Most reliable online sites? 0

[drotto]

With the holidays coming up, I have a few people asking where they could get me comics as a gift.  Generally,  I refer to my LCS who has always treated me fairly, but obviously back issue stock fluctuates and can be hit or miss.  What online stores are best for back issues and slabs, mainly bronze age and earlier, for the inexperienced buyer?

[ADAMANTIUM]

https://www.dacardworld.com/comic-books/

This might help, because you can search by age, ie bronze or earlier.... Dave and Adams offer's free shipping anywhere over a certain amount too  

same here  

https://www.dalerobertscomics.com/c/new-arrivals

@drotto

[comicdonna]

https://www.mycomicshop.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8KCggan83gIV1P_jBx1HtgMiEAAYASAAEgIBm_D_BwE

[comicquant]

Below (not in any particular order) is my assessment of the sites I use frequently.  I'm sure everyone has their favorite and there are things I've left out but I think most boardies would consider these online venues to be some of the best.  Its also worth noting that I've bought graded books and raw books which I've later submitted from all of the dealers I've mentioned.

High Grade Comics:  This is Bob Storm's dealer site.  Great inventory, ability to make offers, wish lists, inventory updated frequently, decent images but not zoomable, fulfillment process is super fast and shares the #1 spotlight with Jim Payette regarding raw book grading.  Every book I've bought raw from Bob and submitted to CGC has come back higher than Bob's assigned grade.  Pricing is typically within current market range but Bob will negotiate with you.  Ordering can be confusing at first.  Great communicator but at the same time there's no BS.  With Bob, it is what it is and thats a good thing when it comes to making decisions.  When collectors talk about Bob you'll almost always hear comments about his high degree of professionalism.   
 
Superworld Comics:  First off, Ted is probably the coolest dude in comics.  Awesome inventory with a huge variety which is added to all the time.  You can find some really tough to find books and you can find them raw (which I like).  The site has most of the features you look for; hi-res images (not zoomable), wish lists, categorized views (has books in categories such as "pre-code horror" or "golden age") and the ability to make offers.  Sometimes books are overgraded but sometimes they are undergraded.  Maybe there are two people who grade most of the books.  Also, newly listed books don't have an image but all you do is email and request scans.  The scans are always sent quickly.  They are very responsive and always willing to negotiate.  Fulfillment is very fast.  I buy a lot of books from Ted.

Dale Robert's Comics:  By far the most user friendly site of the big dealers.  Hi-res images, zoomable, detailed descriptions, wish lists, categorized views (has books in categories such as "pre-code horror" or "golden age") and the ability to make offers.  If you make reasonable offers he typically works with you.  Grading is usually on the button but sometimes can be a click over.  Checkout process is the best of all the sites.  Cons are there can be weeks between new books being added (although he's been adding a lot lately) and the fulfillment process can be slow. 

Worldwide Comics:  Great inventory, hi-res zoomable images.  The site isn't very user friendly.  One of my biggest gripes about their site is they include sold books in their searches (indefinitely).  They also don't allow offers through the site and rarely negotiate through any other means.  Very responsive via email.  Their prices on most things are great.  A lot of people consider their grading to be really good but books VF and up can sometimes be overgraded.  One of my favorite sites to visit because they're constantly adding new (and awesome) books.  Checkout process is nice and fulfillment is super fast.  

[letsgrumble]

4 hours ago, comicquant said:

Worldwide Comics:  Great inventory, hi-res zoomable images.  The site isn't very user friendly.  One of my biggest gripes about their site is they include sold books in their searches (indefinitely).  They also don't allow offers through the site and rarely negotiate through any other means.  Very responsive via email.  Their prices on most things are great.  A lot of people consider their grading to be really good but books VF and up can sometimes be overgraded.  One of my favorite sites to visit because they're constantly adding new (and awesome) books.  Checkout process is nice and fulfillment is super fast.  

One minor note to this re Worldwide, but if it saves you aggravation, you can eliminate sold books from the results by checking off the "For Sale Only" in the advanced search page. 

[SECollector]

The Reece family has one of my favourite selling sites and they are awesome to work with. Alex is here on the boards (I wish I knew how to tag him) and he has always been extremely responsive, professional and kind in each and every communication we had. They work with you on pricing, shipping and any other condition of the sale. They add stock all the time and the "make an offer" option and check-out process work without a single flaw. 

https://reececomics.com

[makeminemego]

Collectors are very fortunate to have people like Bob and Greg in the hobby.  Always professional regardless of the nature of the purchase.  

[marvelmaniac]

Just thought I would throw this out there.

If you are happy with the service you receive at your LCS and want to stay with and support a local business...

Long before the internet some LCS's used to offer a "Search Service".

You filled out a card with the title, issue number, grade/price range and they reached out through their network to find you the book and when they found it they contacted you, my experience with this was very good, it usually happened much quicker (days to a couple of weeks) than putting books on a "want list" online.

I had friends/family that used this service to get me the books on my Christmas list, I would just tell them what LCS's to visit.

It has been 25 years since I have had an LCS find a book for me so I do not even know if any still do that with online buying making everything available and right at your fingertips.

(Note: This was also in the days when comic cons were actually about the comics. )

Hope you get the books you are looking for!!!  

[drotto]

She did well at my LCS last year.  He still has lots of stuff, just less in my wheelhouse this year.  Overall the owner does a great job finding books and buying.