Does Someone Know Something That I Don't?

It’s been about a month now that our shop and other “non-essential” businesses have had to close. Fortunately (?), I made less than the cut-off point and received a stimulus check and thanks to a small business loan that Joe was able to obtain, I was able to avoid applying for unemployment. However, there was still a gap that I needed to cover. I relied on back issue sales for that.

With losing the opportunities in the shop, Galactic Con being canceled, our Memorial Day Flea Market being canceled, and the First State Comic Con  having to be postponed, and as much as I dislike the hassle of listing on eBay, I have posted many of those issues that occupied our showcases. To appeal to a potential buyer who could only see scans of the front and back covers, I listed them for less than priced in the shop – more like what our members pay with their discount perk. To my very pleasant surprise, sales have been pretty brisk. BTW, I can be found as seller: coastalcandc

There is a down side, though – once we open again, (which should be soon – see below) the selection will be down since my opportunities to purchase collections has been almost non-existent. Collections are (can’t) walk into the shop and many auctions that had comics among the offerings had been postponed and/or changed to online-only with no real opportunity to inspect. Yeah, I still placed bids, but there had to be some “meat on the bone”. I haven’t won a single lot online during the shut-down and it wasn’t unexpected. As a reseller, I’d lose out to a serious collector almost every time. Still, some of the prices realized have been unexplainable.

Take these for example: a recent sale held by Hunt Auctions of Exton, PA had only two lots that featured comics. On was for 30 copies of Venom: Lethal Protector #1 supposedly in VF/M condition and the other was for 30 copies of Spawn #1 in similar condition. According to Mr. Overstreet, a 9.2 copy of Michelinie’s comic should fetch about $28, which makes the lot worth perhaps $840 retail, IF they were truly in top shape. Counting the buyer’s premium, but NOT counting a potential 6% sales tax, that lot sold for $1,164,43. Spawn #1 supposedly brings $40 in 9.2, but since I see so many in collections, I marked them at $30 in the shop. Two of those have not brought the $20 I’m asking on eBay. Anywho, this theoretical $1,200 lot sold for $3,349.93! Does someone know something I don’t?

Is this what those stimulus checks are buying!!

Well, I have to admit that during this stay at home pandemic, I listed the copy of Hulk #5 that had been sitting in the showcase for about a year now. Yeah, that one that didn’t have a cover - didn't even have the last page – Hey, it was an ad page, all of the story pages were there! No one in little Newark Delaware would bite at the 50 dollars I put on it – not even a member who would have received a 25% discount. So, following the pattern of the other issues I listed, $35 would seem appropriate. Nope, I listed it for 70 bucks – and it sold within 24 hours of the posting!  As I’ve been claiming for some time, low grade, affordable, copies of key issues are actually bringing more than the guide suggests they will.

That said, I’m looking to add to the inventory, so when we’re allowed to open the doors again, which now looks like June 1^st, bring in those key issues. Sorry, I don’t need bulk. We will be following the guidelines set out to keep all of us safe. Everyone MUST wear masks and we will keep a safe distance in the shop. This will be enforced. Hmmm, I do wonder though - who enforces the law stated on the signs I saw along RT 1 this weekend stating that “out of state visitors must quarantine for 14 days”?