Graded Comic Books Are NOT Selling….No One Wants Them!
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I have NO slabbed comic books. A slabbed comic book is no longer a comic book, it's just a large trading card!
@@jayhays8267 C Gc for UN me eventually c Gc will get direct together. You will have a 100 point rating scale that I created and copyrighted. And that will make grading a lot more exact. So numbers will be calculated and not assigned as in a bikini contest.
So basically just buy an extra and get the other graded to put on the wall like an art piece.
This. A comic book is for reading. You can certainly argue that some of the older, rarer books should be preserved behind glass, but not nearly every book. The comic experience is the whole of the book. The comics fan values books for the whole experience of the comic. It is speculators who see comics as an "asset", and I'm old enough to remember how that went in the 90s. These speculators may like comics - I won't gatekeep their tastes - but the reason to slab is to inherently change the reason for the value, IMO. Slabbing is a fad that I'm glad to see die.
Good one, I'm gonna steal this.
At the very least I would want to read the damn thing.
As my old dad used to say, the value of something is only what someone will pay for it.
Yep. I think the guy in this video has misjudged the value he thought he would get for his graded comics, and now is bitter.
When you can barely afford groceries and gas, this is the last thought on anyone's mind, buying priced comics
What a weird comment? How'd you find this video? Who are you talking about? Obviously not yourself.
If your buying graded and got no food.. u need to look at your life.. the economy is fine ... Your pay check or savings is off.
Exactly. Anyone saying the price for everyday goods and groceries is living in a fantasy world. Too many people are having a hard time affording actual needs to spend money on things that are not needed. That's why so many businesses are crashing down or reporting harshly lowered sales. Don't listen to those obviously supporting the ones killing the economy.
@@scorpian3 haha people do that with trading cards! I know em
I was just talking to my friends about this, the economy is in shambles and few people with families and priorities can afford the extra hobbies they enjoy, from Warhammer to collecting comics.
I'm old enough to remember going to the corner store, buying the comicbook, reading it and storing my collection in a brown paper grocery bag.
…that experience does not exist anymore. And back then, you’d bag and board your books. Why? To keep them in mint condition. That’s why. That’s why we grade books.
@@Backtothehat The main reason it no longer exists is because it's now an adult market .
Yes, I think most of mine are still stored that way
@@Graphicxtras1 I used to keep mine that way and stored them in empty anti-freeze boxes . They started turning brown and were giving off a strong odor . I made it a project to bag and board them all and store them in a dry closet on shelves . I also placed dryer sheets in the boxes to absorb the odors . I'm a 65 year old man and turned an eyesore into something I could be proud of .
@@eaglerider1826 Had my comics from the 70s (and have comics from the 30s and 40s) and I haven't got any of them in slabbed or bags, they are all fine and still regularly read. Each to their own in their storage and collecting techniques !
The only thing killing graded books is too many graded books. Most modern and filler run books have no business being in a slab.
My thoughts exactly... I saw a bunch of amazing spidermans that were filler issues all graded, and I said "Why!?".
This was at a card shop who took them in and the owner though "gee.. wow, graded.. must be worth somthing"...
Told him they weren't worth the grading fee...
Agreed. The later books are crash and burn
Been collecting comics for 30 odd years, for years I stayed away from graded books and finally started slabbing some of my better older bronze and silver age keys. And will certainly agree there are far too many graded books out there. Newer stuff I just stay away from, for the most part if maybe one to two percent of all modern books will ever really be worth anything. My thought is enjoy the hobby, actually take the time to read some books, there are really some great stories out there. Just my two cents for the day…
@@shaner743: pretty much the same as you. Do you intend to sell at somepoint ?. I plan to sell In retirement as a way of earning extra income
thtas half reason comic collecting when grading if its not cgc cbcs pgx egs they sell for less cgc sells for more they should same equal value yes cgc sent me email buy book not compnay name logo for book be worth value comic collecotrs are ripping of collecotrs if its cgc sell for high but anything not cgc sell for less thats not fiar
I’ve always called slabs “plastic coffins” because the comic book effectively dies in the case. Reading books is a fundamental part of the experience. Thanks Daniel!
I said this on a comic book group on facebook, and got piled on like I was an idiot! lol I'm a reader first, collector second. I'm not hating or saying you shouldn't grade books if you want, but I personally agree... the book is effectively dead.
As a collector, never buy anything graded unless it has meaning to you
Damn true. Part of those high prices are just us trying to relieve the moment or excitement. Gotta pair high prices with emotion. Rarity doesn't always mean high value.
I'm more into sports memorabilia. One day a guy tried to sell me a vintage autograph jersey for $3K. Yeah it's mint and rare, but bruh, he plays for a different team and I never saw him play. That thing has no value to me. Swear to God, these guys are just begging people to move their stuff 😂
I know a guy who runs an antique shop. He always gave me words of wisdom, if you’re going to collect something as an asset, buy the most coveted or best you can get. Better to have one high grade sealed Fantastic Four number 1 than 100 random early issues. The Holy Grail of anything is all that will ever bring real life changing value.
Well said
The comic book grading thing is about greed and a misguided sense of investment. Actually, the only ones making money are the graders.
I haven’t bought graded comics in 10 years. The way I look at is books are made to be read.
Same here. Buying a brick would be like buying an album that you can't listen too or buy a painting that you can't see.
Right, grading is for old comics too fragile to be read
I wont have any of mine slabbed. Sell them raw. Plus I read them also
@@sp123 No, that's what mylars are for. Slabbing is stupid.
I still like my favourite covers in a slab, preferably none keys at a reasonable price. I have 14 slabs total. J Scott, Artgerm & Hughes mainly. Raw I've got thousands. Everything in life is a balance. I've been unloading stuff recently that I dont actually enjoy. Bought way to many books during the boom because of fomo, luckily in the 10's of dollars rather than hundreds.
I collected comics for 37 years. About 40 long boxes. All raw. I never understood the reason to grade comics and seal them away. The sooner grading disappears the better. In my humble opinion.
