Thoughts on Comic Book Grading

[Brazoo]

I'm with the shop owner 100% - but I also hate CGC.

Besides - why rush into spending more money on them now if you're not ready to sell yet?

[toys2cool]

if it's in decent condition it'll sell way better if it's graded

[Adam West]

Thanks...that's why I need help. I am looking into it not to sell but have it graded if and when the need comes. The shop owner I have known for years and doesn't like grading....period but understands the necessity. He also explained the pricing structure. I am supposed to take a handful of my key issues in for him to look at and his recommendation was to send a few of the nicer condition items and see what they come back (he said he should be able to give me a pretty good idea so it will be cherry picking the best) and go from there.

[LadyZod]

Before doing anything, check ebay.

If you are considering grading for value sake, you will at least see the true market rates for those particular issues you want graded.

Most people that collect graded comics don't really care about keys. They care about grade. Otherwise explain why ungraded NM Silver Age key would sit on a dealer's table for years, but a 10.0 or 9.9 graded Valiant book like Harbinger would sell for close to a K?

It's less about what's in the book and more about condition.

If you choose to grade for possible resale, you must being thinking of selling online. If selling in person to a collector, most collectors will want to buy ungraded hoping to grade themselves and avoid the heavy mark up. If selling to a dealer, don't bother. You did the leg work for them to be able to flip it on ebay, and they will pay you Overstreet if any. (CGC graded books tend to go multiples of Overstreet once they exceed the 9.4 grade.)

Do some research.

CGC regularly goes and does on-site grading at the bigger Wizard World conventions. If possible go to one.

Also keep in mind that CGC now charges a percentage of the estimated value of the book for grading if it is not considered a modern book.

If you're looking to get a run graded, regardless of condition, just for looks, call CGC and ask them questions. You might qualify to get it stamped as a Pedigree. (Their criteria for Pedigree may vary). If the run is pedigreed, you can in turn flip it for more than the individual values. In otherwords, make the whole more than the sum of it's parts.

Good luck, CGC speculation is like the stockmarket sometimes!

[Adam West]

I have been collecting Amazing Spider-Man comics since I was a kid and have quite a few key and semi-key issues.

I rarely read them anymore but still love the cover art. I am considering having some of them graded (mostly for investment purposes or if I decide to sell). I did talk to my local comic shop owner about it who can send them out for me to CGC. His initial opinion was don't bother unless it is one of the first 20 issues, would grade a 9.0 or higher, or another semi-key issue. I do have some in the first 20 but I'm sure none would grade that high. I do have some semi-key...such as first appearances of Scorpion, Rhino, 2nd Goblin, