|
Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2021 13:00:45 GMT -5
Why would someone pay $50 shipping for comic book? Because you find it somewhere very far away from you. Yesterday I won an auction for Hulk #228, the comic itself was $57, but shipping and taxes go up to $42.50. The thing that really itches, is that I had located a local (same country) copy in a lesser condition for about 20€. I say "about" because the seller didn't give me a quote for postage; after three weeks actual payment was never made.
Shipping can also just be expensive. One comic from Italy by registered post is 20-25 Euro.
|
|
|
Post by Ozymandias on Jun 14, 2021 13:13:23 GMT -5
Wow, Spain to Germany is half that for a couple of comics, and that's already expensive. It's cheaper the other way around. UK to Spain is also about 10-11€.
Never tried Italy though.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2021 15:04:55 GMT -5
I wanted a couple of those italian L'Uomo Ragno Gigante, they look like this.
From italy, with shipping, I got a nice high grade copy for a total of 31 Euro (shipping was 25 Euro to Florida, USA)
Mile High Comics with discount....US$120....Chuck can just get lost.
|
|
|
Post by Ozymandias on Jun 14, 2021 15:40:52 GMT -5
Foreign editions in particular have ridiculous prices. I sometimes see Spanish comics I've owned in the past and, if I were to believe those prices as something even remotely real, I'd jump out the window. Needless to say, I didn't sell them for even a fraction of MH prices, and many of them where Mint, and I mean 10, you've never seen comics in such a high grade. The people who bought them from me usually said as much.
|
|
|
Post by badwolf on Jun 14, 2021 17:03:10 GMT -5
Wait…Zoom and Reverse Flash are two different characters? I’ve been duped. Completely different. Hunter Zolomon was a criminal profiler who was crippled in an incident involving Grodd. He attempted to use the cosmic treadmill to change events but there was an explosion and he was given the ability to move differently through time in a way that looked like super-speed. The name "Zoom" is derived from his last name. (A little contrived, but cool in a comic book way.)
|
|
|
Post by Ozymandias on Jun 15, 2021 0:14:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Jun 16, 2021 7:29:04 GMT -5
Well, I took the plunge and put some books up for auction on eBay. After 1 hour , I sold Marvel Premiere 15 for 200 buy it now option. Now I know how shax feels.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2021 7:36:08 GMT -5
Not a surprise that Shazam! #28 (Black Adam issue) has skyrocketed in this already red hot market with the movie also coming out.
This is the showstopper for me to complete a run on that series, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a Bronze Age book when I think of the purchasing power that would give me for Silver Age material. Yet again, I know it's the old "current demand exceeding supply", but there are SO many of these 70's issues out there, I could be wrong and this is optimism for a better price in the future, but I just don't think those prices are the new normal.
Inflation is one thing, but I question if the spending frenzy also has people wracking up some debt (not like there has been a ton of additional disposable income, and collectors are known to be an impulsive lot at times!) and how much of a bubble this might be.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2021 7:54:27 GMT -5
Not a surprise that Shazam! #28 (Black Adam issue) has skyrocketed in this already red hot market with the movie also coming out. This is the showstopper for me to complete a run on that series, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a Bronze Age book when I think of the purchasing power that would give me for Silver Age material. Yet again, I know it's the old "current demand exceeding supply", but there are SO many of these 70's issues out there, I could be wrong and this is optimism for a better price in the future, but I just don't think those prices are the new normal. Inflation is one thing, but I question if the spending frenzy also has people wracking up some debt (not like there has been a ton of additional disposable income, and collectors are known to be an impulsive lot at times!) and how much of a bubble this might be. In terms of supply, Bronze Age books usually had smaller print runs than the Silver Age, so there are no less Silver Age books out there than Bronze. Silver Age keys aren't rare or scarce. They're plentiful in a sense. Prices for them are demand driven, not a scarcity issue. You can find any (Marvel) Silver key you want, with just a little effort. Affording it is another matter. It is far easier to find Marvel than DC form the era though (but DC is still not rare or scarce). A large part of that though, is that the early collecting community grew in the ads and classified pages in the Marvel books of the late 60s and early 70s, when most of the figures that would emerge as key players (the Robert Bell's and Robert Beerbohm's of the world for example) were advertising their wares, catalogs and buying lists, and those guys were buying up Marvels by the fistful to build their inventories as well. A lot of the animus for the collecting community transferred with the advent of things like The Buyer's Guide and the Overstreet Guide, but those ads remained ubiquitous in Marvel books into the 80s (when things like the Mile High ads and East Coast Comics ads began to proliferate as well). The DC books of the late 60s/70s didn't run those classified ad type pages, so the early dealers didn't advertise there, so the awareness of the collectability of the books didn't foster as quickly or as widespread among the DC readership/fans as it did in the Marvel crowd, hence there being far more copies of Marvel stuff from that era being bought up and made available, and also why those books to this day are not rare. -M
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Jun 16, 2021 8:04:05 GMT -5
Not a surprise that Shazam! #28 (Black Adam issue) has skyrocketed in this already red hot market with the movie also coming out. This is the showstopper for me to complete a run on that series, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a Bronze Age book when I think of the purchasing power that would give me for Silver Age material. Yet again, I know it's the old "current demand exceeding supply", but there are SO many of these 70's issues out there, I could be wrong and this is optimism for a better price in the future, but I just don't think those prices are the new normal. Inflation is one thing, but I question if the spending frenzy also has people wracking up some debt (not like there has been a ton of additional disposable income, and collectors are known to be an impulsive lot at times!) and how much of a bubble this might be. I have the same situation with DC comics presents #49. It also features Black Adam and it’s going for around 150. I don’t need it that bad.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2021 8:35:14 GMT -5
Not a surprise that Shazam! #28 (Black Adam issue) has skyrocketed in this already red hot market with the movie also coming out. This is the showstopper for me to complete a run on that series, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a Bronze Age book when I think of the purchasing power that would give me for Silver Age material. Yet again, I know it's the old "current demand exceeding supply", but there are SO many of these 70's issues out there, I could be wrong and this is optimism for a better price in the future, but I just don't think those prices are the new normal. Inflation is one thing, but I question if the spending frenzy also has people wracking up some debt (not like there has been a ton of additional disposable income, and collectors are known to be an impulsive lot at times!) and how much of a bubble this might be. In terms of supply, Bronze Age books usually had smaller print runs than the Silver Age, so there are no less Silver Age books out there than Bronze. Silver Age keys aren't rare or scarce. They're plentiful in a sense. Prices for them are demand driven, not a scarcity issue. You can find any (Marvel) Silver key you want, with just a little effort. Affording it is another matter. It is far easier to find Marvel than DC form the era though (but DC is still not rare or scarce). A large part of that though, is that the early collecting community grew in the ads and classified pages in the Marvel books of the late 60s and early 70s, when most of the figures that would emerge as key players (the Robert Bell's and Robert Beerbohm's of the world for example) were advertising their wares, catalogs and buying lists, and those guys were buying up Marvels by the fistful to build their inventories as well. A lot of the animus for the collecting community transferred with the advent of things like The Buyer's Guide and the Overstreet Guide, but those ads remained ubiquitous in Marvel books into the 80s (when things like the Mile High ads and East Coast Comics ads began to proliferate as well). The DC books of the late 60s/70s didn't run those classified ad type pages, so the early dealers didn't advertise there, so the awareness of the collectability of the books didn't foster as quickly or as widespread among the DC readership/fans as it did in the Marvel crowd, hence there being far more copies of Marvel stuff from that era being bought up and made available, and also why those books to this day are not rare. -M First off, just wanted to say I love the knowledge of folks here like yourself. Even after decades of collecting, I'm learning things on a regular basis with this group and it's fantastic. So back on scarcity, to that point I appreciate what you pointed out on print runs. My perspective has been formed more on scouring 60's and 70's back issues from the 80's to present at shop, conventions, mail service, and online. Initial print runs aside (and obviously that important demand consideration), what are your thoughts more on "condition" census numbers of Silver Age versus Bronze? I can find low grade Silver Age issues any day of the week other than the established true keys (and even there generally with some patience). But more collector grade (I don't mean slabbed 9.X, more like raw VF, VF+) for me have been more scarce than the equivalent Bronze Age. Part of it...obviously simple age I would think. But I've wondered if storage/handling have been factors. As in, how much did Bronze Age books getting into bag/boards earlier in their lifespan than Silver Age on average potentially factor into this? That makes sense as well though on what you mentioned in terms of the advertisements and guides and influence on developing the collector community.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2021 9:04:15 GMT -5
