stormflora

I haven't used eBay in quite some time, only returning back to it recently for my current comic collecting, and I've certainly experienced these issues over and over. Because the profit margins of comic sellers are so slim due to the perpetual increase of eBay commissions, they struggle to make a sale with lower priced comics under $50 or $100. But those buyers make up at least half of all their sales, so they have to cope. eBay itself is flawed in so many different ways, and they don't try to simplify anything for anyone, because they're trying to squeeze profits out of everyone. Their shipping program is both anti-seller and anti-buyer as they charge a ridiculous amount of shipping from the buyer that never reaches the seller's pockets, which obscures and confuses sellers when they want to provide combined shipping (via a proper invoice, which also costs sellers extra to issue) but want to game the system by doing a shipping refund instead. From what I've learned, there are ways to protect yourself as a buyer: 1) If you can pay for the cart for a specific seller and the shipping costs are automatically calculated, that is the best situation to be in. 2) If you can request an invoice without an error code, that is also a good situation to be in. 3) If you don't need to pay immediately, you can hold onto the order and wait for the seller to issue an invoice. The whole "I will issue you an overpaid shipping refund" is a huge mess you do not want to ever get involved with. Just don't bother.

1) Get the items, leave 1/5 stars negative feedback. "I certainly do know how business works around here." 2) Report user to eBay for being an AH, quoting it as seller directly insulting you, and explicitly tell the seller you're doing so as well, then ignore him on purpose. eBay does take action for these kinds of reports; they don't take them lightly.

PayPal eats anywhere from 3-6% of the amount received. However, high volumes and big businesses can set up agreements with them to get lower fees. Also, there's always ways for merchants to push some of the fees onto the buyer, without them realizing.

As someone who is far younger than most here (I'm only 30), modern technology has helped a lot when it comes to literature. You can read most stuff online, typically at a discounted rate or free, and then buy it to collect if you really resonate with it. And one highly underrated resource is the local library. You can take out a ton of TPBs and compilations for free. Some libraries subscribe to online eBook systems as well, which also provides you with a massive catalogue of free comics at your own leisure.

Yeah, kind of goes in line with how cartoon comics are already low priority to most collectors. Superhero comics will always be the most emphasized. Still, it's nice to have a unique piece to frame and put on a wall.

It's always nice to see people who are interested in collecting these cartoon comics rather than cliche superhero comics. I'm guessing those two costed you hundreds to thousands of dollars? I've had a slight interested in collecting Road Runner, but I kind of put that intention aside as I did not want to overextend my budget and become impulsive

I've finally completed the rare (non-superhero) Whitman cheat sheet. Took me a while. Should be useful for anyone quickly browsing around lots/unspecified listings/yard sales/etc.

Nice, original art. I think that they can't really be compared, since original art doesn't garner nearly as much exposure as actual comic issues. However, if you were to bundle it together with an actual issue that's at least Fine or Near Mint, I think that would make it worth quite a pretty penny.

Hm, I can't seem to find a picture of Pink Panther #78 (40c variant) anywhere. Is it extremely rare or something? Do you have a photo, @bellrules?

The WDC&S series itself isn't super valuable compared to many of the others, anyway.

I don't like how Doug Sulipa's site is so poorly written and designed. It hurts to look at, lol. Also, the prices he charges are arguably just as bad or worse than Mile High Comics.

According to Mike's, Super Goof #60 isn't considered rare. Mike's Amazing World of Comics (archive.org)

Got it, thanks. Specifically those, and not any others. Super Goof #60 isn't on my rare list. Maybe you had some misinformation from a source. Battle of the Planets #7-9 Beep Beep Road Runner #91-93 Black Hole #4 Buck Rogers #8-9 Bugs Bunny #221-223 Chip 'n' Dale #67-69 Daffy Duck #129-131 Daisy and Donald #45-47 Donald Duck #221-225 Huey, Dewey and Louie #65-67 Little Lulu #260-262 Looney Tunes #33-35 Mickey Mouse #207-209 Pink Panther #75-78 Popeye #158-159 Porky Pig #97-98 Super Goof #61-63 Tom and Jerry #330-332 Tweety and Sylvester #105-107 Uncle Scrooge #179-182 Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #479-484 Winnie the Pooh #20-22 Woody Woodpecker #190-191 Yosemite Sam #68-70

IIRC, you said that all of the rare Whitmans priced as 50c/60c are reprints and not worth collecting, right? Or are they just not as valuable as their 40c originals, but still uncommon?

