8 Top Websites and Shops for Selling Comic Books
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If you have a cache of old comic books or know how to source them free or cheaply, you could make a side hustle selling comic books. Unless you’re 100% certain you own an ultra-rare comic book, like Action Comics #1, you should mitigate profit expectations. You will not make millions, only a modest profit if you’re lucky. You will definitely need expert help if you do find a priceless comic.
Here are 8 top websites and shops for selling comic books. Firstly, here are a few tips for beginners on the process.
Basic Tips for Selling Comic Books
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People who buy comics are nostalgic and understand the minutiae of comic book history. You should know the title, issue number, and all relevant information about the comics you want to sell. You should know something about the comic books you sell.
You should consider grading and slabbing your comic books. This is the process of sending your comics to experts who grade and seal your comics. Your comics become verified, authenticated, and easier to sell. Many sites will give you the basic marketplace value of your comic books after inputting the title, issue number, and creator names, usually for free.
Consider getting shipping insurance and signature confirmation for deliveries to protect against scams. You must pay fees for expert help or use a third-party facilitator platform when selling comic books. You must pay to ship your comics and have them evaluated and sold on consignment.
1. FB Marketplace
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You can use FB Marketplace, and the marketplaces of all your favorite social media platforms, to sell your comic books. As for all the other options on this list, you will have to take clear pics of the comics, list title and issue numbers, creator credits, and other vital info. You need a basic understanding of the marketplace value of the comic to post a selling price. You also need to be active on social media to identify groups and people to market your items for sale.
2. OfferUp
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OfferUp is a free app that allows you to sell anything to other users relative to where you live. The app even suggests safe, public meeting spots to facilitate transactions between members. All of these services are free on OfferUp if you do all of your own work. However, if you choose to use a dedicated OfferUp listing for selling comic books, then the site will charge a 12.9% fee per sale.
3. eBay
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You can sell anything on eBay auctions, so selling comic books is easy. There is a whole online industry on eBay for selling comic books. Selling on eBay is free as long as you list 250 items or less for sale monthly; go over that number and you will have to pay 30 cents per item to list it. eBay also takes 13.25% of your final sale amount.
4. My Comic Shop
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My Comic Shop is the online retail store for Texas-based Lone Star Comics. The store is well-regarded for buying millions of vintage comic books annually. However, selling comic books here is only convenient if you own vintage comic books. My Comic Shop prefers only buying comic books published in the 1970s or earlier, which they consider to be more valuable. Their fees are relative to the value of the comic books.
5. Heritage Auctions
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Heritage Auctions is the industry leader and standard for experts selling comic books on consignment. Whenever you see that a rare comic book sells for millions, Heritage Comics usually handles the auction. You send your comics to the company and their experts will evaluate, grade, slab, and even sell your comics at auction. The fees vary according to the value of the comic.
6. HipComic
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HipComic is an online platform for selling comic books. They have an online network connected to over 50,000 comic book collectors and over 1 million online listings. You can even create your own online comic book store on HipComic to sell all of your comics. The monthly listing fee is $3.95 as long as you list 100 comics or less in your store. HipComic takes a 9.95% fee for each sale.
7. WhatNot
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WhatNot is a live online auctioneering marketplace. It’s a live online marketplace where you will have to make videos and hold live auctioneering events for selling comic books. So, you can’t be shy. Also, you should be developing a network of potential buyers in active social media groups for your efforts to be optimal. WhatNot charges an 8% sales fee along with a few other incremental processing fees.
8. ComicConnect
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ComicConnect is an online platform for selling comic books with affordable fees. The site will charge you 10% for every item sold. The company also offers free appraisals and low-cost fees for gradings. If the company evaluates your comics and finds them to be rare, they could pay you a cash advance if you accept a lower deal. ComicConnects prefers transacting in comic books published in the 1970s and earlier.
Selling Comic Books
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If you’re interested in selling comic books as a side hustle then you should prepare as much as possible. Consult with friends or relatives who are comic book experts. Read some or all of the comic books that you plan to sell; you should at the very least look up the synopsis, plots, and creator info of each comic book you want to sell.
Visit local small-scale comic book conventions to get a sense of how comic book collectors value the hobby. Your chances of selling comic books improve if you understand the hobby and culture, especially if you are a casual or non-reader.
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
