Challenges of buying & selling comics? [SURVEY] 2 2

[shortboxed]

Note: this post & survey has been approved by mods

I've been thinking a lot about the current state of buying & selling comics, and no matter what channel I use, there's always challenges and pain points to deal with. In this case, channels would include eBay, auction houses (HA, CC, CL, etc), consignment shops (MCS, etc), online communities (CGC boards, Facebook, Instagram), or in-person (cons, comic shops, meetups, etc). Challenges could be high fees, shipping, scams, labor, etc. No single channel is perfect. I wanted to ask the community to chime in and share their pain points, so I've put together a survey. It takes about 5 minutes and I'd greatly appreciate any data collected! As a thank you, I'm also randomly selecting a survey participant to win a Fantastic Four #45 CGC 6.5 OW (pictured), which I'll randomly select at 6pm PST next Weds, March 6. 

Survey: http://bit.ly/2ItWZaD

I won't be sharing any personal info or unique answers, but I will share some overall results of the survey here in this thread for further discussion. There have already been some interesting insights.

In the spirit of generating discussion, here's an open-ended question: what are the biggest challenges with buying & selling comics today? 

Edited February 26, 2019 by shortboxed

[Schmakt]

Accurate grading and disclosure of restoration...

I will typically pay a bit of a premium to buy raws from a shop I trust (WW Comics, High Grade Comics, Reese's Rare Comics...) instead of attempting to go eBay or some other non-dealer venue.

(That said, I've had a few misses from those shops (SS1 graded as 5.5/6 that came back as 4.5, E-Man 7 graded 9.4 that came back a 7(!), but I've also found raw purchases here on the boards to be pretty spot-on)

[Bird]

7 minutes ago, shortboxed said:

what are the biggest challenges with buying & selling comics today? 

 

Keeping up with movie related comics constant price changes. And finding new stock at a good price. I'll go do the survey now.

[shortboxed]

1 minute ago, Schmakt said:

Accurate grading and disclosure of restoration...

I will typically pay a bit of a premium to buy raws from a shop I trust (WW Comics, High Grade Comics, Reese's Rare Comics...) instead of attempting to go eBay or some other non-dealer venue.

(That said, I've had a few misses from those shops (SS1 graded as 5.5/6 that came back as 4.5, E-Man 7 graded 9.4 that came back a 7(!), but I've also found raw purchases here on the boards to be pretty spot-on)

This is probably one of my personal biggest pain points. However, I will continue to buy from a honest dealers that will buy a book back if it comes back restored. Mistakes are inevitable, but if a dealer buys a book back, that gives me much more confidence in continuing to buy from them. 

The ones who say "tough luck" I just say lesson learned and never buy from them again and make sure others are aware of their practice. 

[shortboxed]

3 minutes ago, Bird said:

Keeping up with movie related comics constant price changes. And finding new stock at a good price. I'll go do the survey now.

Sometimes I feel like a day trader with how fast prices move on some books, it's crazy. 

[1Cool]

Biggest issue with selling now is the large competition of people wanting to buy books and the large reduction in run collectors.  The only key collectors has made it tougher to pay decent for collections especially if even a few of the keys are missing which makes it easy to find picked over collections but very tough to find prime stuff.

[Bird]

one survey says buyer not shipping the books, should say seller

 

[shortboxed]

1 minute ago, Bird said:

one survey says buyer not shipping the books, should say seller

 

Good catch. Fixed, thanks!

[Jaydee]

Good survey

[Bird]

1 minute ago, shortboxed said:

Good catch. Fixed, thanks!

I might should've been a copy editor...I used to catch mistakes in Sports Illustrated every week and I am currently studying for a state licensing exam and considered sending the publisher of the prep materials a list of their mistakes!

[Wipple]

Approx. 2,000 books

 

 

Legend: 

Asterisk * means the issue has doubles

Items highlighted in red are valued in FN condition in Overstreet between $18 and $75

Items highlighted in red and in Large Font are valued in FN condition in Overstreet as $75 and over.

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Spiderman  (97 books)

51,52,61,72,74,77,78,84,92,103,104,108,110,113,114,120,124,126,130,131,132,

139, 141-144,146,147,151-154,156-161,163*,164*,165-166, 167*,168,170,171,176*,178,182-186*,187,189*,190,191*,193,195*,196, 197*,198,199,203,204,259

 

King Annual 5,12,13

  

 

Defenders (81 books)

3,8,10,12,13*,14-16,18-22,24-26,29-33,34-38,39-43,44*,45-58,59*,60-69,70*,7174,75*,76-80

Giant Size 1,2,4

King 1

 

 

Marvel Tales  (64 books)

3,9,38,40,46-49,52,54-57,61,62,66-69,71,73,74*,75,76,77*,81,83-104

Double and triples of 92 and above

 

Flash Gordon   (vf condition)  ( 6 books)

3,4,8*,9*  

 

Mandrake the Magician  (vf condition) (12 books)

4-8,10  (doubles of all, triples of 10)

The Phantom   (vf condition)  (13 books)

23-28,39,65  (doubles of all except 24,26,65)

 

DareDevil  (53 books)

26,28,29,30,37,44,46,47*,48,49,52-56,66,78,79,91,94,95,101,104,106,110-112,114,125,128,131,134,136-138,140,142,144*,147,148,150,153-156,160,162,163,222

King Size Annual 4

 

 

Incredible Hulk (118 books)

104-110, 111-120, 123-127,129,133,141,150-158,160,161,162,168,169,171-175,177-179,183-185,189-203,204*,205-218, 219*,220-228,229*,230-233*,234-235*,236,237,238*,239,244,249,295,311

King Size Annual 6-8

King Size Special 2

 

Iron Man (120 books)

4-15,17,18-20,23-36,38-45,48,51-53,54,55,57-59,61,63-67,69,70,72,77,78,80,82,83,85-155

 (doubles of 92,95,100,105,112,118,119,125,129)

King Size Special 2

 

 

Tales of Suspense  (4 books)

84,91,96,97

 

Thor (184 books)

126,127-136,138-162,163,164,165,166,167,168,169,170*,171-180,182-192,194-207,208-254,256*,257*,263*,264*,266*,268*,269*,271,273*,275-277*,279-292*,300

King Size 1,5,6,7,8

 

Captain America  (111 books)

101,102,104-106, 113,114,115,117,

118,119,120,122,125,129,132,142,143,145,147,148,150-152,156,157,162,163*,165,166,168-191,194,195,197-210,212-245,300,305

(doubles of 163,173,178,223)

King Size Annual 3

 

Fantastic Four   (202 books)

 

51, 52, 53-66, 67, 68-104,105,106,107,108-111,112,113-121,126-192,

193-215(all doubles and some triples)

King Size Special 6,7,11,13*,14

Giant Size 3,4,6

 

 

EC: Crime Suspense Stories  5  

 

EC: Haunt of Fear 10 

 

Peter Parker Spectacular Spider Man  (vf condition)  (43 books)

 

1-39 (doubles of 3,8,13)

1, 27, 28

King Size Annual 1

 

What If?  (10 books)

3,4,6,7,10,11,13,16,19,27

 

Savage She Hulk  (4 books)

1 (triples), 2

 

Marvel Spectacular (3 books)

5,7,11

 

Tales to Astonish  (3 books)  (very fine condition)

1-3 

 

Fantasy Masterpiece (3 books)  (very fine condition)

1-3

 

Godzilla    (51 books)

1 (7 copies)   FN: $12ea 

2-24 (all doubles)

 

The Human Fly     (25 books)

1 (10 copies)          FN: $6/ VF: $13

3-18

 

 

 

Black Panther        (19 books)

1 (10 copies)          FN: $24 / VF: $54

2-4,6-12,14,15

 

Jungle Action (feat. Black Panther)   (4 books)

5  FN: $36/  VF$82

12,16,22

 

The Micronauts   (16 books)

1-7,8, 9-15  

King Annual 1

 

Spidey Super Stories  (11 books)

5-7,11,28,30-35

 

Machine Man  (very fine condition)  (14 books)

1*,2-13

 

Marvel Tales  (20 books)

84-91, 92-97 *

 

IronFist  (3 books)

4,11,15

 

 

Powerman

Giant Size 1

 

Luke Cage Hero for Hire   (36 books)

2,11,12,15,25,27-29,31-33,36,38-46,48-61

(doubles of 52)

 

 

Devil Dinosaur  (very fine condition)  (11 books)

1 (3 copies)   VF: $19

2-9

 

 

Marvel Triple Action  (69 books)

3,5,7-47 (many doubles)

Giant Size 1,2

 

Avengers   (6 books)

114,183,187,192-194

 

Tomb of Dracula  (5 books)

47,49,50,52,64

 

Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos  (5 books)

64,124,132,147,155

 

Inhumans (5 books)

1 (4 copies)  FN: $18

5

 

 

 

Ms. Marvel  (17 books)

1,13-17,19-21

(all doubles except for 14,15,20)

 

Marvel Premiere  (6 books)

14,24,31,35,43,44

 

 

Sensational New Captain Marvel (1 book)

 

Giant Size Captain Marvel (1 book)

1

 

Amazing Adventures featuring Xmen  (3 books)

1-3

 

The Thing  (2 books)

23,27

 

Guardians of the Galaxy  (2 books)

6,12

 

Captain Marvel  (21 books)

26,31,34,36,42,43,45-51,533-60

 

Marvel Super Action  (16 books)

1,2,4-14,21  (doubles of 8,9)

 

 

Son of Satan  (5 books)

4,6,13,15,17

 

Spotlight on Capt. Marvel  (4 books)

1-4

 

Man Called Nova  (31 books)

1, 2-19, 21-25

Doubles of 13,15,21,24

Triples of 12 and 17

 

Wonder Woman (7 books)

227,229,232,233,241,244,251,269

 

X-Men (19 books)

23,24,31,32,40,48,72,83,97,101(depending on condition),103,108,112,114,115,117,118,120,125

 

Captain Marvel  (21 books)

26, 31,34,36,42,43,45-51,53-60

 

 

Marvel Two in One  (56 books)

1, 3, 4,7,8,17,18,23*,24*,26,28-60 (doubles of 33,40,41,42,43,45,47,50,51,57)

 

Rampaging Hulk  (8 books)

1,5-11

 

Marvel Double Feature   (12 books)

2-6,9-11,13,14,19*

 

Men of War  (2 books)

13,21

 

Flash  (14 books)

224,246-252,254,255,265,276-278

 

ROM  (4 books)

1,2,3,8

 

Strange Tales  (2 books)

187,188

 

Savage Sub-Mariner  (2 books)

70,71

 

Tarzan  (4 books)

11,15,8

Annual 3

 

Spider-woman  (12 books)

1 (3 copies) 

2-8,11,20

 

Green Lantern with Green Arrow  (9 books)

91,95,108,109,112,119,120,121,122

 

Firestorm  (7 books)

1*, 2,3,4*,5

 

Witching Hour  (4 books)

11,63,74,85

 

Aquaman  (6 books)

57-59,63,

452 (doubles)  $30ea.

 

The Champions  (18 books)

2,3,5,6*,7,8,9*,10-15,16*,17

 

Man from Atlantis  (7 books)

1*,2,3,5,6,7,

 

The Man-Thing  (4 books)

1, 2,14,16

 

The Hands of Shang-Chi Master of Kung Fu  (28 books)

17,19,21,22,23,24*,25,26,28*,29-33,36,40,41,46,48,49,56,57,59,60,63

Giant size 3

 

Batman  (18 books)

244,245,272,273,280,284,285,289,290,293,300,302,303,304,305,315,317,325,

 

Sargent Stryker’s Death Squad            (1book)

1

 

The Hands of the Dragon          (1book)

1

Doctor Strange  (11 books)

14,20,21,23,25,26,27,28,30,31,33

 

Justice League  (10 books)

119,120,135,145,148,157,159,160,162,172

 

Superman’s Action Comics  (13 books)

441,463,465,467,469,476,484,486,487,491,501,502,

 

Batman’s Detective  (6 books)

465,467,468,470,479,480

 

Return of the New Gods (2 books)

13,17

 

Conan          (9 books)

71,84,87,93,100,112

King Size Annual 3,4,5

 

Red Sonja    (2 books)

7,8

 

Star Trek (Gold Key)       (3 books)

38,39,42

 

 

 

Star Trek (DC)  (3 books)

29,53,55

 

Marvel’s Greatest Comics  (20 books)

43,45,56,64,65,68,72,75,76,77*,78,79-81*,82,83

 

Marvel Super Heros  (33 books)

38,43,47,49,50,61,67,68-73*,74,75*,76*,77,78*,79,80*,81,82,84

 

Shogun Warriors  (18 books)

1-14

 

Superman  (19 books)

225,282,294,295,301,304,308,313,314,316,317,319,320,321,322,324,325,331,341,

 

Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner          (6 books)

2 -7

 

Batman Family Giant  (2 books)

12,14

 

2001: A Space Odyssey  (6 books)

1 (6 copies)  FN:$9/ VF: $19 / VF+ : $30

 

Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes  (4 books)

243,245,256,257

 

 

 

Battlestar Galactica   (3 books)

1,2,3

 

Super Villian Team Up  (6 books)

4-6,11,15,16

 

Marvel Team Up  (54 books)

10,17,20,22,24,26,35,37,38,41,45,47-56,58-60,63*,64-66,68-81,83-90

King Size 2

 

collection im looking at- 90% of keys gone. decent shape but not NM on all bronze books...whats it worth(is it worth it for the few keys left?)?  That's my challenge

[RockMyAmadeus]

Great survey, just filled it out. One quick note: the word "impotant" shows up more than once; I don't know if that can be corrected or not.

Otherwise, excellent survey, with a good grasp of the issues facing the comic marketplace.

9 thumbs up!

[Karl Liebl]

1 hour ago, shortboxed said:

Note: this post & survey has been approved by mods

I've been thinking a lot about the current state of buying & selling comics, and no matter what channel I use, there's always challenges and pain points to deal with. In this case, channels would include eBay, auction houses (HA, CC, CL, etc), consignment shops (MCS, etc), online communities (CGC boards, Facebook, Instagram), or in-person (cons, comic shops, meetups, etc). Challenges could be high fees, shipping, scams, labor, etc. No single channel is perfect. I wanted to ask the community to chime in and share their pain points, so I've put together a survey. It takes about 5 minutes and I'd greatly appreciate any data collected! As a thank you, I'm also randomly selecting a survey participant to win a Fantastic Four #45 CGC 6.5 OW (pictured), which I'll randomly select at 6pm PST next Weds, March 6. 

Survey: http://bit.ly/2ItWZaD

I won't be sharing any personal info or unique answers, but I will share some overall results of the survey here in this thread for further discussion. There have already been some interesting insights.

In the spirit of generating discussion, here's an open-ended question: what are the biggest challenges with buying & selling comics today? 

The challenge for me is how the heck that book got a 6.5 when mine did too, but i digress...

[1Cool]

Whipple - There are enough decent books left to make an offer but the fact that he has taken the time to make a list it usually means his sell price is usually double if not triple what I can pay.  The lack of big ticket keys makes it just a ton of work to sell one at a time and thus the price paid has to be very low which leads to a mad / disappointed seller. 

[Wipple]

2 hours ago, 1Cool said:

Whipple - There are enough decent books left to make an offer but the fact that he has taken the time to make a list it usually means his sell price is usually double if not triple what I can pay.  The lack of big ticket keys makes it just a ton of work to sell one at a time and thus the price paid has to be very low which leads to a mad / disappointed seller. 

Couldn’t agree more. I asked him for an offer to see if we are in same ballpark.  He offered collection for $2200. Thoughts?

Edited February 26, 2019 by Wipple
Added price

[Yorick]

Interesting survey.  It was tough to decide on the "appropriate" commission rate for someone selling your books.  If you have a graded book, it should sell itself and the selling commission should be very low.  On the other hand, if the commissioned seller has to write up the flaws etc - they should receive a higher commission.  Work invested and all that...

[shortboxed]

1 hour ago, Yorick said:

Interesting survey.  It was tough to decide on the "appropriate" commission rate for someone selling your books.  If you have a graded book, it should sell itself and the selling commission should be very low.  On the other hand, if the commissioned seller has to write up the flaws etc - they should receive a higher commission.  Work invested and all that...

That's an interesting point and one I haven't thought of! Makes sense - more work involved should equate to a higher commission.

[grayzr]

interesting survey. 

[1Cool]

2 hours ago, Wipple said:

Couldn’t agree more. I asked him for an offer to see if we are in same ballpark.  He offered collection for $2200. Thoughts?

Really depends on the grade of the few bigger keys like the Iron Man 55 but from a resale perspective it looks like too much.

[shortboxed]

6 hours ago, 1Cool said:

Biggest issue with selling now is the large competition of people wanting to buy books and the large reduction in run collectors.  The only key collectors has made it tougher to pay decent for collections especially if even a few of the keys are missing which makes it easy to find picked over collections but very tough to find prime stuff.

This seems to be a common gripe among sellers that I've heard at many shows. Often it's more of a surprise when "run collectors" show up to a booth. 

Competition is incredibly stiff these days, and finding good deals takes a whole lot of work, from my limited experience, anyway.