As I was reading through my next issue of Action Comics I came across this little beauty.
I wondered what would happen if I actually tried to mail this coupon to the address listed. A quick internet search shows that the Add-A-Patch Emblem Co. is now a private residence. Shame. All good things must come to an end. Or as King Solomon put it:
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. (Ecclesiates 3:1-11)
I reflect on this wisdom as I've recently been doing some scattering and gathering of stones myself. Not too long ago I sold a long box of my Uncle's less valuable comics. I've been looking for a better means to sell or trade the older stash. I came across www.mycomicshop.com (they're hard to miss since they're the first hit on Google) and realized I had recently purchased several comics from them through eBay. I was pleased with the previous sale so why not try a trade. Since I have a small collection, my only option was mark all my available comics against their Want List. For things not currently on the Want List, they gave an estimate time until it'd be on the list again. Of the 48 I added to the list, they wanted 11 right away.
Action Comics (1938 DC) 417 VG $1.38
Action Comics (1938 DC) 437 FN $3.73
Adventure Comics (1938 1st Series) 444 GD/VG $0.54
Beetle Bailey (1953 Dell/Charlton/Gold Key/King) 112 GD/VG $0.48
Betty and Me (1966) 82 GD/VG $0.12
Itchy and Scratchy Comics (1993) 1A FN $0.48
Radioactive Man (1993) Newsstand Edition 1 FN $2.59
Superman Family (1974) 199 VG $1.04
Superman Family (1974) 203 FN/VF $3.02
World's Finest (1941) 297 GD $0.32
Yang (1973) 2 GD/VG $0.12
TRADE TOTAL: Paid $14.24 (includes a $0.42 shipping rebate) in mycomicshop online credit.
It worked out pretty well so I went back when more of my comics hit the Want List.
Action Comics (1938 DC) 416 FN/VF $3.63
Action Comics (1938 DC) 418 VG/FN $1.66
Action Comics (1938 DC) 462 GD/VG $0.24
Battlestar Galactica (1979 Marvel) 19 FN/VF $0.76
Black Goliath (1976 Marvel) 4 VG+ $1.37
Our Fighting Forces (1954) 148 GD $0.14
Proposition Player TPB (2003) 1-1ST VG $2.39
Stardust GN (1998 DC/Vertigo) 1-REP FN $4.79
Superman (1939 1st Series) 383 GD $0.02
Superman (1939 1st Series) 413 FN $0.12
TRADE TOTAL: Paid $16.15 (includes a $1.03 shipping rebate) in mycomicshop online credit.
GRAND TOTAL: $30.39 of trade in credit.
In return I picked up a laundry list of comics I needed to complete my Uncle's collection.
501 FR/GD 1.5 $1.10
502 VG- 3.5 $1.10
504 FN/VF 7.0 $1.10
505 VG+ 4.5 $1.10
506 GD- 1.8 $1.10
508 VG+ 4.5 $2.70
514 VG 4.0 $1.60
518 FN $2.40
520 VG $2.20
527 FN $3.00
533 FN $2.00
537 FN $1.20
539 FN $2.80
542 FN $1.20
546 FN $1.00
550 FN $1.60
551 FN $1.80
552 FN $2.40
In summary I traded 19 comics and 2 trade paperbacks for 17 comics plus 1 that was only partial covered in the trade in. At face value that sounds great...until you add in the shipping costs. I was responsible to pay for shipping to mycomicshop.com although you saw I did get some credit back. Total shipping for all three sets was around $25. Was it still worth it? Mostly but I would need to find a cheaper way to ship comics to them.
Let's take a quick look at the highs and lows of my trade ins:
High! Radioactive Man #1 (Newsstand Edition) for $2.59
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. (Ecclesiates 3:1-11)
I reflect on this wisdom as I've recently been doing some scattering and gathering of stones myself. Not too long ago I sold a long box of my Uncle's less valuable comics. I've been looking for a better means to sell or trade the older stash. I came across www.mycomicshop.com (they're hard to miss since they're the first hit on Google) and realized I had recently purchased several comics from them through eBay. I was pleased with the previous sale so why not try a trade. Since I have a small collection, my only option was mark all my available comics against their Want List. For things not currently on the Want List, they gave an estimate time until it'd be on the list again. Of the 48 I added to the list, they wanted 11 right away.
Action Comics (1938 DC) 417 VG $1.38
Action Comics (1938 DC) 437 FN $3.73
Adventure Comics (1938 1st Series) 444 GD/VG $0.54
Beetle Bailey (1953 Dell/Charlton/Gold Key/King) 112 GD/VG $0.48
Betty and Me (1966) 82 GD/VG $0.12
Itchy and Scratchy Comics (1993) 1A FN $0.48
Radioactive Man (1993) Newsstand Edition 1 FN $2.59
Superman Family (1974) 199 VG $1.04
Superman Family (1974) 203 FN/VF $3.02
World's Finest (1941) 297 GD $0.32
Yang (1973) 2 GD/VG $0.12
TRADE TOTAL: Paid $14.24 (includes a $0.42 shipping rebate) in mycomicshop online credit.
It worked out pretty well so I went back when more of my comics hit the Want List.
Action Comics (1938 DC) 416 FN/VF $3.63
Action Comics (1938 DC) 418 VG/FN $1.66
Action Comics (1938 DC) 462 GD/VG $0.24
Battlestar Galactica (1979 Marvel) 19 FN/VF $0.76
Black Goliath (1976 Marvel) 4 VG+ $1.37
Our Fighting Forces (1954) 148 GD $0.14
Proposition Player TPB (2003) 1-1ST VG $2.39
Stardust GN (1998 DC/Vertigo) 1-REP FN $4.79
Superman (1939 1st Series) 383 GD $0.02
Superman (1939 1st Series) 413 FN $0.12
TRADE TOTAL: Paid $16.15 (includes a $1.03 shipping rebate) in mycomicshop online credit.
GRAND TOTAL: $30.39 of trade in credit.
In return I picked up a laundry list of comics I needed to complete my Uncle's collection.
501 FR/GD 1.5 $1.10
502 VG- 3.5 $1.10
504 FN/VF 7.0 $1.10
505 VG+ 4.5 $1.10
506 GD- 1.8 $1.10
508 VG+ 4.5 $2.70
514 VG 4.0 $1.60
518 FN $2.40
520 VG $2.20
527 FN $3.00
533 FN $2.00
537 FN $1.20
539 FN $2.80
542 FN $1.20
546 FN $1.00
550 FN $1.60
551 FN $1.80
552 FN $2.40
In summary I traded 19 comics and 2 trade paperbacks for 17 comics plus 1 that was only partial covered in the trade in. At face value that sounds great...until you add in the shipping costs. I was responsible to pay for shipping to mycomicshop.com although you saw I did get some credit back. Total shipping for all three sets was around $25. Was it still worth it? Mostly but I would need to find a cheaper way to ship comics to them.
Let's take a quick look at the highs and lows of my trade ins:
High! Radioactive Man #1 (Newsstand Edition) for $2.59
Very early on I found out this was my Uncle's most valuable comic. It was surprising, but fun having seen the Simpson episode where this baby shows up. I was glad to see that it held up well and brought in a nice sum.
Low...Our Fighting Forces Featuring The Loser for $0.14
Yeah, I knew my copy was beat up but I thought it would be okay. For only 12 cents I wish I would have read it before selling it. Then it might have been worth it. Then again maybe not.
High! Action Comics 437 for $3.73
This was the highest trade in overall, and it was gravy as part of an eBay purchase that had already paid for itself!
Low...Superman 383 for $0.02
Let me give my two cents! Oh wait. I guess you already did.
All in all I was really pleased with the trade-in. Although I missed a shot at Action Comics 484. It wasn't available when I pulled the trigger on my cash in, but the next day a perfect copy for my collection showed up. Oh well. An elusive comic makes the hunt more enjoyable.