We all want to find good deals on comic books, but with the market at an all-time high, where can we find these elusive deals?

As many collectors will tell you, we thought prices were high 5-10 years ago on certain books, but those prices have only risen to the all-time highs we are seeing today. With the increase in all of these key books, even lesser-known keys and even filler books (for those looking to complete runs) have risen in value. The old adage, 'a rising tide lifts all boats', has certainly been proven true these past few years. So, as a new collector, where are you able to find books for a decent price these days? Let's take a look at the top three ways you can find some deals on comic books. For all of the seasoned collectors out there, feel free to comment in the section below this blog post on ways you have been able to find deals in today's climate!

Local Shows

I am literally getting books ready to sell at a local show this weekend and I can tell you that I have many marked below current fair market value so that I can move them quickly and also because there will be no fees taken from the transaction as there would be with any auction house or with eBay, for example.

Local shows are a great way to talk to dealers and collectors directly and work out a deal for a key book you may have been searching for. Be sure to do your research before the show to know what books have moved the most recently in price. Even if you don't make the deal on that day, you can often get contact info from dealers. If that key is a book they end up offloading at a discount in the future, you might be someone they call if you are persistent.

Other Collectors

Whether you are networking at local shows as mentioned above or simply trading direct messages on Instagram or other social media outlets, networking with collectors that share your same interest is a great way to find deals in the short and long term. Many times, other collectors are willing to trade or do a combined purchase/trade which can significantly bring down the price of a key book that you want to add to your collection. The GoCollect blog is also a great place to get insights on current trends as well as network with fellow collectors in the comments section.

Use the Tools Available to You

Once you've determined which books you want to add to your collection, stay in the know regarding FMVs versus sales prices. Catch a book in a dip? Grab it while the time is right.

A great way to do this is by adding books to your watch lists online using GoCollect. You can add books to personal lists including Comics I Want, Comics I Own, and Comics I Like in order to receive sales and availability alerts. It's a good way to curate your own collection and keep tabs on what you already own as well as catch when your grail books appear at auction.

Tools like the GoCollect Analyzer and Modeler can help you determine the fairest prices to pay for your books. Be sure to use every resource at your fingertips to avoid overpaying and underselling!

Bonus: Have Patience

If I were to rank any of these strategies as most important, I would say that patience is my number one choice. As with anything, it takes time to build a collection. If you have the patience to do so, it will be a rewarding process. A good strategy that requires patience is setting up those alerts for the books you are searching for on auction house sites and eBay in addition to GoCollect. You will see where the books are trending and might be able to find a deal along the way as well.

When you couple the strategies of local shows and networking along with GoCollect's tools and patience, you can often find yourself in a situation to get a great deal on a key book that you have had your eyes on. Don't be too hasty to pay an inflated price just to get that key into your collection. Be willing to do the research with tools, network with other collectors, and let it be known what you are in search of.

How do you find deals on comic books? What tips have you found the most useful? Let us know in the comments!