I have a few books that fall in the category but they are books that a near and dear to my comic heart. Books that I grew up with or that got me in to collecting. They will never be sold and are just for me and my memories.
You are so correct on having a book slabbed or not. I have a Star Wars high Republic# 1 that I thought for sure it was going to be a CGC 9.8 that ended up being a 9.4 period as it is the 9.8 is only worth about $60 due to the drop in prices. That 9.4, I would be lucky to get$30 more than my shipping, pressing, and grading. So unfortunate.
In a few cases those books might have been 9.6 or higher and damaged by a cgc employee before they were encapsulated. It happens more than cgc will admit.
This just tells me I need to swing by the antique shop! I have a few of these slabs as well, acquired in trades or lots, and most of the time it comes down to consumer education. There was definitely a perception that a slabbed book has a minimum value out there for many years.
If you pick up these 2 stacks I’ll give you an extra book and 20 percent off. I want them GONE. They’re throwing off the rest of the slabs on the table lol
there is a differnece between price and demand and sometimes collectors find it the hard way, its why discount stores exist that sell below retail. Random none key books, from none popular characters are not something people will pay $$$.
My personal collection is raw with very few exceptions. When I buy books I don’t buy slabs unless the price is about what I’d expect to pay raw. My last slab pickup was a Golden Age Captain Marvel Adventures in 8.0 for around $200, but I was buying the book, not the slab or the grade and I felt that a VF 8.0 copy was probably worth about $200 or more raw. One of these days I’ll have to visit your shop. I’m in NJ about 40 minutes from you.
I will say I do agree that not every book under the sun should be slabbed; it may not be financially worth it if the book doesn’t have a real value. But, as a Batman collector myself, some books just hold a sentimental value that I got slabbed or I send in a book in that looks to be near mint but comes back lower. For example, I have a 9.8 of Batman 89 movie adaptation of the original film because that was the first superhero movie I saw in theaters with my parents and brother. I’m personally on a mission to get all the first appearances of Batman’s rouge gallery and sometimes I get lower grades as place holders till I get that 9.8 or 9.6 (heck a key is a key at that point regardless is it’s not near mint). So I just think it varies and can see both sides. Love your channel and keep on hunting!
The only way I’m going to have a graded book is if it was already graded and given to me or if it was already worth a lot (which means it was given to me or found for cheap). Don’t ask me what a lot is.
I caught myself buying some slabs because of cool covers and were brand new books. Now I have the mentality of spending my hard earned money on key books. I dont want to end up with 100 slabs worth $40 each.
So question, I have issue 1,2 and 3 of Sterenko's Agents of Sheild. Im a DC guy. I want to sell them, they are all at least 8.5, but I'm a conservative grader and probable all are 9.0 or more when graded. So is it worth getting them graded?
Just so we’re being excruciatingly clear, you’re talking about comics with a 12-cent price printed on the cover, correct? Reason I ask is, Marvel published a reprint Nick Fury title in the early 70s and some of those have Steranko cover art - they have a 20-cent price, and are probably not worth slabbing.
I had some old boxes of 90s junk... had 1 worthy comic of grading realistically... but graded like 40 random books... lost money on the resale, but good learning experience
@@MintHunterComicsexactly, now I have about 150 worthy graded books... hoping they gain value in a decade or so... until then just picking stuff i like that has long standing value
Understandable - I'm not quite saying that though - I'm talking more about those that go buck wild and grab a random box they get from the flea market and jsut grade EVERYTHING!
I submitted some flawless books that got damaged in shipping and I didn't pay for pre-screen, so now I have some modern books with very low grade that no one wants, I'm going to crack them and get them removed from the census.
I have a Bloodshot #1 cgc 5.0. My brother who passed away gave it to me, so I graded strictly to preserve it. I thought I had the lowest grade on that book, but I just checked and someone has a 2.0!!!! I hope they have a good story as to why they graded it...
That was mine. I was trying to get a 1.0 so I could hit for the cycle with Bloodshot #1s, but CGC over-graded it and ruined my fun. Kidding! But if you see a Bloodshot #7 on the census graded lower than the current low of 7.5 someday, it very well may be mine because I've got a signed one I want to preserve that faded a lot from being on my wall for 20+ years. I wish there was a way we could enter our own notes about a book's circumstances to be saved in the cert databases.
I wonder what you'd have to say about the so called "wa wa" collection recently sold at Heritage. Over 2000 seemingly random(not all though) comics from the 70s and 80s cbcs slabbed.
Indeed. Probably someone's beloved childhood collection. To have it(or most) all graded is special and a little poignant. It's just the kind of collection i'd impulsively blow my money on if I had money to blow.
The price difference between raw and slab is substantial and can catch the eyes of the new comic people. Amazed at the number of people in FB groups that ask "what should I slab"
I think it's honestly just not worth it! I'd only be able to get $20 of raws, but I'll tell you what - come visit the shop and we can make it happen. I only work on Wednesdays
EVERYTHING you said makes sense. However, what I didn't hear you take I to account was some people may just want to slab their favorite books of their collection as how I'm sure encapsulating started. To preserve the condition of the book.
I said that at 1:29 - but I reiterate that while you totally can grade whatever you want, I ask the question: SHOULD you? there's just some books and examples that are so darn costly with zero return that it has no financial sense to it. I'm seeking to help the community with this PSA
You're a damn saint for buying this stuff and saving someones skin and letting them to take their losses and lick their wounds. I would bulk sell these books in lots grouped together by like characteristics.
I agree. I do not intend to sell any if my books soon so I have a few slabbed for value like TMNT Adventures #1 Canadian Price/Newsstand, ASM 300 Newsstand, and New Mutants 98 Newsstand. But have done many because they are signed (like Sgt Rock vs the Army of the Dead signed by Bruce Campbell) and some for display purposes. Most of my collection is in raw form.
@@MintHunterComics Yep, and even if they do, sometimes the math just doesn't add up. For instance, I have the Hulk Annual #1 (Steranko Cover) in about a 5.0 ish. I paid 170 for it (about right, maybe a little high) but if I graded it I'm into it another $50 so ~225 total. That's probably a bit more than it's worth at that grade, so it's going to stay raw. Math is cool, so stay in school kids.
I am very guilty of this. Most of my slabs aren't worth much because I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning, and then I was using a bad resource for estimating FMV - a lot of expensive lessons learned. I am much more frugal now.
@MintHunterComics age of apocalypse is one of my 2 favorite xmen cross over events ever. I'm not a big collector just got back into books. And really with slabbed just been looking for my favorite stories from the 90s that I just really want graded copies of for myself. I have 2 slabs so far. Timeless miss minutes 1:100 virgin variant 9.8 I got for grading price essentially, and 1602 part 1 in a 9.6 for under 15. i like watching your claim sales when i can catch them, love your videos
I mostly agree, however, what about the hundreds of Green Lantern books you've had graded? I'm guessing a good chunk of those are not worth the graded price.
I'm filling a run, and those are all 9.8. ALL. furthermore all of those books are worth WAY more than $50 lol. Some WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY more haha
@@MintHunterComics I'm not trying to take a dig at you or trigger you. My point is that there are collectors that grade runs, such as yourself, and not every comic in a run (especially '90s or newer comics) would be considered a grading candidate (even at 9.8) to anyone other than the person getting it graded for their own PC and there is nothing wrong with doing that. People collect in different ways.
Very valid! Did you see in recent news someone actually completed a run of Alan Moores Swamp Thing in FULL 9.8???? that's somehow I think even more impressive
I picked up a Daredevil 168 that was raw graded by CBCS. I'm not sure how much that costs. It does seem easier and surely cheaper to do. If you get the grade you expect then slab it.
I had a great time with that Fantastic Four Roast, I pick it up from the stand (yes I'm that old) and probably read it more often than the other comics. I still have it and grade it as 7.0 to 7.5. If you want to get rid of that 9.4 which is better than what I have, I'll take it! LOL, I will find my issue and read it again, yes it's fun to read not slab.
I might of made a few mistakes. Books I will never get rid of like the first books my dad, my aunt, or my g-ma, I got graded. They passed so I hold them in high regard.
I have a few comics in got signed in the 90's. How can you verify signatures when grading? Is it true unverified signatures aren't worth grading? I haven't ever got a comic graded so any advice is welcome. Thanks.
I totally agree. Not every book deserves or needs to be slabbed. Maybe 'cause I'm a Marvel Silver age OG and I likely have a bias, but when I see new books slabbed, I know it's a spec thing and little else. PS; don't know if you did this on purpose, but I appreciate you keep the comic book fun facts to the YT shorts and your regular posts don't contain them (unless I missed something). Best to all.
Some peeps just like to add protection and a good look to a book or books to display. Mylar would be my cheap choice, but if it was a book, or books I wanted to add to let’s say, part of a collection, then I can relate.
I submit all the time for PC and preserving. But why slab up random low grade value-less books? It doesn't make sense and has ruined lives and families in peoples addictions at getting EVERYTHING graded. it's actually sad
Yeah I’ve already learned this lesson from you from one of your older videos. The only reason I would submit random books would be to finish a 9.8 run almost like what you’re doing with Green Lantern except mine would be Batman lol.
Although it's not recommended, it's the challenge and sense of accomplishment to get a full series all graded. Personally I know getting the full run graded will never be economical, but its a personal goal. Goals are good sometimes. 👍
Man, I think a lot of people went nuts grading books during the pandemic thinking that every book in a case was hot and would sell. Oops. What made you take on these books? Was it part of a deal in order to acquire the actual gems from the collection? And how do you see yourself getting rid of these now that you've published a video saying they aren't slab worthy (not that everyone who walks into your shop will see this video), but you know what I mean. Will you have to let the whole lot go at a discount that allows someone to think they'll eventually be able to resell them? Anyway, your point is a good one. I was at my presser this past weekend to pick up some new slabs of mine that recently returned from CGC. He also had a bunch of raws that I would slowly give him the green light to submit. But I took them all back because I've recently recalibrated my own ideas on what I want to get slabbed and what can stay in a bag & board, or a top loader. We absolutely do not have to get everything graded. In fact I think we should all slow down as you point out in the video. Maybe if we pull back on the "non-key", CGC will have more time & resources to devote to quality control. Then again, if they're grading fewer books, then they have less money coming in, and they'll definitely lay people off first. Anyway, thanks for the video. I hope you find a way to move those slabs!
Great content - other problems are that slabs weigh a pound each and take up four times as much room as a bagged and boarded comic - so dealers can't keep a lot of them in their stores, and can't take a lot of them to conventions (too heavy, and again, take up too much real estate) and are expensive to ship (buyers don't even want to pay $20 for a $20 book - because the shipping ends up being another $15). Probably a million slabs that are hard / impossible to sell for the "FMV' that is often shown on the various comic sites. I think that a 2.5 to 6.5 graded, non-key slab is harder to sell (and worth less?) than a raw copy of that same book.
For some of those books I'd crack them and sell them as loose copies. No sense leaving them in the CGC or CBCS holders if nobody is ever going to buy them.
This is a straight up legit offer, I will pay you today. I am offering $15ea for all of those books if you will include the shipping. But I want all of the ones you showed as "terrible" books in this video.
If it's a high grade important key, it makes sense to grade. I prefer raw books. Because I like to read them. There's no right or wrong answer for me on this. Do what makes you happy.
