U Grade mass destruction?

[tiefighterboy]

Could have been worse, you could have been called a dirty 3 pack collector :shock: :lol:

Just had another look at the auctions a bit of a coincidence Jeff that you have U graded wicket, Logray and Jord Dusat figures as well as those exact same ( now empty ) card backs for sale. Card backs aren't looking too much like beaters to me.

HERE WE ARE AGAIN, THEY HAD BAD CRACKS AND I HAVE A SUPER HARD TIME SELLING CRACKED BUBBLES, AS WHEN EVER I SHIP THEM THEY USUALLY END UP BUSTING THROUGH, SO THERE IS WHERE I MAKE MY MIND UP, TO U-GRADE THEM AND SELL THE CARD BACK TO A CARD BACK COLLECTOR WHO WILL ENJOY THE PIECE.

I thought they sent you back cardbacks from figures that were not yours....I am confused.

 

[Joe]

DO NOT KID YOURSELF JOE ONE OF THE LARGEST U-LOOSE COLLECTOR AND SELLER OF THEM STILL SENDS FIGURES IN IN DROVES, BUT IT SEEMS YOU NEVER ATTACK HIM AND HE DOES NOT LIVE IN THE US.

I guess you mean Robbie and personally yes I do have a problem with his U grade stuff and the fact that he doesn't seem to want to stop. I bought from Robbie on ebay many moons ago before I was on the boards and either of us had heard about U grading I would imagine, he was and I assume still is a very fair guy and a good seller (items go out fast, no mucking around - honest guy etc)

Unfortunately you could open a million different threads about the guy and he wouldn't bat an eyelid about U grades as it is his business. Not I or anyone else on this board is able to tell Robbie what to do and have him execute that order.

I once spoke to a very good friend of his that doesn't agree with U grading either and he said that while he doesn't agree with it and wouldn't do it himself, for Robbie it is his livelihood and people will pay silly money for these things. Selling Star Wars toys isn't my livelihood so perhaps my view of the practice is different to his on that, I do see it as greed but if its paying your rent perhaps your view is different.

IMO..

AFA= Greedy for having started the practice to get access to all those figures that wouldn't score great left carded.

Collectors = Idiots for thinking a U grade is something magical and spending silly money on them.

Dealers = Greedy for thinking of themselves and their wallets over anything close to preservation of the hobby they make their livelihood from.

Which one of the above is the real problem?

Personally I feel if people want to be forever associated with greed and idiocy then they only need to be involved in U grading in any capacity to have achieved that goal...

 

[JEFFS_MUSEUM]

Could have been worse, you could have been called a dirty 3 pack collector :shock: :lol:

Just had another look at the auctions a bit of a coincidence Jeff that you have U graded wicket, Logray and Jord Dusat figures as well as those exact same ( now empty ) card backs for sale. Card backs aren't looking too much like beaters to me.

HERE WE ARE AGAIN, THEY HAD BAD CRACKS AND I HAVE A SUPER HARD TIME SELLING CRACKED BUBBLES, AS WHEN EVER I SHIP THEM THEY USUALLY END UP BUSTING THROUGH, SO THERE IS WHERE I MAKE MY MIND UP, TO U-GRADE THEM AND SELL THE CARD BACK TO A CARD BACK COLLECTOR WHO WILL ENJOY THE PIECE.

I thought they sent you back cardbacks from figures that were not yours....I am confused.

WELL "****" HERE, AND IF YOU COULD READ, WHAT I SAID WAS 80% OF THEM WERE NOT MINE???

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO MEET ME AT C6 AND HAVE THE BALLS TO SAY WHAT YOU SAY IN PERSON.
THIS IS THE REASON I ONLY READ HERE BECAUSE OF GUYS LIKE YOU, WHO LOVE TO SIT BEHIND A COMPUTER AND CALL PEOPLE NAMES.

 

[itfciain]

The story keeps changing - but the bullshit smells just the same

Small minded people claiming that they enjoy the hobby more than the rest of us yet doing their very best to destroy it. No idea why you bother coming on this forum - no-one cares about your motives, they just want you to stop

 

[tiefighterboy]

I am the same way without this computer and no you would not want to come into contact with me....is your caps lock broke?? I think you came on here to fight and I always take the bait (as usual).........anyways I will drop it as I do respect a few of the guys that seem to like you....have a great "U' grade debate.

 

[JEFFS_MUSEUM]

The story keeps changing - but the bullshit smells just the same

Small minded people claiming that they enjoy the hobby more than the rest of us yet doing their very best to destroy it. No idea why you bother coming on this forum - no-one cares about your motives, they just want you to stop

NOT TO WORRIE, AS THIS WILL BE MY LAST POST HERE!

JEFF

 

[tiefighterboy]

Goodbye you double talking stupid ****. :wink: ...They are not mine...uh 80% ogf them were...uh the bubbles were cracked and I thought the cardback guys would want them..UH MY CAPS LOCK IS STUCK AND YOUGUYS TO READ MY STUFF....uh they sent them to me and I just decided to list them....uh............

 

[tiefighterboy]

Sorry guys..his story kept changing on how he obtained the cardbacks and with the caps lock on he reminded me of Auggie....he will be back as he seems to like me.

80% of these were thrown in my return shipping box from AFA (that were not mine)so when I saw them I was amazed myself 0f the condition,

THEY HAD BAD CRACKS AND I HAVE A SUPER HARD TIME SELLING CRACKED BUBBLES, AS WHEN EVER I SHIP THEM THEY USUALLY END UP BUSTING THROUGH, SO THERE IS WHERE I MAKE MY MIND UP, TO U-GRADE THEM AND SELL THE CARD BACK TO A CARD BACK COLLECTOR WHO WILL ENJOY THE PIECE.

Which one was it...80% not yours

or

They had bad cracks and I "u" graded them

*just added the quotes so you can see where somebody might feel there is some amount of deception here.

 

[jambobbyb]

he will be back as he seems to like me.

You two had a real bond TFB :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[tiefighterboy]

he will be back as he seems to like me.

You two had a real bond TFB :lol: :lol: :lol:

Some of the guys from other forums really love me...........do not know why....I did say I was gonna drop it three posts ago....I lied

 

[timbo72]

Goodbye you double talking stupid ****.

Man thats a good one liner. And now i'll be quiet as i dont know enough about this subject to comment. What i do know is that ive just started out collecting these awesome figures and i'd like to think i'd be able to afford most things (with some time and saving my hard earned wages). But if this continues i'll just be collecting loose beaters forever

 

[jambobbyb]

I agree with you TFB his story did seem to change to match the current trend, I think i would have had more respect for his corner if he had just come on and said i like U grades the rest of you can go **** yourselves... And on a side note I was on the fence over this one I was under the impression that these were all cut card bubble only figures which no one would care about being opened and graded if they received a standard grade, however after reading a few threads over here and on RS especially the one on the EB mailer I can say I firmly don't Like U grading i think it's very bad for this hobby..

 

[Josh]

Jeff's right I am afraid. You are mostly all weak cunts. Do I really need to pull up the Robbie loving threads on here? I am sure he pisses himself when he see's these debates, as 99% of the time he doesn't even get a mention. And plenty of you still want to buy his goods.
****, I still get links sent too me by members that are for his auctions. Hilarious.
Put your money where your mouths are for a change, me thinks I won't ever buy a single thing from Robbie or anyone who condones this practice. Either directly or indirectly. Owning a new piece for my collection is not as important as integrity. Something I honestly don't think a lot of you have at times. You piss about the U grade yet you still buy from these guys...just not their U graded items. LAUGHABLE.

I will say, and I've said it before, I think as one of the stewards of the hobby, you shouldn't be condoning this practice AT ALL, Jeff. Whether you like it or not, people look up to you and your collection. Maybe not all of these guys here But I can assure you people do.

 

[James Simmonds]

This is a really interesting thread. Has anyone considered what happens if or when AFA ceases to exist? What will happen to the perceived value of any graded AFA figures then? Would their reputation mean that graded items maintained their 'value' or would collectors who paid over the odds for a 90 or 95 figure be lumbered with a cased figure that now holds now more value to collectors than a loose one?

James.

 

[tiefighterboy]

I think i would have had more respect for his corner if he had just come on and said i like U grades the rest of you can go **** yourselves... .

That is the way I felt about it too. As for looking up to the guy as mentioned prior...there are no collectors I look up to....a few I am friends with...a few I have had great talks and trades with........but nobody is on a ****ing pedestal.

 

[tiefighterboy]

on a side note...your new sig is awesome Josh. :wink:

 

[Joe]

You make a fair point Josh (minus all the swearing) in all honesty Robbie's name doesn't get dragged through the mud as much as other peoples but like I said, would it matter if it did? He probably doesn't read any of these threads anyway and certainly wouldn't come here like Jeff to have a discussion about it, there are a million happy U grade ebay buyers who don't visit the forums for him to not even bother coming to the boards to flog U grades let alone get **** about it.

As for dealing with him, if you wanted to know my history with Robbie here it is:

I haven't bought anything from Robbie since 2004 (POTF Jabbas Dungeon) and I definitely bought a few things before that (all ungraded mundane production items I would imagine) however even though I know he U grades NOW I did approach him last year to see if he had any C7ish Trilogos for sale because I would rather him sell his less than mint carded figures to me than them be sent to be U graded. (Although I still haven't bought anything from him since 2004 - so maintaining the integrity record :lol: )

Integrity is everything but plenty of people bend and break these rules to further their collections, just look at all the people your mate DB deals with :lol:

Anyways, weak or not, I would probably still buy a lesser conditioned ungraded MOC from Robbie rather than have him U grade it. Not to further my collection (because no doubt I can find production trilogos loads of sources) but to preserve something I love to collect - MOC!...(from someone who may not think twice about U grading them).

