There are two ways to sell in this category and they want different pricing.
Runs
A complete or near-complete run is a single item to the right buyer, and it brings more together than split. Say exactly which volumes are in it, start sensibly, and use a reserve if it is long or scarce.
Singles
The volumes people actually hunt are the ones missing from their own shelf. Singles sell quickly, at good prices, and they are what brings the same buyers back week after week.
If you have a run with gaps, selling the gaps as singles often beats selling the whole thing as an incomplete set.
What moves the number
- Edition — standard, deluxe, omnibus, collector's
- Completeness, stated by volume number
- Spine and page condition
- Whether the dust jackets are present, where the edition had them
- How clearly the release has been shown
Figures and merchandise
Price the box separately in your head, then together in the listing. The toys pricing guide covers the four states.
Pacing
A set needs the spines shown and the volumes counted on camera — that is a minute, and it is the minute that sells it. Singles can run fast.
Questions people ask
Should I split a complete run?
Usually not. Completeness is most of what a run is worth.
How do I price an edition nobody is selling?
Start low and let the room find it. This is a knowledgeable audience and it will.
Do box sets hold value?
When they are complete and the outer box is clean. Show the box, not only the books.