Advice on Selling Large Stockpile of Archies? 1 1

[blue.tornado]

Over 50+ years of collecting Archies, I have amassed a sizable stockpile of duplicates and upgrade casualties that I am now looking to jettison.  Before I solicit offers from MyComicShop and Mile High, I wanted to see if anyone had better ideas.  The best stuff I have already sold through Adam Anderson (who was a pleasure to deal with) and ComicConnect (the slabs).  Most of what is left is midgrade or more recent issues.

I am not looking to sell these piecemeal - but would be open to moving them in several tranches if that provided a better price without too much extra effort.  Here is a view of the books by time period and grade:

And here is a breakdown by title:

Again, if anyone has suggestions as to alternatives I might consider, I would be grateful.  Thanks!

 

 

[shadroch]

Where are you located, and are the books bagged, boarded, and in some sort of order?  

[blue.tornado]

I am in the Northeast.  Books are in numerical order, by title and grade.  Some - but not all - are bagged and boarded.  They occupy 11 long boxes and a couple of short boxes.

Edited April 13 by blue.tornado

[shadroch]

On 4/13/2024 at 3:50 PM, blue.tornado said:

I am in the Northeast.  Books are in numerical order, by title and grade.  Some - but not all - are bagged and boarded.  They occupy 11 long boxes and a couple of short boxes.

You might try Gary Dolgoff. He's in Western Mass, or was when we last spoke.   My gut feeling is you are going to struggle to get a decent price.  Shipping those books will add too much to the cost for most dealers,I suspect.  Your best bet might be if you are willing to deliver the books or meet halfway.

Edited April 13 by shadroch

[blue.tornado]

Thanks!  I will reach out to him.  Additional suggestions from other board members welcomed and appreciated.

[KCOComics]

I agree with @shadroch, it's going to be hard to move them all at once and get a reasonable offer.  

Shipping is going to be a limiting factor and then 90% of those books will be difficult for a seller to move and take up a lot of storage space.

If I were selling it,  I would pull out the keys and sell them individually and put the rest in lots by title. You'll still have to piece out and ship 20 - 100 individual transactions, but it will get you better ROI. 

Alternatively you could sell the keys and then contact local comic shops and try to get $0.25 - $0.50 per comic. I suspect most local shops wouldn't want that kind of volume of back issues, so it may be a tougher proposition. 

 

Ted at Superworld is in Central MA and another big dealer you could try. 

 I've seen Gary Dolgoff move some massive runs on ebay,  so I get the feeling he may be more comfortable with that kind of volume. 

 

[zzutak]

On 4/14/2024 at 2:07 PM, KCOComics said:

If I were selling it,  I would pull out the keys and sell them individually and put the rest in lots by title.

It sounds like the OP has already cherry-picked his own collection (which will make the leftovers far less attractive to any flipper/reseller who values his/her time): 

On 4/13/2024 at 3:03 PM, blue.tornado said:

The best stuff I have already sold through Adam Anderson (who was a pleasure to deal with) and ComicConnect (the slabs).

Archie titles are pretty PG, so you might consider donating some/all to a local children's hospital. 

[comicginger1789]

If you have already sold off the best stuff, selling the rest of that is a drag unless you find another fan who wants. That would be my approach...put it out there as a lot and take the best offer. The time spent trying to do it individually will be a lot

[marvelmaniac]

There are always Facebook groups that allow sales, I belong to 6 Facebook comic book groups, two allow sales, the folks are pleasant and the mods keep things on the up and up, there are also a lot of dealers and comic book artists/writers that are part of these groups, you will have to post some pics.

Joining the groups and posting the books for sale is free, so nothing to lose, you can also post on Facebook marketplace for local pickup only, take PayPal Goods and Services only for payment.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/comicbookbuyselltrade

[blue.tornado]

On 4/15/2024 at 9:38 AM, comicginger1789 said:

If you have already sold off the best stuff, selling the rest of that is a drag unless you find another fan who wants. That would be my approach...put it out there as a lot and take the best offer. The time spent trying to do it individually will be a lot

Appreciate the suggestion - if I can't move them locally (i.e. within driving distance), agreed that it might be my best bet.

[blue.tornado]

On 4/15/2024 at 11:13 AM, marvelmaniac said:

There are always Facebook groups that allow sales, I belong to 6 Facebook comic book groups, two allow sales, the folks are pleasant and the mods keep things on the up and up, there are also a lot of dealers and comic book artists/writers that are part of these groups, you will have to post some pics.

Joining the groups and posting the books for sale is free, so nothing to lose, you can also post on Facebook marketplace for local pickup only, take PayPal Goods and Services only for payment.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/comicbookbuyselltrade

Good thought - I'll check it out.  Thanks!

[blue.tornado]

On 4/14/2024 at 5:07 PM, KCOComics said:

I agree with @shadroch, it's going to be hard to move them all at once and get a reasonable offer.  

Shipping is going to be a limiting factor and then 90% of those books will be difficult for a seller to move and take up a lot of storage space.

If I were selling it,  I would pull out the keys and sell them individually and put the rest in lots by title. You'll still have to piece out and ship 20 - 100 individual transactions, but it will get you better ROI. 

Alternatively you could sell the keys and then contact local comic shops and try to get $0.25 - $0.50 per comic. I suspect most local shops wouldn't want that kind of volume of back issues, so it may be a tougher proposition. 

 

Ted at Superworld is in Central MA and another big dealer you could try. 

 I've seen Gary Dolgoff move some massive runs on ebay,  so I get the feeling he may be more comfortable with that kind of volume. 

 

Good ideas - I have reached out to Gary; if that doesn't get me anywhere, I will follow up with Ted to see if he at least has any suggestions.  Thanks!

[Parzival]

I am big into Jurassic Park.  It’s my version of your love for Archie comics.

If you don’t want to sell them on eBay find your “Archie Community” on Instagram.  Whatever the fandom a community exists.  It is very possible those fans want what you have and would buy them in lots.

Good luck!

[archiecomicscollector]

Late to the party.... but I may be interested in a few lots.

Otherwise, I'd recommend posting on Facebook, if you haven't already, as you'll find an active Archie community on under the Archie Comics & Collectibles Buy Sell & Trade group page.

And even more Archie collectors, myself included, are on Instagram. Feel free to direct message me and I'll share a list of collectors I'm in touch with that may be interested in buying lots.

And, last but not least, I'd recommend checking out the Archie Comics Fan Forum, although it isn't as active with collectors turning to social media.

Edited May 16 by archiecomicscollector
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