Pat Thomas

If this is a dealer who has listed the comics for sale, you have every right to expect a timely response. There's a big difference between somebody making their living selling comics and somebody selling on the side. I would be concerned that they would also take their own sweet time shipping, and God forbid you have a problem. Unless you don't think you'll ever see these prices again from another seller, I wouldn't waste any more of my time with this guy. You obviously aren't a priority to him.

On 11/6/2021 at 6:56 PM, musicmeta said:

 I use USPS as well for the insurance. 

I'll use USPS for sending comics almost exclusively, but they have lost more of my sent packages and incoming packages than the other two combined. Just last November, I received notifications from them for 3 packages left on my front porch. When I went to get them, the porch was empty. It couldn't have been more than 2 minutes, and there aren't thieves hiding in the bushes year round waiting for packages to steal. I've received so many envelopes with addresses similar to mine since I moved here 5 years ago, so I know they deliver to the wrong address regularly. They have never solved any missing shipments coming to me. But USPS did find longboxes of comics I sent out 3 different instances in 2020/21, and made the deliveries. Neither Fed Ex or UPS has ever fixed any problem I've had, so I won't use them on principle. That leaves USPS as my best option, and that is just ludicrous.

Thanks for allowing me to express that. The whole situation infuriates me and I'm helpless as a consumer that keeps having things stolen for over 5 years now.

On 11/1/2021 at 4:09 AM, Joe Peck said:

So, what motivates an owner to take such a deal?  Do you think it's people who sell outright  or consignments or do you think it makes no difference?  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not complaining as I love the comics I have purchased so far, just seems often they were under priced.  I do see that sometimes a 6.0 is priced like a 7.0 or higher so I get that, but not always.

Honestly, I think MCS grades tightly, but I don't think they purposely assign lower grades. They have a reputation of being fair and honest in their grading process that's been earned over about 40 years (or more). The majority of their back issues come  from regular customers using the sell/trade option on the website. I've sold thousands of comics to them, and it's actually as common for them to adjust my grade up as it is to adjust it down. They also guarantee that the grade they assign the comics at time of purchase is the grade it sells at.

In this day and age, a company that practices good customer service and does things with honesty and integrity "just because" has become a rarity. I was always taught to give my best at work and to do what I could (within reason) to satisfy any customer, and that was pretty much the standard everywhere. When somebody is helpful or fair now, a customer is more likely to be suspicious of being scammed instead of appreciative. You should expect that from MCS every time, though.

There is also Covrprice, but they are still really new. The longer they are around gathering sales data, the more accurate they should be. It's worth a look if you haven't ever.

On 10/28/2021 at 1:51 PM, Joe Peck said:

I feel bad that most folks here just can’t accept when someone is pleased with a find regardless of one’s opinion on the grade.  It’s actually kinda annoying.  But heh this is the internet which wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t sometimes annoying.

_{One day you will get to scold a newbie to the boards, too.}

The company that shall not be named offers a tier where they will grade the comic for you and put it in a tamper-free mylar bag with an official grade label on front. I've considered it because some people only consider a comic to be worthy is for a minimum wage line worker at a grading company to say so, and it's much cheaper than slabbing. But I never have.

On 10/19/2021 at 9:31 AM, Joe Peck said:

Wow!  That is awesome.  Do you have a room with a display of some of the collection?  Do you ever read the actual books?  Do you send any in to be graded and slabbed?  Love to hear more of the story!!

I actually prefer raw comics, but there have been some deals that were too good to pass on already slabbed, and I just left them as is. I might have 30 totals slabs, and I actually have 4 submitted now (some ASM that I think are exceptional copies). Depending on how they turn out, I might send in some more. The prices of high grade keys almost necessitate having them professionally graded, especially Silver Age and older. If I decide to cash out, I estimate I'll have 500 or more to slab. I've got some decisions to make soon. I'm not getting any younger.

To answer your other questions; I used to read every comic I bought, and sometimes ran out of reading material between purchases. Then my life got turned upside down when I went through a divorce and moved out of the house I owned originally into an apartment. Between the stress of starting over with only my dog, my car, clothes, and comics, and dealing with my ex, it got where I could no longer concentrate enough to immerse myself in the stories. When I could relax enough to read, I would doze off after a few pages. I figured it would pass, but it hasn't really. It's become more about acquiring since and keeping them straight.

I'll try to remember to take some pictures of my setup and post them in the other thread if it isn't too complicated.

I started off wanting to get complete runs of Avengers and Amazing Spider-Man, primarily because it was a goal I had attempted 40 years ago, and went about as far as a kid with very limited income could. I was able to get issues #100 and up for each title, and some of the pre-100 issues, but hit a wall there.  When I started back collecting in 2011, I actually had money to realistically pursue my goals. For the first 3 years, I concentrated mainly on those two titles, but I also was buying runs and particular issues of other titles I remembered. It took me a little over 3 years to finish my 2 primary titles, about 6 months apart. I was happy to have done it and felt a sense of accomplishment, but also a sort of emptiness since I hadn't planned beyond that. So I kind of went crazy. I started working on other titles I had accumulated issues of like X-Men and FF, along with the satellite Avengers and Spider-Man titles. That expanded to Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Daredevil, and tons of Marvel titles 10-200 issues long. Eventually, I started on the Superman and Batman titles, Flash, Justice League, etc. Most of the stuff on my want list now is DC Silver Age and older. I've accepted that I'll probably never complete the Golden Age portions of those titles, but I do buy what I can. I still need FF 1 & 52, Journey Into Mystery 84 & 85, Hulk 1-6, TOS 39, and AF 15. I might not ever get those either, but you never know what each new day brings. I've thought about selling everything and building a detached garage / pool house and a couple of cars to work on. I've always wanted a 10th Anniversary Silver Trans Am to restore and a place to do it.

On 10/19/2021 at 3:43 AM, Gaard said:

Sold most of my SA collection back in '80 to go to school.

Dropped out in less than a year.

Did the same in 1986. I kept some of the premiere books in my collection to hold "for the rest of my life". Then, after my first week of classes at Auburn, I made the stupid decision to drive late Friday night after a keg party, and got a DUI. Had to sell the rest of my comics to pay my fines. There were some good ones in there, too: GSXM1, X-Men 94, Hulk 181, Avengers 2-10, and the prettiest copies I've ever seen of ASM 48-60.

No love for Steve Englehart?

On 10/11/2021 at 9:15 PM, snitzer said:

I’m not sure who this says more about…Marvel, the liar or the quitter 

All I know it when Marvel hired him, the original characters started returning to their titles, and Marvel Now was out.

On 10/11/2021 at 8:56 PM, Venomous72 said:

Behold, Adam Warlock

What a strange decision. Warlock is supposed to be perfect, not goofy.

On 10/9/2021 at 5:34 PM, Microchip said:

I just had a look, using the first week free option.   There doesn't seem to be any current pricing information??

Just scroll down the first page after you sign in. Sign up for their newsletter whether you join or not, and you'll get the top ten percentagewise increases emailed every week (plus 10 runners up), and you'll also get a weekly email about noteworthy sales the previous week and why they might have occurred. It fascinates me too, and I'm slowly getting all my comics into their database, but I just have so many (and I'm a perfectionist too). I'm a little over halfway finished, so I'll be lucky to finish this year.

On 10/9/2021 at 10:51 AM, DC# said:

Not even my wife asks what my take is      I will caveat that I have been back into this hobby for 3-4 years after multiple decades away so my thoughts are probably far less informed than many on this board who have seen far more cycles.   I would also consider myself a collector who likes a good investment.   So I don't buy stuff because it is hot or to flip - I only buy things I really love for my "Wall of 52" (whittling down my collection to 52 slabs that I love and that are for the most part likely to sustain pretty high value over the years - Silver/Bronze).    I will never own a FF #48 no matter how hot it is because I hate that cover.     And though I have been slowly selling my childhood collection over the past few years - I am neither a super active buyer or seller.    Yes I have a few more books to pick up (anyone got a Hulk #1 they want to part with?) or upgrade but I am not that emotionally invested in the daily ups and downs of the market.   But I do find it interesting.  

So what is my take?   All signs are the huge bull market, which really started years ago thanks to MCU - it just got really nuts this past year, has entered a bear phase.  

- The market has been very volatile the past 12 months.   Volatility causes a lot of stress for buyers and sellers as people can feel they are making decisions without accurate information.   And I think some of the volatility was brought on by the volume/velocity of sales.    In looking at GPA, many books have seen trading volume across most/many grades that were way above historical norms.   At some point volumes will come down as volatility fatigue sets in.   And as volumes come down - prices may start to stabilize for some books.     I think the ComicLink auctions right now are a great example of where the volume is driving down prices.   I see some prices coming down on Heritage and Comic Connect too - but they don't feel nearly as steep as CL.   But that is just a feeling more than data - I would need to look at it more closely.  

- The gap between super high-grade keys/mega keys (9.8s in Bronze, top 1-2% in Silver) and the high/mid grades may be permanently further apart.   I think there is enough new interest in investment grade books that could keep those big boys within their own market dynamics and may also keep them from declining as fast as other grades.   Kind of seeing that already in some sales.   

- All the theories about new investors, crypto, etc have been well trodden here and other places.   Probably some truth to all of it.   No one will ever know the degree.    But something definitely happened as long-term collectors didn't suddenly all agree that Hulk 181 should be worth 150% more.   Quite the opposite - many long-terms were scratching their collective heads at some of the moves.   Some of the new people will stay a bit longer, some will find other sandboxes to play in.    The speed at which those more transient participants leave the market will have a huge impact on how fast and deep the market corrects.   

- I do think that many, many key books will set a new floor that will be materially above the 2019/2020 averages.    I say that for the true keys - not the spec books that have a first appearance of a 3rd tier character that might show up in the background in the next movie or series.    Truly beloved characters and issues will find their footing.    Dealers and long-term collectors will likely be the ones who help establish the floor.    They may not believe that a 9.2 IH181 was ever a $13k book based on their long experience with it - but living with these new high marks for so long may have altered their view a bit.   Those "institutional buyers" are probably not going to let it fall back to the $5-6k range before buying back in.   

- Lastly, there will always be exceptions to the rule.   Because money is emotional, we can often try to convince ourselves that the exception is the rule.    This whole topic of "is the market up or down" can be very emotional to people.  There have been some very heated discussions on this very thread because we can and are emotionally invested in the positions we have taken - both philosophically and financially.   People don't like the feeling of loss - tons of research about the fear of loss being a far more powerful motivation that the desire for a gain.     For those who are active sellers who may "need" to sell in the coming weeks and months - there is the risk of what is known as "chasing the market down."    That is when your real estate agent tells you to list your house for $925k based on marketing conditions and you demand a $1M listing.   The house sits for months and you lower the price to $950k and then again to $925k before finally getting an offer and selling for $885k after 9 months.    You probably could have sold the house for $30k-$40k more had you listened to market conditions and quieted your emotions.    

Anyway - my measly 2 cents for this discourse.    I'm not too emotionally invested in the opinions above so always welcome insights and opinions from those that have different experiences than mine.  

Do you ever follow Covrprice.com?  All their data comes from genuine sales across multiple platforms, and they post high sellers in volume as well as dollars every day, along with 2 feature articles about the week's market every week.

I found the info I needed.    Thanks

Facsimile copies are just the newest method scammers have latched onto. Doesn't CGC exist basically because people learned how to fix their damaged comics to avoid detection after they realized comics were becoming something people collected and were willing to pay for? Yes, it would be hard for a newbie to detect a lot of the tricks being used today, but the investing side of this hobby isn't for just anybody. I love comics, and I have since I was introduced to them over 40 years ago. It wasn't long after I started collecting Avengers and Amazing Spider-Man as a kid that I realized they needed to be cared for because they could hold value. But I bought them for the stories. The only difference was that I handled them more delicately. But the stories were what drew me in, and in the case of Marvel, want to learn about the other characters and back issues referenced in every issue. By default, all that exploration gave me enough knowledge to serve as a foundation when I came back into the hobby after long, long periods away. The latest as a 25-year layoff, but I never felt lost as I discovered what happened in all that time. With the experience I had in the past buying back issues, I knew there were things to look out for. Back in the day (and still today), a dealer could pass off a Marvel Tales reprint of ASM as the ASM of that number. I see people today pulling that with Fantasy Masterpieces and Silver Surfer, which actually have the same issue numbers. But somebody who has put in the time and knows this hobby won't fall for these things.

The scammers have always been there. Now they have much more visibility. People can invest how they want, and if some insufficiently_thoughtful_person wants to spend thousands of dollars on a comic that a knowledgeable collector could spot in a second, who's problem is that? It's not because ebay is awful, or the hobby is ruined. It's because some fool wants to get rich quick without learning the product, and there are always plenty of dishonest jerks willing to take money from fools.

I've used CGC in the past for one book at a time. However, this time I want to send in 4. My packing slip is broken down into 3 tiers: 2 in Standard, 1 in Fast Track Economy, and 1 in Express. Can I mail the Standard and Economy in the same package? I'm also assuming the Express will need to be separate due to the markings you require on the shipping box. Am I correct in my assessments?  And should I print a duplicate list to go with it?    Thanks

If you stacked about 50 lgngboxes nose to tail (approx 28" each), that would probably be somewhere in the range of my "to read" pile. 

1400" inches tall, or 116.7 ft. stack of comics.

On 9/5/2021 at 4:12 PM, Ablation Steve said:

While we're on the subject of MCS, which I've now decided to go with for my selling needs, can someone tell me how to access "sold" listings? I want to see copies of my comics have been going for over there.

They provide that info to you after they receive, grade, and scan your comics. Shows all sales via their stock, set-price consignment, and auctions from at least 12 months back.

On 9/2/2021 at 7:32 PM, djzombi said:

Welcome to my life.  
I've gotten behind in my filing (and cataloging to a lesser extent).  I have about 5 longboxes worth that need incorporating into my ~35,000 book collection   

I have the benefit of an entire finished basement with a large bar / recreational area and 2 large bedrooms where my comics are. I've also been retire for almost 10 years, so I really don't have any limits on the time I can spend buying, cataloging, organizing, or occasionally reading comics. I learned my lesson about letting them pile up years ago, so it's rare that I have much more than a shortbox to put up. I just stay on top of it.

In addition to my collection, I used to always have 3-4,000 doubles and other stuff I ended up with in their own area and catalogued in the MCS database. I used those for trade credit with MCS when I was able to work up about $100 worth, and I used the credit for my collection. In 2018, my lcs shut the doors. I had purchased 10 longboxes of mixed stuff for cheap already, but the owner called me late on their last day with approx  75 shortboxes for $5 apiece that had to be out of the building that night, so I told him I would take them. There ended up being even more there, but he told me to take everything for the amount we had already agreed on (plus I ended up getting 5 comic book shelve units that have a top level divided into 6 rows with transparent plastic in front and 2 lower levels that each hold 6 longboxes, for $100 apiece), I ended up with about 12,000 comics in total disarray to organize, catalog, and then blend in with the other MCS trade stock. 

It took me probably 6 months to get it mostly finished. I didn't get up every day and work on comics all day. Some days I might spend 6-8 hours working on the project, but mostly I would work on them a couple of hours when the mood struck. A lot of days I didn't work on them at all. But I developed a system to get the individual boxes organized and add them to the database. As I entered them, I pulled whatever books MCS wanted to buy, and move on to another box. After I got 5 or so longboxes accumulated, I phased them into my stock. It was a job, but I finished it. I've done over $20,000 in trades with that stock so far, and I'm just now getting back down to my normal stock level. I would love to do another one soon.

On 9/3/2021 at 11:01 AM, shadroch said:

I'd suggest you call them. They are very easy to deal with. 

According to their newsletter this week, Buddy had a stroke over the weekend. I believe it was considered to be a mild one, but there's no such thing as a harmless stroke. He should be able to get mostly back to normal with rehab over time, but his son, Conan, said Buddy has decided to go ahead and retire. From what I've seen from Conan, he is very sharp, but MCS is the way it is because of Buddy. I do believe Conan is responsible for the awesome, user-friendly website, though.

I bought a display rack from my old lcs when they closed down, and I display my slabs on them. That way it feels like they have their own place dictated by me (instead of being a necessity). I've just learned to deal with the empty slot in the box.