How do I get the most money out of an old comic book collection?
May 10, 2019 8:10 AM Subscribe
A member of my family has a large comic book collection. This collection includes extremely high quality versions of #1 comics, one of the comic books seems like it's worth about $45K! (but most are from $500-1000). Maybe 500 comics in total. How do I get the most money out of the comic books?
We know we should get some of the comics graded, but what happens next? For our expensive comic, does anyone know the path of least resistance for getting good value from it?
For the rest, how do we avoid getting ripped off by sellers? Is there some kind of peer-to-peer comic book listing site that has low fees?
We know we should get some of the comics graded, but what happens next? For our expensive comic, does anyone know the path of least resistance for getting good value from it?
For the rest, how do we avoid getting ripped off by sellers? Is there some kind of peer-to-peer comic book listing site that has low fees?
Is this in the US?
posted by anastasiav at 8:40 AM on May 10, 2019
posted by anastasiav at 8:40 AM on May 10, 2019
I don't know used comics, but I do have a pretty good grasp on the used vinyl market. I suspect the first question you need to ask yourself is, do you want a new job? Because the best way to maximize your revenue is to eliminate every middleman (sorry) that you can.
In the context of vinyl, this would mean setting up shop online and at various meets and markets. Even if your longer term goal is to just sell to other sellers, the markets etc are a good way to meet a bunch of them in the flesh, get a sense of them, start a conversation.
If you just want to unload the collection as quickly as possible at the best possible price, I'd recommend two things:
1. local research into who offers the fairest prices (hint: it's very probably different vendors for different kinds of comics -- the extremely rare high-end types not being as interested or as generous with mid-range stuff).
2. online research for a resource that tracks what various titles are currently selling for, as opposed to what people are asking for them (people ask absurd prices for things). But these are best thought of as retail prices. So, for instance (in the context of vinyl), a twenty dollar sale price probably means you'd only get eight or ten dollars from a vendor as you must allow for their overhead and a profit margin. If this sticks in your craw, then you're back to becoming a vendor yourself ...
posted by philip-random at 8:45 AM on May 10, 2019 [3 favorites]
In the context of vinyl, this would mean setting up shop online and at various meets and markets. Even if your longer term goal is to just sell to other sellers, the markets etc are a good way to meet a bunch of them in the flesh, get a sense of them, start a conversation.
If you just want to unload the collection as quickly as possible at the best possible price, I'd recommend two things:
1. local research into who offers the fairest prices (hint: it's very probably different vendors for different kinds of comics -- the extremely rare high-end types not being as interested or as generous with mid-range stuff).
2. online research for a resource that tracks what various titles are currently selling for, as opposed to what people are asking for them (people ask absurd prices for things). But these are best thought of as retail prices. So, for instance (in the context of vinyl), a twenty dollar sale price probably means you'd only get eight or ten dollars from a vendor as you must allow for their overhead and a profit margin. If this sticks in your craw, then you're back to becoming a vendor yourself ...
posted by philip-random at 8:45 AM on May 10, 2019 [3 favorites]
I'm going to go the other way from philip-random, and say that if you're not already knowledgeable about comics, you probably want to work with a reputable auction house for that top 500.
Heritage Auctions is probably the top name in collectibles auctions right now (and if you really do have a $45K book I'm sure they'll be happy to talk to you). I believe that Leila Dunbar also does a lot of comics stuff, although her website is mostly sports collectibles right now. You could also talk with one of the bigger nationally known shops (Metropolis Comics comes to mind) to ask if they can suggest an auction house.
You can also have your books graded through Certified Guaranty Company, and if you choose to sell them yourself, having them professionally graded can certainly increase the overall trust that your buyers will have in your product.
Basically, you can put a lot of time into becoming knowledgeable and selling them yourself online (if you do this, I think having them graded is key, as grading is a real art) or you can trust a professional to assist you. The professional will of course cost some, but my experience with toys and collectibles is that going through an auction house for the higher-end stuff will net you more money in the end, as they're able to connect with more serious buyers who are willing to pay.
posted by anastasiav at 9:11 AM on May 10, 2019 [5 favorites]
Heritage Auctions is probably the top name in collectibles auctions right now (and if you really do have a $45K book I'm sure they'll be happy to talk to you). I believe that Leila Dunbar also does a lot of comics stuff, although her website is mostly sports collectibles right now. You could also talk with one of the bigger nationally known shops (Metropolis Comics comes to mind) to ask if they can suggest an auction house.
You can also have your books graded through Certified Guaranty Company, and if you choose to sell them yourself, having them professionally graded can certainly increase the overall trust that your buyers will have in your product.
Basically, you can put a lot of time into becoming knowledgeable and selling them yourself online (if you do this, I think having them graded is key, as grading is a real art) or you can trust a professional to assist you. The professional will of course cost some, but my experience with toys and collectibles is that going through an auction house for the higher-end stuff will net you more money in the end, as they're able to connect with more serious buyers who are willing to pay.
posted by anastasiav at 9:11 AM on May 10, 2019 [5 favorites]
Used book market you would get 40-50% from a reputable dealer.
posted by mikecable at 12:19 PM on May 10, 2019
posted by mikecable at 12:19 PM on May 10, 2019
25-30% of what the dealer will sell it for is more realistic, in my experience. One standard reference book is the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, updated every year. Find a copy (here are some 2017 editions going for $10-15) and read the intro section on determining condition, since values vary widely depending on whether a used comic is in "good," "very good," "fine" or "near mint" condition, and the industry tries, anyway, to define those terms carefully.
Can you give us 1 or 2 examples of a comic book you and your family member think might be worth $1000? I spent over a decade at a used bookshop that also dealt in comics and it was extremely common for someone to think they had something valuable when in fact it wasn't at all. The Overstreet Guide is a good first step for calibrating your expectations, as are completed sold auctions (not just asking prices, which are often absurd) on eBay.
If you go the professional route, be sure to get at least 2 offers from reputable dealers, as they can vary widely as well.
for instance (in the context of vinyl), a twenty dollar sale price probably means you'd only get eight or ten dollars from a vendor
Not a lot of vinyl shops where I live will pay cash at a rate of 50% of what they'll sell something for. 25-35% is more common. If you take trade credit instead of cash, you're much more likely to get near the 50% mark. A similar situation holds for used comics, in my experience.
posted by mediareport at 3:28 AM on May 11, 2019 [1 favorite]
Can you give us 1 or 2 examples of a comic book you and your family member think might be worth $1000? I spent over a decade at a used bookshop that also dealt in comics and it was extremely common for someone to think they had something valuable when in fact it wasn't at all. The Overstreet Guide is a good first step for calibrating your expectations, as are completed sold auctions (not just asking prices, which are often absurd) on eBay.
If you go the professional route, be sure to get at least 2 offers from reputable dealers, as they can vary widely as well.
for instance (in the context of vinyl), a twenty dollar sale price probably means you'd only get eight or ten dollars from a vendor
Not a lot of vinyl shops where I live will pay cash at a rate of 50% of what they'll sell something for. 25-35% is more common. If you take trade credit instead of cash, you're much more likely to get near the 50% mark. A similar situation holds for used comics, in my experience.
posted by mediareport at 3:28 AM on May 11, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh, and getting the comics professionally graded will cost money - in many cases enough money that any potential increase in value is offset by the fees from the grading company. Grab a dozen of the comics you think are most valuable, check the Overstreet Guide and then compare to grading company fees before making any decision about spending money - and often lots of time - on professional grading.
posted by mediareport at 3:37 AM on May 11, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by mediareport at 3:37 AM on May 11, 2019 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also they have about 1000 more comic books worth under $25.
posted by bbqturtle at 8:11 AM on May 10, 2019