Ironmaniac wrote:
I can normally buy $25-35 HC recent major releases from Marvel and DC at a local collectors market for $10 and sometimes as low as $5 that are still new and sealed. The retail goal is to turn over product and keep selling. Sometimes dealers get better inventive prices to move things that aren't selling. For awhile there were comic stores closing left and right so that meant alot of stuff available to be had in bulk including trades.
Go to any major con and you'll find boxes of new $5-10 or 50% off cover price books (mostly Marvel).  My used bookstore regularly gets in the MPE's which end up being discounted half-off.