#5587134 - 04/09/1208:19 AMRe: Why buy high grades?
[Re: Bodhi396]
skypinkbluskypinkblu I'm just the coordinator. Just?
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Most of the books I bought in the beginning were bought to read. I never understood why some went for so much more. I was looking for any copy...and the lower grade ones were ones I could easily afford. I just bought a mixture.
When I learned about GA books, I just wanted a non brittle copy...and there were so many books that looked interesting, I was more interested in just finding a copy of as many of them as I could afford instead of one or two nicer ones.
It wasn't till I got here that I even knew there was a huge chase for high grades. I found myself once or twice, selling a higher grade copy because I like looking at the insides and I didn't want to damage it, I've replaced a few with lower grade copies.
I love the history, give me a book that has a little glitter on it, and I can see a little girl gluing it on...I enjoy character in some of the old books.
I know there are a lot of other collectors like me, because despite what someone else said here, I've never had a problem selling a low grade book that I no longer wanted, there are still tons of "bottom feeders" ..esp on eBay, I was astounded at what some of my coverless books went for....My books go from POS- (a grade an old eBay friend invented) to 9.6.
I just think it's that different people enjoy different things. I've never bought a Mercedes, always was fine with a Nissan...or a Toyota..as I got older, maybe I bought a better Nissan. This way if I get a dent, I don't have heart failure...same way I feel about owning a high grade book and opening it, I don't want to croak because I bend a page.
However, I LOVE looking at Cheetah's books and Bedrock's, to me, it's like looking in a museum,just like I got a kick out of going to dinner in a friend's Rolls.
I'm sure I could sell all my low grade books and buy a few very high grade copies, but I have zero desire to do that...just different strokes for different folks.
I think low grade collectors can admire both ends of the spectrum, it's easier for them. So, collect what you like.
I'm trying to get back into comic collecting and am wondering why people will pay so much for high grade comics. I don't see why a 9.0 graded comic could be worth hundreds, if not thousands,more than the same comic graded 8.0. To me, the differences are so minor, why has a market been created around those differences that make them worth so much money?
Is it mostly people speculating on comics as investments, or is a collector really willing to pay $1,000 more for a comic to not have some slight imperfections if they are simply going to keep it for themselves?
To me, I just want a comic that generally looks nice. If the 4 or 5 looks nice, I don't see the value to myself in buying any higher grade if I'm going to keep it. This is especially true for modern comics, when the differences between a 9.8 and 9.4 seems so minimal, give me the much cheaper 9.4 any day!
Keep in mind that higher grade comics usually rise in value faster than mid-grade or low-grade comic books. I personally, have a problem buying a comic book in anything less than 9.2. This is only my preference. I am also considered to be a 'high grade snob' by some. I would not argue this 'title.' Therefore, this is only my opinion. Still, you should know that I am active in the antiques and collectibles trade.
I do find that some beginning collectors have the mentality that vintage collectibles (and antiques) in low to mid grade condition have 'character.' The problem with this mentality, and someone said it best in a market report which was featured a few years back in the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide; is that 'there are a lot of great cars sitting in the junk yard with character.'
The collectible market is based upon several factors, of which condition being paramount. That being said, I do think that collectors who chase top census copies are taking a major risk. In another post I have stated examples like a lot of 'bronze age' keys selling for half their value in CGC 9.8 (i.e. Tomb of Dracula #1 and Swamp Thing #1; among many others); compared to just a few years ago.
Personally, I have a hard time believing that a 'bronze age' comic book worth $300 in 9.4 should be worth $3,000 (i.e. ten times more) in 9.8. This is why I do not buy top census copies. That is only my opinion.
In conclusion, I do see what you are saying and hear this sentiment in all collecting fields. However, the truth of the matter is that most collectors will pay for a high quality item and condition is what a lot of collectors (and investors) look for. I personally would rather have one or two high quality collectibles; than multiple low quality items.
Respectfully yours,
'mint'
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Question: "I was wondering how you deal with collectors and speculators who truly believe that the items they are buying now are going to be worth a lot of money in the future...?"
ANSWER: "The safest approach is to avoid discussing the topic of future collectability with these individuals: first, they know more than anyone else; second, they are deaf to any opinion that does not agree with their own; third, they are misguided optimists, assuming past practice could not possibly apply in their case."
-Harry Rinker; 'The Myth of the Guaranteed Collectible' (originally posted on WorthPoint and Harry Rinker's own website)
#5591959 - 04/11/1207:48 AMRe: Why buy high grades?
[Re: skypinkblu]
chromiumchromium Chromium deleted by Wertham Custom title deleted by Wertham
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Originally Posted By: skypinkblu
It wasn't till I got here that I even knew there was a huge chase for high grades. I found myself once or twice, selling a higher grade copy because I like looking at the insides and I didn't want to damage it, I've replaced a few with lower grade copies.
I love the history, give me a book that has a little glitter on it, and I can see a little girl gluing it on...I enjoy character in some of the old books.
I know there are a lot of other collectors like me, because despite what someone else said here, I've never had a problem selling a low grade book that I no longer wanted, there are still tons of "bottom feeders" ..esp on eBay, I was astounded at what some of my coverless books went for....My books go from POS- (a grade an old eBay friend invented) to 9.6.
+1 Apart from a few books which I hoard, I'm not really into high grade comics. I would rather have 50 VG books than 5 NM books...I also tend to always sell on the higher graded comics I accidentally stumble on and buy more low grade books with the money. Everything higher than FINE can go
This is my main hobby and it's an escape from all the stress and worry of the real world. If I would have to worry about the condition of my comics, how much they will appreciate or where to store them so nothing bad can happen to them it would become yet another drag and stop being fun for me.
And I also love the history of a certain title, a filled-in coupon, a date stamp, the name of the boy/girl that bought it new way back when, written in chicken-feet on the cover ...fabulous.
I think part of the reason people chase high grades is the "time machine" factor. When a book looks as fresh as the day it came off the rack there is somthing about how it transports the collector back a few decades in his mind.... I chase the highest grade I can, but I am fine with a lower grade as long as it presents well....
I'm trying to get back into comic collecting and am wondering why people will pay so much for high grade comics. I don't see why a 9.0 graded comic could be worth hundreds, if not thousands,more than the same comic graded 8.0. To me, the differences are so minor, why has a market been created around those differences that make them worth so much money?
Easy answer. The market of digital 9s was created because people figured out bronze,copper and modern comic books are virtually worthless in near mint. They figured out that near mint copies are not rare at all because of all the bagging,boarding and hoarding between 1976 and up! So they had to create an artificial market to make some money. 9.2, 9.4, 9.6, 9.8 then 9.9 Some day we will see the 9.9 and a half!
You are trying to make it sound like there were no differentiations of grade after NM before CGC, which is of course not true.
Such minute detail,but not enough minute detail to make thousands of dollars difference. Hero for Hire #1 9.6 vs Hero for Hire #1 9.8 shows what kind of lunancy this digital 9s market has become.
Edited by ComicConnoisseur (04/11/1202:16 PM)
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