U Grade FAQ
- Thread starter shawn_k
- Start date
Imperial nut
Sith Lord
yeah, if you collect for money then u grade is the way to get that , evil though it is.
Or if you collect as a keeper of museum grade one of every type thats cool.
but it think most folk do collect for the memories, and the memories of card backs consist of "wow,,riiiip, play, cardback thrown in drawer"
i am not advocating mass MOC destruction , as we are all older now, and play has become display, so naturally sealed items seem more "grown-up"
But it think the value of loose and thrashed figures is that they have some history,i cant remember who on here has the signature.
"i am a loose collector, because as a kid i didnt play with packaged toys"
that sums it up really.
airjedijamie
Jedi Knight
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 288
- Reaction score
- 0
hi i am not sure about this because i have a 2 or 3 u grades but i only had them done as u grades because the card were ripped off or the bubbles had been smashed but i love carded figures but i know that steve at uk grades will have a laugh at this i got a 4-lom on empire card total mint bubble best i have seen for a long time card as mint as poss but are you ready for this some little stupid **** had cut the 4-lom name out of the card i was almost sick when i saw this the only thing me and steve said was why
tiefighterboy
Grand Master
airjedijamie said:
For the free figure of course. :wink:
airjedijamie
Jedi Knight
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 288
- Reaction score
- 0
yes but why leave the figure on the card just find a mate who did not send away and cut the name from that
lol
lol
In light of Tom's recent reply on the issue, I've made a few corrections/changes. Tom verified to me that no sw-c DT Luke baggies have been harmed because of the U grade, so I removed that example from the page. Also, because of inaccurate data in the population report, I have removed the numbers from last year. As of right, now I'm just keeping the overall totals of U graded figures, that were compiled by me in July.
Finally, I'm removing the petition from the site. I always meant for the article to be informative and in hindsight the petition detracted from that. I also feel that Tom has heard our voice and has expressed those concerns to CGA, which was the intent of the petition in the first place. I appreciate everyone who took the time to sign and shared their thoughts. It sounds like we might see some changes in the future and hopefully they address the concerns that have been expressed.
Please, still continue to share the article. AFA may have started the U grade, but the power to completely stop or slow it down is in the hands of the collector.
Finally, I'm removing the petition from the site. I always meant for the article to be informative and in hindsight the petition detracted from that. I also feel that Tom has heard our voice and has expressed those concerns to CGA, which was the intent of the petition in the first place. I appreciate everyone who took the time to sign and shared their thoughts. It sounds like we might see some changes in the future and hopefully they address the concerns that have been expressed.
Please, still continue to share the article. AFA may have started the U grade, but the power to completely stop or slow it down is in the hands of the collector.
I wouldn't hold your breath about seeing changes. They want their barrel of cash and they'll happily continue destroying previously well preserved, antique, carded figures until there are none left. They do this because they have no vision, no wisdom and no respect for the preservation of the hobby. The continuance of UGrading will insure that eventually there are no MOCs left at all. This is a mathematical fact not an opinion. One has to stop before the other.
I can't imagine what makes someone want to UGrade. The figure on his card back is more "U" than one removed. The simplest of simpletons could work that out but while there is still a demand for this barbaric trend, the AFA will continue to aid it.
There. I've said my piece!... :evil: :lol:
I can't imagine what makes someone want to UGrade. The figure on his card back is more "U" than one removed. The simplest of simpletons could work that out but while there is still a demand for this barbaric trend, the AFA will continue to aid it.
There. I've said my piece!... :evil: :lol:
Been talkin to Andy about this, and while I can see there is logic in Tom's claim that..... "Assigning an uncirculated designation was not designed to encourage more people to collect figures straight from packaging, but rather to help preserve a status when the fact that figures would be opened was inevitable."
There is the obvious flaw that, the U grade thing started a fad/trend (I'm prepared to give AFA the benefit of the doubt and say that WASN'T their intention, though the cynic in me isn't so sure) and AFA MUST have noticed the increase in the number, and the improvement in the quality, of MOC's that were being sent in for U grades.
The price premium that some people/idiots where prepared to pay for high end U graded figures WAS repsonsible for this. While AFA can claim, that they can't control the prices people are paying, they can't sit back and wash their hands of it all. They created the U grade and as such the fad that ultimately led to so many MOC's being destroyed.
Okay, I guess once that bubble has started there isn't a huge amount they can do to stop it. Stopping U grading won't bring back all the destroyed MOC's, or make U grade prices drop to sensible levels (possibly the opposite). But they must have seen that their idea to help protect MOC's by offering the U grade idea was at the same time leading to more MOC's being destroyed and thus some what counter productive.
Alternatively, they may only care about the money! :wink:
PS, 'm talking about AFA in genral here and not Tom personally.
There is the obvious flaw that, the U grade thing started a fad/trend (I'm prepared to give AFA the benefit of the doubt and say that WASN'T their intention, though the cynic in me isn't so sure) and AFA MUST have noticed the increase in the number, and the improvement in the quality, of MOC's that were being sent in for U grades.
The price premium that some people/idiots where prepared to pay for high end U graded figures WAS repsonsible for this. While AFA can claim, that they can't control the prices people are paying, they can't sit back and wash their hands of it all. They created the U grade and as such the fad that ultimately led to so many MOC's being destroyed.
Okay, I guess once that bubble has started there isn't a huge amount they can do to stop it. Stopping U grading won't bring back all the destroyed MOC's, or make U grade prices drop to sensible levels (possibly the opposite). But they must have seen that their idea to help protect MOC's by offering the U grade idea was at the same time leading to more MOC's being destroyed and thus some what counter productive.
Alternatively, they may only care about the money! :wink:
PS, 'm talking about AFA in genral here and not Tom personally.
Saying it's not their fault it got out of hand while they are the sole providers and inventors of the service doesn't hold much water for me. Without them no one would Ugrade. It's like a gun shop claiming it's nothing to do with them that everyone in the neighbourhood keeps shooting each other whilst increasing their order for bullets to sell.
I could just about buy that in the beginning it wasn't their intention (but please see my comment about lack of vision and wisdom. it stands!) But once they saw that this service was destroying the hobby in it's pure form they should have removed it.
From their point of view, and they must know that UGrading has the potential to end the existence of MOCs, it'll take years, possibly a couple of decades before their UGrading service has damaged the hobby to the point of extinction but then they'll just move on to something else. It won't bother them one bit. It just hurts the collectors. It's win win for them.
I could just about buy that in the beginning it wasn't their intention (but please see my comment about lack of vision and wisdom. it stands!) But once they saw that this service was destroying the hobby in it's pure form they should have removed it.
From their point of view, and they must know that UGrading has the potential to end the existence of MOCs, it'll take years, possibly a couple of decades before their UGrading service has damaged the hobby to the point of extinction but then they'll just move on to something else. It won't bother them one bit. It just hurts the collectors. It's win win for them.
Vaders_Child
Padawan
weasel said:
Oh yeah i had to take breaks whilst i was reading Toms post,my eyes went blurred at one point :shock:
Good post though
Vermillion
Youngling
Just catching up and learning about the collectors market.
This whole U-grade scheme seems badly flawed to me, and I'm essentially a newcomer with no real agenda.
I hate the idea of de-carding a figure purely to box it up in a different way. It totally counters the value (in a sentimental sense) of the original packaging.
Great site in the original post though. And the acceptance of badly damaged cards as being more relevant for U-Grading is a valid point.
But destroying mint cards. In the words of You Know Who...
"NNNNNNooooooooooooooo"
This whole U-grade scheme seems badly flawed to me, and I'm essentially a newcomer with no real agenda.
I hate the idea of de-carding a figure purely to box it up in a different way. It totally counters the value (in a sentimental sense) of the original packaging.
Great site in the original post though. And the acceptance of badly damaged cards as being more relevant for U-Grading is a valid point.
But destroying mint cards. In the words of You Know Who...
"NNNNNNooooooooooooooo"
Last weekend I was offered an AFA U85 Grade Dark Brown Rebel for $2,000!!! WTF???
There is no difference between AFA 85 and AFA U85. It's the same quality. The only difference is in the mind.
Why do people waste there money???
If you want to open your MOCs for a nice minty loose figure then fine. But whats the point in incasing it in plastic after. It's still not loose! And it's not uncirculated if some stranger has been paid to put there grubby mits on it!
And if you want to open a MOC, then why not do it yourself and get the satisfaction rather than paying someone else to do it for you.
This has got to be the craziest part of this hobby I have ever known.
I don't know how any vintage star wars collecting enthusiast can do so much damage to the items they love and remember from their childhood!
There is no difference between AFA 85 and AFA U85. It's the same quality. The only difference is in the mind.
Why do people waste there money???
If you want to open your MOCs for a nice minty loose figure then fine. But whats the point in incasing it in plastic after. It's still not loose! And it's not uncirculated if some stranger has been paid to put there grubby mits on it!
And if you want to open a MOC, then why not do it yourself and get the satisfaction rather than paying someone else to do it for you.
