What are your experiences with sending comics to COMC?

[finfangfan]

I’ve done well sending cards to COMC but I’m wondering if it’s worth it to send in comics. Would love to hear people’s experiences pro and con. Thanks!

[mjohnatgt]

I have not sent any myself, but I've bought a few there. Biggest issue to me is that they're not cross-posted to eBay. So that's an issue that limits the appeal of selling comics there.

I know many people are frustrated with their "family friendly" policy because they COMC doesn't pre-screen your submission to verify they're all eligible to be listed. They scan them all in, charge you for them, and then mark them unsellable and you have to pay to mail them back to yourself.

[Rictor]

Biggest issue for me is the cost. They charge $3 per comic processing fee now. You'd have to send in some high dollar comics to make that fee worthwhile, but in my experience, it's hard to sell comic books on COMC.

If they want to get serious about being a comic seller, they need to work out a deal with CollectForever.

[finfangfan]

Now that it appears PSA will be grading comics, it will be interesting to see if they begin offering direct submissions through websites like COMC. That might move the needle slightly on whether or not it’s worthwhile to submit comics to COMC.

I’m trying to declutter a bit and have had success with card sales through COMC so it would be nice to move some comics there eventually. However it’s a lot easier to ship out a box of cards than comics so that’s a big hurdle for me. Plus, I feel like modern cards are easier to move than modern comics.

[finfangfan]

Bumping this as I think I’m going to send a sample batch of like 25 comics for the fun of it. For those that have submitted… did you bag and board and tape? For cards I just penny sleeve so I am wondering if they prefer you not to tape the comics (or even board for that matter). Thanks!

[williamstuck]

Alright, here's my experience. I bought a bunch of cards (not auction, just purchased) from this business online, ( I have bought from them on eBay, with no problems), and after I placed an order I got an email with a link to my purchase that states there are over 80,000 orders ahead of mine. Estimated Ship date would be in 30 days. So I emailed asking to cancel. 3 days later nothing. I tried calling but it's just an answering machine. 4 days later I get an email confirming the order and letting me know my ship date is now 8 weeks away. I again emailed and asked why they didn't refund me or at least talk about that. Nothing, no reply. I tried to book a return call on their website, but it said the current month wasn't available and the next month wasn't available. Fully booked. Horrible customer service. Still have no response. Never again. Hope I get the cards one day. Glad I used PayPal.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by williamstuck

Alright, here's my experience. I bought a bunch of cards (not auction, just purchased) from this business online, ( I have bought from them on eBay, with no problems), and after I placed an order I got an email with a link to my purchase that states there are over 80,000 orders ahead of mine. Estimated Ship date would be in 30 days. So I emailed asking to cancel. 3 days later nothing. I tried calling but it's just an answering machine. 4 days later I get an email confirming the order and letting me know my ship date is now 8 weeks away. I again emailed and asked why they didn't refund me or at least talk about that. Nothing, no reply. I tried to book a return call on their website, but it said the current month wasn't available and the next month wasn't available. Fully booked. Horrible customer service. Still have no response. Never again. Hope I get the cards one day. Glad I used PayPal.

So you sent them comics?

[mjohnatgt]

Originally Posted by williamstuck

Alright, here's my experience. I bought a bunch of cards (not auction, just purchased) from this business online, ( I have bought from them on eBay, with no problems), and after I placed an order I got an email with a link to my purchase that states there are over 80,000 orders ahead of mine.

Before you placed the order on COMC.com, you were likely given that information and the option to rush your order for an additional shipping cost. You probably should have made a different decision when you checked out if you needed the cards faster. People who buy through the comc_consignment ebay listings are automatically paying for the expedited shipping costs in addition to at least 15% upcharge to make the base rate when not logged into COMC the same as the base rate on eBay's listings, per ebay requirements. But once logged into COMC's site, you're benefitting from that 15% reduction in pricing, plus access to hundreds of seller discounts on millions of cards.

[williamstuck]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

So you sent them comics? geometry dash lite

Yes. I sent them comics.

[finfangfan]

I’m about a month into the experiment and have cleared about $500 in sales from selling approx 15-20 comics. Seems like pre-1980 stuff sells the best. I’ve been throwing up a ton of eclectic stuff and still have more on their way to be processed. I doubt I will break even tbh but my card sales are strong and subsidize the project.

Edit: and I’ve gotten hit by some random “not supported” notices for relatively tame stuff I submitted. So that’s a hard one to gauge when submitting and kind of disappointing.

[finfangfan]

I’m about a month and a half into my experiment and climbing up the ranks of comic book inventory on COMC. Wish it didn’t cost so much to submit ($4 each comic not including cost to ship, the considerable time spent packing up and sending out, and cost of packing materials. Fortunately I think it’s fun sorting through comics and my card sales through COMc are sufficient enough to subsidize a lower level of comic sales.

If COMC brokered a deal with PSA to grade comics it could give the whole category a lift on their website. And an arrangement might not be too far fetched as PSA would likely want to do something to encourage subs to their fledgling comic grading service.

[ACCDADEAL]

Hey guys I do cards mostly by my good buddy has a stack of old comins he wants to grade but says its $35 per comic? Is there a cheaper bulk place that grades?
thanks

[IndySportsCards]

Originally Posted by ACCDADEAL

Hey guys I do cards mostly by my good buddy has a stack of old comins he wants to grade but says its $35 per comic? Is there a cheaper bulk place that grades?
thanks

$27 for post 1975 books, $42 for pre 1975 up to a certain value by CGC. You can view their fees here. There is no discount for Bulk with CGC.

I've graded with CBCS in the past, but for resale nothing beats CGC imho. kinda like PSA vs Beckett.

[ACCDADEAL]

Originally Posted by IndySportsCards

$27 for post 1975 books, $42 for pre 1975 up to a certain value by CGC. You can view their fees here. There is no discount for Bulk with CGC.

I've graded with CBCS in the past, but for resale nothing beats CGC imho. kinda like PSA vs Beckett.

ok thanks

[Jaysabz]

Originally Posted by IndySportsCards

$27 for post 1975 books, $42 for pre 1975 up to a certain value by CGC. You can view their fees here. There is no discount for Bulk with CGC.

I've graded with CBCS in the past, but for resale nothing beats CGC imho. kinda like PSA vs Beckett.

Depending on how much he's submitting, he could "join' CGC and get certain perks, like free "fast lane," - 10-20% off grading fees / pressing, certain amount of "grading credit" ... you can see the link here:

https://www.cgccomics.com/join/

I think it's mostly for dealers, but if I were grading a small collection I'd probably choose the Elite Tier for a year.... and if you're grading more than a few books, the Premium Tier pretty much pays for itself.

[Jaysabz]

Question:

I've had my COMC account forever - I have a pile of 90s early Image books, all CGC graded, a few 9.8s but a lot of 9.6s and 9.4s b/c I'd read them, then board and bag them. I'd like to send them to COMC because I ditched PayPal after it got hacked and of course PayPal makes you have checking accounts attached, and I had an amount in one that made me say never again with PayPal, but I digress.

I can't find the option to submit comics to COMC. I go to "Start New Submission" - it takes me to the screen to confirm my address, then:

Step 2 of 6: Confirm your items are supported by COMC.

Items that are not supported cannot be listed for sale on COMC and may incur regular processing and shipping fees.

Supported cards must meet all of the following criteria:
Single Card
Licensed
Authentic
Family-Friendly
Sellable Condition

Please review the Supported Trading Card policy for more details.

It's all about cards from then on. No option for comics. I've purchased comics with store credit on COMC in the past. I've tried clicking "Inventory Manager" and starting a submission from there ... nothing's working.

Went to "Account Upgrades" thinking you may need to go there to upgrade your account to submit comics, but it's just about paying $50/month for free storage on all items with an asking price of $2.50 or less.

If anyone can push me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it!!

[finfangfan]

Its under consignment services submit under the “Select” option. The next page to load will have raw comics listed in the dropdown. Fee to submit each comic is $4 though… the $1 normal fee for Select + $3 extra for comics. And if you list a comic for $100 or more they charge you another $2.

[Jaysabz]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Its under consignment services submit under the “Select” option. The next page to load will have raw comics listed in the dropdown. Fee to submit each comic is $4 though… the $1 normal fee for Select + $3 extra for comics. And if you list a comic for $100 or more they charge you another $2.

Found it, thanks! Even has the option for graded comics submission, which I'll be doing - and the ability to split it into over $50 / under $50.

Much appreciated!! Now I just have to figure out how to get the books there inexpensively. I know print media is eligible for media mail, but if I'm sending say 20 graded comics, I can probably fit 4 in a Priority Box for protection - so I'll need to send 5 Priority Boxes inside a bigger box.... unless, do they give you instructions on graded comic subs?

I'm guessing there is no rule for graded comic subs just like there's no real rule for graded cards - just rules for raw card submissions (penny sleeve or nude, etc.).

[Jaysabz]

$4 per graded book under $50 value, $5 per graded book over $50 in value.

Mailing graded books will be the hard part, but I live in the Philadelphia suburbs and you can drop off at the "Philly Show" (card show) that's about 15 minutes away from me for free (just have to pay $20 to get in the door) the weekend of March 7-9!

Might have to do that!!

[Jaysabz]

Originally Posted by Jaysabz

$4 per graded book under $50 value, $5 per graded book over $50 in value.

Mailing graded books will be the hard part, but I live in the Philadelphia suburbs and you can drop off at the "Philly Show" (card show) that's about 15 minutes away from me for free (just have to pay $20 to get in the door) the weekend of March 7-9!

Might have to do that!!

Sorry to keep posting replies to my own stuff, but I did reach out to COMC, and got email confirmation.

I told them I was planning on submitting around 25-30 graded slabs to COMC, so I wanted to make sure that it was still "Free Dropoff" at the Philly Show.

The rep said yes, any pull-down menu option that is a "submit in person" - just choose it, complete the submission questions on # of items, value, etc. like normal, print out the confirmation which consists of the sheet w/ barcode you put in the box, and the barcode you put on the outside of the box, pack the box up like you were going to mail it to COMC (stuff inside protected as you see fit, the interior barcode printed / placed in the sealed box and the exterior barcode taped to the outer box) - take it to their booth, they'll scan it, and that's it.

They'll arrange for it to be transported or otherwise shipped to Redmond (or whatever other facility) for free - no catch, just that I need to have credit in my account for $4 per raw book / $5 per slab.

So if you do have a bunch of slabs you're looking to move and don't use eBay anymore (I prefer COMC b/c you don't have to deal with customers!) and you don't want to have to pay a ton of dough to send 30 slabs in a huge box, check and see if COMC is accepting in-person submissions somewhere near you in the near future.

Just for fun, I calculated on the USPS site - to send a 25lb package, dimensions 18x18x24, which I figured you could fit 30 slabs in (two stacks of 15 bubble wrapped well) from my address in suburban Philadelphia to Redmond, WA would be about $140.

Comic books cannot be shipped Media Mail b/c they contain advertising. Direct from the USPS website:

Media Mail packages may not contain advertising. Comic books do not meet this standard. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and sound recordings may contain incidental announcements of other sound recordings. In accordance with standards in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), Section 170, Media Mail packages must have a delivery address and the sender’s return address and are subject to inspection by the Postal Service™. Upon such inspection, matter not eligible for the Media Mail rate may be assessed at the proper price and sent to the recipient postage due, or the sender may be contacted for additional postage.

So you could risk it and send the books media mail for about $25, but the post office might catch on to your plan when they see it's going to Check Out My Collection, LLC....

[finfangfan]

Thanks for the update. I’ve been steadily submitting and now have over 700 comics there. I’ve probably sold about 100 comics in the 2 months+. As you have correctly noted, the cost to ship and $4 per comic submission cost is a bear. I think I will be lucky to break even but in the long run it’s nice to have some comics there than in my closet. Would be nice if they reached out to PSA to offer comic grading through COMC as I’d imagine PSA would like to have some interest sparked in their new service… and COMC would be a solid partner.