Not a surprise that Shazam! #28 (Black Adam issue) has skyrocketed in this already red hot market with the movie also coming out. This is the showstopper for me to complete a run on that series, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on a Bronze Age book when I think of the purchasing power that would give me for Silver Age material. Yet again, I know it's the old "current demand exceeding supply", but there are SO many of these 70's issues out there, I could be wrong and this is optimism for a better price in the future, but I just don't think those prices are the new normal. Inflation is one thing, but I question if the spending frenzy also has people wracking up some debt (not like there has been a ton of additional disposable income, and collectors are known to be an impulsive lot at times!) and how much of a bubble this might be. I have the same situation with DC comics presents #49. It also features Black Adam and it’s going for around 150. I don’t need it that bad. Aw man, you're going to hate me again, but I have that one. I know you wanted Flash #197 as well...any chance you have a Shazam! #28 as part of a trade deal? I'll trade you both!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2021 9:18:20 GMT -5
In terms of supply, Bronze Age books usually had smaller print runs than the Silver Age, so there are no less Silver Age books out there than Bronze. Silver Age keys aren't rare or scarce. They're plentiful in a sense. Prices for them are demand driven, not a scarcity issue. You can find any (Marvel) Silver key you want, with just a little effort. Affording it is another matter. It is far easier to find Marvel than DC form the era though (but DC is still not rare or scarce). A large part of that though, is that the early collecting community grew in the ads and classified pages in the Marvel books of the late 60s and early 70s, when most of the figures that would emerge as key players (the Robert Bell's and Robert Beerbohm's of the world for example) were advertising their wares, catalogs and buying lists, and those guys were buying up Marvels by the fistful to build their inventories as well. A lot of the animus for the collecting community transferred with the advent of things like The Buyer's Guide and the Overstreet Guide, but those ads remained ubiquitous in Marvel books into the 80s (when things like the Mile High ads and East Coast Comics ads began to proliferate as well). The DC books of the late 60s/70s didn't run those classified ad type pages, so the early dealers didn't advertise there, so the awareness of the collectability of the books didn't foster as quickly or as widespread among the DC readership/fans as it did in the Marvel crowd, hence there being far more copies of Marvel stuff from that era being bought up and made available, and also why those books to this day are not rare. -M First off, just wanted to say I love the knowledge of folks here like yourself. Even after decades of collecting, I'm learning things on a regular basis with this group and it's fantastic. So back on scarcity, to that point I appreciate what you pointed out on print runs. My perspective has been formed more on scouring 60's and 70's back issues from the 80's to present at shop, conventions, mail service, and online. Initial print runs aside (and obviously that important demand consideration), what are your thoughts more on "condition" census numbers of Silver Age versus Bronze? I can find low grade Silver Age issues any day of the week other than the established true keys (and even there generally with some patience). But more collector grade (I don't mean slabbed 9.X, more like raw VF, VF+) for me have been more scarce than the equivalent Bronze Age. Part of it...obviously simple age I would think. But I've wondered if storage/handling have been factors. As in, how much did Bronze Age books getting into bag/boards earlier in their lifespan than Silver Age on average potentially factor into this? That makes sense as well though on what you mentioned in terms of the advertisements and guides and influence on developing the collector community. Well bags and boards for comics didn't become a thing until the 70s, so year, Silver Age books lived longer before they were entombed in plastic. Also, Seuling and the boys weren't ordering books in bulk to sell to collectors until the 70s, so all the Silver Age stuff had to live on the spinners racks, shelves, and other display devices of newsstands and stores before reaching end customers while a lot of Bronze Age books went right to comic dealers and then into the hands of end customers, so they didn't have the wear and tear on them. Also by the Bronze Age, collecting had become a thing and copies were bought and saved that weren't reading copies, while few Silver Age books were bought that weren't read (many several times) which is going to result in lowering the condition. As for seeing Silver in the wild, I think the market has moved beyond shops and cons for those things now and they are the purview of auction houses for the most part now. The pricing in the market is such that those who have them for sale aren't going to risk dinging them up on display at a shop or travelling back and forth to cons and risk them losing value. They are going to be sold by companies whose primary function is dealing with high end merchandise that has to be handled with care to retain it's market value. There's no less of them out there, but you have to go where they are to find them. That was no less true in the "old days" when you had to go to shops or cons, but the place where you have to go has evolved as the market has. -M
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2021 9:24:02 GMT -5
An addendum- a lot of the higher grade raw stuff I have seen hit the market over the last 5-10 years has come from collectors who are cashing out as they have aged out and retire liquidating things to fund their retirement or pay for medical costs, or from estates of collectors who have passed. And those books aren't being sold to comics dealers who do cons or own shops, they're being handled by estate auctions, high end auction houses, big time online dealers (like mycomicshop) that travel to buy collections and handle large consignments in their own auctions or in the auction circuit.
People are aware of those books market value and aren't going to sell them cheap to shop owners and con vendors who then flip them. They are going to sell them in venues where they can get top dollar. It's not a scarcity issue, so much as a change in the understanding of their value and who is handling the sales.
-M
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2021 9:33:53 GMT -5
First off, just wanted to say I love the knowledge of folks here like yourself. Even after decades of collecting, I'm learning things on a regular basis with this group and it's fantastic. So back on scarcity, to that point I appreciate what you pointed out on print runs. My perspective has been formed more on scouring 60's and 70's back issues from the 80's to present at shop, conventions, mail service, and online. Initial print runs aside (and obviously that important demand consideration), what are your thoughts more on "condition" census numbers of Silver Age versus Bronze? I can find low grade Silver Age issues any day of the week other than the established true keys (and even there generally with some patience). But more collector grade (I don't mean slabbed 9.X, more like raw VF, VF+) for me have been more scarce than the equivalent Bronze Age. Part of it...obviously simple age I would think. But I've wondered if storage/handling have been factors. As in, how much did Bronze Age books getting into bag/boards earlier in their lifespan than Silver Age on average potentially factor into this? That makes sense as well though on what you mentioned in terms of the advertisements and guides and influence on developing the collector community. Well bags and boards for comics didn't become a thing until the 70s, so year, Silver Age books lived longer before they were entombed in plastic. Also, Seuling and the boys weren't ordering books in bulk to sell to collectors until the 70s, so all the Silver Age stuff had to live on the spinners racks, shelves, and other display devices of newsstands and stores before reaching end customers while a lot of Bronze Age books went right to comic dealers and then into the hands of end customers, so they didn't have the wear and tear on them. Also by the Bronze Age, collecting had become a thing and copies were bought and saved that weren't reading copies, while few Silver Age books were bought that weren't read (many several times) which is going to result in lowering the condition. As for seeing Silver in the wild, I think the market has moved beyond shops and cons for those things now and they are the purview of auction houses for the most part now. The pricing in the market is such that those who have them for sale aren't going to risk dinging them up on display at a shop or travelling back and forth to cons and risk them losing value. They are going to be sold by companies whose primary function is dealing with high end merchandise that has to be handled with care to retain it's market value. There's no less of them out there, but you have to go where they are to find them. That was no less true in the "old days" when you had to go to shops or cons, but the place where you have to go has evolved as the market has. -M Yeah, that all really makes sense. I SO miss those old days of the great conventions. I still remember a particularly fun one about 20 years ago, it was the old Mid-Ohio Con which always tended to be great in general (pre Wizard buyout like so many others, BOO Wizard World!) and got my first Golden Age issue, Adventure #57 with Hourman on the cover ($300, most I had EVER spent on a comic book). Mart Nodell was there too! And Silver Age issues for sale galore. (cut to wistful middle aged man-child staring out to somewhere...) Those were the days...
|
|