Comic book swaps used to be simpler 20 years ago

I was sorting through my long boxes last week for a local shop's trade-in event in Portland, and it hit me how much has changed. Back in 2004, you'd just hand over a stack of duplicates and walk out with something random from the back room, no appraisals or price guides needed. Now you gotta check eBay sold listings and grade every cover before you even think about bringing them in. Has anyone else noticed the trading scene getting way more serious than it used to be?

2 comments

2 Comments

ellis.charles4d ago

Nope, now you gotta pull out a loupe and check for a printing smudge before anyone even looks at your box. Last swap I went to felt more like a pawn shop appraisal than a trade.

hernandez.ben4d agoTop Commenter

Yeah, it's gotten ridiculous. I brought in a perfectly good copy of Earthbound, no creases, no stickers, and some guy spent five minutes staring at the label under a flashlight. He finally handed it back and said "close enough." Felt like I was losing my mind. It's a video game, not a rare stamp.