X-Men 137 is a rough one to find cheap, so $40 for the whole stack was still a win. But I have to disagree on dropping grades, because a beat up key like that is worth way more than a reader copy someday and you'll wish you had both.

Phoenix heat plus foil liners beats double lids every July.

Did Ray ever tell you the real trick, which is that the shave is the loss leader and the money comes from locking in that twice-a-week slot? Think about it, a guy who comes in Tuesdays and Fridays for a shave is also buying a haircut, beard trim, and product from you all year. That steady chair time beats chasing walk-ins who show up once and never come back. So before you drop cash on a shavette and balloons, maybe track how many of your current regulars would actually add a shave to their visit, because a full book of loyal shave guys is worth way more than the $35 itself.