Over 55 000 comic books and I definitely agree with you. I only put them in bags, no boards and I have them in book cases. I touch them, read them and f-ing don't care.....ooh ooh, that's a key issue or this that.....ffs. 🤣
Agreed. Slabs are a waste of money and take up way too much space when you’re collection gets into the tens of thousands!! I can use the money I’d pay to get something graded to buy more comics lol
My dad had 2 stores on the side when I was a kid (Gettysburg and Hanover PA - DynamiteComics, one of my favorite memories of growing up was gettimg to help bag & board books on the weekend). All in all, he had 440 short boxes and 350 long boxes. Lol it filled our 2 car garage and basement when he decided to offload them to a collector.
Comicons back in the day were awesome too
Worth it for minty fresh comics you love. They look cool too.
Only about 1% of all books released deserve to be slabbed.
Honestly I just look at it as a display thing. I have 2 books,both just covers I like with autographs. Nothing rare or crazy....like 3-10$ books I bought slabbed to hang on the wall. Already had raw copies.
Less than that
.001. I would not be interested in any slab unless it was a key from before 1980.
@@zeldadlez1 Just how does one read a slabbed comic book?
@@zeldadlez1 that excludes so many massive keys
If you love comics don’t let this video discourage you. Graded or not buy what you want. Don’t buy with the intentions of flipping for a profit unless you have mad money to waste.
This video wouldn't discourage anyone who is a fan.
In fact it would be encouraging.
Insane prices are coming down and will continue to come down. Almost everything will become more affordable. Especially when more "investors" throw in the towel upon realizing the market aint coming back.
It's a great time to buy graded comic books.
In the real estate biz they call it house flipping. So this slab jazz would be book flipping. Owners never considered keeping them, since it was all just a cash grab. This is not true comic book collecting, where you mainly aim to KEEP the treasure you've found, after years of searching. Screw the stupid slab biz. After 50 years of collecting, I've never had even one single comic put behind any "graded" hunk of plastic.
You're right. It seems like "everything is falling" but it was simply just overly inflated by people pumping up prices and trying to sell to another reseller. It's all just going down to normal
I totally agree with your comment on slabs,,I myself am a collector but only golden age Marvels . especially Incredible Hulk!
you think I would slab my #180 or #181 Hulk?? NO WAY!!
@rucrzy05 lol you read my mind precisely
As a novice, the idea of slabbing them makes no sense. Being able to read them is a huge chunk of its draw.
agreed, but as always with people, its about the money, sadly.
Companies didn't learn a thing from that first comic crash in the late 90's. Comic store prices doubled and they still make variant covers.
Variants are stupid......
I buy one copy
PERIOD
Depends. I only read one series so i dont mind getting the cool covers. :)
My new motto for collecting ANYTHING is:
Don't COLLECT too much/ dont don't EXPECT too much.
I agree. Better off putting them in a UV protected case. That allows you to take it out.
CGC hurt itself with all their issues. It's not even worth it anymore.
💯
It never was
I'm glad you mentioned the UV thing. I am shocked how many people toss these rare comics around, expose them to sunlight, and put them on display like any other random comic. I remember there was this one comic store I used to go to that put rare comics in their windows! They all faded, obviously. How crazy is that?
I need to get UV covers so I can take them out.
Reminds me of 1987-1994 when the speculators ruled the comic book collecting roost. We saw what happened there. Complete flame out of the market.
The one thing I could never figure out was people getting comics graded, that were less in value, than the grading process. I'm not paying 100.00 for a good quality 15.00 book just because the dealer paid to have it graded. Crazy. I've had one comic graded, Forever People #1 signed by Jack Kirby. It sat in my collection for 25 years. Not a high priced book, I paid more to have it graded because I always wondered if the signature was legit (his secretary signed a lot of his books for him). Came back as legit signature at a 5.5 (not pressed). Paid more than the value of the book, but the authentication was worth the price to me for my personal collection (and made me happy to own a book signed by the King), Not as a resale investment.
Wasn't the reason to slab comics that comic books started to be sold on Ebay by ordinary people and as a buyer you didn't want to pay a VG prize of $1000 for a book that you couldn't lay your hands on and that might only be a G worth $700? With third party grading you could rely more on the grading being correct. I agree it makes no sense with a cheaper book that might be worth $70 in G and $100 in VG as the potential loss of a book that has the wrong grade is less than the cost of slabbing it.
Where did you hear Kirby’s secretary signed books? I don’t think he ever had a personal secretary unless you mean his wife.
I've only sent 2 in to be graded, and one was a McFarlane signed Spiderman #1 that I got back in 1990. Back then, there was no COA with it. I wanted to make sure the signature was real. I paid $10 for it back then. The other was Spiderman 100, but when the LCS tried to jack up the grading cost on me after we already agreed on a price, I decided not to send anymore in. Luckily, he had texted me the price, so he couldn't deny the price we agreed on.
I hear ya. I have one stabbed book. It is a crowd funded book, Prey for the Sinner because it was one of the last covers George Perez did & its signed by him. Otherwise have always been unsure.
@jimsteinmanfan80 You can grade it yourself based on the photos. If the photos are crap then all the better as nobody else is going to bid for it.
If it's not at least a 9.8, or a key book, or sentimental to the owner, it's probably not worth being slabbed. Basic knowledge.
This is the best comment in the thread. 💯 percent agree.
So true... half of the non-key 9.0-9.6 books on eBay right now are selling for about the same price as it cost to get them graded in the first place. I genuinely enjoy the way graded books look and I'm not an investor or flipper, so it's all great news for me because I no longer have to buy raw and submit to CGC. Most everything I buy is selling for less than the cost of doing that.
Too many flippers, not enough collectors. I believe most comics are still thirty to forty percent over valued.
It’s not just comic books losing value. We’re in an everything bubble and everything is and will be coming back down to reality over the next 2-3 years (Real estate, cars, comics, trading cards, etc)
I don't think trading cards will ever come down. Especially new packs. That is a crazy industry that has stayed inflated since 1990!
Depends on how stupid the voters are.
We could be stuck with the same garbage for the next 4 years
Seemingly. In fact, if Kamala wins, people will be using these books for kindling, light, and heat.
Not vinyl records though.
@@allen-rp3gm people-need-to-wake-up-tho-with-autographs......James Dean-sgd-photo-is-valued-15k......so-why-on-earth-would-dealer-sell-for500$-or1500......obvious-fraud-is-obvious!.......or-Jobs-sig-for-299$,thats-a-5k-sig&sgd-l*tt*r-sold-12999$
I purchased ASM 129 raw ( and actually got a good deal) cause I wanted the feel of the book , smell of the pages, and to actually read the official version.
I agree! Can't do that with slabs, LoL!!
my dad and uncles used to keep all their comics next to the toilet and they’d read them while taking a dump. A lot of people did way back when. 30 years later people are buying those same comics and fawning over how good they smell
@@donaldvonglitchenberger4108Well then, I guess I love the smell of old poop paper
Nice man, I personally believe ASM 6 Sinister Six 1960's comic is massively undervalued. Was only 1 print run and in my opinion seems so undervalued right now on market.
What a lot of collectors are realizing is that it becomes a storing issue try storing a complete run of spiderman in your home especially if you are married and have kids good luck. I have always preferred raw books.
If you really want to sell this stuff right now you just have to eat your feelings and auction it off at whatever price you can get an opening bid! Everyone thought that easy $$$ would just continue forever! Best thing to do is put them in storage or decorate your wall and forget about the value for a few years until it works itself out!
I'm just passing on to my kids ,they can see what a 100 year old comic will bring,right now from 100 to 300 ,some slabbed some not,if I get a slab anymore it's the signature series for authentication
Working itself out is not going to happen for the majority of this stuff.
@@johnmoyer9259 "working itself out" doesn't necessarily mean something good! It'll just be whatever it is!
My friend owns a comic book store. He said 90% of people buy raw comics not graded. Even he said graded comics are a scam.
I'm not going to buy Golden Age books for thousands of dollars from a stranger unless I have some sort of comfort in knowing it's not trimmed, color touched, etc. I've been burned before. I will only buy high value books that have been graded. I think it's silly not to
That is why CCG was founded in 1987 they started off with bills, stamps & coins so you know it's not a forgery. It's a valuable service. People been crying about CGC & PSA and grading collectibles forever. It is what it is.
Anyone can learn what they know and do themselves. They are not Super human.
@Mountainrock70 I agree. I've learned how to spot color touch, but trimmed pages, married pages, etc, I really have no idea. Still, it's nice to have a second opinion
100% agree!!
@@richardolney1822 It only makes sense for books from before that time, IMO. For such older books I can see the need, but it has become more than it was originally intended to be I think with people doing it with Modern Age books.
Thank God I collect for fun. Once I buy any collectible for my game room… Statues, art work, comic books- in slab or not … just beautiful art. I never , not once , do I think I will get a dime for any of it.
Nah, it's the collectables market in its entirety that is a reflection of the economy. High inflation = less available funds for collecting. The collectables market moves in cycles along with the economy. Buy low, sell high, but that takes 1) timing and 2) patience.
💯
Kind of hit the nail on the head. People don’t have the disposable income right now to justify buying collectibles. I’m sure there will be an upswing and the talking heads will make videos on “why didn’t I buy when the market was so low”
@@jakeys2457 Thank you, and yeah, I'm buying slabbed silver and bronze where the price is right, and for my PC so I'm not worried about turning a profit for a long time.
Exactly !!!
This is ture! I have seen it before and was able to grab some great stuff before the next run up as i am doing now. Once the economy gets better all collectables rise fast.
The reason you see raw books also moving easier is because some of the people buying it want to get the books graded THEMSELVES. If someone has already done that part, there is no "meat on the bone" at the back end (possibly). By getting it graded before hand and selling it like that, you're effectively removing the potential buyers who'd wanna do just that, (and putting a finite price amount on the book so it isn't as exciting).
As much as I dislike graded comics, I think it is more that the bubble as a whole is bursting. I have been around to see the speculation bubbles burst in the past and we're in it big time right now. If you bought comics as an investment and they're not selling, you need to cut your losses now. Undercut everyone and get out while you can. Comic books have 10x'd in the last 4-5 years and it was never going to last. I would not be surprised at all if the market over corrects and prices on a lot of non-grail level books hit rock bottom over the next year or so. Anyone who was around in the late 90s should know what is coming.
It amazes me what people think is normal for comic prices right now. $3-5 bargain bins for filler issues? Really? I've only been away for a few years but went to a local show and saw that. Quite dumbfounded. Never thought I'd be happy to find a few $1 bins of books with no bag or board so I didn't walk away completely empty handed... but prices are out of hand top to bottom.
As far as graded comics go... I can kind of understand mega keys being slabbed or maybe signed books for authentication purposes. But when I say 'mega keys' I mean like... 50 books in existence should be given that treatment. Slabbing a book from the 80s or 90s with a million+ print run is just crazy to me, I don't care what event took place. And people paying hundreds of dollars for a 0.2 grade difference, especially when that difference is almost always subjective grading standard margin of error... just amazing how crazy people are.
It just isn't going to last. People in it for money will get out. Prices will plummet. And I can't wait. Sucks my collection's value will go down with it but I'd rather be able to buy more.
I buy comics to read. If they are valuable financially, it's a bonus.
Slabs are selling, they just need to be priced correct, and if somebody slabbed a book that has no financial reason being slabbed...well now they're eating S**t. The hobby needs to learn what is actually worthy of being graded.
The answer is nothing, nothing needs to be graded do not line CGCs pockets just capsule it
Bingo. This video is gaslighting ppl.
@@DanSchawbel nothing is “worth being graded” only reason is to flip or line CGCs pockets with money if your collecting for yourself and no monetary gain a protector works just fine and often works better actually
@@jimmyhayes6017 so Hypothetical question. You have $10k for a comic of your liking. Theres a 5.0 graded by CGC and theres a 5.0 in a plastic holder graded by JoBlo Comic dealer at booth #203…
Which do you choose?
