Help an idiot understand grading

[Mr-shifter]

Hi guys

Recently new back to the hobby blah blah blah.

I have a couple of questions about grading. It's all a bit new to me so I thought I would pick your brains.

There's loads of info as to the difference between the two organisations and I have digested most of that. I am considering grading some of my mocs. I like the acrylic cases. I'm not looking to sell the items, but I have a few reasonable value items and would just be looking to protect the investment slightly, confirm authenticity etc.

I think for this reason UKG would be the one I would use. I can't be arsed with sending things to the us and then getting stung with customs etc etc.

Is the value (afa vs ukg) difference really that much. If I had say a good condition card graded at a reasonable grade, as long as the value it held was approximately its market value plus the grading fee then I would be fine with that.

My next question is what to grade? What constitutes making something worth grading. I have put pictures of all of my carded stuff on a thread in the limelight section if anyone could give an opinion in this. I don't really understand what they will and won't grade and what all the numbers mean on the labels. Do they grade stuff with cracked or squashed bubbles. Is it worth grading for example my 20 back Han, despite the pop being removed or will the score be on the floor. Would a carded figure with a cracked bubble be not worth grading. Shall I just buy some acrylic slide bottom cases and be done with the whole thing.

Opinions and experience all greatly appreciated guys.

 

[slim]

this forum is the best place to get a piece authenticated , i would buy acrylic cases myself thats just my opinion mate and each to his own

 

[Richard_H]

Steve from UKgraders is a member of this forum. It may be worth pm-ing him. Also the website lists what they will / won't grade.
I'm assure others will be along to help an idiot. :lol:

 

[jedisearcher]

You won't get stung for customs if you send them to AFA, they mark them as Returned Goods so customs don't apply.

I wouldn't even consider anything with the pop removed or even a trashed bubble for grading. No one woUld ever want to buy a super low graded item unless its a novelty or unbelievably rare. I also wouldn't grade anything common or low ish value, just because you're spending money on something that's not really valuable in the first place.

I've always thought if you want to sell in America than you almost have to go AFA because Americans find it hard to look beyond their own borders and won't be so familiar with UKG. Others on here don't agree with that, but they'll chime in I'm sure :lol:

So for me low value/damaged/common would be a nice acrylic case, and anything rare or valuable or where you might want to add value for selling it in the future AFA/UKG.

 

[BlueDog]

If I lived in the UK and wanted something graded for authenticity I'd go UKG, if I wanted it graded for profit I'd go AFA and if I wanted it done purely for aesthetic reasons I'd just chose an Acrylic case.

Personally don't see the point in grading but that's my opinion.

 

[Michael Sith]

My spin

Grading is fine for those that want it

My own personal opinion, is that the expertise and honesty on this forum, allows you to get the advice needed on authenticity..that is more than enough for me, as I only collect for myself and my lad, not as an investment or for resale, so grading not required for me

It's a matter of personal opinion really, it's like nothing else, do your own thing, or follow suit all depends on the individual.

I like to hold the mocs and be able to access them so star cases etc for protection is fine for me, but not to entomb them as museum pieces

MHO

 

[Mr-shifter]

Thanks for the opinions chaps.

I will just go with what I thought originally and just get some acrylic cases. It seems that grading is not really necessary unless I want to start selling which I am not.

 

[itfciain]

If I lived in the UK and wanted something graded for authenticity I'd go UKG, if I wanted it graded for profit I'd go AFA and if I wanted it done purely for aesthetic reasons I'd just chose an Acrylic case.

Personally don't see the point in grading but that's my opinion.

Pretty much this 100%

 

[jasdev999]

I am very new to collecting and have thought about this for some time and here is my take on it.

1. Grading entombs a figure and I did not want to do that intially. I liked to play with them (or have the ability to play with them)...and they dipslay well with variants either on a protech stand or standing up with a little blue tack.

2. Now I have almost 3-5 of each complete (plus minty set of last 17s) so I feel like getting these graded purely to have a different way of display. AFA? only if I lived in US. UKG is the thing for for me and I've heard good things about Steve and his firm (so planning to contact him when I have a bulk order)

3.I have only a few MOCs so havent' reached a stage where I would consider entombing them yet. Just love the way they feel in my hand and the way light shines on the card's surface. Just put em in astar case and it's done.

4. If you see SW vintage collecting as a long-term investment (over 20 years), I would defintely consider Graded because more and more repro stuff is coming on the market. Some of these MOC reaseals are scarily good. And if any of the upcoming Star wars film is a hit, really big time overseas counterfieters might see the vintage SW market as a cash cow...paranoid...
.....but if you look at "collecting" in general Grading/Authenticating has been found to benefit collectors (both buyers and sellers) over a period of time (over 10-20 years) because money spent on grading is recouped in better return on future sales. And it saves heartache if someone labels a "childhood" lightsabre/blaster a repro!