I feel like I’m adjusting to the new prices 2 2

[Westy Steve]

I feel like I’m getting used to the higher prices.  I persevered through sticker shock and lowered my expectations of what I can buy without selling something else.  I am still selling stuff and buying new books with the proceeds  but now the numbers are bigger.  Still enjoying collecting. 

[Ken Aldred]

I'm not complying with or adjusting to something that's become so bloody absurd and unrealistic for most.

Polar opposite opinion.

 

Edited March 4, 2022 by Ken Aldred

[Doctor Dositheus]

I've come to the realization recently that much of what I want now starts at or near $1000 and goes up from there. Alternatively, I've been thinking more about pursuing lower grades than I have in a while. As an old school run collector having grades yoyo all over the place isn't apppealing though. I've been patient and some things have eased a bit, but others will take a long time to settle back if ever.

Another random thought from the other day: do you suppose rich Russians might try to stash money in comic books? I would imagine the sanctions would prevent them from buying directly on the auction sites, but who knows what kind of shenanigans can be gotten away with on the bay.

[theCapraAegagrus]

I have adjusted by simply not buying anything but collected editions, basically.

[theCapraAegagrus]

On 3/4/2022 at 2:50 AM, Doctor Dositheus said:

Another random thought from the other day: do you suppose rich Russians might try to stash money in comic books?

[THE_BEYONDER]

[Westy Steve]

On 3/3/2022 at 11:34 PM, Ken Aldred said:

I'm not complying with or adjusting to something that's become so bloody absurd and unrealistic for most.

Polar opposite opinion.

 

Don’t misinterpret me. I’m learning to live with something I don’t like. And that makes me wonder if it’s here to stay…doesn’t seem to be slowing down. 

[Tec-Tac-Toe]

I imagine like many folks that post here, I have always only purchased the CGC graded comics books that I can afford and at prices that I feel comfortable paying for them.

[Falcon760]

This is what I've said before, that collecting comics is becoming for the rich elites only, which seriously <ticks> me off.  

Edited March 5, 2022 by Falcon760

[MattTheDuck]

I suspect there are going to be long-term negative implications for the hobby, as well as the obvious short-term ones.  You're going to end up with even "entry-level" books being so expensive, a lot of people who would get involved when they don't have much money - but do have the desire - will just take a pass on the hobby entirely, so they won't be around when they do have the money later on.  

[Poekaymon]

On 3/3/2022 at 11:34 PM, Ken Aldred said:

I'm not complying with or adjusting to something that's become so bloody absurd and unrealistic for most.

Polar opposite opinion.

 

I have mostly bowed out at this point.  I have most of what I wanted in decent grade, so from here I'd just be buying higher grades of stuff I already have.  But I don't see much point to that as I really don't get more enjoyment looking at, say, a 9.8 H340/1982 Wolverine 1/GI Joe 21 versus 9.4/9.6s of those books, or a 9.4/9.6 H181/ASM300 versus 8.0/9.0s, etc.  All those kinds of upgrades really do is bring the percentage of comics in my overall assets up to a level which I am no longer comfortable with (even as someone who is generally optimistic about the industry as a whole).  This is also the reason that I dumped nearly all of my 9.8 slabs that I picked up in 2019--they appreciated to a point where I sort of felt irresponsible holding them, as a new father of two.  But that threshold is obviously different for everyone.  

[thunsicker]

I'm adjusting as well.  But the way I'm adjusting is not in what I'm paying, but in what I'm buying.  Where, in the past, I was looking at getting some good collectable comics that you never would see in the days before the internet, now I'm looking at some of the comics that got me interested in collecting in the first place and in condition that I can collect them rather than invest in them.  The long and short of it is I've always considered my collection a hobby and as such I'm only going to spend 5% or so of my take home on it.  But I still have the collecting bug and will continue to find things I can spend my money on.

Example:
Previous foci:

Schomburg covers, Early Marvels, Steranko covers in high grade

New foci:

Miller Daredevils and Early 'New X-Men' raw in fine condition, Sienkiewicz New Mutants and other painted covers

[Westy Steve]

On 3/4/2022 at 1:14 PM, thunsicker said:

I'm adjusting as well.  But the way I'm adjusting is not in what I'm paying, but in what I'm buying.  Where, in the past, I was looking at getting some good collectable comics that you never would see in the days before the internet, now I'm looking at some of the comics that got me interested in collecting in the first place and in condition that I can collect them rather than invest in them.  The long and short of it is I've always considered my collection a hobby and as such I'm only going to spend 5% or so of my take home on it.  But I still have the collecting bug and will continue to find things I can spend my money on.

Example:
Previous foci:

Schomburg covers, Early Marvels, Steranko covers in high grade

New foci:

Miller Daredevils and Early 'New X-Men' raw in fine condition, Sienkiewicz New Mutants and other painted covers

This almost exactly what I’m doing. I’m having a blast picking up the books that I collected and read in the ‘80’s. Except I’m splurging a little to get the keys I couldn’t quite afford back then…(still cheap compared to the key books I used to collect). 

[october]

I've adjusted in two ways.

1. I was always focused on Gold, which is now very expensive, so I shifted to early Silver Marvel runs. Still not cheap, but I can still afford them, unlike the nice pre-code horror, pre-hero DC or obscure WW2 stuff I was used to going after. It's been fun, because they are available in raw high grade (which I like) and I still able to find things under the radar. They are now older than Gold was when I started collecting.

2. On the Gold front, I have drastically scaled back what I allow myself to buy. If it's "pretty cool, but condition isn't quite there" or "it's a decent issue, but not 100% what I am after" I just say no. I only buy things I know with near certainty will be with me for the long haul. It's just too much money otherwise. No more settling, no more half measures, no more filler copies. It sucks, but whatever. Glad I can still occasionally buy them, even in a very diminished capacity. 

[F For Fake]

I have been priced out on a lot of things I'd like to have, but that just means I can focus on other stuff. There really are only two ways to go with the priced-out scenario :

1. Find something else to collect. 

or

2. Stop collecting altogether.

My diseased brain won't allow me to stop collecting, so I just look for other stuff. I can no longer afford big silver keys in anything other than the lowest grades (which is fine, that's what I like anyway), and sometimes not even then. But I've always been a dollar bin diver, and there's no shortage of cool stuff out there waiting to be discovered. Of course, I know a lot of folks are focused collectors, trying to complete certain runs or what have you, so the choice is more stark for them. As for me, I generally just take stuff as I find it. I dig around town, I find something I think is cool, I buy it. I slowly pick away at my runs, but I'm not in any hurry. In the meantime, there are so many comics. SO many. And plenty of cool ones that other people don't care about...yet. That's what you gotta buy!

[snitzer]

Buy moderns. Hold for a few years. Sell. And then buy GA (That Miles Spidey kid was a huge help!) 

[Black_Adam]

 

Luckily for me, I love collecting silver and bronze Harvey (Richie Rich, Hot Stuff, Casper, Spooky, Sad Sack, etc.) - they haven't gone up at all! 

 

[djpinkpanther67]

On 3/4/2022 at 2:50 AM, Doctor Dositheus said:

Another random thought from the other day: do you suppose rich Russians might try to stash money in comic books? I would imagine the sanctions would prevent them from buying directly on the auction sites, but who knows what kind of shenanigans can be gotten away with on the bay.

I’ve heard rumors there’s an oligarch who’s a serious collector 

[D2]

On 3/3/2022 at 11:34 PM, Ken Aldred said:

I'm not complying with or adjusting to something that's become so bloody absurd and unrealistic for most.

Polar opposite opinion.

 

 

On 3/4/2022 at 7:16 AM, theCapraAegagrus said:

I have adjusted by simply not buying anything but collected editions, basically.

 

These.

 

I am not about to spend more money than what my annual budget allows for just because things are more expensive. I will just buy less things.
And interestingly enough, because prices are so high, I'm now very disinterested in the market and the hobby, which has actually helped curb my obsessive spending habits.

[Courageous Cat]

On 3/4/2022 at 8:06 AM, Westy Steve said:

Don’t misinterpret me. I’m learning to live with something I don’t like. And that makes me wonder if it’s here to stay…doesn’t seem to be slowing down. 

yes, its here to stay because mainstream has not only made comics socially acceptable, but also what seems like a good hedge against inflation, hence all the 1%'er d-bags jacking up the prices in the hobby (sorry if i offended anyone). Great if you are a seller, bad if you are collector

 

But then again if the %&$$ really hits the fan like a Venezuela situation, i hear GA books taste better than SA books

Edited March 4, 2022 by Courageous Cat