So, Why Has AF #15 Continued to Drop In Value? 8 8

[Glassman10]

On 10/10/2019 at 2:29 PM, Sweet Lou 14 said:

Go Bob, sell that book for $26K and give us all a morale boost!

I have not seen Bob posting the prices for any sales he has nor would I expect to. He doesn't list them on the selling/recording sites.  He has never said publicly what he sold mine for. I only know that I got the percentage we agreed on if the book went below that offered  at list.  I see books selling for what one would assume it to be worth at a grade that matches what the book looks like when considering 5.0 and lower graded books.  For me it calls into question the grading applied more than anything. People simply don't seem to accept that grading as a seal of approval at this point.  I view that as a good thing. People who may have paid more than they might have without that Good Housekeeping seal of approval may have issues. 

[blazingbob]

AF #15 3.5 on hold pending deal completion.  

[shiverbones]

On 10/4/2019 at 11:28 PM, Frank Mozz said:

I looked at some recent sales & maybe I am missing something but a typical 3.0 with chipping is getting 18-20k which is about where the book has been over the past few years ( yes I know there are exceptions either way)

 " I never meet an AF 15 I didn't like" 

Here is my personal history with the book, I bought my first one in 1988 for $1500 on time payments ( I picked Bluberries all summer to buy that book) from Rainbow comics here in South Jersey, it was raw and when graded came back a VF 7.5 and after being pressed last year its a 8.0 OW it is my personal book and will stay with me until I need some type of medical attention I can't afford    Net gain a lot

As a store owner since late  2006 I bought my first AF15 in 2005 on ebay with time payment again ( picked it up at a Nathans parking lot in NY) for $6500 it graded Blue 5.0 no chipping and in 2007ish I sold  it on ebay for $11,999 to a buyer in Germany ( top $$$ sale for that grade at the time) to help start the store. Net gain apx 4k 

Two weeks later 2008 I bought a Blue 4.5 witth tape on the insdie cover and chipping on an ebay BIN for $4500 ( sat there for 4 days) 2 years later it sold in the store for $8500 apx net gain 4k

2009 l am at the once a month Wayne NJ comic/toy show and I buy a stunning 4.0 no chipping ow for 10k & trade it in 2013 for a Star Wars figure that I sell for 18k net gain apx 8k

2017/18 I buy a 3.0 with chipping here on the boards for apx 17k and net gain thus far 0, then I am offered another typical 3.5 chipping for 20k (time payments again) again net gain 0 ( I still have both almost sold one here on the boards last year but the buyer backed out)

However,  discounting the 8.0 but counting the profit on the sold/traded AF15s since 2007 ( apx 15/16k) I am about 21k into the 3.0 & 3.5  so for me AF 15 has always been a solid winner and I will always buy one at a FAIR DEAL if I see it for sale, the recent sales on ebay for thr 5.0 and on Heritage will be money makers for the new owners at some point imho. Like I said  " I never meet an AF 15 I didn't like" 

I would love to hear other boardies AF #15 history good or bad?

I loved rainbow comics, bought my first asm 6 there for $20 in the mid 80s, hope Monty is still out there somewhere

[Glassman10]

14 hours ago, blazingbob said:

AF #15 3.5 on hold pending deal completion.  

That was an excellent price, particularly if one buys the book, not the grade.  Go Bob!

[KEY ISSUES Comics]

On 10/13/2019 at 9:56 AM, GAMBIT said:

Most of the copies seen in 5.5 and lower are ones frequently for sale/flipped - and/or issues with lesser eye appeal for said grade.  If you see stands out in the range you are able to afford, I wouldnt wait on it  (it's not to often a good looking low grade copy hits the market IMO)

Yeah, then again there are those who are asking for twice GPA high in a given grade. I don't care how nice it looks for its grade, that's just mad! 

[jeffreyk]

I just noticed thar GPA has just listed sales of a 4.5 at $37,500 and a 5.0 at $41,000.  These sales plus some solid sales for 4.0s recently seem to indicate a possible comeback on prices.  Hopefully, these strong sales continue!

[NoMan]

2 hours ago, jeffreyk said:

I just noticed thar GPA has just listed sales of a 4.5 at $37,500 and a 5.0 at $41,000.  These sales plus some solid sales for 4.0s recently seem to indicate a possible comeback on prices.  Hopefully, these strong sales continue!

 Outliers. book seems to be a permanent decline. If we had only all sold out copies in spring 2017. The collectors have moved onto variants. My LCS is covered in high ration variants with fights breaking out at the table. Not a an AF15 in sight. Kinda says it all.

Edited October 30, 2019 by NoMan

[blazingbob]

AF #15 3.5 deal was completed.  

[jeffreyk]

Outliers possibly..but except for that one low 28800 sale of that 5.0, prices have been fairly consistent among the 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 ranges.

Plus these recent sales show that there are still strong sales.

 

[NoMan]

2 hours ago, jeffreyk said:

Outliers possibly..but except for that one low 28800 sale of that 5.0, prices have been fairly consistent among the 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 ranges.

Plus these recent sales show that there are still strong sales.

 

there used to be one AF15 thread in the SA section. Now there are two. And what's the title of this newer AF15 thread? Wonder why it's titled such as it is?

I'm beginning to believe variants are where the fun and money are. An example:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=amazing+spiderman+667&_sacat=0&_sop=16

AF15s ARE NOT RARE. At all. Even in HG. Variants on the other hand are rare by nature. 1:5000 makes for a true rare book. That's only 1 book you get for ordering 5000 books. Now that's the very definition of rare. I'm going to begin selling off my raw Swamp Thing run, raw Miller DD run, raw Miracle man run raw xmen run and my Spiderman 10, 20 and xmen 3 and take that money and get involved with variants. Truly rare comics. You should see the kids at Frank and Sons fight over variants. 

Like it or not, it's the future of the hobby. Nobody going to see the latest Spiderman whatever  is gonna get AF15, they're gonna get variants.

Edited October 30, 2019 by NoMan

[jeffreyk]

I never was a fan of variants.  The problem with most variants is they get hot for a few months and  then no one wants them anymore as they come out on weekly basis and then everyone wants the new variant until the next one comes out shortly after.  There are exceptions of course. I agree.  None of the marvel silver age keys are rare but they have iconic first appearances which have always sold well throughout the years.  Just my opinion.

[c_mkv]

1 hour ago, NoMan said:

there used to be one AF15 thread in the SA section. Now there are two. And what's the title of this newer AF15 thread? Wonder why it's titled such as it is?

I'm beginning to believe variants are where the fun and money are. An example:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=amazing+spiderman+667&_sacat=0&_sop=16

AF15s ARE NOT RARE. At all. Even in HG. Variants on the other hand are rare by nature. 1:5000 makes for a true rare book. That's only 1 book you get for ordering 5000 books. Now that's the very definition of rare. I'm going to begin selling off my raw Swamp Thing run, raw Miller DD run, raw Miracle man run raw xmen run and my Spiderman 10, 20 and xmen 3 and take that money and get involved with variants. Truly rare comics. You should see the kids at Frank and Sons fight over variants. 

Like it or not, it's the future of the hobby. Nobody going to see the latest Spiderman whatever  is gonna get AF15, they're gonna get variants.

[Callaway29]

manufactured collectibles

 

[Glassman10]

I don't see AF 15 in decline. I do see that it's not automatically the case that anyone who owns an AF15 is guaranteed an automatic 5-10% simply for having briefly owned the book. In the year before I sold my 5.0, the going rate on that book was around 30K, no more. It certainly went to a growth spike and Bob took advantage of a frenzied market to sell it. He continues to price  5.0's in the same price range and continues to sell them. What he doesn't do is to report them the GPA.  I had occasion to exchange views over his recent 3.5 going for what seemed a low price based on the images. It looked undergraded but that turned out to be not true as there was an impossible to see flaw in the book. Bob told me what that flaw was and it simply didn't show up in the graders notes ( remarkable in itself) . It is assured that the book will never get an upgrade from CGC. Even so, it sold for a remarkable price compared to where I was back in 2017. My Mastercard and Visa stock have been static lately as well. It doesn't change their overall futures. 

I find it interesting that there are two threads on AF15 as well but I see the people commenting in them as different groups. The "Club" thread seems to me to be made up largely of people buying and selling the book constantly and increase is the opiate of sucess. . I don't see that in this thread but the club thread hasn't had much of a cheering squad when it comes to the book being stuck. They welcome increases , not stasis. This thread questions its progress. In the case of the auction houses, they charge both a buyer and a seller fee. Then, add on sales tax. That's not attractive. Different motivations or at least that's my opinion. 

Edited October 30, 2019 by Glassman10

[october]

3 hours ago, NoMan said:

there used to be one AF15 thread in the SA section. Now there are two. And what's the title of this newer AF15 thread? Wonder why it's titled such as it is?

I'm beginning to believe variants are where the fun and money are. An example:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=amazing+spiderman+667&_sacat=0&_sop=16

AF15s ARE NOT RARE. At all. Even in HG. Variants on the other hand are rare by nature. 1:5000 makes for a true rare book. That's only 1 book you get for ordering 5000 books. Now that's the very definition of rare. I'm going to begin selling off my raw Swamp Thing run, raw Miller DD run, raw Miracle man run raw xmen run and my Spiderman 10, 20 and xmen 3 and take that money and get involved with variants. Truly rare comics. You should see the kids at Frank and Sons fight over variants. 

Like it or not, it's the future of the hobby. Nobody going to see the latest Spiderman whatever  is gonna get AF15, they're gonna get variants.

Manufactured rarity garbage. The Beanie Babies of the comic world. Have fun. 

[Dark Knight]

Prices seem about right in those grades depending on eye appeal of course.  I sold a 4.5 for $38k this year so it's right in line with the last sale of a 4.5

[Glassman10]

well, I think it shouldn't be an issue if you bought your AF15 because you were young and in love with ownership. If on the other hand you aren't quite so in love with the AF15, and more in love with a portfolio, then concern exists.  EEK!

[NoMan]

many major dealers/auction houses have been in communication with me regarding the shocking decline of AF15s. No one's really sure what to do at this point but unload unwanted product (in this case AF15) and stocking up on what is selling: variants. Believe me, I'm not happy about it either. But variants are selling. Like Mad. Again, go to Frank and Sons in Los Angeles and collectors are literally fighting over the latest 1:5000 variant and than I see people offer crazy money to those people top let them go. .

It's called progress and it's not always easy. Who wants to buy an original Tom Mix doll? Nobody, that's who. Pretty soon the kids aren't gonna know the importance of AF15 (heck if they don't already) and you hoarding yours for years and years ain't gonna help in your sideways strategy of "cashing out" ain't gonna work if you wait much longer. I predict in less then 10 years they stop becoming "wall books."

Edited October 30, 2019 by NoMan

[NoMan]

7 hours ago, c_mkv said:

don't shoot the messenger. there is a thread right here entitled: "So, why as AF15 continued to drop in value?" I didn't make it up. Many smart people are beginning to see the writing on the wall. 

[comicdonna]

AF15 will always be a wall book.