I buy comics as an investment... 2 2

[BA773]

Ok, if you want to argue is RIGHT NOW!

[CAHokie]

In general people can buy for whatever reason they want. No one cares. 

[Robot Man]

I have always bought them because I like them. And because I like them and kept them, just by accident, they have become pretty good investments…

[shadroch]

Comics were a very important part of my investment portfolio.   You should invest in things you know and understand.  However, if your entire investment portfolio is in comic books and you are living in mom's basement, you might want to reconsider your strategy.

[1Cool]

Mom .  . Meatloaf!

[Ken Aldred]

Never bought comics with investment as a driving force.

Always loved reading them and bought whatever I connected to, the best copy I could find within an affordable price limit.

I do wish I'd been less impulsive and more selective, though.  Although I've had some luck with them, voracious reading leads to the accumulation of far too much drek and far too much long term regret, as your outlook and your focal points, both inside and outside of the comics realm, change naturally with age.

[Robot Man]

On 4/28/2024 at 8:01 AM, shadroch said:

Comics were a very important part of my investment portfolio.   You should invest in things you know and understand.  However, if your entire investment portfolio is in comic books and you are living in mom's basement, you might want to reconsider your strategy.

Many, many, many years ago I was at a small comic show. There was a guy with a table full of nice GA/SA books. We talked and he invited me over to his place.

When I got to his place, I found it was a trailer. Inside was a couch, a TV, coffee table, a mattress on the floor and was packed with mostly worthless comics. I quickly figured out that show table was his entire life savings.

I left a lot less impressed…

[NoMan]

On 4/28/2024 at 8:19 AM, Robot Man said:

Many, many, many years ago I was at a small comic show. There was a guy with a table full of nice GA/SA books. We talked and he invited me over to his place.

When I got to his place, I found it was a trailer. Inside was a couch, a TV, coffee table, a mattress on the floor and was packed with mostly worthless comics. I quickly figured out that show table was his entire life savings.

I left a lot less impressed…

Sounds like he wanted to get to know you...

Perhaps if you relaxed a bit, gone with the flow, you would have left much more impressed.

[comicjack]

I enjoy them for what they are the art form and stories first. The investment part only comes if one is willing to purchase the comic from you.The hobby has grown so much which is good for the comic business in general.There is no guide to say who is right and who is wrong i just love the whole media and will until they plant me 

Edited April 28 by comicjack

[shadroch]

Around 1990, I was set up at a NY show, and at the table next to mine was a store owner from Virginia.  We spent four days talking and watching each other's table. He was near Alexandria, and I visited DC often, so a few weeks later, I dropped by his shop. It was a nice enough shop but I was stunned to find out he slept on a mattress in the backroom and showered at a gym.  Living his dream came with a cost.

[MattTheDuck]

On 4/28/2024 at 8:50 AM, shadroch said:

he slept on a mattress in the backroom

Elon Musk claims to do the same thing, and he's a multi-billionaire!

[shadroch]

On 4/28/2024 at 9:23 AM, MattTheDuck said:

Elon Musk claims to do the same thing, and he's a multi-billionaire!

Claims, being the keyword with Musk.  I can see him lying on a mattress, deep n his latest K-hole.

[comicstock]

Around 1990, I was set up at a NY show, and at the table next to mine was a store owner from Virginia.  We spent four days talking and watching each other's table. He was near Alexandria, and I visited DC often, so a few weeks later, I dropped by his shop. It was a nice enough shop but I was stunned to find out he slept on a mattress in the backroom and showered at a gym.  Living his dream came with a cost.

Hey, Shad-was this at the Great Eastern Show in NYC / MacFarlane Spider-Man #1 4-day show?  Just curious...

[shadroch]

On 4/28/2024 at 10:19 AM, comicstock said:

Around 1990, I was set up at a NY show, and at the table next to mine was a store owner from Virginia.  We spent four days talking and watching each other's table. He was near Alexandria, and I visited DC often, so a few weeks later, I dropped by his shop. It was a nice enough shop but I was stunned to find out he slept on a mattress in the backroom and showered at a gym.  Living his dream came with a cost.

Hey, Shad-was this at the Great Eastern Show in NYC / MacFarlane Spider-Man #1 4-day show?  Just curious...

No, I'm pretty sure it wasn't.  We met while setting up on Thursday night and ended up going out for dinner, so by the last night, it felt like we'd been there a week.  I was a one-man show at most of the convention and didn't leave the dealer room.  

 

[jimbo_7071]

On 4/28/2024 at 9:02 AM, BA773 said:

Ok, if you want to argue is RIGHT NOW!

People can do what they want. I see comics as carrying too much long-term risk to be a safe investment because I don't think that demographics favor the growth of the hobby over the long haul. I think that demand could go down as the Boomers and Gen-Xers age out of the hobby. Still, I'm sure it could be a good way to invest if you have a knack for picking the right books and selling them at the right time. I wouldn't recommend dumping everything you have into comics and holding them for thirty years. Guys could get away with that thirty years ago because the Boomers and Gen-Xers who dominated the hobby then and still dominate it now have seen their wealth and discretionary income increase dramatically during that time period. Because of that scenario, virtually everything has gone up in value exponentially.

The same thing could happen with Millenials and Zoomers, but I don't think that those generations will ever participate in the hobby at the same level as the Boomers and Gen-Xers. We older guys who grew up riding our bikes to the corner store to buy comic books off of the spinner racks carry a passion for the hobby that few of the younger guys will share—note that I didn't say none, I said few. There will continue to be passionate collectors, but I don't think that there will be enough of them to sustain the sort of prices that we see today.

Edited April 28 by jimbo_7071

[NoMan]

On 4/28/2024 at 12:49 PM, jimbo_7071 said:

People can do what they want. I see comics as carrying too much long-term risk to be a safe investment because I don't think that demographics favor the growth of the hobby over the long haul. I think that demand could go down as the Boomers and Gen-Xers age out of the hobby. Still, I'm sure it could be a good way to invest if you have a knack for picking the right books and selling them at the right time. I wouldn't recommend dumping everything you have into comics and holding them for thirty years. Guys could get away with that thirty years ago because the Boomers and Gen-Xers who dominated the hobby then and still dominate it now have seen their wealth and discretionary income increase dramatically during that time period. Because of that scenario, virtually everything has gone up in value exponentially.

The same thing could happen with Millenials and Zoomers, but I don't think that those generations will ever participate in the hobby at the same level as the Boomers and Gen-Xers. We older guys who grew up riding our bikes to the corner store to buy comic books off of the spinner racks carry a passion for the hobby that few of the younger guys will share—note that I didn't say none, I said few. There will continue to be passionate collectors, but I don't think that there will be enough of them to sustain the sort of prices that we see today.

facts. sad, but true

[Jeffro.]

I buy them so I can remove the staples and sew paper pajamas out of them. Nothing lulls me to sleep better than old newsprint  

[davidking623]

Comics are about the covers . It's cool watching covers of books you have always seen thru the times get cooler with time . That being said Comics have turned out to be way better than I originally knew they would be, so that is cool all on it's own merit , Watching comics going thru the last 50 years has been quite an amazing ride .

[MAR1979]

On 4/28/2024 at 11:50 AM, shadroch said:

Around 1990, I was set up at a NY show, and at the table next to mine was a store owner from Virginia.  We spent four days talking and watching each other's table. He was near Alexandria, and I visited DC often, so a few weeks later, I dropped by his shop. It was a nice enough shop but I was stunned to find out he slept on a mattress in the backroom and showered at a gym.  Living his dream came with a cost.

I know 2 Comic Shop owners who did that except they did not have a gym... The shops were especially ripe in the summer.

 

There are so many more sound investments than Comics that are far far easier to liquidate with low fees.

[Courageous Cat]

On 4/28/2024 at 3:49 PM, jimbo_7071 said:

People can do what they want. I see comics as carrying too much long-term risk to be a safe investment because I don't think that demographics favor the growth of the hobby over the long haul. I think that demand could go down as the Boomers and Gen-Xers age out of the hobby. Still, I'm sure it could be a good way to invest if you have a knack for picking the right books and selling them at the right time. I wouldn't recommend dumping everything you have into comics and holding them for thirty years. Guys could get away with that thirty years ago because the Boomers and Gen-Xers who dominated the hobby then and still dominate it now have seen their wealth and discretionary income increase dramatically during that time period. Because of that scenario, virtually everything has gone up in value exponentially.

The same thing could happen with Millenials and Zoomers, but I don't think that those generations will ever participate in the hobby at the same level as the Boomers and Gen-Xers. We older guys who grew up riding our bikes to the corner store to buy comic books off of the spinner racks carry a passion for the hobby that few of the younger guys will share—note that I didn't say none, I said few. There will continue to be passionate collectors, but I don't think that there will be enough of them to sustain the sort of prices that we see today.

As a gen X'er I can get behind this theory. I myself have drastically cut back on purchases and even sold off a good amount of books as of late.