[Jaysabz]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

Thanks for the update. I’ve been steadily submitting and now have over 700 comics there. I’ve probably sold about 100 comics in the 2 months+. As you have correctly noted, the cost to ship and $4 per comic submission cost is a bear. I think I will be lucky to break even but in the long run it’s nice to have some comics there than in my closet. Would be nice if they reached out to PSA to offer comic grading through COMC as I’d imagine PSA would like to have some interest sparked in their new service… and COMC would be a solid partner.

PSA is grading comics now huh?! Wonder how I missed that.

My situation is a bit more bearable ... $4 per raw book is a too high of a price, when it's $5 to submit a slabbed book, and you can fit 5 raw comics in the same space you can fit one slabbed book.

Also, being slabbed, even 90s comics that are in the 9s but not 9.8s should move if I price them competitively.

A few years back I graded basically all of my favorite books from my childhood, which was a fun project - took advantage of an offer for a certain # of books at a lesser price, but very long turn-around.

Out of 50 books I only got maybe five 9.8s, but again, they were all read. So the vast majority are 9.2-9.6, but they're from the early 90s right when Image came out and Valiant was hot, so I have a lot of books that I suspect will have some nostalgia, including but not limited to Issue #1s of:

Brigade
Cyberforce
Darker Image
Deathblow
Maxx
Pitt
Savage Dragon
Savage Dragon v. Some Cartoony Guy
Shadowhawk
WildCATS
(WildCATS 2 - one of the first of those circle-foil types in a 9.8)

Then tons of Valiant, with Issue #1s of

Bloodshot
Eternal Warrior
HARD Corps
Shadowman
Turok

Then some other noteworthy issues of from Image / Valiant, including the Deathmate Crossover Books, some Rai, Magus Robot Fighter, Solar Man of the Atom, Marvel 90s books like Darkhawk 1, etc., and DC 90s books like the Death of Superman first prints / Funeral for a Friend / Reign of the Supermen / Eventual Black-Suited return.

Being slabbed, even if I list them on COMC for 75% of eBay comps, and accept offers of 20% less than that, I'm really just trying to make room and I'm not dealing with eBay and buyers!

I can see how with raw books, if a 90s raw book goes for $8-10 today, that's a lot raw, so the $4 submission fee is almost prohibitive unless you're sitting on some potential high-dollar books if graded, so at that point, why not roll the dice and send them to CGC for a less expensive but more business day turn around, and be able to sell a graded book and only have the listing fee be $1 more.

Also, if PSA is doing comics (and I have no reason to doubt you) - may be a good time to grade say 25 books with $5-10 raw value, and see if the sports card collectors speculate in comics since they're in a PSA holder.

The comic fam tolerated CGC slabs on comic and TCG cards after CGC's years of comics grading - and sports have since come along a bit with CGC...so the same is entirely possible with PSA and comics!

[Jaysabz]

Dropped off my 30 graded books at the Philly show on 3/8... still haven't arrived at COMC yet - not going to check for another 2 weeks.


Guy at the COMC booth was nice as could be - took forever to find him as they just had a little "Table Tent" - whereas most other big companies had huge signs you could see from an airport hangar away (which is what the Oaks Convention Center is like - a bunch of airport hangars).

He said he was just instructed to ship the items to COMC individually on COMC's dime, so he likely chose the cheapest / slowest option. I'd always Priority Mail cards, but the difference was like $20.45 for 10 days, or $21.75 for 3 day.

Here's we're talking possible a couple 100 dollars!

[finfangfan]

Yeah… wow you made out like a bandit with free shipping! That’s like one of the biggest hurdles toward making your money back. Congrats!

[Mahomie]

Does COMC make note of the presence of Newton Rings for slabs on their site? I've been browsing some graded books on there but haven't seen a single mention of Newton Rings in the item descriptions.

I guess it's possible that none of their CGC slabs have any, but it's hard to tell with their scans.