The thrill is gone. 7 7

[shadroch]

I've been collecting comics since 1972 and they have been a major part of my life. I've owned two comic shops, managed a third, done countless shows and been buying and selling on the internet since the day after I got my first webtv.

Two years ago, I decided to move from Las Vegas to Bisbee ,with the intention of opening a shop that would have a large comic presence. I ran into a few roadblocks and then the virus came along setting me back further.  

I never dreamed I would be in a position of almost no money coming in for 18 months and I also realized I no longer really want to work. It's been six years since I worked more than an occasional part time gig and the thought of opening a shop and being there fulltime simply isn't appealing anymore.

Two weeks ago, I decided I would break into my " retirement vault" - my 100 books worth at least $1,000 each, and sell five of them. In 2016, circumstances forced me into the same situation and I really agonized over which two books to sell. It was like ripping a child out of my arms. 

This time it was different. Avengers 1 was my pride and joy, now I look at it and see $3,000. My Avengers 4- signed by Stan and Joe Simon-that one I will hold onto. Captain America Comics- I love the Schomburg covers, but I have an original painting and two lithos that are much nicer.  I'm still finding a few books I have an emotional tie to- Defenders 10, Captain America 3, the Legion Adventures, Judge Dredd 1, but increasingly I look at the rest and I just see dollar bills. Even when one lives alone, sixty plus comic boxes take up a lot of space.

I'm reminded of my friends Mom. Her husband worked for Con Ed and over the course of his career, managed to buy $250,000 worth of stock in the company. I'm sure he intended that to provide for his family, but when he died the mother refused to sell the stock. She insisted that her beloved husband scrimped and saved to buy them the stock and it would dishonor his memory if they were to sell them. He ended up leaving CW Post to go to a state school because they didn't have the money.

 

My son, whom I am not close with, and my nephews, who I am close to , have zero interest in my books. If I die, they would be a burden on my nephew to sell. In my will, I leave my books to a comic industry charity. but they can have what is left over. 

I also have underestimated what these book are going for.  A GS X-Men I bought on these boards for $300 sold for $920 even when it turned out to be restored , and another copy I bought from MCS for $410 just sold for $1400.  While I don't "need" the money, those two books just allowed me to buy a nice patio set. 

I've thought about selling out in the past, but I'm pretty sure this time I will go thru with it. 

I look at my two bookcases full of Omni's , Archives and Masterpeces and realize I will most likely never get around to reading them.  Time to pass them along to someone who will appreciate them. 

I think I will still bargain hunt when I can, but 99% of my collection no longer means much to me. 

Forgive my rant, I thought writing this might make me feel different but it didn't.

 

[followtheleader]

Totally with you brother.   Really down to me just listing as I have pics and a decent list.  Toys are really the only fun in the last couple years for me.

Patrick

[JTD]

I’ve only been collecting since ‘80...I have had the exact epiphany...I just sold a few comics to get one I’ve wanted for awhile...also paid for all the Xmas presents going to my wife and a new mossberg shockwave, and still had a couple of grand left over...actually felt better than I thought it would...gonna go from 7 long boxes down to one short box of graded keys...get ready sales forum...

Edited November 28, 2020 by JTD

[ignimbrite]

I am not the most prolific collector but I get it as well. It has always been hard for me to let things go but this year I sold a bunch of books and  it didn't bother me one bit. I enjoy some comic art and unique items but I am not sure what to do with the X-men #1 that is just sitting in a box. Just owning them doesn't real bring joy anymore.

 

[Get Marwood & I]

21 hours ago, shadroch said:

Forgive my rant, I thought writing this might make me feel different but it didn't.

Nice post. In my experience, the only thing that may make you feel differently is the passing of time. Even at our advanced ages, when you think you've finally cracked it and found your thinking, I find it is possible to feel differently about things after a few years or so. The thrill can return. If and when it does, regret may come with it, if you revisit the things you used to own and love. 

I sold one comic and bought a car the other year. The car does so much more for me than the comic ever could, sitting as it did in a box unseen. And the pressure of owning things worth a lot of money starts to tell as you get older. The worry of fires, floods, burglaries, or inadvertently dying and leaving the problem to your loved ones. There have been many threads about the type of sentiment you are displaying Shadroch and I've contributed to them fully. I won't do it all over again here - I could write a thesis - but suffice to say I have some regrets over selling some things. But, if it's any comfort to you, not nearly as many as you might imagine.

[Gaard]

Make no quick decisions. Oftentimes, people will lose the passion, only to regain it at a later date. I, like you, lost the 'bug' years ago ... but I regret selling most of my books at that time.

[ADAMANTIUM]

Especially if you don't "need the money" as you say, we like to think that we can always sell something if we had too. Maybe that will hold true?

But do what you feel is necessary or the desires of your heart. We collect what we love to not steer wrong, but sometimes that is not just comics. If there is something else you want more? Even just money in the bank? 

It can be tough for sure, sorry this virus has hurt your business, you had an idea and passion early this year. Now that there may soon be an end or vaccine, who knows how 2021 will start and end.

If you can give it time, I say go for it. Ultimately do what is in your heart!  

[Get Marwood & I]

6 minutes ago, Gaard said:

Make no quick decisions. Oftentimes, people will lose the passion, only to regain it at a later date. I, like you, lost the 'bug' years ago ... but I regret selling most of my books at that time.

This might sound silly but I had the most superb collection of books and I sold the lot as I saw no way forward with them, having no outlet or friends to share them with and having completed the various collecting goals I'd set. Then I found this forum and realised I could have got so much pleasure sharing the stuff with the crowd here. Variants, misprints, inserts - a thread of enthusiasts to show off to for each and every damn book. I've always had lousy timing in my life. 

[Gaard]

2 minutes ago, Get Marwood & I said:

This might sound silly but I had the most superb collection of books and I sold the lot as I saw no way forward with them, having no outlet or friends to share them with and having completed the various collecting goals I'd set. Then I found this forum and realised I could have got so much pleasure sharing the stuff with the crowd here. Variants, misprints, inserts - a thread of enthusiasts to show off to for each and every damn book. I've always had lousy timing in my life. 

I've been surprised how much I've enjoyed sharing/showing off my collection. When I was a kid, I didn't know anyone else who was into comics. As I got older (and found others who shared the passion that I had) it was so much more enjoyable.

[JTD]

11 minutes ago, ignimbrite said:

I am not the most prolific collector but I get it as well. It has always been hard for me to let things go but this year I sold a bunch of books and  it didn't bother me one bit. I enjoy some comic art and unique items but I am not sure what to do with the X-men #1 that is just sitting in a box. Just owning them doesn't real bring joy anymore.

 

Ive always wanted to collect cover art and splash pages myself...way to rich for my blood...

[themagicrobot]

Will early 1960s Marvels forever increase in value? Perhaps now might be a good time to sell comics with value before something happens to shake up the world. Who knows, one day soon there could be a virus pandemic bringing recession/unemployment/deflation/inflation/sickness and death.

Seriously, everyone reaches a point when the cold light of day is shone on a hobby that has kept you absorbed for years. Twice I sold all my comics. The first time selling now-priceless issues covered a foreign holiday when now they would buy me a house. So I should have kept them a few more decades in hindsight. The second time I sold my collection for peanuts just to be able to "move on". Since then I haven't sold anything for 40 years and have reached the point where I want to part with the 1000s of comics that in the words of Marie Kondo don't "bring me joy". But itemizing stuff on eBay wouldn't bring me joy either. I guess a lot  of 1980s onwards books will go into my recycling wheely bin as it's nearer than the Charity shop.   

[evilskip]

I don't have a lot of high dollar value books. What I do have is nice reading material. But I'm in the winter of my years, so accordingly I have been moving out a lot of stuff whether through MCS, giving to friends or donating to the local charity store. At the start of the year, my goal was to pare down my collection by 50%. Pretty close to doing that, but it isn't enough. Do I really want to hold on to some books because I might get a dollar in trade credit a year or two from now?

This is my second purge since I got back into collecting in 1987. I probably have less than 20 long boxes ( if I emptied the gajillion shortie boxes in the Closet Of Doom into long boxes).

[comicginger1789]

It saddens me to hear this but I guess at some point, we all probably get there. For me, I feel like one of the "younger" old book collectors. I will cherish another 40+ years (hopefully) of collecting. That being said, I am prepared to move it all eventually. Maybe my son or daughter on the way will take interest. If not, I will leave them with whatever financial gain my collection has rather than burden them. I know that all seems sad but in a way, I will be proud to do it. And hey, I probably will even come on here (provided this place exists) and donate my lesser books (the $5-10 or less stuff) to future boardies who need em. 

[Mmehdy]

2 hours ago, shadroch said:

I've been collecting comics since 1972 and they have been a major part of my life. I've owned two comic shops, managed a third, done countless shows and been buying and selling on the internet since the day after I got my first webtv.

Two years ago, I decided to move from Las Vegas to Bisbee ,with the intention of opening a shop that would have a large comic presence. I ran into a few roadblocks and then the virus came along setting me back further.  

I never dreamed I would be in a position of almost no money coming in for 18 months and I also realized I no longer really want to work. It's been six years since I worked more than an occasional part time gig and the thought of opening a shop and being there fulltime simply isn't appealing anymore.

Two weeks ago, I decided I would break into my " retirement vault" - my 100 books worth at least $1,000 each, and sell five of them. In 2016, circumstances forced me into the same situation and I really agonized over which two books to sell. It was like ripping a child out of my arms. 

This time it was different. Avengers 1 was my pride and joy, now I look at it and see $3,000. My Avengers 4- signed by Stan and Joe Simon-that one I will hold onto. Captain America Comics- I love the Schomburg covers, but I have an original painting and two lithos that are much nicer.  I'm still finding a few books I have an emotional tie to- Defenders 10, Captain America 3, the Legion Adventures, Judge Dredd 1, but increasingly I look at the rest and I just see dollar bills. Even when one lives alone, sixty plus comic boxes take up a lot of space.

I'm reminded of my friends Mom. Her husband worked for Con Ed and over the course of his career, managed to buy $250,000 worth of stock in the company. I'm sure he intended that to provide for his family, but when he died the mother refused to sell the stock. She insisted that her beloved husband scrimped and saved to buy them the stock and it would dishonor his memory if they were to sell them. He ended up leaving CW Post to go to a state school because they didn't have the money.

 

My son, whom I am not close with, and my nephews, who I am close to , have zero interest in my books. If I die, they would be a burden on my nephew to sell. In my will, I leave my books to a comic industry charity. but they can have what is left over. 

I also have underestimated what these book are going for.  A GS X-Men I bought on these boards for $300 sold for $920 even when it turned out to be restored , and another copy I bought from MCS for $410 just sold for $1400.  While I don't "need" the money, those two books just allowed me to buy a nice patio set. 

I've thought about selling out in the past, but I'm pretty sure this time I will go thru with it. 

I look at my two bookcases full of Omni's , Archives and Masterpeces and realize I will most likely never get around to reading them.  Time to pass them along to someone who will appreciate them. 

I think I will still bargain hunt when I can, but 99% of my collection no longer means much to me. 

Forgive my rant, I thought writing this might make me feel different but it didn't.

 

We all evolve as collectors...when we are young we feel we can last forever and what we buy will be with us forever. but things change at some point your know that you time left is not as much as your time that you have lived...so things change, I am sorry the comic book shop is a no go...so many going out added to yours not going in means for tough times in terms of getting new and young collectors interested by dropping by the shop. I disagree your view that leaving a comic book collection in this day and age is a burden...too many options, you can also instruct recommend that they go to auction, no cost to them and they get pure profit on the return.

 Don't forget, while you might not read all of those books in the bookcases, it still gives you freedom to chose what do want to read, the smaller the collection the less options. I have come to the understanding that I will never be able to read every GA comic book that I want to.....

 Don't forget in the future, that  you might  want to recollect and get that passion back..dont made rash decisions in the middle of a pandemic ...think carefully and be careful...good luck...

 On a personal note...I hope you can resolve some of the mutual issues you have with you son prior to passing.

