Selling old comic books...

Mike Frezon · 05-03-2008, 08:08 PM

I'm thinking about selling off a small collection of comic books (maybe a few hundred) which I collected when I was a young teenager. Most titles would be DC and from the late-60s to mid-70s (Action, Adventure, JLA, Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, World's Finest, various odds and ends). That list is from memory. I haven't looked at them in years. There is also some Daredevil from Marvel.

My question is what would likely be the best way to maximize my gain on the sale of these comics? eBay (shudder), take them to an auction house, contact collectors, advertise in trade publications? I'm not sure where to begin.

Of course, I want it all: high gain, low effort.

I'm not even sure there is much of a market for this kind of material. Does anyone know of any good on-line resources to figure that out?

Thanks!

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Joseph J.D · 05-03-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

My question is what would likely be the best way to maximize my gain on the sale of these comics? eBay (shudder), take them to an auction house, contact collectors, advertise in trade publications? I'm not sure where to begin.

Of course, I want it all: high gain, low effort.

I'm not even sure there is much of a market for this kind of material. Does anyone know of any good on-line resources to figure that out?

Thanks!

Mike, I would say that the best option would be to get a table at a local comic convention (best time is spring and summer- bigger conventions and of course, more buyers) and just sell them that way. At least that way, you have control on the price as opposed to eBay. As someone who also has a sizable collection sitting in boxes gathering dust, that would be my option.....although I'm too lazy to price them. Too time consuming......cuts into my movie watching time.

Greg_S_H · 05-03-2008, 10:34 PM

These guys buy a lot of comics. I've been shopping in their stores since the early '80s, so they are reputable. I've never sold them comics, so I don't know exactly what it entails. But, you've got comics from the era they want, and they are always publicizing the high dollar amounts they give people they deal with. It's worth a look:

Comic Books - We Buy Comics

TravisR · 05-03-2008, 10:37 PM

To see what they're going for, I'd say to look up each issue on eBay and it'll give you an idea of how much they're going for. Needless to say, the condition will matter (especially since guys buying that era of comics will probably be OCD about it).

The easiest thing would be to sell them as a lot to a dealer but if you want to maximize your profit, I'd sell them individually on eBay. Set the price low (like a buck) and take what you can get. It'll make you more money than it would sitting in a box. Of course, the same could be said about selling them as a lot to a dealer and saving yourself the headache of eBay.

And if you've got a copy of Amazing Fantasy 15, it's not worth anything but I'll give you $5 for it.

Doro · 05-04-2008, 08:58 PM

The act of selling comic books is much like selling vinyl....a tedious process. I'd bulk them out if they were under 50. I just rebagged all 6000 of mine in mylar for the long haul. I sure hope I live that long.

Mark

JonZ · 05-05-2008, 07:47 AM

And theyre just not worth what they used to be before ebay.

Jason L. · 05-05-2008, 07:59 AM

I have a few boxes of comics as well. I wish I had a nephew to give them to - but I don't. I don't want to throw them away, yet selling them would be a pain in the ass. So they continue to sit in my closet.

Bryan^H · 05-05-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

I'm thinking about selling off a small collection of comic books (maybe a few hundred) which I collected when I was a young teenager. Most titles would be DC and from the late-60s to mid-70s (Action, Adventure, JLA, Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, World's Finest, various odds and ends). That list is from memory. I haven't looked at them in years. There is also some Daredevil from Marvel.

My question is what would likely be the best way to maximize my gain on the sale of these comics? eBay (shudder), take them to an auction house, contact collectors, advertise in trade publications? I'm not sure where to begin.

Of course, I want it all: high gain, low effort.

I'm not even sure there is much of a market for this kind of material. Does anyone know of any good on-line resources to figure that out?

Thanks!

Try selling a comic grouping as a lot on EBAY(maybe 25 using some good pics) and see what it does for you. It's probably your best bet considering you would get much, much less from a comic book dealer.

Stephen Orr · 05-07-2008, 12:49 PM

I'm in the same boat. Tons of 80's and 90's Xmen and related titles. Just sitting in bags and boxes high in my closet. Well, my son is getting married in a few weeks. Maybe I'll just foist them on him...

Mike Frezon · 05-07-2008, 01:01 PM

I guess it makes a lot of sense that while it might be EASIER to take them to a dealer and be done with it, maximum return dictates trying to find a collector to get top dollar.

Raasean Asaad · 05-07-2008, 02:28 PM

I'm open to purchasing lots from any of you. Make me a deal!

Russell G · 05-08-2008, 05:27 PM

meh, I tried ebaying some, they all sold for good prices, I just never got the money sent to me, and since I refused to ship them without seeing the payment, I got a bunch of slander negative review posting. so I pretty much dump them at used book stores / donate them to the library if none of my friends want them.

Andy Sheets · 05-08-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell G

meh, I tried ebaying some, they all sold for good prices, I just never got the money sent to me, and since I refused to ship them without seeing the payment, I got a bunch of slander negative review posti