To Grade or Not TO Grade, that is the question?!?

[jedi_masters]

Hey all.

As some of you have seen I have purchased a rather nice POTF Nikto recently. It is an absolute beauty I have to admit. Had a little chat with Weasel about it but wanted to get others opinions on it as well.

I am debating whether to send it off to be graded or not. I am not a fan of graded item's as usually it inflates the price way above what I would be able to buy that item for. The thing is because of the MOC it is, I am in two minds whether to do it or not.

If I did grade it, who would be the best choice to go with, AFA or UKG?? The problem with sending it over the pond is that's a lot of distance for it to get smacked around and burst out of its bubble. At least Steve is in the UK and I could get it sent Next Day delivery. AFA command a higher price. Pro's and con's on both side's.

What do you horrible lot think?!? :lol:

 

[Dublinjeff]

I would recommend UKG. If its purely for protection and this is going to be in your collection for a while. Steve does an excellent job in fairness.

Down the line, AFA tend to have a higher resale value for whatever resson. Maybe established name...etc?

The risk of damage to the card would far out weigh anything else if it was me.

 

[itfciain]

To be honest mate - from what I have seen of the card, I am not sure there is any point in grading it - it is a beauty and I don't think you need to pay someone to tell you that

In addition the bubbles on the POTF cads are some of the most brittle and once sealed inside that case then you can't protect it

If you are going to get it graded them I would be very tempted to drive it down to Steve and pay for some sort of express service !

 

[x-pack]

Stick it in a star case

 

[jedi_masters]

To be honest mate - from what I have seen of the card, I am not sure there is any point in grading it - it is a beauty and I don't think you need to pay someone to tell you that

In addition the bubbles on the POTF cads are some of the most brittle and once sealed inside that case then you can't protect it

If you are going to get it graded them I would be very tempted to drive it down to Steve and pay for some sort of express service !

I would recommend UKG. If its purely for protection and this is going to be in your collection for a while. Steve does an excellent job in fairness.

Down the line, AFA tend to have a higher resale value for whatever resson. Maybe established name...etc?

The risk of damage to the card would far out weigh anything else if it was me.

Thanks guys. Don't think I will send it off to be honest. I wouldn't have the balls to be frank. I would be so gutted if it came back and had cracked out of the bubble. There was one on ebay last week that had been graded but had cracked through the bottom of the bubble. Gutting to say the least. But if I ever did decide to, I would def speak to Steve at UKG and see if he would allow me to drive down and drop it off/pick it up as well.

Iain, i'll bring him with me to FF4 so you can have a good look. He really is in amazing condition.

 

[weasel]

Just to throw out there the jist of the conversation I had with Chris on this.

I think IF he is going to get him graded AFA is probably the better bet, with respect to increasing resale value. Their items do still sell for a premium over UKGraders. So if you want to maximise your return that's the route I'd go. This does obviously have the risk of damage in transit to and from AFA, but the insurance would cover that. Though the fear of damaging such a nice piece is the reason I never sent him off myself. That and I CBA with AFA's forms and I disagree on principle with them charging you a fee dependant on the value of the item. There is the same time/effort/work involved in grading a Klaatu MOC as there is a Nikto POTF so why a different price? Money grabbing....

If you just want him protected from scuffs etc, then there is little point in sending him across the pond. At the same time the acrylic case he is in will protect him well enough, so there is actually little point in getting him graded JUST to increase protection.

I guess it boils down to whether you want to maximise the amount you get for him when you sell him, or if you are content to get circa what you paid.

Ps, obviously people will have preferences for graded or ungraded MOC's, I suggested grading to Chris merely as an option to increase the amount he could get for it, if/when he sells him.

 

[Joe]

Just to throw out there the jist of the conversation I had with Chris on this.

I think IF he is going to get him graded AFA is probably the better bet, with respect to increasing resale value. Their items do still sell for a premium over UKGraders. So if you want to maximise your return that's the route I'd go. This does obviously have the risk of damage in transit to and from AFA, but the insurance would cover that. Though the fear of damaging such a nice piece is the reason I never sent him off myself. That and I CBA with AFA's forms and I disagree on principle with them charging you a fee dependant on the value of the item. There is the same time/effort/work involved in grading a Klaatu MOC as there is a Nikto POTF so why a different price? Money grabbing....

If you just want him protected from scuffs etc, then there is little point in sending him across the pond. At the same time the acrylic case he is in will protect him well enough, so there is actually little point in getting him graded JUST to increase protection.

I guess it boils down to whether you want to maximise the amount you get for him when you sell him, or if you are content to get circa what you paid.

+1 was basically going to post the exact same thing.

 

[weasel]

Great minds think alike!


As, apparently, do not so great minds! :lol:

 

[Frunkstar]

If its staying with you Chris, make the effort & drive down & hand it over to Steve @ UKG & go back to pick it up as you are considering as peace of mind is priceless IMO, if on the other hand you are looking to sell at some point AFA would be your best bet to get every last red cent out of it, but you will run the gauntlet with damage, I for one would be brickin it the whole time it was in transit, as has been said those POTF bubbles are wafer thin & super fragile.

Though in terms of future, I see no reason that UKG can not equal or even surpass AFA's reputation in time as he is a stickler for detail & he seems to be gaining a lot of support with even some US collectors now choosing to use his service over AFA what with some of the drivel they have been putting out lately (IMO) that is.

 

[Grant_C]

Do not send it.

Nikto has horns and I bet you a Amanaman MOC that the bubble will break.

Chris- POTF bubbles are the worst. Store it well mate :wink:

 

[Caswellbot]

Hi chris, as has been said I wouldn't bother grading it mate. Put it in a nice acrylic case and enjoy. It's in great condition so there's nothing to worry about. If you do come to sell it down the line then you can always send it to afa who could forward it to the buyer if they are more comfortable with it being graded. Postage would be their risk then.

Just me thoughts, Chris.

 

[jedi_masters]

Thanks for all your comments guys.

It will be going in my cupboard as it is. It has all the protection it needs in the case it is in so grading would purely be for a gain on value. Now I have it I cant see myself selling it anytime soon either, it is beautiful.

Now, where do I get a POTF Anakin!!! :lol:

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

Thanks for all your comments guys.

It will be going in my cupboard as it is. It has all the protection it needs in the case it is in so grading would purely be for a gain on value. Now I have it I cant see myself selling it anytime soon either, it is beautiful.

Now, where do I get a POTF Anakin!!! :lol:

Good to hear it Chris.

I agree with Grant on this one.

In order to max your profit you would need to sent it to AFA and it would be too risky IMO

Good decision mate

Liam

 

[Stormtrooper37]

Thanks for all your comments guys.

It will be going in my cupboard as it is. It has all the protection it needs in the case it is in so grading would purely be for a gain on value. Now I have it I cant see myself selling it anytime soon either, it is beautiful.

Now, where do I get a POTF Anakin!!! :lol:

The right decision there Chris

 

[poncho]

id stick it in one of christians acrylic's and enjoy and not bother grading!

unless you want to add value for potential resale then use afa

 

[plantman]

i would personally use UKG, unless you are bothered about the extra ££ the AFA grade will add if you sell it.

there is no difference in quality and its gonna be a whole lot cheaper for you, insurance premiums for US postage and return will be high, and then you have to battle with whoever you use to claim the money if the figure breaks the bubble, they would no doubt contest it wasnt fit to travel overseas as the bubble was fragile ect.

or just case it yourself, i prefer sealed graded to prevent accidents, if you drop it, kids get hold of it ect, its got a little more protection when sealed.

 

[Pomse2001]

Hi chris, do not send it and do not grade it :wink: