AFA grading?

[jackabina]

Evening people. I'll soon be ready to embark on maybe starting a small 'carded collection. Before I move away from loose figures, I need to understand more about higher end merchandise. I'll always ask you guys first so I start with this question.
When people send carded figures away to be graded, how can they come back as anything less than 100%.
I can understand the card and bubble variations but the figure hasn't been touched. Is it just due to the quality of the paint job?

Many thanks

Neil

 

[FLETCH]

hello niel most figures graded on the card or straight from the card the dreaded U graded only get 85 due to factory faults like messy paint also these figures do discolour and paint dose rub in the bubbles some times very few vintage figures every grade above 90 i think this is because they were poorly made in the first place

 

[jackabina]

Thanks fletch, so if a figure is graded 90, thats about as good as it gets is it?

Which of the card backs are the rarer/most valuable? Would I correct in thinking tri logo?

 

[FLETCH]

Yes Neil 90 is about as good as it gets some do get 95 but this is very rare most get 85 i dont know anything about the value of carded figures i only collect loose graded figures at the mo i would like to collect a full run of rotj cards myself one day i think these are the cheapest to collect

 

[jackabina]

Thanks for the info. Do you buy your figures already graded? Do you buy the loose and get them graded yourself?
How much does it cost the get a figure graded? Do you have many left to collect? (sorry, so many questions)

Cheers

 

[silver grin]

I personally use UKG to get my figures graded Neil. I've used them several times and have never had any problems. You can of course use AFA but there is obviously a big turnaround in time and then there is the extra cost due to posting it to the USA and then paying for it to be posted back too (not 100% on paying customs for it when it comes back to the UK)

There are always rarer cards on any of the releases whether they be Star Wars, ESB, ROTJ, tri-logo, POTF or Droids. For example..... Nikto on a POTF card would set you back at least £1500 whereas on an ROTJ card you'd be looking at no more than £35-£40. It's entirely up to you which ones you want to collect, go for the ones you like the look of!

 

[Joe]

You can considerably cut the cost/time/effort and worry factors from getting MOC figures graded or buying them graded by just buying them ungraded and then buying some acrylic cases.

People often feel intimidated by MOC figures because of reseals and customs/fakes and it scares them into buying AFA graded figures..well then they really never learn anything because you can't get the feel of a real MOC without holding it in your hands and not staring at it through a case.

If you are still intent on collecting graded MOC I would say it would be cheaper to buy ungraded + grade them yourself.

 

[jackabina]

Cheers Joe.
Personally i'm happy enough with my loose collection at the moment. Theres only so many figures you can buy. I've defo got the collecting bug though. I just havent decided where to take my collection next. With having two kids, wife, bills, blah blah blah, I suppose it will ultimately end up as whatever's cheapers for now.

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[FLETCH]

i do both neil i also use UKG they offer a first class service i mostly submit my own i have to agree with Joe and would probably not buy graded carded figures if i collected them due to cost