CGC, is it worth it?

[clemso]

I've got a run of FF 50 to 100 and some JIM/Thor plus TOS/Cap. If I cherry pick what I think are the top grades, is it worth getting them slabbed with CGC?

Clem

[Marvelmania]

While I don't think much of AFA graded toys, I do think it's worth the money to grade comics but that's just me.

[kryptosmaster]

I hate the whole idea behind it. I think it's a horrible curse on the hobby that only enhances the monetary rather than the enjoyability of comics.
Takes something meant to be handled, smelled, felt, gently thumbed through and turns it into a Franklin Mint collectible forever entombed inside it's plastic coffin.
It's no longer a comic book, it's a commodity.

Rich

[StrangeVisitor]

I hate the whole idea behind it. I think it's a horrible curse on the hobby that only enhances the monetary rather than the enjoyability of comics.
Takes something meant to be handled, smelled, felt, gently thumbed through and turns it into a Franklin Mint collectible forever entombed inside it's plastic coffin.
It's no longer a comic book, it's a commodity.

Rich

Agreed, most whole-heartedly! How can you enjoy a comic book that you can never look at again?!

[Marvelmania]

He didn't ask if grading is liked but is it worth it, making it a monetary question. It is true that graded comics go for much more than the non-graded comics.

[clemso]

More money from comics = more money for Megos



Clem I still have my Masterworks and Essentials and I thumb them regularly

[CaptainTrenchcoat]

It's a major scam. I have known people, and these are people that own/run golden age comic sites, send in comics to be graded and slabbed. They didn't agree with the rating they got. They opened them and sent them back. They came back with a higher grade. The exact same comics. So there is no real means to base the grade on. And as a buyer, I would never buy a slabbed book since I actually like to look at the comic I buy.

[Brazoo]

If you're only slabbing them to sell them online - maybe. When I was selling CGC comics on ebay they would often sell higher than grade value when they came back with very high grades - 9.4 and up. Just keep in mind that it's really tough to get those grades. Than again I was selling those books years ago, so I can't really say wht's going on now. Maybe try one or two at first and see how it goes?

Personally, I totally agree with Rich.

[Brazoo]

It's a major scam. I have known people, and these are people that own/run golden age comic sites, send in comics to be graded and slabbed. They didn't agree with the rating they got. They opened them and sent them back. They came back with a higher grade. The exact same comics. So there is no real means to base the grade on. And as a buyer, I would never buy a slabbed book since I actually like to look at the comic I buy.

Happened A LOT when I was selling them. It's a coin toss process to some degree. No one can actually tell the difference between a 9.8 and a 9.9. It's basically nonsense. Also their whole anonymous grading process is complete bs, in my opinion. The collector I was selling comics for would call CGC regularly and the graders knew hiim by name. They also knew exactly what kinds of books he was sending them.

[Adam West]

I don't what it costs to get a comic graded but I would say if you pay $20 for example to have a comic graded and you receive more than $20 in graded condition than ungraded condition that it is worth it if you are selling.

I have actually been thinking about doing the same thing. I have a run of Spidey comics with some key issues that I think would grade high.

I think before I take the plunge; I'm going to talk to my local comic shop owner. I have known him for years and he seems to be a very honest upfront person and willing to give you the advantages and disadvantages.

I would only do this if I decide to sell. I really don't want to but my son is going to college in a few years and I'm sure my collection has to be worth close to $10K without grading.

[cjefferys]

What does it cost to get comics graded? I have a pile of Golden Age comics, but they aren't high grade, mostly VG-Fine (maybe, I'm not that much good at grading), but I was just curious of what kind of grade they could get.

[jimbutsu]

Hate CGC. I think "slabbing" and that stuff is ruining the hobby in some ways. A lot of coin collectors felt the same thing many years ago. Much too easy for it to be arbitrary, crooked, wrong, etc.

[Adam West]

Interesting enough, I believe things are changing with coin collectors. I know a guy here at work who collects really expensive Morgan Dollars. He has been collecting high grade coins for two decades and says he wants PCGS graded coins because he knows exactly what the coin is worth in the market. He said if he wants to sell a PCGS coin to a dealer, he doesn't have to fool around with coming to agreement on grading.

Even though the grading may be subjective there is a buy and sell price for PCGS graded coins just like the stock market. He can sell his coin to a dealer and knows exactly what they will pay for it and knows exactly what it will cost him.

[callistofreak]

If your selling all of them? Then cherry pic the best. And if your selling them on ebay. Use selfhosting. This way you can make the pics as large as you want.
And if your JIM are 8.0 or better, I would slab those. You will see a good profit.

[palitoy]

My buddy who owns a comic store (and is my favourite bitter old crank) thinks of CGC as a pricey form of one up manship. Two collectors had Fantastic Four #1, so they were equal, now the one guy has a fancy sticker saying his is better.

I tend to see it that way sometimes. I hate that you can't read a comic.