I totally agree with doing what makes you happy. I even say it in the video - what I'm talking about is when I It doesn't make sense and has ruined lives and families in peoples addictions at getting EVERYTHING graded. it's actually sad
I got mad cuz I graded 2 book's I shouldn't have. They are cool and definitely learned a lot about grading by doing it, and got a keener eye for foxing and staining. A Black Panther #1 6.5 sweet Kirby cover, book looks so good, but very hard to see water staining and light crease on back middle, and very light foxing. Amazing looking 6.5! Other than that, a damn good presenting book! And a Uncanny Xmen #127 9.0, don't even ask me why i got that graded! Thought it was at least a 9.6, nope, missed some thing's on that one too! Haha! I gotta learn by doing! I always say ya never figure it out unless ya get your feet wet!
With anything post 1980 I honestly only send it if it's PERFECTTTTT. I don't mind lower grades before then. also depending on the book, there's always exceptions to that standard for me
Some are just nostalgic favourites...even if they do get low grades...that being said, I would be interested in a few of them ...when I am allowed to use the card again..lol
At some point I plan on getting my Howard the Duck #1s from 2015 graded purely because that’s the book that got me into collecting. Outside of that though, I don’t know how you see that total and click on the submit button. I also have to wonder if the guy put insurance on the shipment in. Yikes.
Thank you for the first carol Danvers! I saw that she hulk and I’m trying to collect that run. I saw you had 1-4 when I went before and I got #1 if you still have earlier she hulk I might be interested
Agree I also dont assign much extra value for newer 9.8 books, because there is tons of 9.8's sitting ungraded. If it is a newer $20 raw key comic graded 9.8, i only see it being worth $40.
James,I have always said if the book isn't a major key,low print runs or rare variant it's not worth grading cause those are the only books that hold value.
Might also be that a few of those comics represent someone’s first foray into slabbing, and they deliberately chose a less-significant comic so that if something went awry, it wouldn’t be much of a loss.
Good information! People are sometimes going to get something sentimental done just to display it, but if it's a lot of books as you were showing that does seem going overboard.
I've submitted a couple of books (all worth more than $100 raw) and I found the process to be expensive and a hassle. I can't begin to understand why someone would go through all that for these books.
I have you beat bro... Felix The Cat #1 1991 white pages... 6.0... why? Because it was in a lot with the same graded comic in 9.6 and I got them both for $30-35... I keep telling myself "its worth it... it costs more to get graded," but every time I sort the stack that fugly 6.0 stands out like a sore thumb and drives me insane. Its graded and looks worse than most of my raw comics from the 70s and 80s... well except my Hansi. That things is more brittle than a communion wafer, but I digress...
I couldnt agree with you more . I spent £1000 getting comics slabbed just to see how close I was to CGCs grade to gauge my own personal grading style. I lost £500 , not cos my grades were that far off but because the comics werent valuable enough and the UK CGC market has bottomed out . The trend is approx 5 months behind the USA. The single raw stuff Ive sold has done far far far better than my slabs in roughly the same grade . CGC is just too unpredictable with their grades at the moment . So unless its very obscure (e.g. blue lizard variants) Im sticking to raw comics for now.
After seeing the Video i went to the his antique shop and i picked up about 6 super cool Modern comics with amazing covers for like 20-25 dollar each, and all were 9.6 and 9.8. They are hanging on my wall now. Thank Mint-Hunter.
You're not wrong - I've always been plagued by mic issues. I constantly buy new microphones - I have an odd voice that appears to break mics all the time
I've certainly slabbed some books that I absolutely love that aren't worth much. Sometimes it's not all about making a profit. I just wanted them in my collection and thought it would be nice to have them slabbed
I have a few very low-value graded comics because they are the first comics I ever read. I still recall how I came to own them and it's a foundational event in my comics collecting. I will never sell these comics. Personal connection to a comic is one of the very few reasons why such comics might be sent in for grading. Fred Hembeck's FF Roast is indeed a funny book and well worth reading.
This guy is right on all counts, but if you have a comic that just looks cool but not valuable it’s still ok to have it graded, mostly for the extra protection the slabs offer. Another thing that hurts comics that a lot of shops do it having a comic writer or artist sign a ton of no key comics. Too many signatures on the market cheapens their value.
I am completing a full run of GLs - they're all 9.8 and are worth FAR more than $50. I'm currently 5th place on the CGC registry for the highest graded GL collection. I'm not seeing how 2.0s of 50 cent flea market fluff is comparable to this! lol
My rule of thumb is, if it isn't worth 2x the price to slab then it's not worth slabbing Unless, they are for sentimental value or it's a very limited edition I'll slab after I read it.
Although I've personally never sent in books to get slabbed, i have several slabbed books that most collectors will wonder why . Most are books i had as a kid, and now i want a good copy of it, or i think its a cool cover, and i want to hang it on the wall. But these are usually bought at a lower price from someone just trying to unload them , like yourself. Like you said, be patient deals are out there for this stuff.😊😊😊
Understandable - I'm not quite saying that though - I'm talking more about those that go buck wild and grab a random box they get from the flea market and jsut grade EVERYTHING!
@MintHunterComics I know what you mean. I've many times wondered the same thing after seeing a graded copy of something like Inc. Hulk 190 at a 3.5 Why??? I mean, Glorian ???