What is the highest and lowest price you've paid for one of the three-packs? Do you own all of them now? And it's understandable that CGC won't bother. Hard to tell whether or not it's been repackaged and the contents are not totally legitimate. In the meanwhile, I'm creating a visual key/guide for the rare Whitman comics. Hard to go through a text list when sellers don't always write out the issue number.

Weird... Definitely confusing. When you bought all of the three-packs sealed (from Facebook and otherwise), did they cost a fortune? I couldn't fathom them being cheap. But definitely cool to collect. I wonder if CGC could even slab them with their bags intact, or if that isn't part of their services.

I guess it boils back to this whole rarity chart: Whitman variants in the 80's were direct to store in three-packs. So I guess it's kind of a competition between whether high grade GK or Whitman is more valuable. But the GK imprint died at April '80 as you said, so it became rare for the low quantity published in general. Thanks for the clarification

Oh, I think I get what you mean now. So for BotP #1-5, although there are both GK and Whitman variants, the latter is harder to find? Shouldn't GK (newsstand) in high grade be harder to find, though?

Ah, so I scored a good one. Nice. Aren't the Whitman variants sort-of reprints of the Gold Key ones, though? Is Battle of the Planets difficult to collect a run of?

These are so bizarre yet fascinating finds. You definitely did the right thing in showing them off so that the world can know about their historical significance.

Side question, do you have a list of the DC Whitman variants as well? I'm browsing through eBay, and the majority of these Marvel Whitman variants aren't worth much at all. A store I've bought from twice already has a ton of them for just a few bucks each. I guess the part of the article that came along with the checklist talking about how the value of Marvel Whitman variants remaining uncertain is quite true. It'll probably take decades before they ever appreciate in value.

eBay is still going to one of best means of selling at FMV, since you can actually look up prices of current/ended sales to get a good estimate for what your slabs would sell at as well. Any other dealer/business/pawn shop/etc. is going to undervalue your stuff since they need to make a profit too. Makes eBay's commission fees look desirable in comparison. Otherwise, try joining some comic resale groups on Facebook and try for domestic resale directly between seller and buyer. Consignment at some places too.

Spending days to weeks searching up each and every item's price and condition on eBay, and figuring out its fair market value. You'll be given awful offers trying to liquidate/pawn it at any such store. They have to make a profit, so they are going to undervalue it 95% of the time. Only way to get a proper value is to find the street (market) prices yourself. And that takes time.

^ This. In theory, sure. But in practice, it highly depends, but more likely to not be possible. Most creators involved with commercial IPs sign NDAs and other agreements not to sell/part with any materials that pertain to the IP in question. The only possibility is if they themselves were provided with a standard retail copy, which is identical to what would be in stores. And this does not necessarily mean that it's going to be NM/M or anything like that. They could treat the comic just like anyone else does. Plus, you need to be willing to pay them a premium for their time and also the work involved in shipping. Unless you're absolutely desperate to get a comic early or know that it's rare for being discontinued or something like that, it's probably not advisable.

Standards change over time, due to fatigue or impatience or otherwise. It's far easier to deal with people who are not the actual owners/managers or are related to them, as they have less of an incentive to care, being paid a typical paycheck. As long as they sell a comic at its listed price and/or within the specifications of any deals they are permitted to offer, they haven't done anything "wrong." Also, it's highly unlikely that the owners/managers even have an updated inventory of comics that they own, key issues or not. So they might not even know that they had them in the first place, especially with freshly brought in stock to quickly make a buck and flip.