So, one of the things that comes hand in hand with the promise that we will buy any comic, is that we inevitably end up with a lot of junk. Some people think that because we have the ability to purchase bulk lots blind on a price per issue basis, must mean that we're constantly picking up insane books, for next to nothing. I can genuinely tell you, that is as far from the truth as it gets.
Our current stock is likely over a million issues, spread across three storage locations... Of that, probably 250,000 hold any value. in teh modern age, I read somewhere that statistically one in five thousand comics hold value of more than £5 post-1990s, and I know from experience that up to 80% of literally every single collection that we buy, either never sells, or is donated to charity. Fun, right?
Now, this pickup tale starts the same way as any other. An e-mail.
'Hi Matt, I've got a tonne of inherrited comics from a distant relative - we're just clearing out their house as they were a bit of a hoarder! I've had a look through, and if I'm honest they look to be the 'sale' type bin filler, but I was wondering if you would like them, as otherwise they're going to end up in the skip'.
We at Fantasy Road are firm believers that nothing should ever be thrown away. you know, save the environment and all that. Plus, why chuck something out, if someone else could treasure it? Free or not, regardless of any profit. Therefore, we messaged back, and arranged a time to meet to load up the Fantasy Roadmobile.
30 minutes later, I arrive in Guildford, and boy oh boy, do I see what he means by a junk. I'm talking 40+ boxes of 90s DC, albeit very good condition, but it's the indie equivalent of Liefeld covers, or the Marvel equivalent of 'Task force'. Eew. What I assume to be the case here, was that the person whom our new friend inherited the boxes from, was likely a seller himself, and had picked over these comics with more enthusiasm than a terminally starved vulture. Good lad. Either way, the lot appeared very true to description. Despite this, I very much appreciated the call, and the generosity, so we agreed to pay him on a price per issue basis, regardless of the pretty much non-value. We loaded them up, then we went off on our way.
A few days later (deliberately putting the sort off, as I knew how mind numbingly boring it was going to be.) I was nearing the last box. At the end of this box, was something wrapped in a plastic bag. I opened it, then stopped. Nah - I remember thinking, looking down at the insane condition copy of Action comics #59. Fun fact, the very same day, that very morning, I had read a key collector notification regarding this issue selling for 9.4k USD graded 8.0 CGC. This, looked higher. Must be a reprint. I thought, forcing myself not to get excited as I pulled it out of the golden age bag, and flipped open the cover to the first page, eyes locked to the bottom of the page as I scanned indicia for release date. 1943. No way. A heartbeat later, I'm on the phone to our new friend, telling him that I owe him a fat wad of cash.
Point of the story here, is two things. Firstly, all it takes is one book to make a world of difference. Secondly, we're not out to rip anyone off. We didn't need to pay for these books, and we didn't need to call back and make a massive adjustment payment for what we found. This isn't a post to boast, it's a message to reassure all of you that are potentially looking to sell to us. We're people like you, with a strong moral compass, and we always do what's right. We're not out to rip anyone off, and it there's more to your lot, even if you don't know it, you'll get its worth.
So if you're looking to sell a comic book collection from anywhere in the entirety of the UK - We buy everything, at Fantasy Road.