Yeah, the euphoria of the comic book boom has passed. Now, you can't just grade anything at anytime and make profit. Now you have to research market trends and what books are actually moving. Even popular youtube dealers have graded moderns for sale that make me ask why in the hell would you ever grade that book?
You don’t have to crack them to sell them. Just sell them at the raw price. I’ve always felt the purpose of grading services is to give online consumers the confidence in the grade. Having new/custom labels to me is pointless. Just get books graded so selling them online is smoother. There is no reason slabbed books should sell for that much more than raw books.
What would you say is the price difference between a slabbed book and an un-slabbed book in same condition? Ie: Conan the Barbarian #1 in VF condition?
@@saint.vitus.7775 So my original point is an argument against the original post here, claiming that no one wants or is buying slabbed books. The truth is, they don’t want to pay the large premium that flippers are asking for said slabs. There are far too many sellers just looking for a quick turnaround sale with a high profit, when all they did was have it slabbed. The point is even more true when it comes to modern books that only cost $15 to grade. The market is adjusting because
A) The majority of speculators have moved on to other endeavors, leaving mostly savvy collectors who know the actual value of graded books
B) CGC’s reputation is at an all time low after accetategate and now the banana bends. Price your graded books accurately and they just might start selling again.
I would still buy grails slabbed to verify there is no restoration
especially on golden age.
@@Mcdowells Absolutely, color touch was very popular back then
There are a lot of restored books that aren’t labeled that way in older cases. Especially Golden Age books. So I’d be careful.
@@christopherferguson7201 I've seen books that look trimmed with a blue label, I believe it. PGX also has a history of not counting pages and checking for restoration so this is just regarding CGC/CBCS
Exactly. There are many cases in which grading, and buying graded, comics is preferable. Many of the books in slabs right now weren't worth grading to begin with.
Everyone is struggling, car sells are dropping, house sells are dropping. Everything is super expensive right now and people have to prioritize feeding their families. It's really as simple as that. Collectors like myself that had to dump collections to stay afloat are going to be reluctant to buy anything big for a few years. That's just what it is. Its like a very emotional draining thing when you have to sell things that we emotionaly connect to. ... Likely we will all move to buying 1 slab a summer ... in time, and build back some of our favorites that we miss. ... but also once you've owned something once, there's not as much excitement or urgency in owning it again ... so it will be a very very long decade or so trickle of the market coming back. We've lived through it once, we will live through it again.
if-only-th*y-stop-buying-forgd-autographs....sigh
I only collect and sell raw. Everyone is so picky with grades. I agree with you 100%
I just feel no joy in buying graded comic books trapped in these plastic slabs. Usually when i buy an old comic its because I like the art or its an important issue for a character/team that I like. I'll always remember finding a copy of Savage Dragon #1 in amazing condition for like $5 at a yard sale in upstate New York a few years ago and just thinking about how much more joyful of an experience it was to buy that as opposed to purchasing a M/NM copy trapped in a plastic slab. The joy in collecting to me comes from finding something good in the places you least expect it, as opposed to seeing it mounted on a wall in a plastic slab for everyone to see.
You raise some valid points. If you have to buy them graded, then it's usually an indication that you are a speculator, and not necessarily a collector.
The only people that are panicking are the people that are in it for the money and flippers. I buy comics for the story, or the art…I can read any comic I buy digitally if it’s slabbed. The comics I have that are currently graded…the case helps keep them in great condition while I display them. I don’t sell my books. If they go up in value great, if not….oh well!
This is the true general consensus! I will always buy raw and cbcs graded books. I collect for myself not the market or anyone else.
CGC changing their grading standards (9.9&10) is complete BS. And for that reason, im out!
cgc use to be strict nw there try buy customers with 9.9 cgc fans hated pgx for being to nice with grading what i read now cgc is doing same thing
Yup. Totally lost confidence in the future of slabs. They instantly devalued their 9.8s
I’m 57. I collected bought and sold comics in my teens and early 20s. When the slabbing started I hated it. You don’t touch the comic, can’t smell it, can’t open or flip through it. Sure it is protected, but the experience of it is gone.
Have you tried reading Marvel comics on the app? For me it was a better experience than rummaging through a store. Easier to go though sorted issues by date and comic book number and character than go through random lots of unorganized comics. Different strokes for different folks.
For big keys I prefer having them graded as I know what I’m getting and it’s safer to buy knowing the book hasn’t been trimmed or color touched or missing pages. The minor keys and run fillers I wouldn’t buy graded and prefer them raw. I don’t ever see graded books ever going away. It’s riskier buying raw books online and not everyone has access to a comic shop near them but I can understand how people would get tired of the premium pricing that’s involved with slabs.
That use to be a pro argument for buying slabs until the CGC slabbing scandal happened (and you know they ain't wasting time on tiny books). Only solution I heard from people was "trust your dealer and do your due diligence before buying" which is what you do for raw books. If you can't blindly rely on the number on the case anymore and have to research like a raw, then might as well just buy the raw and save money.
I only want raw books. Comics are to read. As far as I'm concerned, if you can't read the book, you don't have it in your collection. You just own an unopenable plastic safe.
@@stephenmumford9995I’m good with that 😄. There’s other ways to read the book and yes I do read my books.
This has been an informative video. I have some slabs and have moved some slabs and you 're right. If you can't read them are the in your collection? Age old question, why do you collect? Thanks.
It's like any market. There's supply and demand. Right now there is an oversupply of graded books because everyone and their brother the past 5 years has slabbed everything under the sun. For long term collectors, it's a buyer's market on whatever you're looking for if you have the cash. If you're a seller and need cash, it's tough times. Prices are continuing to fall because there is little demand overall. Collectibles are one of the first indicators of overall economic conditions.
People want a fortune for graded books. Plus CGC moving the goalpost eroded the graded market. It became clear that any integrity in their process vanished and they have fully committed themselves to marketing gimmicks to fatten their own margins.
that’s the biggest issue in my opinion. Handing out 9.9s like they’re candy now really left a bad taste in peoples mouths. I have about 10 graded books and i was going to get quite a few more graded but i’m so disgusted with them i refuse to give them any more of my money. And now
i’m starting to realize
over the past 6 months that i like the books much better raw, even for display purposes.
@@donaldvonglitchenberger4108 Its exactly this... They killed their business ( at least temporarliy) with introducing the 10.0 for most books after establishing the market where 9.8 was the standard highest grade... Now people are either pissed ( especially if they have a lot of high grade books that just lost value), or they want to see where the dust settles...
@@kellygoodine9944 as-they-say: you-dont-get-rich-by-being-nice.......
If I ever bought a graded comic I would immediately crack it open. I want a comic book, not a poster. I want to open it, smell it... you know like a comic book
The slabs should only be valued at the raw price + $50 or so for grading. Currently, they seem to be priced 2x or 3x more.
That’s what the 9.6 sell for. The 9.8s are like a 3 or 4bagger
Yup passing that debt is ridiculous really over price.
exactly!
I'm in the same cycle as you Goose. Started when I was a kid and had about four long boxes of bronze aged books, then the COVID spike came and I got back in it for the money. I bought, I flipped, I learned to press, did lots of CPR, bought collections and sent books in to get graded and flipped. Now that the market has cooled, I've come full circle and am just buying raw books for myself. Maybe one day, the cycle will start again.
You are spot on here and welcome to or back to what comic collecting is really all about. I'm 67 and have been reading and collecting comics for over 60 years and - like Don Rosa - I will NEVER slab a comic - I will READ IT! People who buy and slab comics are in it for the money and not the love of comics. Take your money and buy and read as many comics as you can. You will some encounter some crap along the way but you will also discover the joy of finding an author or artist or character you really like. Lay them on the floor and sort through them and enjoy!
- THAT'S what comics are about. And you will then pass on your love to your children or grandchildren and then comics will still be around for generations - NOT if they're slabbed!
I felt the way you did about 12-15 years ago but now I’m back and I throughly enjoy going through my books and like to display them. I’ve already read them personally and have them in lower grade copies or omnibuses to engage with and read. I think you can have a balance
Lest not forget Manga and anime are more popular nowadays then old comics!
Publishers sending bricks of 400 newly printed books directly to CGC, at a 20 Percent rate, for 9.9 and 10's KILLS the Modern grading market.
I agree with what you say. Ive never bought a book locked in plastic and never will.
Plain and simple comics are dying because the market that wants them is dying . Try and tell anyone under 40 about how great some
Superhero comic is. Games are what they buy. Comics are. Dead money . My rule is ask a 6 year old
And 60 year old if they have heard of something , If they both say yes then yiu can consider buying it . Emotional attachment is one of the primary drivers for a collectible so many younger people have never even held a comic let alone read one so therefor no emotion =no sale
You are right. There is no reason it had to be like that, but comic books have been stuck in the ghetto of obscure comic shops for 30 years and now the direct market only chickens are coming home to roost. They should have been putting cheap options in Walmarts and grocery checkouts this whole time, and the few times the companies have acknowledged this (DC 100 page Walmart books for example) they half ass and quickly abandon it.
i have 9 nieces and nephews between the ages of 5-14. They’ve never even seen a comic book. Anyone that says this stuff will hold value in 20-30 years are out of their minds.
I bet your voting for kamala 🤡
Tell me you new to this without telling me 😂😂😂😂 i bet you think trans are the majority too😂😂. You for sure are a disney marvel person with pronouns in your bio 🤡
@@user-rl1dp1hz8z Better than that bozo Trump lol
I HAD a comic shop and was around when this 'Graded Comics' thing was still in the discussion stages. I was against it, and I knew it would end up just being another 'Get Rich Quick' scheme.....and it was.
I’m a new collector not an investor, I collect CGC signature series books because I know the stories already and they are books I love but also because they are written and drawn by some incredibly talented people. It’s true what they say! Collect what appeals to you!
Definetly connected with your post. I do the same, I’m a comic book autograph collector. I do it cause I’m a fan of the creators and artists. Apart from slabbing major keys, an autographed slab displays great! Like you said, collect and slab what makes you happy! I like this youtuber’s content, but too much poopoing on this post, 😬.
@@henryhernandezsrgpatriot8560Thanks for sharing! 🙏 it’s great to know that there are still collectors out there who like to collect the material to preserve it, preserve the artists who made it, but above all keep the soul of comics together. It’s gotten too money and speculation driven!.
After COVID the market just cooled off. There's still a huge market for CGC comics. But the prices set on eBay are just crazy. I guarantee you if you set those comics for $0.99 auction then we'll see what the real prices are based on the actual market. Some of these prices right out the gate are just insane so nobody's buying them. For instance I got a infinity gauntlet #1 that's 9.8 graded signed by a Stan Lee and George Perez. That I want in a slab. But everything else I'm good just keeping loose and reading them. I think sellers just need to set realistic prices.
I strongly disagree with this the only reason people can’t sell their slabs is because they are asking way too much or the grade is super low so they “crack and sell raw” and advertise their 3.0 as a 5.0 graded comics sell well people just have to stop asking crazy prices anything will realistically sell if your book is not a wack new exclusive
Graded books sell all day, every day. I only keep up with golden age, through early bronze. I couldn't comment on modern.
Yes they ask too much
I have no problem selling high grade silver age comics. If you lose your patience and drop your prices, that's on you...😏
Bingo
@@Geoffreydarcy-pv4mqyrp
I sent my strange tales 110 to be graded and they destroyed it. I got it from a fellow collector and it was in really good condition, it had some yellowing, small creases in the cover and a tiny tare in the 5th page. When I got it back it wasn't graded it was in pieces the cover was slashed, the pages were ripped and I looked like it was soaked in water. I called the customer service number and sent them an email with images of the comic before I sent it and after I got it with all the paper work I got, well come to find out the grader spilt the pop on it and then destroyed it then told his boss it arrived like that and boss believed him until I gave them the proof. They offered $600 for the comic that was worth $1000+ and was told I would get 75% all future gradings. I told them to suck me and had my insurance company deal with the claim. After 6months I got $1200 and an apology.
I read "spilt the pop on it" as "SPLIT the pop on it" and then racked my brain trying to figure out what the pop of a comic book is and how do you split it open. Then I remembered that half the country says "pop" for "soda" and THEN realized it said "spilt". Did I mention that it is late? I am glad you got reimbursement, what an ugly situation.
I want this. I don't collect to sell. Maybe in 20 years if they are really worth something and I've moved onto other needs or wants. Right now, I'm loving these low prices. If you buy for personal enjoyment or looking to sell years in the future. Now is the time to buy.
This is exactly how I feel. I don’t want books to be worth nothing but it’s a buyers market so load up now because the next wave is coming eventually.
Better deals ahead.
Slow your roll.
a mixture of bookstores closing, people no longer reading, and overall superhero fatigue from the onslaught of movies and tv shows … it just lost its niche appeal to collectors
I never understood the appeal of slabbing comics. It effectively turns a comic book into a trading card. When I was into buying older comics, I graded comics in three ways... unacceptably bad condition, okay condition but I wouldn't mind having a better copy, and an ideal copy. Looking at and grading comics at a microscopic level never appealed to me. I want a thing I can read and flip through. It's not a coin or a trading card.
No... they still want them, just not at your price you have it listed at!
People are broke and have little to no space on their credit cards!
There is a difference between the collecting hobby and the reseller hobby.
Collectors main interest is not selling. Reading and appreciating the books is collecting. Flipping is not collecting.
Selling anything is a business, by definition. However, all collectors need dealers and resellers , as well as vice versa.
I applaud your resolve to never sell a single item from your collection. Tastes may change and you may downsize your home, but the collection will only ever be allowed to grow or remain the same size. When you die, the collection will be donated to another collector [with stipulations that the items can never be sold] or your collection will be buried with you.
You know, correctly so, that the second that you list a single item (for pathetic reasons such as: large medical bills; education tuition of a family member; loss of enjoyment for the hobby; divorce), you have become a disgusting, non-collecting reseller.
@tedsmiles8145 Damn Dude!! Yeah, these are all facts if you don't focus your collection. It's not like reselling is forbidden. There is a big difference from a collector to a flipper.
When I was buying a house, I sold of my most valuable comics. My best friend told me to get them graded first. I completely ignored his advice and used my own grading, based on Over street's definitions, and they sold for pretty good cash. After watching your video, I'm glad I didn't get them graded!
The major problem currently is CGC hurt themselves with internal problems, which cause people to doubt the authenticity of the grade. What hurt the market was people buying for investment, versus enjoyment. Because more people were buying graded comics as an investment, more people were grading. Now we see too much supply versus too little demand. Prices are dropping, stagnating, or there is no real value. This is called a market adjustment. Hold onto your grade comics, because once PSA starts up, there will be a price war and adjustment in confidence. Anyone not grading right now because raws move, will see those comics slabbed by PSA, and jump in price. People buying raw right now are buying to slab next year. Once people get a baring on whom is better or if both are the same, the market will adjust again. Don't panic and remove your comics from slabs to sell. I have been collecting comics for over 40 years, seen all this happen before. Be patient and adjust to the market dictates. Enjoy your comics, slabbed or not. There will be value returning at some point.
It's worse than graded coins or sportscards because the graded comic books take up more space and can get heavy.
Anyone who has a bunch of modern 9.6 and 9.8 slabs - who thinks they're worth between $40 and $400, depending on the comic... who's even thinking about buying any more graded comics... should randomly select about 25 of their best slabs, add up what they think they're worth - and then take them to an LCS and ask for an offer - they won't get 15 cents on the dollar for them. Then, try to sell them on ebay, where they have to sell them far below the fake market values in order to get them to sell, and then only get 85% of the sale price because of the ebay fees. Sooo many problems with slabs and modern comics in general, that it's not funny.
Lcs, just like pawn shops always screw you over when buying your stuff. My local shop sells slabs all day long.
That's just as true if you take your best 25 raw books and get an offer from an LCS...
@@Talking_Comics Likely true. I wasn't clear - Trying to say - it you take a raw comic that grades around NMT (+ or minus, depending on opinion) that it is "worth" $10, retail... you might get $2 or $3 from an LCS. That's always been the case. Take that same book, spend the $25 it costs to get it graded and have it come back as anything other than 9.8 - and the LCS will only give you $5 for it (the LCS will only be able to sell it for $20). So, you will have taken a comic that was "worth" $3, then spent $25 for CGC fees and shipping, so you'd have $28 "invested"... and you'd only get $5. Problem is that that the vast majority of modern books aren't worth grading - there's very little demand for 98% of modern comics graded between 8.5 and 9.4.
@@ddougherty8266 can you share your LCS? I would love to get some $20 slabs? I know there isn't one cheaper than $50 at my LCS and that one has a cracked case.
Love this!!!! F slabs!!!!! Raw comics are where it's at! Just bag and board them and enjoy them! Enough of this friggin' stock market of comics!!!!
Sellers need to stop using the "I need to recoup what I invested in the book" line. I don't care what you have into the book, take the L and move on. Oh, and price your slabbed books at CMV and not off 2022-2023 prices.
Lot's of people still delusional that they have a collection that is a solid long term investment.
My 6-year-old loves Sonic the Hedgehog, he plays all the games on the Genesis collection for the PS3 and he watches the old cartoon series that was on Netflix, I was at the comic shop and picked up three Sonic comic books and told him I had a surprise for him when I got home, he was so disappointed, he pushed them aside and said naww I don't want that.
That's a great story. It shows you how the newer generations value physical objects.
There is a few factors on the decline of slabbed sales.
1. Economy (worst in years)
2. Scammers
3. Grading Controversy
It'd hard to justify spending a lot of money on these type of books when there is so much smoke surrounding them.
Economy worst in years??!!..lol..who told you that lie?
@@alberto-gj5oi economy on comic books. Covid over spending on Raw and Graded now all are hitting on the down slope.
The subject matter was the decline in Graded (Slabbed) Sales not the Country
@@johnpopeko ah ok..gotcha
Regarding scammers, are there people who do reprints and pass them off as originals in the slabs?
I'm with you, comics shouldn't be graded it's more of a visual observation when interested in purchasing or pursuing to obtain a certain book. CGC creates comic tombs which in my opinion devalues the experience as well as the comic...
I’m a cover guy so I get the appeal of a slab, but the price difference between raw and slab is stupid
This is interesting content for me. I'm moving, and have uncovered my old collection (about 4 boxes - mostly 80's books with some 70's stuff and early 90's). I'd like to start selling some off - but the whole idea and process and expense involved in 'slabbing' these books - doesn't appeal to me at all. So i'm very glad to hear that there's an actual market for my 'raw' books.
It's still worth slabbing a comic to preserve it, especially if it has personal value such as the first comic you read.
I agree with that. I got a few comics that I got signed that I want to get graded. But that's very personal to me, it's not something I intend to sell. I want them slabbed to preserve them with the signatures. If you want to read them there's trades and omnibuses
The slabs are not UV protective so keep them in boxes away from the light.
Yep people are crying now "boo-hoo why did you grade this non key book?" but in 3024 people will be saying "wow people 1000 years ago were geniuses to preserve these comics for future generations!".
Every slabbed comic I own, I read the story. I’m going to still buy graded comics especially when folks are selling them low. Especially keys that I know about.
@@skatingsam96 Very well said. As a kid when I bought comics, I always bought two. One to read, many times over, and one to bag/ board/ and put away. Should I decide to get it graded, it would be for me and to protect the memories, not to sell.
The slabs are good for one thing , they are bulletproof… if it falls it won’t shatter
This is one side of the coin. Just thought it would be accurate to show part of the other. 1-Grading is subjective. 2-Grading can establish a FMV on a book using online price guides which makes them easier to sell. 3-Grading can catch restoration, cutt outs, ect... 4-Grading adds value (book/grade/dependant) based on data and the above items listed above. Analysis-The market is down, money is tight, panic is setting in for some. A good time to buy. If one needs to sell then an auction vs buy it now is a possibility. Try not to go into credit card debt grading books, sell if you need to but keep your powder dry.
Agreed it's currently a buyers market. Take advantage of this and the frightened influencers cashing out their collections...😏
@@gregsug1640 Yep let the twig hands panic sell and the diamond hands get a steal
Comic books and action figures markets slowed down at the same time, as soon as covid money stop coming from government, and recession reached beyond covid. All luxuries have slowed down in sales. Once economy gets back to more normal, all luxuries will increase sales. And thats all the way up to ferarri, gucci, rolex, etc.
Dang, since no one wants graded books anymore....I have 950 non graded books (Minor keys, afre Major keys, and Regular books) that I'll trade you for the graded Spidey 129 since you're done with graded books.
Also, $50.00 says you won't take me up on that offer because deep down, you know the real worth of a high graded ASM 129 .
The market is fluctuating as all markers do. It will spring back on major keys and graded books.
I talked like you here when CGC first started. I did think, though, at the time that CGC was onto something yet still thought it turned comics into something sterile. Comics became truly organized wall art topped off by that grade! I'm an art type guy and I do like that aspect. I slab as part of my living. Very Very true that much of the CGC market has crashed since the pandemic. The market is adjusting. Generally speaking I don't mess much anymore with non key lower grades if I don't think I can get a 9.8. I'm far more careful with my buying. Key 9.8s have MORE than kept their value. I recently worked my azz off on a Punisher Limited 1 newsstand and got that 9.8. Bought it, including slab, for $65. I sold that for $1100. That makes up for the many victims of the market and keeps me going!! I did hit a 9.8 on the #2 from that 1-5 Limited newstand lot I bought, $450. That pays the bills and keeps me in the game with the hobby/business we all love!!!!
He should have mentioned what prices he was asking for those CGC-graded comics. When he says "lowball", were those prices they normally sell at? I have seen many CGC-graded comics not selling due to prices that were 2022 high. I need more details to his story.
Yeah, it depends on your investment. How much you paid for it makes a huge difference on what you think is a huge loss.
This was my same thought. What I’m really hearing is he over paid during the hype of the comic book and now he has lost a good bit of money due to the market dropping as it should since Covid prices were way over inflated.
While I agree prices are still dropping and they will for a good bit. Buying graded isn’t that bad now and you might loose some money even buying now. But i buy books I want in my collection that are graded that are keys.
Has a former collector I completely agree with you you can't touch the comic otherwise is degraded all you get is a comic with plastic Seals All Around It if you can't feel it smell it and touch it it doesn't seem real and getting your collection created can cost a small fortune
I will never buy a slab book or get a book slab. People are getting every book slab that is not worth anything. Wasting time and money. And hurting the comic industry we all love.
I'm 57 and put a large sports magazine collection together back in the early 2000's that I stuck in a closet in 2006. Didn't know till a few months that people started grading them and what happened to prices. I'm really torn slabbing them or not. Seems like they'll only be glorified baseball when you do.
It was only a matter of time. I never got in on the CGC craze. I always felt like it was going to be a fad. It stops being special when everyone is doing it. It stops being special when everyone is having books that are not worth being graded, graded. The ONLY reason I see to have a book graded is for preserving the condition of that book. That’s the only value in it for me. And that would only be done for a MAJOR key, historical museum quality books. Action Comics #1, Amazing Fantasy #15, Detective Comics #27, etc…..that’s it. Unless you have something on that level I just don’t see the point. But that’s just me. Love your channel, Sticky Goose. Keep it up! 👍🏼
It's less a question of special, more like usefulness. A raw book can be misgraded, while a slabbed one has a professionally applied grade.
Well, that's informative! 🤓
@@wylier yet the “professionally applied grade” is often inconsistent and arbitrary.
Im glad i never slabbed mine, kept holding off for years and budget too.
I always wondered when it would fall apart
Good! The fact that lemmings are still giving CGC money is hilarious to me. The more they lose money, the happier I am. Why you would support crooks and scammers, is beyond me; but here we are. CGC faced a hell of a dark time with the reholder scam, and then announced the 9.9 plan. Fools completely forgot what they did, and here we are. I hope it continues to screw with people's sales.
Anyone who’s collected long enough knows that all things ebb and flow. Just because they aren’t selling now doesn’t mean they won’t in the future. It’s why it’s an investment.
Some investments are better than others. Collectibles are on the bottom for me for break even return or higher on investment.
Also, everybody is grading everything grading should only be for true comics that have value it’s pointless to grade everything
I’ve collected comic books all my life for the love of comic books and the enjoyment of reading them not for just profit and greed - You might as well get your Brokers License 🙄
Are physical collectibles going to mean much to a generation being raised on digital objects and experiences? Kids are spending their money on in-app purchases in games, etc … what are they going to be nostalgic for? Our old stuff? Maybe?
I agree.
At the same time, however, this almost primal need for the tangible can't be explained. Young people collect records, VHS, CDs, and "Retro Hardware" to play this physical media. I think the major issue with slabs is what this guy is saying. It's a hollow experience; people who are true fans of comics want to be able to take them out of the bag and board and flip through or read them, and you just can't do that when it's in a slab.
Enjoy your plastic-encased comic books :) Pray we don't go into a recession because we are far from the bottom of the market if that happens.
I think the new generations might find lots of slabbed comics in their parent's attics and just trash them. They're meaningless to the digital crowd.
@@genx7006 Right that’s why they’re buying collectible digital NFT JPEGs on a blockchain… cause they have no desire to collect anything.
I have the opposite view. I think as life becomes more digital and more online scarce things like property in nature away from people and scarce tangible assets will become more desired because of the way the human brain is hardwired.
Don’t get me wrong I think Slabs are dumb. However I don’t think retro or vintage comics as the kids call them will ever stop be sought out by nerds no matter what generation they’re from.
I think what is more likely to happen is that we may see the market for new books go completely digital in the next 10 years and the floppies going away. They are barely hanging on as it is.
@@genx7006 :(
I currently have no slabbed books in my collection. The main reason is that I like to pull some out once in a while and read them again. I'm not a speculator, I'm just a collector. I'll probably keep all my books 'till I die and my kids can decide what to do with them after I'm gone.
CGC comic book grading is primarily aimed at instilling confidence in buyers regarding their purchases. CGC plays a crucial role in accurately grading and preserving comic books for collectors and investors, whether they intend to hold or sell them. However, many sellers on eBay often misrepresent their comic books, prompting buyers to seek discounts. Those who have their books graded typically aim for top dollar, sometimes even asking for more than the book's value. This discrepancy can create challenges for buyers looking to recoup their investments. Furthermore, collectors who enjoy reading or interacting with their comics may opt to open CGC cases and incorporate the comics into their personal collections.
In conclusion, the issue lies in the fact that the CGC grading service has capitalized on the market's demand, profiting significantly from extremely valuable comics. This focus on high-value items may be contributing to their struggle to attract a broader customer base.
Yes and make sure even if you buy a slab to check the slab and make sure you agree that the book slabbed is indeed the grade you think it to be or walk away. A lot of this is the economy but people also don’t trust the graders right now so people will probably buy more of their slabs at shows where they can look at the graded book and determine if it was graded correctly
Im in Australia, I have been volume collecting since 1968, I saw the bust when EBay Australia ( yes it did exist) arrived in the late 1980's with the internet , and which absolutely crated the second hand comic prices, because it was no longer a limited marketplace of just the 1-3 physical bookshops within 200 miles in which to buy/sell - to being able to buy internationally.
THEN the later cratering of the price due to the poping of the bubble of thge #1 bulk sale craze of the 2000's - do the same thing to new comics
your comments on the failed comic experience of a reading experience that is permanently locked away is totally on point.
Well it's kind of like the stock market ups and downs just buy the dip and hold them I don't think you should be day trading slabs that's just my opinion slab them and hold them I look at this as artwork Being Framed. sometimes I'll slab just the books I think the covers are cool like I just did a kill power issue 1 foil cover LOL not worth much but I like it
I have a touch of OCD when it comes to my collectibles. Doesn't matter if it's comics, model cars, magazines, non-sport cards, etc. I only want the best. I was never a huge comic book collector/reader when I was growing up - Didn't get my first one until I was 12, but I knew how to take good care of things. Graded comics seemed to come naturally to me since I wasn't a comic reader (I just liked the cover art), and it was a great way to protect them from any possible damage. There's a lot of value in it (for me), and I never intend to sell them to make any sort of profit, but to each their own.
I’m a card guy who likes comics. After going to many card shows and feeling the buzz of the money being made by everyone buying and selling off of comps I realized this doesn’t really exist in comics. It’s a lot of grumpy take it or leave it attitudes and “we don’t buy comics.” What makes grading work in cards is that PSA is #1 and we have a 9 or 10. Not 10 decimal choices in between… it’s overkill and confuses the market 9.9 or 10? Really? That’s just stupid.
This only applies to a specific crowd. I blame it on people pricing them to low, I think theirs multiple factors but I want my comics graded to preserve my Copies
I wonder why would PSA enter a crashing market though? 🤔
It's not like trading cards are on the up swing either
They don’t care about the value of the books they just want to be paid to grade them
@@LizzieMcguire69 Sure, but why waste the time & resources if it's not worth the effort or the profits.
@@jackrapier6748 Hiring people to grade, clean, press cost money... Is that even worth doing after you include the cost of paying all the employee's?