The modern 9.8s are nice just because they should always remain 9.8s. While not keys now, whoever submitted might have had a theory about future significance of a plot point, writer or artist involved, or maybe they just liked the cover or collected an artist. The fact they managed to get a 9.8 indicates they probably knew what they were doing, their gamble (for whatever reason) just might not have panned out how they expected it to. If you want a 9.8 and you can pick a 9.8 raw, it's going to be easier to find one the day a book comes out than at any point in the future. Aside from personal/sentimental reasons, some of those books were undoubtedly just mistakes somebody thought would grade higher. That FF 281 somebody might have mistakenly thought was a Canadian price variant since it does say "CAN. 75¢" underneath the U.S. and U.K. prices. We all have to learn somehow, we all get screwed on grades sometimes and unless you've got the fortitude to just toss some stuff in a woodchipper, that stuff's going to end up in the marketplace eventually. Give some to kids to play with, then make some $5/$10/$20/$30 slab boxes to bring traffic to your table (especially if you do cons). If you heard somebody had a $5 slab box, don't tell me you wouldn't make a beeline for it out of curiosity alone. 🙃 While none of that stuff is high dollar, somewhere there's somebody trying to put together a run who'd gladly buy some of those things just to save the cost of getting issues graded themselves because if you're doing a run it's often hard to find stuff already graded for non-key fillers. And last but not least, some things are worth slabbing just to make SURE nobody can ever read them. Or maybe I'm the only one who holds grudges like that. 😂
I get it and agree with your logic but some people do it to preserve and admire as a piece of art! There out 10 a slab time 200 equals 2000. How many people lost 2000 in a few big books after the comic boom? My hand is up!
I think people slab books because they like them as part of their collection. Like for display pieces in their game rooms or collection rooms and such, or as part of a display for certain characters. I have no problem with this. Let people do what they want. If the book means something to them and they want to then fine. Not all of us are looking to "make a profit" and sell our collections for money. It's like framing a poster. Does it make the poster itself worth anything? No. but it sure does look nice when hung up.
I submit all the time for PC and preserving. But why slab up random low grade value-less books? It doesn't make sense and has ruined lives and families in peoples addictions at getting EVERYTHING graded. it's actually sad
I have a few books that fall in the category but they are books that a near and dear to my comic heart. Books that I grew up with or that got me in to collecting. They will never be sold and are just for me and my memories.
Now see THAT makes sense. books with sentiment value from your HEART! But making a flea market run and getting the entire box GRADED? Nah.....
And now they can’t be read. 😂
Me too. I have an amazing spider-man 350. Cool Dr Doom cover 9.4. Just because I love that issue
You are so correct on having a book slabbed or not. I have a Star Wars high Republic# 1 that I thought for sure it was going to be a CGC 9.8 that ended up being a 9.4 period as it is the 9.8 is only worth about $60 due to the drop in prices. That 9.4, I would be lucky to get$30 more than my shipping, pressing, and grading. So unfortunate.
It happens!
In a few cases those books might have been 9.6 or higher and damaged by a cgc employee before they were encapsulated. It happens more than cgc will admit.
Hahahaha
This just tells me I need to swing by the antique shop! I have a few of these slabs as well, acquired in trades or lots, and most of the time it comes down to consumer education. There was definitely a perception that a slabbed book has a minimum value out there for many years.
If you pick up these 2 stacks I’ll give you an extra book and 20 percent off. I want them GONE. They’re throwing off the rest of the slabs on the table lol
238 W Delaware Ave, Pennington, NJ 08534
there is a differnece between price and demand and sometimes collectors find it the hard way, its why discount stores exist that sell below retail. Random none key books, from none popular characters are not something people will pay $$$.
My personal collection is raw with very few exceptions. When I buy books I don’t buy slabs unless the price is about what I’d expect to pay raw. My last slab pickup was a Golden Age Captain Marvel Adventures in 8.0 for around $200, but I was buying the book, not the slab or the grade and I felt that a VF 8.0 copy was probably worth about $200 or more raw.
One of these days I’ll have to visit your shop. I’m in NJ about 40 minutes from you.
I will say I do agree that not every book under the sun should be slabbed; it may not be financially worth it if the book doesn’t have a real value. But, as a Batman collector myself, some books just hold a sentimental value that I got slabbed or I send in a book in that looks to be near mint but comes back lower. For example, I have a 9.8 of Batman 89 movie adaptation of the original film because that was the first superhero movie I saw in theaters with my parents and brother. I’m personally on a mission to get all the first appearances of Batman’s rouge gallery and sometimes I get lower grades as place holders till I get that 9.8 or 9.6 (heck a key is a key at that point regardless is it’s not near mint). So I just think it varies and can see both sides. Love your channel and keep on hunting!
The only way I’m going to have a graded book is if it was already graded and given to me or if it was already worth a lot (which means it was given to me or found for cheap). Don’t ask me what a lot is.
Hahaha okay!
I caught myself buying some slabs because of cool covers and were brand new books. Now I have the mentality of spending my hard earned money on key books. I dont want to end up with 100 slabs worth $40 each.
Way to stay ahead of the gamer and thanks for sharing!
Some of those books could've just been special to an individual that passed on etc.🤷🏼♂️
That's what I think had to have happened here
one of the local LCS that I go to had a $15 Youngblood #1 in a 7.5 :)
Oof
Liked that you showed us your graded collection and your advice is invaluable. Thank you
So question, I have issue 1,2 and 3 of Sterenko's Agents of Sheild. Im a DC guy. I want to sell them, they are all at least 8.5, but I'm a conservative grader and probable all are 9.0 or more when graded. So is it worth getting them graded?
Oh wow! That’s a good run to have the first 3 of! If they’re that high it may be worth it in my opinion
Just so we’re being excruciatingly clear, you’re talking about comics with a 12-cent price printed on the cover, correct?
Reason I ask is, Marvel published a reprint Nick Fury title in the early 70s and some of those have Steranko cover art - they have a 20-cent price, and are probably not worth slabbing.
Oh yes, I know the difference but a fair question.
@@reprintranch
Cool. I figured you did but thought it was worth double-checking. :)
I appreciate the question. There's a lot I don't know and hope people would point things out.
@@reprintranch
How do I see what books you have for sale
Check out my eBay! www.ebay.com/usr/minthuntercomics
@@MintHunterComics ok thank you a big fan of your channel as well
Thanks man!
I had some old boxes of 90s junk... had 1 worthy comic of grading realistically... but graded like 40 random books... lost money on the resale, but good learning experience
I'm sure it was a good practice round!
@@MintHunterComicsexactly, now I have about 150 worthy graded books... hoping they gain value in a decade or so... until then just picking stuff i like that has long standing value
Is that Brave and Bold Batman/Zatanna still available?
I think so!
Fun video
I see a lot of low dollar books slabbed and thought did they think it had a lot of value or did they just like the cover?
I think it's just people getting too over-excited!
Have you thought about auctioning them on your weekend sales? Some of them would be of interest to your vast audience, especially the cool covers.
Honestly it may come to that
I noticed some of the slabs were the old label, prices were cheaper back then
True!
I understand what you are saying.. some people like myself do it for the fun and to protect the book . not for what it might be worth..
Understandable - I'm not quite saying that though - I'm talking more about those that go buck wild and grab a random box they get from the flea market and jsut grade EVERYTHING!
I submitted some flawless books that got damaged in shipping and I didn't pay for pre-screen, so now I have some modern books with very low grade that no one wants, I'm going to crack them and get them removed from the census.
I know what you mean man. Sorry to hear it
I have a Bloodshot #1 cgc 5.0. My brother who passed away gave it to me, so I graded strictly to preserve it. I thought I had the lowest grade on that book, but I just checked and someone has a 2.0!!!! I hope they have a good story as to why they graded it...
That's a GREAT example of getting a book slabbed form the HEART! Rock on my dude and thanks for sharing!
That was mine. I was trying to get a 1.0 so I could hit for the cycle with Bloodshot #1s, but CGC over-graded it and ruined my fun. Kidding! But if you see a Bloodshot #7 on the census graded lower than the current low of 7.5 someday, it very well may be mine because I've got a signed one I want to preserve that faded a lot from being on my wall for 20+ years. I wish there was a way we could enter our own notes about a book's circumstances to be saved in the cert databases.
lol….so true. Glad to finally make it to the shop today.
That was you? Nice to meet ya man!
I wonder what you'd have to say about the so called "wa wa" collection recently sold at Heritage. Over 2000 seemingly random(not all though) comics from the 70s and 80s cbcs slabbed.
70s and 80s can be amazing... especially if we're talking 9.8s - That's like a bonafide pedigree collection! I just checked it out and it's dope!
Indeed. Probably someone's beloved childhood collection. To have it(or most) all graded is special and a little poignant. It's just the kind of collection i'd impulsively blow my money on if I had money to blow.
Agree totally. People are slabbing so much new stuff that just doesn’t need slabbed in the first place
Exactly
The price difference between raw and slab is substantial and can catch the eyes of the new comic people. Amazed at the number of people in FB groups that ask "what should I slab"
What’s a good minimum value to slab a book at? $100 after being slabbed?
I used to say $60 - that's if you're not pressing though
Maybe they wanted to get them graded personal preference, obviously you paid even less for them
It was a really bad purchase that I should have walked from - some slabs are not worth the plastic they're in
Wow, I would definitely pick up that die monster die anyways for that price!
TAKE IT!
Are you willing to trade the 6.5 brave and the bold bat 109 for raw comics
I think it's honestly just not worth it! I'd only be able to get $20 of raws, but I'll tell you what - come visit the shop and we can make it happen. I only work on Wednesdays
EVERYTHING you said makes sense. However, what I didn't hear you take I to account was some people may just want to slab their favorite books of their collection as how I'm sure encapsulating started. To preserve the condition of the book.
I said that at 1:29 - but I reiterate that while you totally can grade whatever you want, I ask the question: SHOULD you? there's just some books and examples that are so darn costly with zero return that it has no financial sense to it. I'm seeking to help the community with this PSA
You're a damn saint for buying this stuff and saving someones skin and letting them to take their losses and lick their wounds. I would bulk sell these books in lots grouped together by like characteristics.
I gave him $10k for all 400 of his slabs hahahaha. I think I MAYBE made about $4k back by now? lol. So dumb
@@MintHunterComics wow man! Your amazing! That's very generous of you!
TOO. Generous. I buy slabs much more safely now
Slabbing/Grading I agree if flipping or reselling it does not make sense to slab all of them. I tend to slab to protect comics specially if signed.
MANY books do not warrant a holder
I agree. I do not intend to sell any if my books soon so I have a few slabbed for value like TMNT Adventures #1 Canadian Price/Newsstand, ASM 300 Newsstand, and New Mutants 98 Newsstand. But have done many because they are signed (like Sgt Rock vs the Army of the Dead signed by Bruce Campbell) and some for display purposes. Most of my collection is in raw form.
@@MintHunterComics Yep, and even if they do, sometimes the math just doesn't add up. For instance, I have the Hulk Annual #1 (Steranko Cover) in about a 5.0 ish. I paid 170 for it (about right, maybe a little high) but if I graded it I'm into it another $50 so ~225 total. That's probably a bit more than it's worth at that grade, so it's going to stay raw. Math is cool, so stay in school kids.
I am very guilty of this. Most of my slabs aren't worth much because I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning, and then I was using a bad resource for estimating FMV - a lot of expensive lessons learned. I am much more frugal now.
Hopefully your costs will go down with more caution! thanks for sharing my man!
What about grading it 'RAW' at CBCS ..cost $12....???????????
I don’t know what that means?
What's the price on the gambit an dexternals
Off the top of my head I know it's less than $30 (less than the cost of getting it graded)
@MintHunterComics age of apocalypse is one of my 2 favorite xmen cross over events ever. I'm not a big collector just got back into books. And really with slabbed just been looking for my favorite stories from the 90s that I just really want graded copies of for myself. I have 2 slabs so far. Timeless miss minutes 1:100 virgin variant 9.8 I got for grading price essentially, and 1602 part 1 in a 9.6 for under 15. i like watching your claim sales when i can catch them, love your videos
I mostly agree, however, what about the hundreds of Green Lantern books you've had graded? I'm guessing a good chunk of those are not worth the graded price.
I'm filling a run, and those are all 9.8. ALL. furthermore all of those books are worth WAY more than $50 lol. Some WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY more haha
@@MintHunterComics I'm not trying to take a dig at you or trigger you. My point is that there are collectors that grade runs, such as yourself, and not every comic in a run (especially '90s or newer comics) would be considered a grading candidate (even at 9.8) to anyone other than the person getting it graded for their own PC and there is nothing wrong with doing that. People collect in different ways.
Very valid! Did you see in recent news someone actually completed a run of Alan Moores Swamp Thing in FULL 9.8???? that's somehow I think even more impressive
@@MintHunterComics I love Moore's "Swamp Thing." I certainly can't afford to do what he did though!
Also grading 100 of the same 90's Ghost Rider issue probably isn't a good idea.
Ironically I did that with the first app of Midnight Sons and it KILLED that book. Used to be like $120, now it's like $55. #NeverAgain
I picked up a Daredevil 168 that was raw graded by CBCS. I'm not sure how much that costs. It does seem easier and surely cheaper to do. If you get the grade you expect then slab it.
If you love then word! but don't get stuck blowing mortgage payments on flea market crap
I had a great time with that Fantastic Four Roast, I pick it up from the stand (yes I'm that old) and probably read it more often than the other comics. I still have it and grade it as 7.0 to 7.5. If you want to get rid of that 9.4 which is better than what I have, I'll take it! LOL, I will find my issue and read it again, yes it's fun to read not slab.
Come on by! hahaha - 238 W Delaware Ave, Pennington, NJ 08534
Sorry too far for me to stop by, I'm in Michigan. 😁👍
I might of made a few mistakes. Books I will never get rid of like the first books my dad, my aunt, or my g-ma, I got graded. They passed so I hold them in high regard.
I have a few comics in got signed in the 90's. How can you verify signatures when grading? Is it true unverified signatures aren't worth grading? I haven't ever got a comic graded so any advice is welcome. Thanks.
Beckett can verify signatures (CBCS - not CGC)
Nearly 6 months later I'm curious to know if you moved all these low tier slabs.
I just bought a complete set of "The Joker". I'm gonna have them slabbed simply because I want to display them but keep them as protected as possible.
There should be a guide for what books to get graded universally
It's gocollect.com or GPAnalysis.com - these tools tell you what graded counterparts are worth :)
I totally agree. Not every book deserves or needs to be slabbed. Maybe 'cause I'm a Marvel Silver age OG and I likely have a bias, but when I see new books slabbed, I know it's a spec thing and little else.
PS; don't know if you did this on purpose, but I appreciate you keep the comic book fun facts to the YT shorts and your regular posts don't contain them (unless I missed something). Best to all.
Thanks mate!
Some peeps just like to add protection and a good look to a book or books to display. Mylar would be my cheap choice, but if it was a book, or books I wanted to add to let’s say, part of a collection, then I can relate.
I submit all the time for PC and preserving. But why slab up random low grade value-less books? It doesn't make sense and has ruined lives and families in peoples addictions at getting EVERYTHING graded. it's actually sad
Yeah I’ve already learned this lesson from you from one of your older videos. The only reason I would submit random books would be to finish a 9.8 run almost like what you’re doing with Green Lantern except mine would be Batman lol.
I canNOT recommend trying to go for full runs. It's near-impossible and very expensive hahaha
@@MintHunterComics Oh yeah I can see how expensive it is. I’m mostly just gonna start with slabbing 1st appearances and see how I feel after that lol.
Although it's not recommended, it's the challenge and sense of accomplishment to get a full series all graded. Personally I know getting the full run graded will never be economical, but its a personal goal. Goals are good sometimes. 👍
@@wildman-kz4zz yes that challenge and the need for accomplishment is what makes it so financially irresponsible😂
Dang how much for that TMNT 16 plus shipping? It was super quick at the end and I couldn’t see the price!
I actually don't remember!
I'll have to make a trip and pick up those cheap slabs just to help rebuild my collection. Even if I end up cracking the slab to read them lol
TAKE EM! hahahaha
@MintHunterComics already putting together a budget for it lol. Rebuild a collection from scratch so will take books as I can lol.
Man, I think a lot of people went nuts grading books during the pandemic thinking that every book in a case was hot and would sell. Oops.
What made you take on these books? Was it part of a deal in order to acquire the actual gems from the collection? And how do you see yourself getting rid of these now that you've published a video saying they aren't slab worthy (not that everyone who walks into your shop will see this video), but you know what I mean. Will you have to let the whole lot go at a discount that allows someone to think they'll eventually be able to resell them?
Anyway, your point is a good one. I was at my presser this past weekend to pick up some new slabs of mine that recently returned from CGC. He also had a bunch of raws that I would slowly give him the green light to submit. But I took them all back because I've recently recalibrated my own ideas on what I want to get slabbed and what can stay in a bag & board, or a top loader. We absolutely do not have to get everything graded. In fact I think we should all slow down as you point out in the video. Maybe if we pull back on the "non-key", CGC will have more time & resources to devote to quality control. Then again, if they're grading fewer books, then they have less money coming in, and they'll definitely lay people off first.
Anyway, thanks for the video. I hope you find a way to move those slabs!
They were part of a HUGE deal with over 400 slabs - 20 percent of the slabs were like this - very strange choices and devoid of value
@@MintHunterComics that's what I figured...it's really the only explanation for why you now own them. Someone got really carried away!
They really did!
Great content - other problems are that slabs weigh a pound each and take up four times as much room as a bagged and boarded comic - so dealers can't keep a lot of them in their stores, and can't take a lot of them to conventions (too heavy, and again, take up too much real estate) and are expensive to ship (buyers don't even want to pay $20 for a $20 book - because the shipping ends up being another $15). Probably a million slabs that are hard / impossible to sell for the "FMV' that is often shown on the various comic sites. I think that a 2.5 to 6.5 graded, non-key slab is harder to sell (and worth less?) than a raw copy of that same book.
So much room.
For some of those books I'd crack them and sell them as loose copies. No sense leaving them in the CGC or CBCS holders if nobody is ever going to buy them.
I’ve been thinking about it! I’ll give this stack another couple months before I do
How about a show on comic hoarders? Query your community.
Mmmmmm that’s a good idea!
This is a straight up legit offer, I will pay you today.
I am offering $15ea for all of those books if you will include the shipping.
But I want all of the ones you showed as "terrible" books in this video.
Meet at $19 and I'm down. 238 W Delaware Ave, Pennington, NJ 08534
Good advice. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
If it's a high grade important key, it makes sense to grade. I prefer raw books. Because I like to read them. There's no right or wrong answer for me on this. Do what makes you happy.
I totally agree with doing what makes you happy. I even say it in the video - what I'm talking about is when I It doesn't make sense and has ruined lives and families in peoples addictions at getting EVERYTHING graded. it's actually sad
@@MintHunterComics I agree, people see everything like gambling.
I take the books like this I get stuck with to a local vender group I work with and raffle them off to kids at events in my town.
Great idea!
I got mad cuz I graded 2 book's I shouldn't have. They are cool and definitely learned a lot about grading by doing it, and got a keener eye for foxing and staining. A Black Panther #1 6.5 sweet Kirby cover, book looks so good, but very hard to see water staining and light crease on back middle, and very light foxing. Amazing looking 6.5! Other than that, a damn good presenting book! And a Uncanny Xmen #127 9.0, don't even ask me why i got that graded! Thought it was at least a 9.6, nope, missed some thing's on that one too! Haha! I gotta learn by doing! I always say ya never figure it out unless ya get your feet wet!
With anything post 1980 I honestly only send it if it's PERFECTTTTT. I don't mind lower grades before then. also depending on the book, there's always exceptions to that standard for me
Some are just nostalgic favourites...even if they do get low grades...that being said, I would be interested in a few of them ...when I am allowed to use the card again..lol
At some point I plan on getting my Howard the Duck #1s from 2015 graded purely because that’s the book that got me into collecting. Outside of that though, I don’t know how you see that total and click on the submit button.
I also have to wonder if the guy put insurance on the shipment in. Yikes.
I like that story behind it! Very cool
Thank You it about Time !!!!!
Have you tried to have a $20.00 slab sale on TH-cam? No keys? Plus try $15 low low price especially Marvel comics?? Just a suggestion.😮
I should - maybe in a couple months!
Thank you for the first carol Danvers! I saw that she hulk and I’m trying to collect that run. I saw you had 1-4 when I went before and I got #1 if you still have earlier she hulk I might be interested
Rock on dude! Come on by sometime again!
Agree
I also dont assign much extra value for newer 9.8 books, because there is tons of 9.8's sitting ungraded.
If it is a newer $20 raw key comic graded 9.8, i only see it being worth $40.
James,I have always said if the book isn't a major key,low print runs or rare variant it's not worth grading cause those are the only books that hold value.
Loved Sgt. Fury#13 Captain America #100 favourites graded both 8.0 cgc.
Nice!!!
The f.f. book was speculation.first appearance of sue storms evil alter ego!👍
Not in that grade! hahaha
That's pretty cool ngl
I have to admit I have made a few of these errors.😟
Many have!
Most of my slabs I got on whatnot auctions. Probably shouldn't have bid on a few...
Great video Brother. Thanks for sharing Your passion and adventures from Toronto Ontario Canada 😎👍♥️📚📚📚📚📚💯
My pleasure!
Thanks James... For this PSA 😊
Hopefully it helps folks not blow mortgage payments on junk boxes!
I've never had any of my comics graded.
Only about 2 percent of collectors actually get their books graded, did you know? Neat little fact
As a rule, I am not getting anything under $100 value graded.
Might also be that a few of those comics represent someone’s first foray into slabbing, and they deliberately chose a less-significant comic so that if something went awry, it wouldn’t be much of a loss.
It definitely reads “first try at grading”
Yeah, it absolutely shocks me what people grade.
I’ve seen the negative side of it. The addiction side
@@MintHunterComics I think you are right. Grading companies have really been pushing hard on their services.
I actually look on eBay for x-books that are randomly slabbed.
Same but with GL
What's you antique shop email looking for graded comics
Hey man, these on your eBay?
One issue I'm interested in at the price point even with a shipping fee I kinda want to nab
I'm afraid I don't put this caliber of stuff on ebay - I'd be losing TOO much money
@@MintHunterComics totally understandable. Thank you for your time.
Good information! People are sometimes going to get something sentimental done just to display it, but if it's a lot of books as you were showing that does seem going overboard.
Exactly!
I just saw a Robin Jokers Wild #2 graded going through ebay the other day. No clue what people are thinking.
I've submitted a couple of books (all worth more than $100 raw) and I found the process to be expensive and a hassle. I can't begin to understand why someone would go through all that for these books.
I have you beat bro... Felix The Cat #1 1991 white pages... 6.0... why? Because it was in a lot with the same graded comic in 9.6 and I got them both for $30-35... I keep telling myself "its worth it... it costs more to get graded," but every time I sort the stack that fugly 6.0 stands out like a sore thumb and drives me insane. Its graded and looks worse than most of my raw comics from the 70s and 80s... well except my Hansi. That things is more brittle than a communion wafer, but I digress...