This has got to be the craziest part of this hobby I have ever known.
I don't know how any vintage star wars collecting enthusiast can do so much damage to the items they love and remember from their childhood!
phreatobite
Jedi Master
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2009
- Messages
- 599
- Reaction score
- 9
Just seen an entire collection go up on ebay from "diezels" - 97 figures - all U90. 
Yes I think i saw some of his U90 figures. £1,300 for a Luke bespin anybody? Or how about £1,000 for a red snaggletooth? Absolutely ridiculous that anybody could concieve of spending that kind of money on a standard figure regardless of its condition. It's a complete joke!
Dark Sith Lord
Grand Master
Yes I have noticed this. Its is completely ridicolous. £2500 for a Blue Snag?. What planet is this guy living on U means nothin!
Could one of you enlighten me as to why someone would want to take a piece of history (valuable history) and then pay someone else to remove it from its original packaging and then put it in a plastic box forever marking it with their impression/grading of the figure, that grader would then send it back to the owner? The owner now has a nice UV boxed figure (if it's not damaged, lost, incorrect etc) but the figure without its card has lost so much, the card backs themselves are nostalgic. The price the collector paid for postage and the service would have half paid for another MOC (cheap one)!
I just don't get it? :?
I have a loose collection and i'm beginning to build a MOC collection, I take great delight in showing off my collection to my mates and family whenever they visit as they are all of the same generation and really appreciate what I have, they especially like the MOCs.
Showing them a U graded AFA/UKG would be absolutely lost on them.
I as a collector like to have the loose figures as it reminds me of what I had, or wanted to have as a kid.
The MOCs are me appreciating history and a great inheritance for my 6 year old lad, who is soooo protective of daddies collection and loves playing with his beaters.
My lad is just as much of a SW geek as I am, so I know that for at least 2 more generations there will be MOCs which will not be getting sent to AFA/UKG.
Don't worry guys, MOCs will live forever!!
I just don't get it? :?
I have a loose collection and i'm beginning to build a MOC collection, I take great delight in showing off my collection to my mates and family whenever they visit as they are all of the same generation and really appreciate what I have, they especially like the MOCs.
Showing them a U graded AFA/UKG would be absolutely lost on them.
I as a collector like to have the loose figures as it reminds me of what I had, or wanted to have as a kid.
The MOCs are me appreciating history and a great inheritance for my 6 year old lad, who is soooo protective of daddies collection and loves playing with his beaters.
My lad is just as much of a SW geek as I am, so I know that for at least 2 more generations there will be MOCs which will not be getting sent to AFA/UKG.
Don't worry guys, MOCs will live forever!!
Yeah that guy is really going to get his AFA grading fees back. :lol:
maniac79
Jedi Master
Since it's only a few weeks ago that I re-started collecting, I must honestly say that I have never heard of U grading before reading this post. So thanks for the lesson.
Personally I am totally not into graded stuff, the same as I'm not into MISB stuff. (It's not that I like the thought of owning something that has never been opened and I understand the value these things have, but honestly, I'm the type of guy who likes to unpack the stuff every once in a while to put it on display or just enjoy the looks of it!) I'd rather go for a figure that would get a 85 grading if it was graded than for a figure that got a 90 grading. Maybe if I choose a figure for focus one day I might get one to somewhat "complete" my collection, but until that day I will rather buy loose figures/cards. It's also a question of money, I understand that graded pieces cost more for their quality is documented and the grading process costs money itself.
That's just my personal view of things, but I can fully understand that people collect graded stuff. Everyone can decide for themselves.
U grading is evil though. Only thing that I could imagine having U graded (in the future for completing my focus for example) would be a cut card.
Side note: Having said that I could imagine having Wicket as a focus.
Personally I am totally not into graded stuff, the same as I'm not into MISB stuff. (It's not that I like the thought of owning something that has never been opened and I understand the value these things have, but honestly, I'm the type of guy who likes to unpack the stuff every once in a while to put it on display or just enjoy the looks of it!
) I'd rather go for a figure that would get a 85 grading if it was graded than for a figure that got a 90 grading. Maybe if I choose a figure for focus one day I might get one to somewhat "complete" my collection, but until that day I will rather buy loose figures/cards. It's also a question of money, I understand that graded pieces cost more for their quality is documented and the grading process costs money itself.That's just my personal view of things, but I can fully understand that people collect graded stuff. Everyone can decide for themselves.
U grading is evil though.
Only thing that I could imagine having U graded (in the future for completing my focus for example) would be a cut card.Side note: Having said that I could imagine having Wicket as a focus.
Similar threads
