Tafkap Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 As someone who collected heavily in the '80's I'm in the process of having a lot of my comics graded and selling them on Ebay or maybe selling them on here. I've still got plenty of comics to go through but I'm kind of getting the bug to get more and do this more and more. I don't have a comic book store. So besides having your own store what's the best way to get older comics with the intention of possibly pressing/cleaning, grading and selling them for a profit? Putting ads in local things like Craig's List? Checking out garage/estate sales? Buying raw comics on this site and Ebay? Buying raw from local comic book stores? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicginger1789 Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Putting ads in local things like Craig's List? Checking out garage/estate sales? Buying raw comics on this site and Ebay? Buying raw from local comic book stores? ^^^^All of these littledoom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theCapraAegagrus Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 I've only gotten them here, local comic shops, and eBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keys_Collector Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Step 1: Walk into a comic shop Step 2: Buy all of their inventory Step 3: Sell here Step 4: Become a comic millionaire /The end Will96 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glassman10 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 ads in your local paper offering to buy collections. Mugging old comic collectors. littledoom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Follow out of state dealers home from shows. Larryw7 and Glassman10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William-James88 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 On 7/18/2020 at 9:10 PM, Tafkap said: So besides having your own store what's the best way to get older comics with the intention of possibly pressing/cleaning, grading and selling them for a profit? Putting ads in local things like Craig's List? Checking out garage/estate sales? Buying raw comics on this site and Ebay? Buying raw from local comic book stores? yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadpoolica Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 On 7/20/2020 at 8:35 AM, Keys_Collector said: Step 1: Walk into a comic shop Step 2: Buy all of their inventory Step 3: Sell here Step 4: Become a comic millionaire /The end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandmasterG Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 So I know a comic shop going out of business. Tons and tons of comics.,I was thinking about buying him out, already offered but he told me to come back he was trying to liquidate by having sales then Covid hit., His dad owned the shop and passed away. Do you really think there’s be a profit made in doing this? I know it would take time. take pics publish etc. I was going to continue the shop but I don’t know how profitable it would be having to pay someone vs expenses and sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadpoolica Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 1 hour ago, GrandmasterG said: Do you really think there’s be a profit made in doing this? Depends on price & stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Math Teacher Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 1 hour ago, GrandmasterG said: So I know a comic shop going out of business. Tons and tons of comics.,I was thinking about buying him out, already offered but he told me to come back he was trying to liquidate by having sales then Covid hit., His dad owned the shop and passed away. Do you really think there’s be a profit made in doing this? I know it would take time. take pics publish etc. I was going to continue the shop but I don’t know how profitable it would be having to pay someone vs expenses and sales. As someone who just started selling parts of my collection, selling is far more time-consuming than you think. steveinthecity, KCOComics and Deadpoolica 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PickleRick1216 Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 (edited) 18 hours ago, BeepBeep said: Check the obituaries Edited July 22, 2020 by PickleRick1216 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keys_Collector Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 19 hours ago, Deadpoolica said: Depends on price & stock Pretty much, people don't seem to factor time into the equation enough either. Moving books under 20 bucks (has to be a majority of the collection, probably lots less then $5 tbh) is going to take lots of work. Not to mention storing a large collection and spending the time going through every single book. Deadpoolica 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littledoom Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Estate sales or garage sales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revat Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 On 7/21/2020 at 11:55 AM, GrandmasterG said: So I know a comic shop going out of business. Tons and tons of comics.,I was thinking about buying him out, already offered but he told me to come back he was trying to liquidate by having sales then Covid hit., His dad owned the shop and passed away. Do you really think there’s be a profit made in doing this? I know it would take time. take pics publish etc. I was going to continue the shop but I don’t know how profitable it would be having to pay someone vs expenses and sales. For the right price, nearly anything can be profitable. How much time can you spend? How much is your time worth? What kind of returns are you looking for? Do you know enough about the market and selling to even estimate your margins or the amount of time it would take? time and money would also include grading and pricing and taking pictures and making posts/ads and possibly shipping and dealing with returns and bad customers, negotiations, having to deal with any number of selling and shipping fees, possibly taxes (possibly sales, state, and federal). And that’s all without getting into the Cgc grading game (or pressing). Of course you factor in the opportunity cost of tying up your time and money and space, plus factor in the uncertainty of Covid and the potential economic issues related to an unusually impactful election year. and of course factor in the time it takes to learn to reasonably understand all of the above and decide the best venue(s) to sell for your situation oldmilwaukee6er 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William-James88 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 On 7/21/2020 at 2:55 PM, GrandmasterG said: Do you really think there’s be a profit made in doing this? Depends how much you think your time is worth. If you think your time is valuable, then the answer is probably no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadroch Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 A lot depends on your passion. From a purely financial view, perhaps not, but how much would you pay for a job that you love? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumrunner71 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Most of the folks on here have a lot more experience than I do, but in the bit of trading I've done, I'd say don't neglect building relationships - with local comic stores, other collectors, estate sale folks, etc. Almost all of the books I've gotten that were great deals, unique opportunities, or cool collections were because I knew someone. It was the comic store owner who I constantly chatted GA with who had a collection walk in the door, or a friendly neighbor I'd known for years who one day heard me talk about collecting. Or it was the estate sale manager who already had a friend who got first dibs on collections. With the comic shop, I wasn't looking to get keys, but I was always talking to the owner about his wall books and bringing in new finds I picked up. So when he got collections or was in talks with a seller, he would let me know first. This is just my humble opinion being very small-time and very new, but in my experience, those relationships built around the hobby have been really valuable - financially and otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PickleRick1216 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 49 minutes ago, rumrunner71 said: Most of the folks on here have a lot more experience than I do, but in the bit of trading I've done, I'd say don't neglect building relationships - with local comic stores, other collectors, estate sale folks, etc. Almost all of the books I've gotten that were great deals, unique opportunities, or cool collections were because I knew someone. It was the comic store owner who I constantly chatted GA with who had a collection walk in the door, or a friendly neighbor I'd known for years who one day heard me talk about collecting. Or it was the estate sale manager who already had a friend who got first dibs on collections. With the comic shop, I wasn't looking to get keys, but I was always talking to the owner about his wall books and bringing in new finds I picked up. So when he got collections or was in talks with a seller, he would let me know first. This is just my humble opinion being very small-time and very new, but in my experience, those relationships built around the hobby have been really valuable - financially and otherwise. Sage advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will96 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Money in comic books? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
