shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Jun 27, 2020 1:07:47 GMT -5
As some of you know, I was young, employed, and without kids and major financial obligations when the back issue market pretty much tanked in the early 2000s. Many of the key issues I bought then are now worth 5-10x what I paid. I figure I have no excuses; it's time to sell a lot of this off.
Oh, I'll keep the ones that matter most to me, but (for example) what am I doing with an Avengers #4? I love the story, but I'm no diehard Cap fan. I don't NEED this book.
And man, what those early Usagi Yojimbo appearances are selling for now!
I was a big time toy seller on ebay well over a decade ago, but I stopped selling on ebay entirely after briefly venturing into selling comics and finding many buyers to be underhanded and stress-inducing. But I'm looking at the dollar signs and figuring I need to give it another try.
But I haven't sold on ebay in years. There is so much I don't know. So, for anyone who has sold on ebay recently, what do I need to know beyond the obvious? What pitfalls can I avoid, what strategies will get me more visibility and better sales?
I'd love any advice I can get!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 27, 2020 7:44:44 GMT -5
The one true answer is to sell them to me and for roughly 10 cents per pound.
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Post by The Captain on Jun 27, 2020 7:52:23 GMT -5
Well, you're going to put that Avengers #4 in a box and mail it to me. Problem solved!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2020 10:53:34 GMT -5
There has been an increase in clowns who have successful bids - and then try and get out of buying. Honour means nothing to them.
A friend of mine sold something on eBay. The winning bidder turned out to be a clown who claims he accidentally bid. Yeah, I’m sure he tripped over and his hand accidentally hit the “Bid” button of a product my friend was selling.
My advice, stick to a “Buy It Now” sell. And report clowns who go back on sales.
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Post by Phil Maurice on Jun 27, 2020 12:37:40 GMT -5
Consider having your higher-value books professionally graded. This eliminates arguments over grade and can enhance the value of your books. I use CGC and CBCS and have had pleasant experiences with both.
Consider selling on ComicLink, which is targeted exclusively at comic book collectors. They are a full-service broker and handle all interactions with the buyer. Once a sale price has been agreed upon, you ship the book to ComicLink and you're done. They charge a flat 10% of the sale price. I've sold several books there with complete satisfaction.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Jun 27, 2020 12:39:08 GMT -5
Consider having your higher-value books professionally graded. This eliminates arguments over grade and can enhance the value of your books. I use CGC and CBCS and have had pleasant experiences with both. I was planning to do this, yes. Great advice. Never heard of this before. Thank you! |
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Post by Prince Hal on Jun 27, 2020 13:29:42 GMT -5
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Jun 27, 2020 15:06:43 GMT -5
No. I'm more of a plan, debate, and second-guess for three weeks before taking the first step kind of guy. |
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Post by beccabear67 on Jun 27, 2020 15:27:50 GMT -5
Hint: rare is the most overused word in eBay listings. It has become entirely meaningless.  |
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Post by Prince Hal on Jun 27, 2020 15:31:20 GMT -5
No. I'm more of a plan, debate, and second-guess for three weeks before taking the first step kind of guy. Too bad. At that price, I would’ve bought two. |
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Post by beccabear67 on Jun 27, 2020 16:46:35 GMT -5
Well, I think I do have a Megaton #1 someplace. I saw that was worth a lot more than I ever expected. I also had even earlier comics with crude four color covers Erik Larsen did titled Graphic Fantasy (#1 &2, possibly #3 as well?) but no idea what they are worth to anyone, one has his Dragon guy in it. These must be genuinely 'rare'. I have a hand written letter from him as well talking about what he looks for in an inker. I have some early Albedo and Critters with Usagi Yojimbo in it (though I dropped Critters after #3). It's weird what becomes hot and what stays cold decade after decade... I'm betting my run of Dog Boy comics is probably not any great treasure dollar-wise... or Cutey Bunny, Xenozoic Tales, Omaha, Slow Death, Mars, Zot... but Bone I heard about, it's amazing I managed to picked up #1-4 as I was almost buying no new comics at that time.
