Comic Investing/Speculating During A Recession

Comics
#264

Saw an interesting video (Brys Comics) he did a CPR on a ASM 129 he took it from a CGC 4.5 to a 6.0 grade. But the market is moving so quickly that by the time he got the 6.0 back the profit margin shrunk quickly.

So for dealers and flippers this is something they have not experienced last couple of years. But if you buying to do CPR and you get a grade bump for your PC to hold it is a different story.

2 Likes
#265

Well I can’t argue with that they can spin it as much as they want but Walmart-Target-Dollar Tree-Home Depot-Lowes-McDonalds-Apple-Verizon-ATT-General Mills etc… will give us a better view on the consumer and the economy.

Their numbers will tell the truth.

#266

I always think about the fact that if things are already difficult for folks, then the future is likely even more grim. As a regular working Joe/Jane, I know the time period we are approaching was always the hardest for us. It was buckle down time from about Mid-August to the end of January.

  1. Back to school expenses from little ones to college age. Clothes, check ups, food, books, school supplies, sport fees, etc,
  2. Increased gas use for travel with regards to school/educations/sports.
  3. Back to back holidays that usually required me spending more money. From Halloween costumes for the kids, to food, Thanksgiving, etc.
  4. Multiple holidays (regardless of the religion) that tend to focus on gift giving, gatherings, food, etc.
  5. Healthcare and day care flexible spending account plans tapped out in some cases at end of year.
  6. With onset of January, any copay max deductibles that were previously met reset.
  7. In the midwest, greatly increased energy/fuel costs–shorter days with less light, onset of need for heating.
    Obviously, sacrifices can be made, costs cut, and I get that, but this time of year was just “harder” imo (starting in about 3 weeks). It may really, really hit folks soon.
5 Likes
#267

re·ces·sion

[rəˈseSH(ə)n]

NOUN

  1. a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters:

We’re officially in a recession now. And in regard to inventories for discretionary goods, that won’t help inflation much unless we reduce the cost of energy, food and housing.

Like you said, we have a long way to go till we hit the bottom, unless we pivot from our current energy policies.

I think we’ll see the bottom in the first or second quarter of next year. This winter is going to be ugly with natural gas prices being over triple the cost of what it is normally.

3 Likes
#268

We are not in a recession.

Also, the fact you had to copy/paste the definition is laughable. :rofl: :blush: Take those grade school antics somewhere else

#269

Can we move on? Seems like it’s just going in circles like a broken record in here… “we’re in a recession…” “we’re not in a recession”… “yes we are”… “no we’re not”…

Let’s talk about if you should be buying or holding during economic downtime, etc. I’m so tired of the “I’m on the internet, I must prove you wrong” shenanigans going on in here…

5 Likes
#270

Any field reports from anyone attending any Cons, local shows or LCS trips around the country…

Like what’s the feel of the shows…
People buying wall books,back issues,etc…?

#271

Comicpalooza Houston, zero big books sold, and ours were priced much less than market prices. Heard from other vendors that it was pretty slow as well.

What I did see sell were a bunch of pops :joy:. We were right next to a pop booth and you just watched the peoples eyes light up when they saw all of them.

The books that were sold seemed like people just wanted to turn around and flip them for some extra cash.

3 Likes
#272

Thanks! Thats very interesting regarding Pops selling.

Lower priced pops vs the expensive ones?
I guess people will buy a cheap pop vs a Slab at this point in time

#273

Regardless of definition of ‘recession’ when MCS puts up 7 copies of the 1:500 Amazing Spiderman 6 Momoko for $550+ and only 1 copy sells says a lot. :rofl:

MCS during bull market didn’t matter what new book or price of high ratio copies would move very fast…not so much right now.

1 Like
#274

I throw a lot of low bids out on ebay auctions, last month was surprised at the number of slabs purchased for way below prior sales. Not seeing that in the past 2 weeks so consumer confidence seems like a roller-coaster for now.

4 Likes
#275

Any store pricing 1:200 ratios and up at ratio price are going to be sitting on those books forever.

I think you’ll start to see stores ordering less.

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#276

The smart ones will… the dumb ones who act like consumers chasing variants won’t…

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#277

Pfft rather load up on store variants… :worried:

If a store goes under and they did variants does it make it rarer and more desirable? :thinking: :rofl:

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#278

They destroy variants already, just to make them “rare”…

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#279

I keep seeing these Whatnot/youtube sellers (the larger ones) creating all these new comic books and “exclusives” and I don’t understand who the hell is buying them?

I have no idea what it costs to create/publish/print these things (I’m not talking Marvel/DC but just independent joeblow comics) but it seems like a real money sink that is more of an ego thing than smart comic, money move.

4 Likes
#280

Just curious if anyone knows, did Scorpion Comics change their name to Spectral Comics?

I used to get their emails then all of sudden I get similar emails from Spectral but non from Scorpion.

#281

DING DING you are spot on…

The last ones to enter then ‘store variant’ game thanks to WhatNot there are gonna be a lot of bag holders of variants with just pretty covers… time will tell.

#282

No idea. Never bought from them.

1 Like
#283

And by destroy, they mean… tuck away, hide and sell on the after market under different eBay handles. :wink:

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