UKG vs AFA
- Thread starter Cobe_24
- Start date
**Delboy75**
Jedi Master
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2008
- Messages
- 625
Well i've not used afa but owned a few loose afa graded figures, their forms look confusing and the few times i emailed them regarding grading baggies there answers never really made sense.
Ukg on the other hand i've used twice now, and just sent a 3rd lot in today.
They grade figures well, everything i've had back has been graded honestly.
Unlike AFA if a loose figure looks a 90 it gets a 90, AFA undergrade too often imo.
Like lee has already said tho the turn around time sucks, my last lot was over 4 weeks too, the lot before took 3 weeks.
But at the moment its just 2 guys so they are going to be pretty busy until they recruit some more staff. The UKG cases were easily on par with AFA, if not better, and i prefer the UKG label exept for the rarity scale which can be way off the mark.
I've spoken to steve a lot recently and he's sound, yes they've made a few mistakes but so have the mighty AFA.
I think its great that someone finally had the balls to start a company up in the uk, and i hope they do really well.
Hopefully given time they will be a bit more popular and UKG graded items will start selling a bit better.
It could be a good time to pick things up whilst they are fairly cheap!
Ukg on the other hand i've used twice now, and just sent a 3rd lot in today.
They grade figures well, everything i've had back has been graded honestly.
Unlike AFA if a loose figure looks a 90 it gets a 90, AFA undergrade too often imo.
Like lee has already said tho the turn around time sucks, my last lot was over 4 weeks too, the lot before took 3 weeks.
But at the moment its just 2 guys so they are going to be pretty busy until they recruit some more staff. The UKG cases were easily on par with AFA, if not better, and i prefer the UKG label exept for the rarity scale which can be way off the mark.
I've spoken to steve a lot recently and he's sound, yes they've made a few mistakes but so have the mighty AFA.
I think its great that someone finally had the balls to start a company up in the uk, and i hope they do really well.
Hopefully given time they will be a bit more popular and UKG graded items will start selling a bit better.
It could be a good time to pick things up whilst they are fairly cheap!
jaymassive619
Sith Lord
I dont know why the persist with the rarity scale its not possible for them to calculate something like that. They probably dont know for example A palitoy rotj 65 bk hoth trooper is common as muck yet a Kenner 65 back hoth trooper is very htf.
Most of them time there rarity scale is linked to value or popularity than anything else. This is my only bug bear with them.
Most of them time there rarity scale is linked to value or popularity than anything else. This is my only bug bear with them.
Ron
Sith Lord
I dont like the rarity either
Ron
Sith Lord
grading is all down to some 1 opinion. Rarity the same not every 1 thinks the same
**Delboy75**
Jedi Master
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2008
- Messages
- 625
I've been speaking to steve the last few days regarding baggie rarirty, as a few i've had graded the rarity scale has been too low.
I've given him some useful info to read up on (Baggie guide), so hopefully they will be able to mark the rarity down a bit more acurately, which will be a big plus for anyone sending in baggies.
I've given him some useful info to read up on (Baggie guide), so hopefully they will be able to mark the rarity down a bit more acurately, which will be a big plus for anyone sending in baggies.
jaymassive619
Sith Lord
**Delboy75** said:
To do a genuine Rarity scale you would need to have a vast knowledge of each area for it to be anywhere near acurate.
E.g For carded you would need to understand all the figure card combo's in terms a rarity for US Kenner, Canadian Kenner, Palitoy, Meccano etc the list goes on and on. I just dont think the UKGraders have this knowledge to make the rarity mean anything for carded figures anyway. I imagine its the same for loose and baggies as well.
jaymassive619
Sith Lord
I can imagine somebody sending a carded example of which only 1 or 2 are known to exist but because they view the actual figure as relatively common they end it giving it 1 or 2 stars where in reality it should receive 5 stars.
Many collectors have gave them feedback about the rarity scale. I think they retain it as its something the AFA dont do and is unique to them. jmo
Many collectors have gave them feedback about the rarity scale. I think they retain it as its something the AFA dont do and is unique to them. jmo
Ron
Sith Lord
my palitoy 12 backs stormtrooper and r2 only got a rarity off 3 stars
Does this expose their service to questioning, i mean its a professional grading service so they should be knowlegeable in all areas.
You may as well just get it cased and not graded if they dont know what to grade figures.
I think they are doing a great job, but if people are questionaing their knowlege base then it cant be good for them...ill still use them but the more die hard collectors like you guts obviosly wont??
You may as well just get it cased and not graded if they dont know what to grade figures.
I think they are doing a great job, but if people are questionaing their knowlege base then it cant be good for them...ill still use them but the more die hard collectors like you guts obviosly wont??
Ron
Sith Lord
I will still use them
it would be good if u had the option for them to include the rarity scale or not, after all you wouldnt want the rarity scale for a ROTJ ree yees it would be like half a star lol but for a carded potf nikto it would be 4 or 5 so would look cool
Darth Wensleydale
Sith Lord
Ron said:
Which is bollocks. Yeah these aren't the rarest of Palitoys but you would be lucky if you found one on ebay every six months or so. Kenners must outnumber them by 100-1.
I've said from the very beginning that they need to remove the star rating, or at least make it optional as they have enough subjective work to carry out already in grading an item.
They also need to have somebody on-board who can do a Tom Derby type role and authenticate items. If they continue with the rarity scale this person would also have a better feel for the comparative rarity of vintage items. This is where the business is obviously lacking at present but it needs addressing if they are to go from strength to strength.
