Are prices still climbing or have they eased up a bit??? 43 43

[1Cool]

On 2/14/2023 at 2:42 PM, Robot Man said:

A lot of stuff like PCH and obscure GS books like these, sold themselves without any push or discount.

I am more than happy to undercut these folks and still make a decent profit. 

They were probably not thrilled you were selling at a perceived discount at this Con but since you will have a very, very tough time refilling your boxes at your previous price point then they probably bought some of your books and will reprice them for the next Con.  Selling at a discount is a great way to make a ton of cash but it's really hard to do for more than 1 or 2 cons.

[FoggyNelson]

Prices have ease I heard🤔💰

[Homeboy32]

I'm planning on picking up a CGC 7.5 Amazing Spider-man 129 this year. Right now, prices seem to be hovering around the $2K mark. What are people's thoughts on a good price? I'm thinking $1700 but wondering if it'll come down that much. Thoughts?

[Jesse-Lee]

On 2/14/2023 at 10:11 PM, Homeboy32 said:

I'm planning on picking up a CGC 7.5 Amazing Spider-man 129 this year. Right now, prices seem to be hovering around the $2K mark. What are people's thoughts on a good price? I'm thinking $1700 but wondering if it'll come down that much. Thoughts?

It's like trying to time any market - the prevailing wisdom is don't try to time it. On a "blue chip" like ASM 129, you could use the stock market adage that "now is the best time to buy," meaning that blue chip investments that are bought and held on a long term should continue to appreciate over time. You may buy now for $2k, and it goes down to $1,700 in 3 months, but in 3 years it may be at $2,800; or it never dips, and you keep waiting for it to dip until you're either priced out or paying a premium for waiting.

Comics are like other "investments" in the sense they go up and down, so the bigger question is, are you comfortable spending $2k on a 129 7.5, and is it something you plan to hold in your PC for the next 5, 10, 20 years? If so, what's the real value of potentially saving $300 (or not) in the short term vs securing the book now? I.e., in 20 years, will you really care about those $300?

Edited February 15, 2023 by Jesse-Lee

[Telegan]

On 2/14/2023 at 10:11 PM, Homeboy32 said:

I'm planning on picking up a CGC 7.5 Amazing Spider-man 129 this year. Right now, prices seem to be hovering around the $2K mark. What are people's thoughts on a good price? I'm thinking $1700 but wondering if it'll come down that much. Thoughts?

Well, apparently it's already come down that much. lol.

[O Doyle Rules]

Anecdotal evidence below for Journey Into Mystery #112 (Thor vs Hulk) that Marvel Silver Age keys are still in steep decline for February. This seems to be generally true for all Marvel SA keys where there is a plentiful supply. Below is a GPA tables for sales of JIM #112 6.0s . It appears the low sales of present day are in the high ranges of 2015 thru 2107. Time to buy or have we seen bottom yet? 

Year	Number	High	Low
2023	4	$435	$264
2022	13	$575	$340
2021	11	$665	$250
2020	10	$375	$192
2019	15	$336	$174
2018	9	$275	$180
2017	7	$265	$140
2016	4	$260	$164
2015	7	$261	$158

[FormerReader]

On 2/15/2023 at 6:50 AM, O Doyle Rules said:

Anecdotal evidence below for Journey Into Mystery #112 (Thor vs Hulk) that Marvel Silver Age keys are still in steep decline for February. This seems to be generally true for all Marvel SA keys where there is a plentiful supply. Below is a GPA tables for sales of JIM #112 6.0s . It appears the low sales of present day are in the high ranges of 2015 thru 2107. Time to buy or have we seen bottom yet? 

Year	Number	High	Low
2023	4	$435	$264
2022	13	$575	$340
2021	11	$665	$250
2020	10	$375	$192
2019	15	$336	$174
2018	9	$275	$180
2017	7	$265	$140
2016	4	$260	$164
2015	7	$261	$158

As many know, there is no single correct answer. It is going to depend from issue to issue. Some issues have dropped significantly, some issues I think are still very overpriced. I would go to GPA and look at the pre COVID price and compare to what the price is now, then make the call to buy or not.

[1Cool]

On 2/15/2023 at 6:50 AM, O Doyle Rules said:

Anecdotal evidence below for Journey Into Mystery #112 (Thor vs Hulk) that Marvel Silver Age keys are still in steep decline for February. This seems to be generally true for all Marvel SA keys where there is a plentiful supply. Below is a GPA tables for sales of JIM #112 6.0s . It appears the low sales of present day are in the high ranges of 2015 thru 2107. Time to buy or have we seen bottom yet? 

Year	Number	High	Low
2023	4	$435	$264
2022	13	$575	$340
2021	11	$665	$250
2020	10	$375	$192
2019	15	$336	$174
2018	9	$275	$180
2017	7	$265	$140
2016	4	$260	$164
2015	7	$261	$158

My gut tells me you can wait a bit for it to get back to the $350 level and grab a copy then.  Complete guess as with anything dealing with future cost of comics.

[Rob]

On 2/15/2023 at 7:27 AM, 1Cool said:

My gut tells me you can wait a bit for it to get back to the $350 level and grab a copy then.  Complete guess as with anything dealing with future cost of comics.

I agree.  If you look at the trends of the highs in that table, it increases from $261 to $275 from 2015-2018.  Then sharply rises to $665, which is the pandemic bubble.  No one knows what the true post-pandemic value is, but my guess would be around that 2019 price.  That $336 is still a steep increase from the year prior of $275.  $61 (22%) in one year vs $14 over 4 years, prior to that.

[lou_fine]

On 2/15/2023 at 3:50 AM, O Doyle Rules said:

This seems to be generally true for all Marvel SA keys where there is a plentiful supply.

Yes, basic economics in terms of the law of supply and demand always wins out in the long run over short term irrational FOMO.  

[the blob]

On 2/14/2023 at 4:16 PM, 1Cool said:

They were probably not thrilled you were selling at a perceived discount at this Con but since you will have a very, very tough time refilling your boxes at your previous price point then they probably bought some of your books and will reprice them for the next Con.  Selling at a discount is a great way to make a ton of cash but it's really hard to do for more than 1 or 2 cons.

Discount or not overly inflated?

[1Cool]

On 2/15/2023 at 5:44 PM, the blob said:

Discount or not overly inflated?

Tough to define which side of the fence you are on especially when it comes to harder to replace Golden Age books (stuff he typically has).  But this market is pretty fluid so a discount price today could be a steal or top dollar tomorrow.  

[troydivision1]

Continued tracking of my 50 piece personal collection's value for insurance purposes.
I am utilizing eBay sold items (with auctions taking priority over buy-it-now) to determine FMV.

January to February          1.94% decrease

[southern cross]

Worked in a comic shop on Tuesday, the deadest day of any comic shop. We have this week's books but they go on sale on Wednesday. Sold some back issues.

Batman 357 in vf for $125

Crisis 7 death of supergirl in vf/nm $35

Forever people 1 in vg $48

Omega Men 3 in NM for $85

Just a couple of sales, more collectors now.

[GermanFan]

On 2/15/2023 at 5:10 PM, Rob said:

I agree.  If you look at the trends of the highs in that table, it increases from $261 to $275 from 2015-2018.  Then sharply rises to $665, which is the pandemic bubble.  No one knows what the true post-pandemic value is, but my guess would be around that 2019 price.  That $336 is still a steep increase from the year prior of $275.  $61 (22%) in one year vs $14 over 4 years, prior to that.

Could it be the rising prices are just reflecting the inflation? Normal Inflation from 2015-2018. Since then Inflation started to gallop.

[GermanFan]

On 2/16/2023 at 2:49 AM, southern cross said:

Worked in a comic shop on Tuesday, the deadest day of any comic shop. We have this week's books but they go on sale on Wednesday. Sold some back issues.

Batman 357 in vf for $125

Crisis 7 death of supergirl in vf/nm $35

Forever people 1 in vg $48

Omega Men 3 in NM for $85

Just a couple of sales, more collectors now.

Me thinks the rate of old collectors dying off maybe higher than the rate of new (not short lived speculators) collectors entering the field.

[Rob]

On 2/16/2023 at 2:35 AM, GermanFan said:

Could it be the rising prices are just reflecting the inflation? Normal Inflation from 2015-2018. Since then Inflation started to gallop.

Does inflation affect discretionary spending the same as it does other spending?  Serious question, as I have no idea.  I would suspect the opposite, that as inflation increases the costs of necessary items, people have less to spend on comics.

[1Cool]

On 2/16/2023 at 11:29 AM, Rob said:

Does inflation affect discretionary spending the same as it does other spending?  Serious question, as I have no idea.  I would suspect the opposite, that as inflation increases the costs of necessary items, people have less to spend on comics.

I'd think it really depends on how much money is still in people's wallets after they pay for their necessary items.  If wages go up to meet inflation that you would think discretionary stuff like comics wouldn't see too bad a hit.  It's when wages stay the same then something has to give and stuff like comics have to be the first to be cut.

[Rob]

On 2/16/2023 at 10:16 AM, 1Cool said:

I'd think it really depends on how much money is still in people's wallets after they pay for their necessary items.  If wages go up to meet inflation that you would think discretionary stuff like comics wouldn't see too bad a hit.  It's when wages stay the same then something has to give and stuff like comics have to be the first to be cut.

Makes sense, but do you think the prices of comics increase due to inflation?  I would assume the increase is more due to an influx of new buyers in the market, looking for an investment to spec on during the pandemic.  Saw the same in coins, crypto, trading cards, etc.

[1Cool]

On 2/16/2023 at 12:57 PM, Rob said:

Makes sense, but do you think the prices of comics increase due to inflation?  I would assume the increase is more due to an influx of new buyers in the market, looking for an investment to spec on during the pandemic.  Saw the same in coins, crypto, trading cards, etc.

I think inflation does cause people to not flinch at a price that seemed crazy a decade earlier.  If a home cost $300K you can justify that $1,000 book a lot more than if a house is only $80K.  But overall prices went up quite a bit on a ton of books when inflation was at 1% (pre COVID) so I would agree increased demand seems to override everything else when it comes to price increases when it comes to comics.

Edited February 16, 2023 by 1Cool