posted on September 4, 2001 06:26:08 AM
Good morning,
I recently purchased a ton of comic books - mostly super hero types - for about a penny and a half a piece.
I've been through about a third of them, and so far have only run across two that are worth auctioning by themselves.
Do comics lots do well on eBay? How should they be presented (lots of 20, 50, etc.) (by year w/in each hero?)? Would I be better off selling them for 50 cents to a dollar each at a b&m?
posted on September 4, 2001 07:29:31 AM
Depends on the condition, age, and popularity of the comics. Used comics are in a a slump, due mostly to the glut of material issued in the 1980s to the present, hoarding by collectors, and increased awareness of value in general. Older comics still tend to do ok.
I'd sell those two that you identified seperately. If you have any full runs of a title (usually mini-series or a short-lived title) then offer them as a full set. For longer-running series, I'd break them up in lots based on year, assuming you have the full set for the year. If you have a hodgepodge of comics and titles without having any straight runs, then try to group them together by superhero or at the very least by publisher (ie, don't mix Marvel with DC).
Your last resort is to sell to a comic shop - it sounds like your titles aren't major sellers to begin with, and the comic shop guy won't pay you much for them. If these are more recent vintage (1980s to present) comics, the comic store is likely to offer you considerably less than the 50 cents to a dollar per comic (unless you know a dealer in your area who will pay that much, but most won't).
You may also want to invest in Overstreet's Comic Book Price Guide, not so much as a price guide but it's still an excellent reference book if you think you may be selling comics on a regular basis. Good luck!
posted on September 4, 2001 08:36:56 AM
Hi Sadie!
The Comic Book Enthusiasts are by far the most incredible collectors on eBay
(no offense intended)
There is a phenomenal Comic Board on eBay. Helpful and informative posters.
Depending on the age of the books, a retail store is probably not a very good idea.
For my Dad's comics, I was offered $100 at a place I had frequented for years.
Totally unfamiliar with comics & eBay, without a digital camera, in lots, I cleared over $2000 for the books.
If not for the help of my bidders, it would have been about half of that.
If I knew what I was doing, in hindsight, I probably could have gotten a few hundred more.
Best of Luck!
posted on September 4, 2001 10:26:54 AMzoomin I agree 100%. The eBay Comics Board is full of the friendliest and most knowledgeable people you'll find online (or in person, for that matter). I don't think there's a question that they can't answer...
Let me know what you find - I'm still sitting on that bunch in the storage unit. I haven't had the time to do anymore but glance through them - mostly 70's and up.
There are some interesting looking ones - lots of independent publisher's - does anyone know if these have a following. There are also some Japanese Anime (?sp) style ones - I am so lost with all of these!
posted on September 4, 2001 04:25:11 PM
Thank you all so much for your input and help! I'll check out the comic book board at eBay and see how I fare.
Hi Jane!
I envy you that storage building. Having taken two weeks off from selling while continuing to buy, I exaggerate not: there is a path from my front door to the kitchen and now there are even boxes of stuff in my bedroom! That's a first. On each side of the path are boxes of books, dolls, tchockes, oh and a saddle I found for $20 <--big happy grin.
So, I'm working my way slowly through the DC and Marvel first. There are a few independents in my group too.
My new strategy: almost everything with an isbn goes straight to the big A rather than eBay. I've made quite a dent since I decided to do this.
I'll post here and/or at BSFI when I find out how my lots do.
I never thought about listing them there (I amazed myself with the notes - they are still selling!)
And Kudos for being able to list (and for the saddle - good shape?)I'm still trying to organize! (hey - as an add on to a prev discussion - some tack items can be cross listed if you know what I mean!)
posted on September 5, 2001 09:40:31 PM
Crystalline -
I only have about 15 of them at the house - the rest are in storage - there are some manga here though -
Bio-Booster Armor Guyver
Crying Freeman - Mr. Yo,part 1
Some of the more interesting ones (or so I thought) -
Racer X Premiere issue - (speed racer's older brother)
Cable (X-men) Sins of the Mother
Give Me Liberty - An American Dream (series from Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons)
There is also a cool all red inked cover - Tiger 2021 - the drawings are all black & white - from the looks of it, it may have been self-issued - it's a preview issue and shows the pub as Anubis Press.
I haven't even looked at the super hero ones - I'm not sure how many there are in storage, but my dh says just sell them as one lot - there are probably 7-10 full comic carriers (the long white boxes) full. I think I'd fare much beeter breaking them up, but haven't even thought about how to do it!
posted on September 6, 2001 10:14:43 PM
Are there any Funny animal comics (also known as Antropomorphic or Furry) among the independents?
Recently "Albedo Anthropomorphics" #2 vol 1 sold for over $300 on ebay.
it is the First appearance of Usagi Yojimbo
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Don't take life so serious, it ain't nohow permanent.
