UKG and European collectors

[Hothrebel]

Looking for opinions really.
Because of the high expense and risk ( customs charges ,tax and all the other unexpected costs).Are more European and British collectors turning to UKG instead of AFA.
When selling AFA have always seemed to demand higher prices than UKG for the same items,but if more people started sending items to UKG would it level the playing field?
Are UKG as strict with grading as AFA
Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Fishtalk]

I use UKG for several reasons, mainly the time and risk of sending something valuable back and forth across the Atlantic, but also to 'keep it in the family' - all my graded figures are Palitoys and a UK grading company makes more sense to me.
Unfortunately I don't think UKG will ever be as respected as AFA, at least not in the United States.
As regards grading scales, the general opinion was that UKG were less strict with grades, I recently picked up a Palitoy 12 back DSC, AFA graded 80/85/85. I broke it out of the case and sent it to UKG, mainly so it would match my other graded figures but also to see if I could score a triple 85.
It didn't, came back with the same grades, and an email from Steve saying it was very close to scoring a triple 85.

 

[Stuart Skinner]

Although I have a few graded figures, I don't actually get items graded myself as I don't care much for the grading although the items do display nicely.

If I was going to grade however id use UKG as I'd support the British company over the AFA and the risk of sending high end goods such a long way.

The yanks may prefer AFA but they've many mistakes with the toy Toni figures as it appears they've graded many of these so not sure why they hold their opinion in such high regard.

 

[Mr-shifter]

I read threads about that beaut of a squid head/ree yees miscard being ****ed up and it makes me so sad. In order to avoid this happening to any of my moc's I don't grade anything. I buy acrylic cases and put the figures in there myself. They look the same as they would graded. Please don't take this the wrong way as I mean no malice to anyone but I couldn't give a **** if my moc is a triple 85 or not. I use my eyes to determine if I am happy with something going into my collection or not.

Hopefully not upsetting anyone. Just my 2p worth and each to their own (u grading excluded)

 

[Stargeezer]

I Cannot agree more with the wise words of mr-shifter above here.
In the recent years i seen lots off Moc's wich got damaged badly or completly destroyed just because they where AFA graded. Just to mention the last 2 that up here On the forum: 12 Back Takara C-3PO and the squid/Ree Yees moc, both damaged that you cant say they are still Moc's. Really sad, if they had been ungraded and packed with lots off protection around the bubble this most likely has not happend.

Anyway, i never send a moc to UKG or AFA myself, but if i would sent one in, i would sent it to Steve from UKG. He grades equally to AFA from what i have heard/read and its not worth taking the risk to sent it over the ocean.

But my first choice remains sliding bottom acrylic cases and minty Moc's, i can very determine myself in what condition the moc is and if it meets my expectations.

 

[theforceuk]

I only use AFA but only because UKG was not around when I started gradeing my figures. I have delt with Steve at UKG and can not speak highly enough of him and his company. The risk of sending MOC's to Toygrader is much higher than UKG and for this reason only, you should use UKG. The first ever MOC I sent to AFA was an ESB Walrusman Palitoy/Cipper not a Toy Toni for the record and it got 85/85/90. Only to get damaged on the way back cracking the bubble badly. AFA were helpful with the insurance claim and I was very happy with overall inhanced look of the item (discounting the damage) so have since had many graded. Haveing said that I have stopped buying ungraded figures due to the hasle and can't be arsed with the whole proccess. Many collectors are against gradeing full stop which I can fully understand. The main reason I buy graded figures is for the protection of the hard case. I brought a 12 back UKG 75 Leia last year and broke it out of the case and sent it to AFA who gave it the same grade but with a higher sub grade for the bubble which is interesting considering the general view.

Bottom line go with UKG but consider the acrylic cases. Also UKG cases are about 2cm wider than AFA which is a factor when displaying many figures in a row.

Hope this helps you look forward to seeing your collection when graded or cased.

 

[Bootyhunter]

I think ass long as you don't plan to sell your collection stateside
UKG are by far the best choice and I think more and more collectors
are realising this all the time.

 

[jambobbyb]

I wouldn't use either. I now have only two graded items.

 

[Stormtrooper37]

I wouldn't use either.

Same here

 

[Hothrebel]

Just a quick note,I am not planning on selling any of my collection,just looking for people's opinion about AFA and UKG in general.