Book collecting seems harder today then it was last year 3 3

[Bluemedgroup]

Finding good prices seems harder today then it was last year.  Do you feel the same way?  Here is my theory: I think Covid brought in a ton of new collectors / speculators who stay at home and are more tech savvy.  They monitor deals with multiple alerts and as soon as they see a good deal, it's snatched up.  I read a similar story last week about an Bored Ape NFT that got listed for sale at $3k instead of $300k due to "fat fingers".  It immediately got purchased by a "bot" programmed to find deals.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are people out there with bots looking for comic book pricing mistakes as well on eBay or whatever.  

[Ken Aldred]

Prices have been ridiculous for quite a while now, out of reach for many modest-budgeted collectors.

I don’t think the barrier complications have changed much at all.

Edited December 21, 2021 by Ken Aldred

[Ryan.]

Some climb. Some ease.

[comicjack]

I feel sorry for the average collector looking to complete runs in this market. The search for good deals have just dried up as greed has taken over.I hate bidding on auctions now because you feel someone is always is pushing your bid up.I have switched to other genres that doesn't cause nose bleeding or empty pockets 

[Old Fashion PB and J]

On 12/21/2021 at 11:28 AM, comicjack said:

I feel sorry for the average collector looking to complete runs in this market. The search for good deals have just dried up as greed has taken over.I hate bidding on auctions now because you feel someone is always is pushing your bid up.I have switched to other genres that doesn't cause nose bleeding or empty pockets 

 I essentially have been priced out of collecting. No more pre code, no more GA Tecs..

[lizards2]

On 12/21/2021 at 8:30 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

 I essentially have been priced out of collecting. No more pre code, no more GA Tecs..

It is amazing. I was trying to put together runs of carppy Marvel horror stuff like Dracula and Werewolf. I socked quite a few of those away, but recently, prices have just gone apechit. I get blown out of the water on every book on eBay. Last week, I did accidentally "win" a Dracula 63 in VF/NM when I mis-keyed a bid in the $5k range - luckily, I only had to pay $51 total (plus shipping) for that mistake. 

[The Lions Den]

As they say on American Pickers: "The time to buy it is when you see it..."   

[Old Fashion PB and J]

On 12/21/2021 at 11:41 AM, lizards2 said:

It is amazing. I was trying to put together runs of carppy Marvel horror stuff like Dracula and Werewolf. I socked quite a few of those away, but recently, prices have just gone apechit. I get blown out of the water on every book on eBay. Last week, I did accidentally "win" a Dracula 63 in VF/NM when I mis-keyed a bid in the $5k range - luckily, I only had to pay $51 total (plus shipping) for that mistake. 

 I have decided to sit back and wait as I can see some prices coming down. I am not saying a market crash or even correction, its just cyclical and I believe buying opportunities are coming.

[Old Fashion PB and J]

On 12/21/2021 at 11:44 AM, The Lions Den said:

As they say on American Pickers: "The time to buy it is when you see it..."   

 That is not good advice. 

[The Lions Den]

On 12/21/2021 at 11:46 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

 That is not good advice. 

[William-James88]

On 12/21/2021 at 9:56 AM, Bluemedgroup said:

Finding good prices seems harder today then it was last year.  Do you feel the same way?  Here is my theory: I think Covid brought in a ton of new collectors / speculators who stay at home and are more tech savvy.  They monitor deals with multiple alerts and as soon as they see a good deal, it's snatched up.  I read a similar story last week about an Bored Ape NFT that got listed for sale at $3k instead of $300k due to "fat fingers".  It immediately got purchased by a "bot" programmed to find deals.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are people out there with bots looking for comic book pricing mistakes as well on eBay or whatever.  

depends what you collect, it's not all equal. I finally found a Master Comics 95 at guide price and jumped on it. Was surprised it was still available on ebay.

Edited December 21, 2021 by William-James88

[Rip]

It's depressing at times when books you really wanted are out of your price range and impossible to find. Or when books you sold are tough to get again due to the massive price jump.

Sometimes I just have to change my collecting focus. And while its much harder to find deals, they DO still come around, and its all the sweeter when they do.

I've spent a lot more money this year than last, but also had to spend a lot more time searching. The hobby has certainly got more aggressive..

[Ryan.]

On 12/21/2021 at 12:26 PM, Rip said:

And while its much harder to find deals, they DO still come around, and its all the sweeter when they do.

Yep...

[lizards2]

On 12/21/2021 at 8:46 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

On 12/21/2021 at 8:44 AM, The Lions Den said:

As they say on American Pickers: "The time to buy it is when you see it..."   

 That is not good advice. 

It really depends on the book, for sure. I've got some eBay alerts on the books I collect that are really tough (HG DC War), and sometimes I am rewarded, and sometimes I pay a premium.

[lizards2]

On 12/21/2021 at 8:46 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

On 12/21/2021 at 8:41 AM, lizards2 said:

It is amazing. I was trying to put together runs of carppy Marvel horror stuff like Dracula and Werewolf. I socked quite a few of those away, but recently, prices have just gone apechit. I get blown out of the water on every book on eBay. Last week, I did accidentally "win" a Dracula 63 in VF/NM when I mis-keyed a bid in the $5k range - luckily, I only had to pay $51 total (plus shipping) for that mistake. 

 I have decided to sit back and wait as I can see some prices coming down. I am not saying a market crash or even correction, its just cyclical and I believe buying opportunities are coming.

I am definitely laying off those titles I mentioned and will probably just sell what I've accumulated.

[NoMan]

perhaps we'll get back to actually reading the f-ing books. All hail TPB!

[grebal]

On 12/21/2021 at 11:32 AM, lizards2 said:

  On 12/21/2021 at 10:41 AM, lizards2 said:

It is amazing. I was trying to put together runs of carppy Marvel horror stuff like Dracula ...

It's been years since I read them, but I enjoyed reading (and Colan's art) the first 30 or so issues of the Tomb of Dracula - not great, but pretty entertaining.

On 12/21/2021 at 11:41 AM, NoMan said:

perhaps we'll get back to actually reading the f-ing books. All hail TPB!

The Powers that Be ?

[lizards2]

On 12/21/2021 at 9:51 AM, grebal said:

It's been years since I read them, but I enjoyed reading (and Colan's art) the first 30 or so issues of the Tomb of Dracula - not great, but pretty entertaining.

The Powers that Be ?

Yes. I have connections.

[MattTheDuck]

On 12/21/2021 at 8:46 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

 That is not good advice. 

Exactly.  What would a couple of guys who have become multi-millionaires using precisely that strategy know about it?

[Yale Stewart]

On 12/21/2021 at 12:41 PM, MattTheDuck said:

Exactly.  What would a couple of guys who have become multi-millionaires using precisely that strategy know about it?

In fairness, I don't think they ever would've become multi-millionaires on their picking alone. And now that advice is further skewed by the fact they--well, Mike now--have cameras on them, so making a big purchase on a HTF item is good for ratings.