Bunglebubs said:
SAVORY100 said:
Bunglebubs said:
Savory100 is obviously against grading, its like everything else good and bad views. I personally like it as you get your items presented nicely for display, its sealed in the case so nobody can take it and get greasy finger prints all over or potentially damage the item further. There is also the fact that graded items sell for much higher than ungraded which I don't really understand as it doesn't cost that much for MOCs compared to what they can sell for.
Not at all, I'm ambivalent to it. I don't see the point of it, so I won't support it, I also don't laugh at folk that pay for the graders opinion either... it (as all forms of collecting) is the individual's choice how they spend their money and what they attribute value to, I have simply relayed the facts involved.
You are more likely to damage an item (particularly a MoC or loose figure) once cased by a grading company in transit than by anyone touching it, if they were to ever remove it from a removable case alternative.
Ive had MOCs arrive to me in far worse damaged by shipping condition in a slide bottom case, you are only going to hear about the ones that arrive from posting damaged but not the thousands of others that arrive safely with no damage though aren't you? The slide bottom cases look terrible for baggies and multi packs compared to the custom made graded ones that can also be coated with UV resistance. Grading also gives you a good idea the condition of an item to prior to buying it, specially when you are buying online from another country etc.
Why would you, as a buyer, ever allow a seller to ship any item inside a slide bottom case?!?! The point of a slide bottom case is that you can remove it to add protection to the item should you ever ship it; that protection cannot be added when a MoC is sealed in a grading case... I've never allowed anything be posted to me inside a slide bottom case so I've never experienced any such damage. I've bought four graded items however and two arrived damaged... to be fair, I've been very unlucky, I know many who have had no issues too. The risk is undoubtedly greater though in a case (sealed or sliding), than removed and correctly wrapped for shipping.
I half agree on the baggies; they can indeed look bad in sliding bottom cases, but im yet to see a good graded case solution too. I know Frank rates the UKG one, I don't like the taught baggie look though, so that's not for me either. Sadly I don't know what the solution is...
I broadly disagree on the multipack point, I rarely see a good looking graded set. They're always unbalanced with an odd visual weight distribution with the paperwork or box in an odd place; you can of course get a custom case of your own design/layout which would take in personal aesthetic preferences. I have no issues with the small pack and mailer cases you can get off the shelf.
Grading does indeed give you an idea of condition, you can look at the number someone has given it and make assumptions based on that information, but that's only an idea. Photos of the item out of a case will give you a much better idea though and you can request images from every angle of every detail.
GW Acrylic sliding bottom cases are all automatically UV rated at 95%, you don't have to upgrade to this option, not sure why you make this point.
As I said, I don't care either way on grading. Clearly we won't agree as I said in my last post; each to their own.