Our magazine basically focuses on pop culture fandom, more
specifically, comic collectors and their interests. Their interests
can be quite diverse, and I try to be inclusive of all aspects of
fandom. My scope is only limited by what I think may have a
general appeal to my readers. I am also limited by what people are
willing to contribute, as my writers and artists are strictly volunteers.
Thanks for writing!
Sheryl Roberts
Editor, The Collector Times
Matt "thehammer" Responds to a Reader
>Dear Hammer,
>I'm relatively new to selling action figures. I have small pile of Star
>Wars action figures, all loose mind you, from Empire Strikes Back, Return
>of the Jedi and the original Power of the Force series. I checked the
>prices on these figures through Wizard's Toyfare. Some of them are priced
>pretty high.
Depending on the condition and if you have all the accessories; Weapons,
robes, capes and so forth; you might be able to get a good price from
someone on an auction site. If not then you might be able to get a decent
price (maybe 40-50% of guide.)
>I was wondering if how I would go about placing them for auction on Ebay.
First you have to register with eBay. This will allow you to not only be
able to post an auction, but it will also allow you to bid on an auction.
The only thing about this is that you cannot be with a free E-Mail service
like Hotmail, Yahoo mail, or any other free E-Mail service. This should be
no trouble for you.
Here is a link to the eBay FAQ that will give you more info:
http://pages.ebay.com/aw/faq.html#seller
It should answer most of your questions about selling on eBay.
Here is the link to the registration page:
http://pages.ebay.com/aw/registration-show.html
This will take you to the first registration page and then you can go from
there.
>What price should I use for the initial bid.
Take a look at some of the other auctions on eBay that might have the same
figures that you want to sell, and use them as a guide.
>Are there any maybe more reliable toy price guides out there?
Not that I have found. Go to a local bookstore and look at their magazine
rack and see if they have something that I might have missed. There are alot
of speciality ones out there I might have missed. With The Phantom Menace
out the market for Star Wars is going up.
>If I do go about doing this, what would be the safest way to mail these
>figures to the bidder?
What I would do, is if it is a small amout of figures (1, 2, 3) then I would
put them in seperate plastic baggies along with their accessories and
something to pad them (tissue paper or Kleenex) and put them in a padded
envlope. Mark the envlope with the words "DO NOT BEND." Padded envlopes
should be available at a local office supply store for about $0.75 for the
size you need. Since it might be an odd shape (larger than a normal envlope)
you'll have to pay a bit more in shipping. Also send them from a post office
so you'll know that they were sent.
If it's alot of figures then I would leave it to the professionals at a
shipping place like Mail Boxes Exc. so that the figures will be properly
protected.
Also if you are sending them though the mail, be sure that you send it
insured and certified mail. This is so that if things happen to them while
in transit then you should be covered, and with the certified mail you will
have conirmation that the person got their package and cannot say that they
did not get it.
What a Gamble
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1999 18:05:25 -0500 (CDT)
To: probts@hal-pc.org
From: antoinette@tecinfo.com (ladoris pope)
I was wondering if Houston was looking to get casino gaming?
Someone playing in a casino here in Mississippi said that Houston was
being considered as a future site for casino gambling. Tha nk you for
your time.
L. Adams
Hi!
Interesting letter. Houston, and for that matter, Texas, has been
interested in casino gambling sporadically over the years. Every time
it comes up for a vote, though, it gets rejected. I don't know of any
current push for casino gambling in Texas, but it does come up every
once in awhile. Too many of us in Houston drive over to border to
Louisiana to go gambling, and I know there are Texans who are
interested in getting that gambling money for themselves. Me, I play
nickel slots, I'm a *big* spender.
Thanks for writing!
Sheryl Roberts
Editor, The Collector Times
Zorro Comics
From: "SB Enterprises" <sbent@sigmais.com>
To: <probts@hal-pc.org>
Subject: Comics
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 14:01:53 -0400
Hello I have 3 Comics I would like to sell #1 Zorro Gold Key 1959 Mint #2
Jug Head Archie Series Feb.#165 . #3 Speed Racer Now Comics First
Collectors Issue Dec 1993. If you are interested please offer a price.
Thank you.
Hi!
If you wish to sell your comics, there are a couple of things that I
can suggest. First, you might try posting your message on
rec.arts.comics.marketplace. Your other option is listing your comics
on an auction site, like firstauction or ebay. I'll include your
message in the next Collector Times issue on the letters page, so if
any of my readers are interested in your comics, they can email you.
Good luck!
Sheryl Roberts
editor, Collector Times