I couldnt agree with you more . I spent £1000 getting comics slabbed just to see how close I was to CGCs grade to gauge my own personal grading style. I lost £500 , not cos my grades were that far off but because the comics werent valuable enough and the UK CGC market has bottomed out . The trend is approx 5 months behind the USA. The single raw stuff Ive sold has done far far far better than my slabs in roughly the same grade . CGC is just too unpredictable with their grades at the moment . So unless its very obscure (e.g. blue lizard variants) Im sticking to raw comics for now.
After seeing the Video i went to the his antique shop and i picked up about 6 super cool Modern comics with amazing covers for like 20-25 dollar each, and all were 9.6 and 9.8. They are hanging on my wall now. Thank Mint-Hunter.
Thanks my man! Sorry I missed ya! Thanks for your purchases!
I think some of these are people thinking a low number or an old book automatically means value.
Old DOESN'T Mean valuable! that's another common thing I see
Not talking trash or anything but I think investing in a good Lav Mic would do WONDERS for the quality of your videos.
You're not wrong - I've always been plagued by mic issues. I constantly buy new microphones - I have an odd voice that appears to break mics all the time
@@MintHunterComics I have an audio and video production degree. I'd be more than happy to help you out if you'd like.
I've certainly slabbed some books that I absolutely love that aren't worth much. Sometimes it's not all about making a profit. I just wanted them in my collection and thought it would be nice to have them slabbed
It's not about making a profit - after all this is just a hobby - and if it gives you joy then Great!
I have a few very low-value graded comics because they are the first comics I ever read. I still recall how I came to own them and it's a foundational event in my comics collecting. I will never sell these comics. Personal connection to a comic is one of the very few reasons why such comics might be sent in for grading.
Fred Hembeck's FF Roast is indeed a funny book and well worth reading.
Thanks for sharing!
I actually like that Supergirl cover with all her outfits. If I was close by id buy it.
If I lived closer, I’d totally buy the Longshot 4 at that price :) great video as always
Thank you
This guy is right on all counts, but if you have a comic that just looks cool but not valuable it’s still ok to have it graded, mostly for the extra protection the slabs offer. Another thing that hurts comics that a lot of shops do it having a comic writer or artist sign a ton of no key comics. Too many signatures on the market cheapens their value.
We don't collect just keys mintman
I have so many videos in agreement so I’m right there with ya brother
How many green lanterns have you gotten graded, that shouldn’t have been? Probably the same/similar reason for those other books?
I am completing a full run of GLs - they're all 9.8 and are worth FAR more than $50. I'm currently 5th place on the CGC registry for the highest graded GL collection. I'm not seeing how 2.0s of 50 cent flea market fluff is comparable to this! lol
My rule of thumb is, if it isn't worth 2x the price to slab then it's not worth slabbing Unless, they are for sentimental value or it's a very limited edition I'll slab after I read it.
Put together a few "shouldnt have graded these" grab bags - 3 random slabs for $50 or something
I think so too
Although I've personally never sent in books to get slabbed, i have several slabbed books that most collectors will wonder why . Most are books i had as a kid, and now i want a good copy of it, or i think its a cool cover, and i want to hang it on the wall. But these are usually bought at a lower price from someone just trying to unload them , like yourself. Like you said, be patient deals are out there for this stuff.😊😊😊
Understandable - I'm not quite saying that though - I'm talking more about those that go buck wild and grab a random box they get from the flea market and jsut grade EVERYTHING!
@MintHunterComics I know what you mean. I've many times wondered the same thing after seeing a graded copy of something like Inc. Hulk 190 at a 3.5 Why??? I mean, Glorian ???
Dang I need that skottie....
The modern 9.8s are nice just because they should always remain 9.8s. While not keys now, whoever submitted might have had a theory about future significance of a plot point, writer or artist involved, or maybe they just liked the cover or collected an artist. The fact they managed to get a 9.8 indicates they probably knew what they were doing, their gamble (for whatever reason) just might not have panned out how they expected it to. If you want a 9.8 and you can pick a 9.8 raw, it's going to be easier to find one the day a book comes out than at any point in the future.
Aside from personal/sentimental reasons, some of those books were undoubtedly just mistakes somebody thought would grade higher. That FF 281 somebody might have mistakenly thought was a Canadian price variant since it does say "CAN. 75¢" underneath the U.S. and U.K. prices. We all have to learn somehow, we all get screwed on grades sometimes and unless you've got the fortitude to just toss some stuff in a woodchipper, that stuff's going to end up in the marketplace eventually. Give some to kids to play with, then make some $5/$10/$20/$30 slab boxes to bring traffic to your table (especially if you do cons). If you heard somebody had a $5 slab box, don't tell me you wouldn't make a beeline for it out of curiosity alone. 🙃
While none of that stuff is high dollar, somewhere there's somebody trying to put together a run who'd gladly buy some of those things just to save the cost of getting issues graded themselves because if you're doing a run it's often hard to find stuff already graded for non-key fillers.
And last but not least, some things are worth slabbing just to make SURE nobody can ever read them. Or maybe I'm the only one who holds grudges like that.
😂
There are several of those I want!!
TAKE EM lol
@@MintHunterComics What’s the best way to contact you? I am not on IG or any other platform like that. Email maybe?
I would love any of those DC books at that price
CBCS graded
I get it and agree with your logic but some people do it to preserve and admire as a piece of art! There out 10 a slab time 200 equals 2000. How many people lost 2000 in a few big books after the comic boom? My hand is up!
I think people slab books because they like them as part of their collection. Like for display pieces in their game rooms or collection rooms and such, or as part of a display for certain characters. I have no problem with this. Let people do what they want. If the book means something to them and they want to then fine. Not all of us are looking to "make a profit" and sell our collections for money. It's like framing a poster. Does it make the poster itself worth anything? No. but it sure does look nice when hung up.
I submit all the time for PC and preserving. But why slab up random low grade value-less books? It doesn't make sense and has ruined lives and families in peoples addictions at getting EVERYTHING graded. it's actually sad