Charity Shops, Dealers and Comics.

Firstly, nothing rare about 1980s Eagle comic. The value, for collectors, is in the photogravure first run of the Frank Hampson comic (1950s).  £1.50 a copy of the 1980s Eagle is only going to get paid by someone with no idea.

I've seen bundles of 1980s Eagle comics go for £1.50-£3.00 and that was 15 and 20 comics in a bundle.  I purchased 30 issues last year -on Ebay no less- for £5.00 That was the most expensive stack of this title.  Not rare.

Some charity shops have looked at expensive Ebay dealers and, seriously, a charity shop is not the go-to place for ardent comic collectors.  Firstly, what grade or quality are they?  These were printed on the cheapest newsprint IPC/Fleetway could get -as with 2000 AD and I know that for a fact because I talked to the boss at Westprint (in Bedminster, Bristol) who printed the comics for the company. No one at the company pretended the comics were quality printed!

Also, it seems that suddenly, out of nowhere, "Tarzan merchandise is the hottest new area for collectors". Really? Why? Because someone has a lot of Tarzan stuff to shift.  I was a naughty boy today. One of these traders claiming this and asking huge prices got an email from me. You see I have a full run of Byblos Tarzan Monthlies as well as Tarzan Weekly -first and second issues complete and in good condition. Certain dealers asking £35-50+ ($80-100+) for just issue 2.

So I send an email.  I say I am looking to try and sell my comics and give the specifics. The response was that "There isn't that much interest in Tarzan these days, maybe in the 1970s but not now" so I read on and discovered that my first issue was probably worth "Maybe £5.00 at most looking at the condition of the cover" and my second issue....less.  Same issue with cover quality. I asked if he was being serious and I got the whole "You people think you have big money because you found some old comics and they aren't even in good condition -the whole bunch you list I might stretch to £10 for but I'm doing you a favour.  Really"

So, I then sent an email pointing out that he was asking over £50 ($100+) on a first issue and £40 ($90) on a second issue of Tarzan weekly. I also pointed out that the cover images I sent him were from his Ebay listing. Why was he charging such a huge price on books worth only a few pounds?

Six hours and he hasn't gotten back to me yet. Could I have upset him?

Comics printed in their THOUSANDS in the 1970s and 1980s are NOT rare.  Tarzan UK comics "Very rare"? Why are there so many for sale on Ebay and elsewhere then?  Surely "Very rare" and "Scarce" mean there are not many about not "There are an awful lot of them about"?  And why are the 1980s Tarzan comics 3, 4 or 5 times the price of the more collectible 1950s Tarzan comics? That does not make sense.

Unless dealers are taking people for chumps and inflating prices out of all proportion?

If dealers charged realistic prices they would sell more and a bigger turn over in books fairly priced means good enough money being made rather than no one snatching your £16-30 a copy con price and you having to relist -which shows you are asking too much.

I know dealers hate me for this -ditto certain comic shops who specialise in selling old comics at high prices.  I know because I have had the very nasty, name calling emails. £30 ($60+) for a black and white Alan Class reprint comic because you say "It's very rare -Alan Class!"?

No. I am not going to just sit back and watch people being conned out of money. And I hope if you see these prices you will say "No thanks".  People keep saying "No thanks" then the prices need to drop. If not the dealer goes out of business.

For decades comic publishing and selling has been aimed at one thing and that is conning higher and higher amounts of money out of people who think they are getting a good deal.  A "Great investment". How many times do people need to be told that is a lie? US Golden Age comics from the 1940s  (even then specific ones only) are where the money is.

I have over twenty big boxes full of comics from the 1970s-2005 and they are worth, in total, maybe £20 ($40) and there are a lot of first issues -from when you never had first issues every other month.

Tell your friends to check the CBO items if they are thinking of buying comics. Charity shops -charge sensibly.

Over the top highly inflated prices dealers -go out of business.
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Currently £40-50 ($90-100) on Ebay.  My copy cost...£3.00