I'm tempted to consider listing various oddball items I just have zero feeling for on eBay; I have this oversized 'Sally Forth' Wally Wood book I ended up with and have never had any desire to keep. It was in a lot with two volumes of The Wizard King in hardcover with dust-jackets and early issues of Vortex... I think maybe Peter Hsu once owned these. Unfortunately most shop promo posters I ended up with were used and not in great shape, but some of them have never had appeal to me.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jun 27, 2020 17:06:18 GMT -5
Hint: rare is the most overused word in eBay listings. It has become entirely meaningless. I don't really sell things, but as a buyer, I can tell you what makes me happy in a listing - - Stay away from nonsense like 'KEY ISSUE!!!' 'HOT!!!' We all know what it is. -Keep it simple: Avengers #4, CGC x.x, 1st Silver Age Captain America - Don't list other characters in the listing, it annoys me greatly when I'm searching for, say, Avengers 223, it drives me nuts when Iron Man 223 and Thor 223 pop up too because people threw it in their listing to get it to pop up more. - Make sure the shipping is actually just shipping, and you're not using it to ensure your margin. I have definitely not bid on listings because the seller was trying to hard to trick me. |
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Post by The Captain on Jun 27, 2020 18:35:23 GMT -5
Hint: rare is the most overused word in eBay listings. It has become entirely meaningless. I don't really sell things, but as a buyer, I can tell you what makes me happy in a listing - - Stay away from nonsense like 'KEY ISSUE!!!' 'HOT!!!' We all know what it is. -Keep it simple: Avengers #4, CGC x.x, 1st Silver Age Captain America - Don't list other characters in the listing, it annoys me greatly when I'm searching for, say, Avengers 223, it drives me nuts when Iron Man 223 and Thor 223 pop up too because people threw it in their listing to get it to pop up more. - Make sure the shipping is actually just shipping, and you're not using it to ensure your margin.I have definitely not bid on listings because the seller was trying to hard to trick me. IRT the bolded, I agree with you for the most part. I don't do auctions on eBay, as all of my listings are Buy It Now (some with "Make an Offer"), and I factor rough shipping costs and eBay/Paypal fees into the cost of the item. Sometimes I take a hit on the shipping, sometimes I make out, so I feel like it all balances out in the end. I like your "Keep it simple" suggestion. I sell a lot of Magic cards on eBay, and my listings are "MTG, Card Name xNumber of Copies, Set Card is From". That's it, unless I add the format the card is typically played in (Standard, Modern, Commander). Otherwise, I just let the listing sell itself. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2020 19:09:35 GMT -5
Make sure you put tracking on your package to prove you sent it.
Or someone can claim it never arrived when it fact it did...and demand a refund which ebay will enforce at your expense.
If I'm selling, I'd put NO RETURNS to prevent items being switched and returned for a refund.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Jun 27, 2020 21:13:55 GMT -5
Hint: rare is the most overused word in eBay listings. It has become entirely meaningless. I don't really sell things, but as a buyer, I can tell you what makes me happy in a listing - - Stay away from nonsense like 'KEY ISSUE!!!' 'HOT!!!' We all know what it is. -Keep it simple: Avengers #4, CGC x.x, 1st Silver Age Captain America - Don't list other characters in the listing, it annoys me greatly when I'm searching for, say, Avengers 223, it drives me nuts when Iron Man 223 and Thor 223 pop up too because people threw it in their listing to get it to pop up more. - Make sure the shipping is actually just shipping, and you're not using it to ensure your margin. I have definitely not bid on listings because the seller was trying to hard to trick me. Good tips. I intend to offer free shipping for the lower 48 states. I know $56.99 plus free shipping somehow goes a lot further with customers than $51 + 5.99 shipping. |
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