Lately I have been taking less and less of an interest in debating U graded stuff just because its incredibly retarded.

 

[shawn_k]

I guess I should post, but it's going to be difficult with the distraction from Josh's post

Jeff, based on Tom's reply when he gave feedback on my article, you are the type of collector they had in mind when they brought about the U grade. A collector wanting a mint off the card figure for their own loose collection. You mention the early days when someone on the boards would open a beater and I remember that too. I even opened a few in my early days (early 90's) when dealers had tons of common overstock baggies for my loose set as they were they same price as a loose figure was and I'll admit I didn't know the significance of a baggie back then and would never do that now.

I feel that AFA should have stopped the practice once they realized what dealers/collectors were doing. Right on their front page it says "For Evaluation, Preservation, and Authentication". How are they preserving when they offer a service like this that is/has obviously been abused? Yes, part of the problem lies with the collectors that are doing this, but the other lies with the company offering the service as well. If someone really wants an off the card fresh figure for their collection, why not AFA wipe their hands clean of it. A collector can still open up the figure, send it in, get the grade minus the U and still know that they have a fresh figure. That stops the dealers from sending in multiples for the U95 and the collector still knows they have a fresh figure. I would prefer the neither be done, but it would at least have stopped that mass destruction that occurred and kept it down to the minimal numbers like we had before the U grade existed. I feel that AFA should have taken some responsibility for this as they were the ones who brought it on.

This is a really interesting thread. Has anyone considered what happens if or when AFA ceases to exist? What will happen to the perceived value of any graded AFA figures then? Would their reputation mean that graded items maintained their 'value' or would collectors who paid over the odds for a 90 or 95 figure be lumbered with a cased figure that now holds now more value to collectors than a loose one?

James.

Only time will tell. I personally think at some point it won't matter wether an item was graded or not, but that depends on how strong the SW brand stays over the years and how many collectors stay in the hobby.

I posed the same question about what if AFA ceased to exist to another collector who had stated

i MUST have my vintage SW collection graded and in cases, PERIOD.

fine by me if less people have and use AFA. I feel then, that those vintage SW in the afa graded packaging will be rarer, more desired and worth more and it will be a nice preserved slice of the hobby.

This statement concerned me quite a bit. I believe it was a fairly new collector, but it states to me that he is more concerned about the acrylic and label over the item inside and that is what makes his pieces rare in his collection. It reminds me of the collector Jeff mentioned who had all the money and didn't take care of what he had.

I love my acrylic cases just as much as anyone, but it is the item inside, the history. and what it means to me that I care about. The acrylic case is merely a tool to help protect these items. The collector pretty much avoided that question and basically stated that they'd always be around.

 

[tiefighterboy]

Lately I have been taking less and less of an interest in debating U graded stuff just because its incredibly retarded.

Out of all that Joe....this last sentence is exactly spot on.

 

[Josh]

You make a fair point Josh (minus all the swearing) in all honesty Robbie's name doesn't get dragged through the mud as much as other peoples but like I said, would it matter if it did? He probably doesn't read any of these threads anyway and certainly wouldn't come here like Jeff to have a discussion about it, there are a million happy U grade ebay buyers who don't visit the forums for him to not even bother coming to the boards to flog U grades let alone get **** about it.

As for dealing with him, if you wanted to know my history with Robbie here it is:

I haven't bought anything from Robbie since 2004 (POTF Jabbas Dungeon) and I definitely bought a few things before that (all ungraded mundane production items I would imagine) however even though I know he U grades NOW I did approach him last year to see if he had any C7ish Trilogos for sale because I would rather him sell his less than mint carded figures to me than them be sent to be U graded. (Although I still haven't bought anything from him since 2004 - so maintaining the integrity record :lol: )

Integrity is everything but plenty of people bend and break these rules to further their collections, just look at all the people your mate DB deals with :lol:

Anyways, weak or not, I would probably still buy a lesser conditioned ungraded MOC from Robbie rather than have him U grade it. Not to further my collection (because no doubt I can find production trilogos loads of sources) but to preserve something I love to collect - MOC!...(from someone who may not think twice about U grading them).

Lately I have been taking less and less of an interest in debating U graded stuff just because its incredibly retarded.

I agree. I just don't get why it is worth wasting time on these other guys/girls then, if people aren't going to play on a level field. Just look like a hypocrite. And let's face it, the one person you maybe able to influence is already in the too hard basket :lol:
You either paint everyone with the same brush, or none at all is what I am saying. Doesn't mean you can't be friends with them...just don't condone what they do by buying ANY of their product. You want to make a change. Hit them where it hurts...their pockets.

* By the way, one swear word in my previous post, Joe. Unless we are counting "pisses".
You make it sound like your ears aren't tuned for that sort of thing. You swear like a trooper yourself when you want too...so I am sure it wasn't that offensive to your eyes and ears. :lol: