This guy is killing your hobbie...still

[Grant_C]

yep- 250 million figures and you cant find a AFA 85 loose?

Perhaps your in the wrong hobby?

Difference between a ugrader and a collector?

Collector- wow! that an amazing piece that's it good condition- I would love that for my collection- I will enjoy this.

Ugrader- I can have this and it will make me rich and awesome. I AM GOD!

 

[tiefighterboy]

I support and agree 100% with the above statements. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Grant_C]

:lol:

 

[Grant_C]

Do you think this has been Ugraded?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-VINTAGE-STAR-WARS-LILI-LEDY-EMPERORS-ROYAL-GUARD-CARDBACK-ONLY-RARE-/300965704410?pt=UK_ToysGames_ActionFigures_ActionFigures_JN&hash=item4612f432da

 

[Michael Sith]

Maulster...100 % agree with your points

Unfortunately there are always going to be people out there that want highest ugrade they can get, oohhhh look what I've got,

To me a raggy MOC even with splits and dings, has more history and originality.

I bought a Victorian writing slope few years back, lovely patina you can see the history of it, I didn't take it to a joiner shop and ask him to strip back fill sand and repolish :!: so why are these pratts taking cards apart, it's mental :evil:

Anyway I agree, we should out these guys as much as possible
If things are swept under the carpet, ignored, they become accepted over time

We should buy up as many beater mocs as we see in line with our funding and sell or trade with each other on here, try and stop it from that point of view

Bloody sad state of affairs :evil:

 

[Grant_C]

Yep it's a world of either givers or parasites.

It's really that simple.

 

[tiefighterboy]

Do you think this has been Ugraded?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-VINTAGE-STAR-WARS-LILI-LEDY-EMPERORS-ROYAL-GUARD-CARDBACK-ONLY-RARE-/300965704410?pt=UK_ToysGames_ActionFigures_ActionFigures_JN&hash=item4612f432da

I do not think so....unless he busted out the black marker to throw us off the scent.

 

[Michael Sith]

If you blow up the pic it looks like its had a black watercolour paint wash but I may be wrong
Look to the left lower portion

Like I say I may be talking bollocks :lol:

 

[Mr-shifter]

It seems to me a u grade is something that really only means anything to collectors talking to collectors. I have quite a few friends who are not Star Wars fans but have seen the films. I was born in 79, so the generation we are talking about were kids when the toys were around originally. If I show them one of my MOC figures, the reaction is usually something like "Wow, I had these when I was a kid. I used to get these at christmas....." usually followed by all sorts of nostalgic noises whilst they relive their childhood, normally around the fact that they are still on the card, how they remember the packaging, how cool it looks etc etc etc.

Give the layman a u grade loose figure. You will then have to spend a good ten minutes explaining to them what a u grade is, and what makes it so different from a normal loose figure. God knows what they would think if you told them how much extra you paid for it.

I like to collect vintage MOC's because it is a MOC. Don't get me wrong, I like the loose figures, but it is MOC figures that do it for me. I love the packaging and the sense of nostalgia that it gives me. Take that away and it looses so much.

I cannot personally see the difference between an 85 figure and a U85 figure. They were both made in a factory, sealed on a card, sold in a shop, then opened and taken out of the card. The only difference is one was opened years ago by Joe Blogg's, the other was opened 2 weeks ago by the AFA. To me it is a simple as that, or am I not getting something?

Still, there must be people out there who gratify the u grade collectors. If you are spending a fortune on figures so you can say to the world "look at the size of my massive u grade dick" surely you need to have someone saying "wow, you have the most amazing collection in the world, I wish I could be like you", otherwise, why are you spending so much money on a collection. We are all proud of our treasures, but do you collect for your benefit or other peoples benefit.

I might have it completely wrong. u grade collectors never seem to speak up for themselves. Is that for fear of abuse or because they know what they are doing is wrong, or simply because they don't care. I would love to hear from them as to what they get from their hobby, because personally, I just don't get it.

Its good to know who these traders are though. I shan't give them a penny of my money.

 

[Michael Sith]

MR Shifter...that's the point

I feel u grade collectors are not interested in the hobby per say, and there are t hose that will jump on the bandwagon as it may be perceived as "cool" if they have a collection of ugrade figs

It's not really why they are doing it...it's the damage they are doing to the hobby, less and less lower grade mocs out there to collect
Pushing up prices for MOC collectors...simple supply and demand

I love loosies as well but not bothered if they are mint or beaters

 

[Mr-shifter]

Who are they feeding off though. All that there seems to be on the forums is hatred for them. The sort of people we are talking about are those who need the gratification, but you never seem to see a u grade limelight or someone posting about their latest u grade acquisition.

