Sigh...

[Joe]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Vintage-8D8-ROTJ-77-Back-A-AFA-50Y-50-80-80-Unpunched-MOC-/321910944142?hash=item4af363318e:g:UmQAAOSwo6lWOR3q

I saw this listing just now and given the state of the figure I wondered if there would be anything in the description about the sticker damage and the grade the piece received, simply because not many dealers/smart traders would send something like this in.

Typically, whenever you see badly damaged AFA graded figures with low grades on eBay they've usually been sent in by amateurs that think they are worth thousands. Nobody with any sense would send a common figure like 8D8 in with that much damage because it's just not worth the cost of grading..but wait, isn't the seller Zach Tann?

Auction description:

Beautiful piece. The only reason I graded this was I thought it was clear so it's very close to being clear. Just graded.

So, despite the fact that this really is what I'd call a budget MOC (can't call any 8D8 a beater!) and even though it was never going to score well the seller still sent it in to be graded purely because of the premium some people will pay for a clear bubble? Is that where we are at these days?

The only thing that makes me smile about the whole thing is that AFA gave it a Y designation! :lol:

I'm curious though..I know people throw silly money at clear bubbles but even if it had come back clear..what kind of profit would he have made on a figure with that much visible damage on the front? One that scored a 50. $60-80?? $100? I can't see it myself but perhaps sellers like this one know something I don't!

 

[Hooch]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Vintage-8D8-ROTJ-77-Back-A-AFA-50Y-50-80-80-Unpunched-MOC-/321910944142?hash=item4af363318e:g:UmQAAOSwo6lWOR3q

I saw this listing just now and given the state of the figure I wondered if there would be anything in the description about the sticker damage and the grade the piece received, simply because not many dealers/smart traders would send something like this in.

Typically, whenever you see badly damaged AFA graded figures with low grades on eBay they've usually been sent in by amateurs that think they are worth thousands. Nobody with any sense would send a common figure like 8D8 in with that much damage because it's just not worth the cost of grading..but wait, isn't the seller Zach Tann?

Looks like Zach's ebay account. Obviously no one on FB was willing to pay the $300US or what ever high price he would have had on it so back on ebay

 

[tiefighterboy]

I can think of several people on FB that would pay that...................

 

[steve obi wan]

That seems to cheap for me :lol:

 

[jedisearcher]

He's just thinking if I don't grade it I'll get virtually nothing, whereas if I get it graded, even if the grade is terrible, there's a chance that some AFA lover will still pay me enough to make a profit. It seems stupid, but he's probably right, it's just a shame a collector couldn't get their hands on an ungraded one for a decent price. The guy needs all the money he can get as he overspends so badly on the stuff he buys.

 

[Mr-shifter]

Looks to me like he rolled the dice for the non y premium and **** out.

The y thing is such bullshit. Evidence strongly suggests the reason bubbles yellow is down to the composition of the plastic, which is why some do and some don't. Unless you can take your clear bubble figure, chip a piece of the bubble off and have the analysis made as to which plastic it is then the bubble will most likely eventually yellow. I know some guys will say the conditions can be such to stop it and I agree storage is critical but no one is sure for how long. Eventually, all bubbles may yellow. It is part of a natural aging process.

These things are such an unknown quantity. Collect what you love, and accept it isn't a sound investment.

 

[theforceuk]

I would bid up to about $80 for that if I didn't already have one. He probably got it for less than $30 cost him about $40 to get it graded so if he gets more than $100 he will think he's done well. :roll: Mine has been graded with a clear bubble and I've seen 8D8 pop up a lot with clear bubbles so don't see why anyone would pay more for a clear bubble but they clearly do.

The thing that gets me with this is if it goes for $100 + any dealers out their with high grade examples of the same figure will all of a sudden bump the price of theirs up.

 

[stormcab]

I'm curious, has anyone seen an AFA figure without a Y but has turned yellow? If they haven't started going yellow after nearly 40 years, I would have thought that bit of plastic has to be pretty sound?

 

[darth_daddius]

I had an EV9D9 that was graded clear but was very slowly going yellow after being graded. It was a beautiful piece too....

Cheers
Pat

 

[Joe]

I'm curious, has anyone seen an AFA figure without a Y but has turned yellow? If they haven't started going yellow after nearly 40 years, I would have thought that bit of plastic has to be pretty sound?

http://forum.rebelscum.com/t1120519/

Couple of examples there in the first post, it happens more than you think.

The grade and information on the label relating to the condition of the piece and the colour of the bubble is really only a snapshot in time of the figure the moment it was graded..once it leaves AFA and ends up on your shelf and yellows over time or is even damaged in transit then that label is pretty much pointless.

Good example of shipping damage: Many Trilogos suffer from paint scuffs that only happen in transit, so you'll buy it thinking it's an AFA 85 and when it arrives the figure has jumped around so much that you've got a fantastic looking "skid mark" on the inside of the bubble from the figures hands/hair whatever..

Yay for grading..

 

[theforceuk]

Every time a figure is sold and posted then damage ucurs, less damage for me in general if that MOC is in an acrylic case of some form. The Y thing is a waste of time anyway as you can see if the bubble is yellow or not. I've got graded examples that aren't yellow but have been given a y rating anyway, the seal has gone yellow but not the bubble. Happens on POTF cards a lot.

 

[Joe]

Sold for $51 Win some you lose some I guess

 

[edd_jedi]

Justice! What a bell end.

 

[theforceuk]

Numpty! :lol: :lol: :lol: