When it comes to selling valuable comic books, consignment is often the best route — you get market-rate prices without doing the work. But not all consignment services are created equal. The difference between flat-fee and percentage-based consignment can cost you thousands of dollars on high-value books.
How Traditional Consignment Works (And Why It's Expensive)
Most auction houses and consignment services charge a percentage of the final sale price — typically 10–20%. This model made sense decades ago, but it becomes increasingly unfair as comic values climb. The work required to sell a $5,000 book isn't 10x the work of selling a $500 book — yet the percentage model charges you 10x more.
The Math: Flat Fee vs. Percentage
Let's see how a flat-fee model compares to a typical 15% consignment fee on real-world sales:
| Sale Price | 15% Fee | Tri-State Flat Fee | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $300 | $50 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $750 | $125 | $625 |
| $10,000 | $1,500 | $250 | $1,250 |
| $25,000 | $3,750 | $500 | $3,250 |
| $50,000 | $7,500 | $1,000 | $6,500 |
| $100,000 | $15,000 | $3,000 | $12,000 |
Real Example: We recently sold a client's Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 4.0 for $32,000. At a traditional 15% fee, the seller would have lost $4,800. With our flat fee of $1,000, the seller kept an extra $3,800 in their pocket. That's real money — enough to buy another graded key issue.
What Good Consignment Looks Like
Regardless of the fee structure, a quality consignment service should handle everything from start to finish:
Professional photography — high-quality images that show the comic's condition accurately and attract buyers.
Expert listing descriptions — detailed write-ups that highlight key features, notable defects, and relevant market context.
Active marketing — exposure to a large network of serious buyers through social media, collector groups, and direct outreach.
Buyer communication — handling all questions, negotiations, and payment processing.
Safe shipping — professional packing and insured shipping to protect high-value books.
Transparent pricing — no hidden fees, no surprises. You know exactly what you'll pay before you commit.
What Types of Comics Are Best for Consignment?
Consignment makes the most sense for comics worth $500 or more, where the marketing effort and buyer network of a consignment service can get you significantly more than you'd get selling on your own or to a local shop. Key issues, CGC graded slabs, first appearances, Golden Age and Silver Age books, and complete high-value runs are all ideal for consignment.
For lower-value books (under $100 each), selling in bulk to a dealer or through eBay may be more practical, since the per-book effort doesn't justify full consignment service.
Tri-State Comics Consignment Rates
Our flat-fee structure is simple and transparent:
| Sale Price Range | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $2,500 | $50 |
| $2,501 – $5,000 | $125 |
| $5,001 – $10,000 | $250 |
| $10,001 – $25,000 | $500 |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $1,000 |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $3,000 |
No percentages, no hidden fees, no buyer premiums. Just a simple flat fee that you know upfront. The higher the value of your comics, the more you save compared to traditional consignment.
How to Get Started
Getting started with Tri-State Comics consignment is easy. Just send us photos of the comics you want to sell — via Facebook Messenger or email — and we'll give you a free market appraisal within 24 hours. If you decide to consign with us, we handle everything from there. If you're in the Philadelphia, New Jersey, or New York area with a collection valued at $500+, we'll even come to you for a free in-person pickup.
Start With a Free Appraisal
Send us photos and we'll tell you what your comics are worth and how much you'll keep with our flat-fee consignment. No obligation.
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