Unless they have a secret forum or group somewhere, where they all have one disgusting u grade orgy, congratulating each other on the ability to log on to ebay and part with masses of cash whilst feasting on grilled dolphin steaks and polar bear mousse.

The grading guys seem to have a lot to answer for. Why do they offer the service. Surely there is enough stuff that goes for grading to keep them going?

 

[tiefighterboy]

Who are they feeding off though. All that there seems to be on the forums is hatred for them. The sort of people we are talking about are those who need the gratification, but you never seem to see a u grade limelight or someone posting about their latest u grade acquisition.

Unless they have a secret forum or group somewhere, where they all have one disgusting u grade orgy, congratulating each other on the ability to log on to ebay and part with masses of cash whilst feasting on grilled dolphin steaks and polar bear mousse.

The grading guys seem to have a lot to answer for. Why do they offer the service. Surely there is enough stuff that goes for grading to keep them going?

To answer your question, there are a lot of "Closet" U Grade collectors. For whatever reason, they like to think it was not touched by human hands (lets see the guy at the factory and the AFA slob who handled it) and they feel these are the best examples of loose figures (but once encased in the acrylic tomb, how loose are they???) and for them it is some sort of high.

 

[itfciain]

I would genuinely like to hear from someone who collects U-Graded figures to understand why they are so keen on them - trouble is no-one will step forward because of the stigma attached to them

I hate U-Grades as much as the next and will never understand their attraction. However, you have to hold AFA far more accountable than Robbie (and others who send them in) - if they didn't create this market in the first place then there would be no demand.

Also, the item linked - do you know if this was a recent card sent to AFA or could it just be one that Robbie had from before ?

 

[Grant_C]

Seeing he doesn't collect cardbacks I feel it's safe to assume. It's also safe to assume looking at last months cardbacks including a rare Luke farm boy.

If anyone has a strategy in which to petition a way of engaging AFA then I'd be happy to here it, support it, organise it.

Otherwise seeing that I cant get to pablo escobar, I'm going to have to resign to name and shaming our local moraless scum.

I agree mate- they're absence speaks volumes like a teenager with a porn mag.

I'd like to hear it.

 

[Michael Sith]

Seeing he doesn't collect cardbacks I feel it's safe to assume. It's also safe to assume looking at last months cardbacks including a rare Luke farm boy.

If anyone has a strategy in which to petition a way of engaging AFA then I'd be happy to here it, support it, organise it.

Otherwise seeing that I cant get to pablo escobar, I'm going to have to resign to name and shaming our local moraless scum.

I agree mate- they're absence speaks volumes like a teenager with a porn mag.

I'd like to hear it.

Numbers speak

Literally what you've said Maulster

A petition, where everyone on the forum puts their name to it then forward to AFA







Questions about CGA? Email us at [email protected].

Submission and Contact Address:
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Questions and comments regarding CGA's services, policies and procedures are always welcome.

 

[Mr-shifter]

I think it will be ignored by the AFA. A MOC that is a little damaged may never go to grading because it will score poorly. For a ugrade as the card condition doesn't matter, the figure then becomes fair game. By creating this market, I think it has probably created a new market for them with more stuff to grade. Numbers speak, but so does money.

Am I correct in assuming already graded MOC's have been submitted to regrade as a ugrade?

I just don't understand it.

I cant see how it will ever end. You hope it is a fad and will disappear eventually. From what I have read, this has been a hope for a few years. I think naming and shaming means we can do a little bit in boycotting the dealers who submit the stuff for ugrading.

I would happily sign a petition though.

 

[PGowdy]

I despise it when vintage collectors say "They are only toys". If that is the case, can I buy all your 12 backs for a dollar, then set them on fire???? Idiots.

Well said, if they're "only toys" what the **** are you doing spending 100s (1000s) of $$s on them??! This nonsense mantra should only ebver be uettered by someone outside the collecting hobby who holds no value whatsoever in the things we collect. Then.. well, fair enough i spose. :lol:

 

[tiefighterboy]

I despise it when vintage collectors say "They are only toys". If that is the case, can I buy all your 12 backs for a dollar, then set them on fire???? Idiots.

Well said, if they're "only toys" what the **** are you doing spending 100s (1000s) of $$s on them??! This nonsense mantra should only ebver be uettered by someone outside the collecting hobby who holds no value whatsoever in the things we collect. Then.. well, fair enough i spose. :lol:

Yes modern toys setting in a store are just toys....but the items we are talking about are not stocked around every corner of the world. When people make this statement and in the same breath pay hundreds for toys they are truly retarded and have no place buying vintage. The only people that really believe that statement are the non-collectors...for instance they accidently break one of your vintage items and say "Well it was only a dumb toy" :wink: