# What's the best way to get top dollar for old comic books? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623 "2005-01-31T17:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/1 "2005-01-31T17:31:38Z")
I have a collection of Marvel comic books from the late '70s and early '80s. Some are distressed, most in mint condition. All are in plastic bags. I inquired about selling them about 10 years ago, but the comic book store clerks I asked told me not to bother, the market was soft. Is it any better now? And how should I go about it? Go to a local comic store? Advertise on e-bay (which I know very little about)? Is there some website for dealers? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/2 "2005-01-31T17:44:17Z")
People… want to buy… old comic books? Naah. Heck, I have trouble trying to clear out some of my Silver Age stuff. Truthfully, organize, catalog, get nice photos, and sell complete runs on Ebay. Maybe you’ll make some of the money you spent, back. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/3 "2005-01-31T17:51:44Z")
Check to see what auctions with the comics you have are closing for on eBay. That is the only accurate price guide anymore. Most comics are very devalued and the market is softer than ever, but if you have Bronze Age stuff ('70s) in good condition, there might be some demand. If you have anything from the '80s or later, I wouldn’t expect much, if anything. And aside from setting up a table at a comic book convention (like perhaps the Megacon in Orlando in late February), you’ll probably sell more and make more money on eBay than you would trying to sell your collection to a store owner or dealer. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/4 "2005-01-31T18:11:40Z")
I agree with the above. Especially E-Sabbath’s suggestion of organizing complete runs - they’re really the only thing that sells on eBay. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/5 "2005-01-31T18:15:34Z")
Actually the market for Bronze Age stuff is starting to get a little better. (As a collecter of that period, I can tell you it’s a lot harder for me to find deals on eBay than it was two years ago – although some of that is because I’ve already bought a lot of the less expensive stuff.) I still think eBay is your best bet, but I think at least some shops will give you more interest today than back then. Or, y’know, you could sell it to me for considerably less than top dollar. 😉 –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/6 "2005-01-31T18:25:03Z")
Yeah, you might be able to tell us Dopers what you have, and some of us might be interested in purchasing them… I’d also advise : Don’t worry about getting “the most” for your comics. Decide how much you’d be willing to part with them for, and offer tham at that price. If you can’t get that much, keep’em. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/7 "2005-01-31T19:30:02Z")
I’ve had some success chatting to the patrons of comic stores and conducting private deals with them. If you want to post your comics or even contact some dopers I think you may at least get some offers for them. I’d be interested in having a look myself. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/8 "2005-01-31T20:01:49Z")
A couple of suggestions: Most of your collection will be unsellable at any price. Get someone who knows comics to go through and pick out the stuff that _will_ sell, and focus on that. Most conventions have auctions where you can sell bagged lots of comics (about five per bag) for whatever the market will bear. And the comics that aren’t worth the effort of re-selling? Keep the ones you enjoy, throw the rest away. Or just leave them out on the curb, and some kid from your block will discreetly abscond with them. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-get-top-dollar-for-old-comic-books/287623/9 "2005-01-31T20:45:55Z")
Or send them to me. –Cliffy