To AFA or not to AFA

[DrPittenstein]

Just bought two Large Size figures from a seller in the States so was pondering the benefits of having him send them straight to the AFA for grading. I'd prefer they were shipped across in acrylic cases for their protection and it beats having to send them back and forth from the UK in terms of hassle, risk and cost.

I suppose ideally I'd rather have them in acrylic cases with removeable bottoms but given they are factory sealed I'm never going to open them anyway, may as well have them sealed.

what say you SWF?

 

[Grant_C]

Have you considered UK grading complany- UKG?

 

[DrPittenstein]

No because the figures are already in the US. Seller hasn't shipped them yet.

 

[Joe]

You can do that, AFA will gladly accept submissions from one person and ship them to another address.

If you are ok with the cost then go for it, after all as you said if you later decided you wanted them graded and they were in the UK with you, it would mean another two trips which is a nightmare for anyone. AFA are also the bigger name of the two grading companies so it if grading is something you are interested in AFA are the ones you want.

 

[walkie]

I've always wondered how UKG v's AFA compare.

Do UKG items fetch the same price? are they as well recieved by collectors?

Thanks

 

[Joe]

Although I do think it is cool that UKG exist as an option for us Europeans I don't think they will ever be able to really go toe to toe with AFA in terms of collector appeal, trust in the name etc.

AFA grade an unimaginable amount of stuff and have been around far longer than UKG so I guess toy collectors just trust the AFA name more as it's widely known.

I also think it is telling that no matter how many boo boo's AFA make or how much bad press they get (U grades) they just keep on rolling like nothing ever happened, I think if UKG were to get the same amount of negative exposure as AFA have they might struggle!

 

[walkie]

Been a european collector the thought of shipping to the US, back again and import taxes etc etc....is just too much of a pain IMHO

 

[Dublinjeff]

UKG are excellent to deal with, Competitive rates and great comms on individual pieces. I have used them a good bit, Steve is super when it comes to advice etc.

 

[Joe]

UKG are excellent to deal with, Competitive rates and great comms on individual pieces. I have used them a good bit, Steve is super when it comes to advice etc.

Yep but I bet 9.5 times out of 10 AFA figure holds its value or sells for more than a UKG figure.

Ark at me hammering on about grading companies when I can't stand them :lol:

 

[DrPittenstein]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm only thinking it might be an idea while they are already in the states.

Is mixing AFA stuff with UKG a no-no for collectors?

I figured the Kenner figures could be AFA and if I graded the DFs they could be UKG. Wouldn't bother me and I'd rather not send my precious toys that I've had since I was a kid across to the states and back.

I'm more interested in the acrylic cases than getting them graded to be perfectly honest but there doesn't seem to be much difference in cost, so may as well get them graded while I'm at it.

 

[Dublinjeff]

UKG are excellent to deal with, Competitive rates and great comms on individual pieces. I have used them a good bit, Steve is super when it comes to advice etc.

Yep but I bet 9.5 times out of 10 AFA figure holds its value or sells for more than a UKG figure.

Ark at me hammering on about grading companies when I can't stand them :lol:

:lol: :lol:
It Seems to the case alright that AFA sell for more than UKG in the open market alright. As for a mix of the two I have both in my display and they look fine

 

[Jez]

Why don't you seek some advice and quotes from Christian, who i believe was next door to you at FF2 (or maybe 2 down).
He'll do you some bottom sliding (ooh matron) cases, which will cost less and look good. You could pick them up at FF3 or get them posted to you. Either way, you won't have the added risk of damaging your items in the post.

Just a thought

 

[DrPittenstein]

thanks but he didn't do cases for the 12" figures then. Will definitely be after some when he does. Trouble is there are so many different sizes of Large Size figures, you're practically talking custom cases so never cheap.

 

[Frunkstar]

I hear what Joe is saying & must say as for re sale value AFA is indeed the company to use, but if you are planning on keeping the items I see no point not backing your more local firm & TBH I have to disagree with the quality issue, I have some AFA graded baggies & I have just sent the first of them to UKG to be re cased as I feel they do a far superior job at caseing them than AFA, even in there standar cases not just the custom ones I have made, thats just baggies though.

I feel if UKG is supported more by us Europeans that eventually they could well be regarded as on par with AFA in terms of re sale value, but there is only one way to make that happen - useing them!

Some of the AFA'd baggies I have are bloody awful & TBH piss me off every time I look at them, sheer gash.

I have posted this short video b4 & am sure I will again to support my case (pardon the pun), bear in mind that the figure/baggie inside is a super rare & very expensive one.

Excuse the noise on the clip

:? :? :?

As said though christian could make you some great slide back/bottom cases for less.

 

[Dublinjeff]

Like Frank, I have posted this photo before as well, but I think it shows just how good the Quality the UKG cases are. In fairness I find absolutely no difference between them and AFA cases. And, as I said before I actually prefer the UKG Hologram Logo on display. I think the saber in hand looks class 8) Luke and Vader are UKG, Ben is AFA

 

[Richard_H]

For me it's not about value it's about protectng them. As long as UKG can supply quality cases then I wouldn't bother with AFA

 

[Frunkstar]

UKG IMO offer a much better custom service & at a more realistic price, they will tailor things to your needs without taking the piss on the cost & as for protection - thats the main reason I have mine graded, as the desighn Steve has made for my baggied figure eliminates movement of the figure much more than the AFA style cases, its not really about the grade for me but rather stopping the baggies from further damage as they are pretty fragile at the best of times, here is how the ones I have done are made -

 

[DrPittenstein]

As already mentioned more than happy to use UKG for my UK figures. It's only that I've just bought two from the States and I'd rather they were sent over as protected as possible.

 

[Dublinjeff]

I see where your coming from now, but having them AFA graded doesnt ensure that they won't be damaged unfortunately......if anything it's harder to protect the blister/bubble, at least loose moc can be bubble wrapped around the blister.

I remember a thread recently discussing this and someone saying that it's almost better if the acrylic case can move aswell in the package to limit the figure banging off the bubble.

If it's damage in transit your worried about and not the grading why not get them shipped in starcases filled with packaging and then get acrylic cases over here?

 

[søren]

If you wan't them sent as safe as posible . Then don't get them gradet . They can bust out of the bubble in the case . The card (moc) can slide up and down in the case and make scratches on it .
The bubble can fall off in the case and the bubble and case can crack in the shipping .

A lose moc you can wrap up in tight bubble plast and make almost 100% shure that the bubble don't come off .

And you can put carbord tight around the bubble så if the fig moves and cracks the bubble it will not bust all the way out .

MOHAP : I hate gradet stuff , i can see what state the stuff i'm buying and selling are in . The moc's i have sold from AFA did not get me more money . It just made me more nevus that the get smashed in transit .

I you have a scratch og crack in the case . You have to live wiith it or get it gradet again . Or brack it out of the case.

The gradet cases are not the same hight and dimenstions as the ones with the sliding buttens :evil:

So it looks a little shitty having gradet and non gradet case side by side . :evil:

And yes people try to get more money for AFA /UGK stuff :twisted:

I have some stuff that's AFA gradet . And i have had serius thought about breaking it all out . As the cases takes up alot of space . When i collected moc's i could change the moc's when i wnated and the lose moc's did not take up much space stacked , as they would had i AFA cases

So you might have guessed it . I say : Don't grade them , buy acrylic cases from Christian and enjoy free moc's

Best Soren