Should U grades be banned!

[jaymassive619]

Jay I posted my initial comments about calming down literally straight after reading yours in the AFA thread If I had seen you had edited it I would have said nothing man!
Sorry if you have been offended by my comments Jay!

Come on Josh i wasn't offended mate no need for an apologies

All good in the hood 8)

 

[Grant]

Jay I posted my initial comments about calming down literally straight after reading yours in the AFA thread If I had seen you had edited it I would have said nothing man!
Sorry if you have been offended by my comments Jay!

Come on Josh i wasn't offended mate no need for an apologies

All good in the hood 8)

Jay,

All I suggested the thread should be locked down for was because it looked like it was turning into a little witch hunt towards Chris.
As for the rest I couldnt give a ****, Dont take it personally,
I aint here to offend anyone and Im just of to RS to write the same post.

Grant.

 

[jaymassive619]

Jay I posted my initial comments about calming down literally straight after reading yours in the AFA thread If I had seen you had edited it I would have said nothing man!
Sorry if you have been offended by my comments Jay!

Come on Josh i wasn't offended mate no need for an apologies

All good in the hood 8)

Jay,

All I suggested the thread should be locked down for was because it looked like it was turning into a little witch hunt towards Chris.
As for the rest I couldnt give a ****, Dont take it personally,
I aint here to offend anyone and Im just of to RS to write the same post.

Grant.

Hey Grant dont worry about it in the slightest i view our exchange of posts on RS as 2 collectors looking at the problem from different directions with no right no wrong way so to speak nothing more. From my point of view the thread been active may do some good regarding the U grade issue (albeit maybe only a small impact) . Where as you were trying to look out for a scummer who you know and have had positive dealings with so that is totally understandable.

Jay

 

[Grant]

Jay,

Thats it in a nut shell mate. Im not trying to start a civil war I was only sticking up for Chris because he has been mate to me.
Like I said before I dont agree with what he has done and I dont agree with people destroying good MOCs for Ugrades.
To be honest I never even gave Ugrades much thought until this thread was brought to light, I always thought it was just old beaters that were used for Ugrades and not AFA 85 carded figures or good MOCs.

Anyway im done posting on that thread.

Thanks again,

Garnt.

 

[Rudyard]

I've been reading both this and the RS thread with interest.
As you guys know, I have a good amount of U figures (mixed grades, none of which I've paid what I'd consider to be a large amount for), and you know my thoughts on the issue (outlined earlier in this thread for those that don't).

However, I confess to being utterly sickened at those pictures, like the rest of you. I've actually bought a few U graded figures from Rulair94 in recent months (albeit not any U90s, and certainly not at super high prices) and to be honest I've found him to be a pleasant guy to deal with. However, I had no idea where some of these figures might have been coming from. I was amazed that he was pulling out photos of U90s for rare figs on other threads, but didn't guess where some of them might have come from.

I guess I was ok with the thought that quite a few beat-up old cards and baggies were being turned into U figures, but tearing open even reasonable quality cards, let alone such gorgeous ones as those shown in the thread is a totally different ball game in my view. I'm not going to lay into Chris on that thread, but I have to say I'm shocked at what he's done, and doubt I'll be buying any more U figures from him.

 

[Grant]

Man I just had about 5 hours away form the laptop so when i went back on it I checked out RS and that thread on Ugrades is still a blazing inferno.

Grant.

 

[jaymassive619]

Man I just had about 5 hours away form the laptop so when i went back on it I checked out RS and that thread on Ugrades is still a blazing inferno.

Grant.

I couldn't have described it better!

Sorry Grant your description made me chuckle but you are right that thread has been red hot all day. :lol:

 

[Rudyard]

Don't sweat it too much Grant - I'm sure it will resolve itself in time. Everyone's an adult and I guess it is a debate that needs to be had. Chris / Rulair94 will emerge ok on the other side of this, he seems like he has thick skin.

 

[plantman]

Ive finished posting on it, you end up repeating yourself and trying to explain things again and again.

I think the bottom line is we actually all agree!

Lets just hope the idiots that pay those prices stop it, and then there wont be a buisness market to destroy carded figures

 

[browny]

Not meaning to drag the whole thing on but after reading this thread and the mammoth epic going on at rs,I noticed a point that had'nt been touched upon by either side.

Now i'm winding down my vintage collecting to just potf coins and baggies I have to say i'm totally middle of the road on this topic.....however!

The harsh fact of moc collecting is that SOME day be it next week,next year,next decade or next century those figures WILL fall off their cards,now the argument will say "not before i'm pushing daisies,six feet deep etc.." but a lot of emphasis has gone on the fact that "u"grades are killing off the hobby for future generations,but in a ironic twist of fate maybe the "u" grade is the only possible saviour for collectors in 2050 beyond,regardless of whether afa is in existence or not (it wont be!) what they stood for should be remembered?

So what chance then of the future generations obtaining genuine examples,especially untouched examples?That is where the "u"grade really has it's only genuine strong point?

I have seen many gi joe figures falling off their cards and it hurts me big time,but another saving grace is that kenner figures seem to be stuck on much better than hasbro figures.

Not meaning to put a downer on any of you guys at all but I just thought it was a comment worth making,especially as nobody else seemed to mention it,just another slight angle on the topic I guess!

For the record I shall never purchase a "u" figure again and I like many others have been left open mouthed over the destruction of those afa figures and the sheer cheek of the guy involved...

Mind how we all go gents

Stefan

 

[aussiejames]

An idea from someone else: I hope this doesn't happen in the future- "Hey Dad ,check this out, Star Wars figures back in your day came out on cardbacks- I thought they were released in these stupid clear coffins"

 

[jaymassive619]

The thing you have to remember is that many figures are yellowing / suffering from plastic degeneration so it isn't just the cardbacks and bubbles that are feeling the tests of time.

Truth is the figures will probably last longer as MOC than in an acrylic case in my opinion.

 

[plantman]

I love loose figures, but its the fact that some losers are pulling their plonkers about a figure with a U in front of it, and kidding themselves about it being worth £300.....wankers...total and utter wankers.

THATS what is causing the MOC culling. If U grade values were at £20-£30 a piece we wouldnt be having this conversation.

 

[jaymassive619]

I love loose figures, but its the fact that some losers are pulling their plonkers about a figure with a U in front of it, and kidding themselves about it being worth £300.....wankers...total and utter wankers.

THATS what is causing the MOC culling. If U grade values were at £20-£30 a piece we wouldnt be having this conversation.

Its mad Andy.

Look at this example we both have C9+ TRI LOGO Stormie MOC's.

Now selling them as MOC you will get £80(average price) - £120(top on a lucky day) thats the range.

To a U grade twat they see the potential U Grade profit.

They know that as its a Tri Logo MOC on submission they can send it to the AFA and request Tri Logo Variant on the label as the tri logo stormie figure is significantly different to the kenner conterpart. If the item comes back as an U85 then they will still make more than selling it MOC. If the Item comes back U90 then your talking £300+

Its crazy?

I honestly think that when these assholes finish there standard figure run the will move onto U90 variants. Its already happening a DT Vader and DT Ben MOC have been destroyed for the variant U grade **** man there are less than 10 of these MOC left in the whole world its a travesty.

 

[plantman]

I know Jay, i have listed my Stormie and Hollow raider on feebay and i have overpriced them to hopefully fend off a U grade leech, and this trend may well grow as people realise they can make more money.

We should project a common formula

U90 & 90 = THE SAME ****ING THING

 

[Josh]

And what about the carbon footprint these guys are leaving behind :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[Josh]

I think we need to get the Sea Shepard gang and some hot movie stars involved in this :lol:

 

[jaymassive619]

I have just posted this on RS lets try and get the whole thing moving in the right direction now.

Everyone knows my feelings from my previous posts in this thread. Although the actions of Chris/ruliar94 disgust me i don't believe personal attacks at him are the answer (although understandable given his nonchalant attitude and total lack of regard to the preservation of our hobby that he displayed in his posts)

Unfortunately you wont win hearts and minds with this approach guys.

This and Joe Y's AFA thread can serve to educate people regarding the damage U grades are causing the hobby. We have an opportunity to build some momentum here. Don't just sit on the fence saying it will do know good (If everybody had that attitude in life where would we be?).

If you want to fight this problem then do it tactically guys.

1, Send the emails to AFA and don't let up until somebody looks at the issue properly. It takes 5 minutes to send an email. Contact the AFA every week till you get some answers.

2, Highlight Ebay auctions E.G The very nice AFA 60 Powerdroid MOC that is been sold as a potential U grade candidate. (Don't just copy the auction links they only last for 3 months. Make sure you upload a photo of the auction so the information is preserved indefinitely for this thread). With a few people working on this we can gauge a picture of the U grade trends and the impact they are having. It wont take long to collate a list of sellers who are actively supporting the destruction of MOC figures take action with your £/$ and don't support them. Ensure that sellers with the same belief system as us do get our support.

3, When you sell any MOC's in the classifieds make sure you don't sell to those with the intention of destroying them.
Use a disclaimer E.G "These MOC's are for sale to MOC collectors if evidence suggests that it is your intention is to destroy the item to obtain a U grade then i retain the right to refuse the sale" or similar.
You can check somebodies intentions / collecting habits by reading there post history it takes 2 minutes.

4, Some people look at U grades because they worry about repro weapons. Many of us have a great deal of knowledge in this area lets make sure we share our knowledge with anyone who moves into loose collecting. We have many sellers in the classifieds who sell top quality / 100% original figures lets support them.

This is by no means an exhaustive list so please feel free to add ideas. Ultimately working together to tackle the problem we will be far more effective than just trying to run one guy down.

Peace Jay

 

[Jim1974]

What if it was a rare figure on card and the bubble was starting to peel off and was trashed full of holes and badly cracked? However the card itself was in semi reasonable state?

Would you

A) allow the figure come away naturally from the card over time
B) support the bubble in some sort of fashion possibly opening you up with accusations of tampering
C) send to grading authority for authentication and possible removal of figure so no damage could occur to the actual figure and allow its history to be documented.


???

 

[Joe]

What if it was a rare figure on card and the bubble was starting to peel off and was trashed full of holes and badly cracked? However the card itself was in semi reasonable state?

Would you

A) allow the figure come away naturally from the card over time
B) support the bubble in some sort of fashion possibly opening you up with accusations of tampering
C) send to grading authority for authentication and possible removal of figure so no damage could occur to the actual figure and allow its history to be documented.


???

Completely different set of circumstances to what all the fuss is about but for me it's A followed by C.

I would lay the card flat and protected but without trying to glue/reseal/tape the bubble, if the time came when it was completely de attached from the card and it was a very rare figure and I wanted to preserve it then I would send it LOOSE into a grading/"preserving" company, I wouldn't send it in or attempt to take it off myself, even if it was half way off.