Edited November 28, 2020 by Mmehdy

[fmaz]

I know some people will read sadness into your post, but honestly? It’s really just a quintessential (and in some ways a really nice) cycle of a collector — with a happy ending.  I mean, its obvious that comics and collecting has played a large part in the entertainment portion of your life. I assume you grew up with and on these characters and had a great deal of affinity for them, and that sparked your passion for collecting. That’s why certain books were so dear to you.  And you turned that into a stream of revenue at various points.

Now you’ve reached the point where that doesn’t interest you anymore.  It doesn’t void all the joy the books and the characters have given you in your life, it just means that one last time, these books will now be able to give you a final gift - by way of some resources to do something else  - while you release them back into the world where they get to be part of someone else’s story for a while. 

It’s a lot better than if you just decided to ignore and forget about them in the back of some attic for years, until your children, who you say have no interest, end up seeing them as a burden and end up selling them for pennies on the dollar, something that you’d have hated. 

This way, you’re in control. 

Like I said, I think it’s nice.  As a collector, you’ll be missed... but as someone who thinks these characters and the reading of comics can be an enriching part of people’s lives, I assume we can continue to count you as member, emeritus.

 

[csaag]

I empathize with you.  I collected from the late 70's to 80's upon which they took up permanent residence in my bedroom closet where I grew up until I moved them to the basement of the house I bought.  2 years ago I was home for a bit and started to think about with I was going to do with them after all this time.   Like you, my kids had no interest in them and I was thinking about the need to eventually downsize since I was in my mid 50's.   So I started the whole education process (CGC, these forums, Ebay etc).    Time is still much on my side so I am in no rush, but I have found the entire process to be very enjoyable from participating on these boards to dealing with buyers on Ebay. Maybe not regaining passion like others have mentioned here but it has brought back some of the joy I experienced back then.

Good Luck & I echo the last sentiment Mmehdy said.

[Chamberlin]

Very insightful. I hope you reconsider but thank you for sharing. Maybe as others have said give it time, wait until after the holidays.  

[NoMan]

I dunno. I've got a major key entombed in plastic sitting in a Safe Deposit Box and sometimes I wonder what the point is. I have no children. My nieces and nephews are spoiled sh*ts who wouldn't care one way or the other and if they got a hold of it they would just cash out and add a bag of money to their already silver-spoon spoiled ungrateful lives. Right now in my will it's left to a 22 year old friend of the wife's who doesn't like me and I don't like him. And no he doesn't give a sh*t about comics.

I seem to be of a minority opinion here but I believe this stuff has a shelf life if you're talking about collecting for selling later. I don't care about the movies. I know of no young person that reads comics. It's nostalgic for us, not them. Yes I understand your children read comics and books because they're special. Most kids today don't read tangible print. Try telling a kid today you've got the first Roy Rodgers action figure still in the box. Who cares?

If I sold book I could probably buy a Porsche or two and that seems as if it would be more fun. But no, I made a commitment to the 20-year grand experiment and if I arrived at the idea, it'll probably fail.

 

Edited November 28, 2020 by NoMan

[Domo Arigato]

5 hours ago, ADAMANTIUM said:

It can be tough for sure, sorry this virus has hurt your business, you had an idea and passion early this year. Now that there may soon be an end or vaccine, who knows how 2021 will start and end.

If you can give it time, I say go for it. Ultimately do what is in your heart!  

This.

If you simply have no interest in opening the shop or working in it, then that's understandable.  However, there is a lot of pent up cabin fever in people.....and once a vaccine is wide spread, there could very likely be a massive surge in tourism which could have a big impact on your business. 

If this happens, would it be possible to hire someone part time to run the store when you aren't there?  This would allow you to continue to hunt (which some people enjoy) for unique items for your store, without having to work the retail counter full time.

Just a thought.

 

[James J Johnson]

4 hours ago, comicginger1789 said:

"younger" old book collectors.

Like jumbo shrimp!   

And the Canadian Kodiak Marmoset. Canada's biggest littlest predator.

 

Edited November 29, 2020 by James J Johnson