comic shop, for goodness sake. What do I know?

But I've learned that one of the most dangerous things I can do is over-promise something to the customer. Either they will be a unhappy non-returning customer, or they will return and nail me to the wall. Possibly cost me more in the long run because I have to take the product back.

I want the customer to get what he really needs and wants. Promise them that the comic or card will be worth more in the future?

Never, ever.

The collectable market is what happens after they leave the store, is what I tell them. Buy it because you want it, and you want to keep it, otherwise, don't.

So, remember what you say may come back and bite you, folks. But....I suspect you don't give a damn, which is why we're in the pickle we're in.