Monday, September 10, 2012

What to do with a Modern Comic Collection?

The only reason to collect ANYTHING is because you enjoy it.

It could be Hummel figurines, guns, cars, coins, watches or finger and toenail clippings. To expect any of this stuff to fund your retirement or pay for your kids college education is a pipe dream. Sure certain "items" could do those things and if you are lucky enough to have or find a few great! But with RARE exception are any of these "money" items new modern items.

Buy the stuff you enjoy but don't expect it to be worth anything!
My take on Modern Comics  - anything produced since 1980.

I found a fellow collector on Craigslist wanting to get rid of his modern collection. Tired of them, sick family member, needs cash ..... who knows why he would sell them; could be any reason, really.

I sent him the following note..


Hi Fellow collector.
Saw your post on Craigslist. Looks like you have a lot of modern stuff. I'm really after Bronze and Silver age books. Doesn't seem like that was your area of focus for the collection. So I'm not the man to buy your stuff.


The reason I'm writing is because I know how hard it is to get rid of modern books. Everyone that wants them seemingly has them... OR they aren't willing to give much for them. A dealer would barely give 15 to 20 cents a book for the inventory and to have it eat up the floor space. Finding an individual that's wants them on Craigslist is a great option. However, in case that doesn't work out for you - here's an idea for your consideration that I have used in the past.

Depending on how you do your taxes; Give them to Goodwill. I know it sounds weird, but hear me out... I've donated comics and picked up  donation claim forms to give to my accountant and get value back that way. In the past, I've claimed full cover price, (since many books were bought at a discount from comic shops that is better than it sounds)+ bags + boards and boxes.

This can add up quickly.

It kind of bruises the soul to GIVE them away... but you could possibility come out OK depending on IF it makes sense for the way you do your taxes. And if you can wait and do NOT need the cash in hand immediately, picking up value thru the tax man - you could do worse.

Good Luck!


I had expected that to be the end of it.
Maybe its my generally poor presentation skills, but folks typically don't respond well to unsolicited advice, especially mine. Imagine my delight to the reply below...


Will,
Yes, most of my stuff is modern. I started collecting in the mid to late 80's. I have a fair amount of bronze age stuff in my Marvel comics. My Bronze Age stuff is mostly Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil, and some of the old horrorish titles like Tomb of Dracula, Ghost Rider, and Werewolf by Night.


That is an awesome suggestion!

In fact, that suggestion might be enough to save the portion of my collection that would really crush me to sell off. We've donated to Goodwill in the past and I was always surprised by how much credit is given for clothes, toys and such. There were times that I almost felt bad about taking that much of a tax write off for used stuff, but I didn't make the rules. If the IRS is fine with it, then I'm not one to argue.

I never thought of doing that with comics. I have boxes of stuff that I've picked up from other people that I picked up for pennies. Getting cover price for those in a tax write off would be much better than selling them even for a quarter a piece.

Thanks again for the suggestion. It is greatly appreciated.

"Name withheld"


So... The takeaway here is that it CAN make sense to give away certain low value items that would otherwise be hard to sell in the proper way. No collector wants to sell their hard work piecemeal and have their collection cherry-picked by strangers.  That's a painful process for not much money.

The donation option eases the pain of separation and increases turnaround time to unload them in one fell swoop. AND you may be throwing a kid a lifeline to encourage reading and overall interest in the comic hobby.

Enjoy what you collect
!