The “Nice” Vendor
These are the vendors who don’t have any concerns about what they make or how high or low the price is compared to market value. They just want people to like them and they want to be "good to people."
The issue (pun intended):
Comic book pricing is similar to the pricing of real estate and antiques in that it is based on other comparable comics. So, if I have two of the same comic, in the same condition, they should have the same, or similar, value. This isn’t usually the case with the “Nice” vendor. They want to charge well below market value to be nice to people because “it’s just a side business anyway”.
The bigger issue: (this pun was not, in any way, intended)
Buying from them gets me a great bargain (I bought a “first appearance” comic for 25% of its market value). But, if done in too big a number they can deflate the value of the comic.
The “Market Value” Vendor
These are the vendors that price everything by the “Overstreet Guide” or some other pricing guide. So, if a Grade 9.2 is valued at $300 then it’s priced at $300.
The issue (this will be the same pun format as before):
Market values are created for a simple reason and that is to make sure that people have a basis for comparison for the item being sold. For example, I am completely stupefied by the real estate market. A house I think should be worth $1 million is worth $250 thousand and vice versa. If it weren’t for a “Market Value Analysis” on a house that I want to buy I could pay way too much (if there are any real estate agents who will charge me way too little, give me a call). So, a “Market Value” vendor uses the philosophy that they are selling it at what it’s worth and, if I want, I can look it up.
The bigger issue:
A comics value is only what the buyer will pay, not what is in a pricing guide. Going back to the real estate example, the house could be worth $1 million but no-one in their right mind would pay that price. Look at what happened when the real estate market bubble burst...lotsa people owing more than what their house is worth.
The “Comic Books Will Get Me Rich” Vendor:
These are the vendors that take advantage of a passionate marketplace by pricing comic books well above what they will ever be worth because someone will pay that price...eventually.
The issue:
This is the exact opposite of the issue with the “Nice” vendor. If enough of a certain edition sell way beyond market value it can falsely raise the price of a comic or collection. Then, when the bottom drops out of the market, all sorts of things can go wrong.
The bigger issue:
With people buying at a fevered pace at a ComicCon, and the threat that “if you decide to walk around and think about it, it may not be here when you get back”, people pay ridiculous prices. At the most recent ComicCon I saw the same comic, in similar conditions, differ in price by almost $100. A quick glance at eBay, right now, shows Daredevil #131 (the first appearance of Bullseye) selling as low as $49 and as high as $1,999 (supposedly in the same condition). I promise you that there will be a buyer for both of them.
So, who do you buy from? The answer is simple:
There are no “right” or “wrong” vendor types. In the end it’s you who are responsible for making an informed decision on a comic book purchase and a comic is only worth what you are willing to pay. Do your homework as you would with any purchase and set limits for yourself as to what you will, and won’t, spend.
Oh, and one more thing; Go ahead...walk around and think about whether you want to pay that price or not. I guarantee that if it’s not at that particular stand when you get back it will surely be at another.
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