1Cool

On 4/5/2024 at 8:58 AM, Stefan_W said:

I think there are at least two possible explanations, and the changes you describe may be some mix of the two. 

The last time I checked a couple of years ago, the search feature on Ebay was kind of wonky. Simply improving the search engine to catch desired results could explain a lot of it. If this is the case, the number of comics listed has been more stable than the search results imply. 

Another possible explanation is that people are dumping comics now that prices are tumbling. I know I cleaned out my PC and listed a bunch of books for sale that I was originally planning on keeping. You gotta do what you gotta do. 

Option 2 seems to hold more weight when there is a steady progression in increases over the last couple years with a 25% increase since January.  The market for 95% of books is much worse than it's been in quite awhile and all the people who bought in to the speculation boom have to get out eventually.  Those that can wait will wait but those that need the cash (or see things getting worse) appear to be swamping E-Bay with listings - which E-Bay is facilitating with all the free listings for stores.  I've been getting 10,000 free listing for my 1.000 listing store for at least a year so I can see why people are just blitzing E-Bay with listings since it doesn't cost an additional penny.  But now it's so easy to be lost in the forest of trees that you need great books to be seen by anyone.  Heck, Whatnot seems like it's only there because E-Bay is so crowded.

I really don't know where all these books are coming from.  I just checked and there is a total of 11,114,351 items currently listed under comics on E-Bay.  That is up from 8,180,288 on January 10, 2024 and about 3 times what was available on 6/22/23 (4,034,932) and almost 4 times what was up for sale when I got curious and started writing the numbers down on 8/1/22 (2,901,256).  The number of items which sold over the previous 3 months has roughly stayed the same (1,530,000ish). 4x the amount of product is available in less than 2 years but the amount of buying has stayed the same.     

I'm in

We just got out of the theater and I liked it.  The old guys really looked old but it wasn’t too bad of a distraction.  The big bad guy was really creepy and there was some laugh out loud places.  Theater was packed so not sure if that is typical the day before Easter or on a Saturday night.

I occasionally get family members who say I've got to get life insurance and tell me how little they pay for X amount of coverage.  I tell them I don't have any and get a shocked look.  My daughter is almost 21 and a year away from being out of college debt free so she doesn't need my money any longer.  My wife gets all my retirement savings and extra cash so she should have no problem paying off the house with quite a bit left over and she makes good money on her own so why should she live lavishly when I'm gone.  Life insurance is necessary when people depend on you but I don't see the benefit if it just makes my wife even more happy when I'm gone.

On 3/28/2024 at 10:31 AM, Peachpit said:

where  can I find FMV thru the years(also what year I cgc'd item..thanks

JIM

GPAnalysis is your huckleberry (see below).  Not sure what you mean by what year I cgc'd item?  When you got a book graded?  You can check out grading info for any book you have the certification number for.

GPAnalysis

So you would pay $75 extra for getting in a half hour early each day and a t-shirt, tote bag and a print.  I'd not do it currently to get in a half hour early since the room is huge so everything won't be picked over when the regulars get in and it's not like there is a new hot book you will be running around the room looking to pull from boxes.  So is the other stuff worth $75 is the question.  My answer would be no for me.

On 3/25/2024 at 12:02 AM, littledoom said:

Comes out to $18 each. That's basically what they've been worth

I'd say it's more of a $10 book but people do seem to be liking multi book auctions right now.  I think it's because people have switched over from specing the hot book of the week to submitting ton of books since 9.8 copies still command quite a bit of money.  Bulk "warehouse" type of sales give people a good chance of getting a few 9.8s to make some cash.

At least one of the local dealers is set up (Bill's Books).  Last time I went was 2018 and I remember it being a nice mix of dealers but not enough deals to justify driving back and forth.  Hope you find some great books!

Ready Player One was a classic book and they made an ok movie from it.  Ready Player Two was an ok book so hopefully they can make a great movie from it.  I liked some of the dread in Player Two but the nostalgia fell flat and it is hard to get into especially after the great first book.

Looks like a reboot that really didn't need to be made but I liked the Ozzy song playing in the background.  I agree it looks like John Wick more than the original but I'd be pissed if they did a 100% remake.  I'll probably watch it when it gets to streaming but no way I pay extra to watch it.

Looks like CGC can't read the correct issue number for the book.

All set up and I think this is the first time I’ve not had 1 early bird sale.  It snowed here in Cleveland overnight so I don’t think many people will be traveling around today.  Fingers crossed.

The thing I really don't like about the results of this auction is this is typically a great time to be selling big books.  Tax refunds are coming in and people are getting out of the post holidays winter blues and prices usually pop.  I just see way too much red (especially the 1st column) since these are drops compared to the winter auctions which are usually slow.  I was hoping we would see a small surge in this auction but I don't see it except for a few very hard to get books.

1st big local show of the year is coming up and it always is a great one to grab some books.  My first time setting up at the Cleveland show so we will see how much junk I'm able to sell to the suckers . . I mean we will see how many great books I'll sell to smart buyers!  

If you have lost the joy of pretty much any collectible you should sell it and buy something you do enjoy.  Wish you would have started selling a half dozen years ago in terms of realized prices but you can’t go back.  Sell anything that will sell now and then reassess holding on to the left overs.

2 bullseye which is my best round but got 7 points on the other 3.  I had the first one as a 3.5 which set the tone.  Was hoping for my 1st top ten finish but not to be.  There is always next time!  Congrats to the winners!

I honestly thought he had retired awhile ago.  Is he still drawing Deadpool books?

Final grades are in.  Great contest as usual and thanks for all the hard work.

I'm with the crowd with a 5.0 / 5.5.  A press could make some of the crunches look better but the tear and spine ticks are not going anywhere so I'd not spend the cash to get it pressed (or graded) if it was my book. 

One of those rounds where over thinking helped some and hurt others:

Wolf Gal - Looked like a classic 4.0 but went 4.5 with the bump

Aggie Mack - I had it as a 6.0 /6.5 toss up but went low since I just couldn't go higher

Lois Lane - 6.5 / 7.0 coin flip but it just didn't look nice enough to go above 6.0s so went 6.5

My Secret - 5.0 / 5.5 coin flip and gave it a bump up to 5.5 since it presented nicely

Junie - 6.5 / 7.0 but went 6.5 at the last second

The Wolf Gal is the one I'm kicking myself over since it was a slam dunk 4.0

I was one off of all 5 books.  So close but I think I’ve only gotten 1 bullseye the entire contest.

Grades in.  Now I need is a bit of luck to make a surge at the end . . lots and lots of luck.

On 2/3/2024 at 6:16 AM, B2D327 said:

Just an update:

I received my raffle prize from @unclezebo last Saturday but I was still feeling pretty ill and ended up back in the hospital for an extended stay that Tuesday. It was a very generous package that unfortunately took a lot out of me to remove the contents so by the time I was done, I didn't have the energy to take a few pics. 

I'd like to thank him and the boardies here for being so kind and patient and hope to continue visiting the forums in the meantime even if I don't participate too much.

William 

Feel better soon!