I’ve been decluttering, and 90% of my earthly possessions are comics. So I sold a stack of Spider-Mans to a local guy (I was stunned when he offered me over $50 each).
Well, that was easy (as opposed to grading, pricing, packaging and shipping stuff out). My local comic sensai said “Hey, you should rent a table at a comic con, just see how much you can sell.”
So I put some feelers out, and most comic sales are booked up a year in advance. But I got an email this morning that a “Quad Cities Con” in Madison, WI had a cancellation, it’s $140 for two days, BYO table and chairs, and do I want to sell there?
I said yes, haven’t gotten any more details yet. But I’m frantically sorting graphic novels and “floppies”. By “AGE” (half Silver/Bronze '60-'85, half Modern '98-'24… I skipped the “Holographic Foil Collectible Age” of the '90s)
But also by price. Since I don’t have much time, I’m thinking maybe just slap a price on the boxes: $5 for graphic novels, $2-3 for premium/collectible 'books. And then some Dollar Boxes (“Hey, Kids, COMICS… 10 for $5, 50 for $20!”). Yeah, I’m willing to make half of what I could if I was clever about this and wanted to spend a lot of time on it.
What are some first reactions from the people here? You’re my only social media, so I need your advice… today, if possible.
Bring a nice bedspread, sheet or tablecloth for the table.
If you cannot bring somebody you trust to watch the table while you are away, make friends with the dealers on either side of you and ask them to do it.
If at all possible, mark the bags (I assume these comics are bagged and boarded) with color coded stickers, Each color represents a price so you don’t have to constantly watch people to be sure they are being honest about how much each comic is priced.
Thanks, good advice! I invited my wife, but she just gave me that “I’d rather have a root canal” look, and I have zero friends with any interest in comics, so it’s Make Friends Time!
I’ve got Venmo and Zelle… too late to get a card reader, I’ll see if that’s good enough.
And you’re right, gotta get some color-coded stickers.
I think that’s a great way to approach it. Cheap for those who want it but no fiber wholesalers hauling it off. You could advertize half price on day 2 or something. A big 50% Off Tomorrow sign might motivate people to buy on day 1 (it’s already cheap!) but also come back for scraps, too.
Blocking the aisle or intruding into another dealer’s space is bad. Go vertical if possible. While the two story high rack I saw at Wizard World is beyond most people’s capabilities, shelving is a great way to display more product.
Do something to catch the customer’s eye- flasy signs or posters, an interesting costme, etc.
Ooh, I could whisper to shoppers as they’re leaving “I’m not telling everyone, but if you come back tomorrow…”
These are all great ideas. And thanks for the video! This is an entirely new world for me.
I was teetering close to that. Next step is taking leftovers to a local shop that’ll pay a dime apiece. I’ll end up donating some of them. A local comic shop says most of their best customers are prisoners, and I should be able to donate stuff there (“See how Lex Luthor broke out? Bet you could, too…”)
I tried the Men’s Colony here in San Luis Obispo and the nearby Atascadero State Hospital (a prison, really) and they both politely declined to take my collection.
I didn’t have nearly that much - about 10 short boxes. Still, too much. I went through and identified what was worth anything and also items that were sentimental (my Ren & Stimpy comics ) then got rid over everything else (I have 1.5 short boxes left). How did I get rid of them? We walk our dog every day and there is a little library along the way. Every day I’d put a couple more in there and soon they start disappearing every day. I always wondered if it was really kids taking them or some 40 year old dude. I think it took over a year. Either way, glad to have shared them with others.
That’s a great suggestion. There are several of those in my neighborhood. Maybe I’ll bag them in runs of 5 (or whatever fits in a bag) and see if there are any takers. I would be thrilled if they were actually read again.
I don’t have any real advice, other than to ditto the color coded dot labels, which will make things easier for both you and your customers. I don’t know if you’ll have time for this, but I always appreciate a vendor whose comics are arranged by subject - the super-hero stuff in one section, the Archies and Harvey comics in another section, same for Romance, Western, War, Horror, Giveaway/Promotional, Dell Movie/TV Tie-Ins, everything in its own place for easier box-digging. Wish I could be there and help thin out your herd!
) then got rid over everything else (I have 1.5 short boxes left). How did I get rid of them? We walk our dog every day and there is a little library along the way. Every day I’d put a couple more in there and soon they start disappearing every day. I always wondered if it was really kids taking them or some 40 year old dude. I think it took over a year. Either way, glad to have shared them with others.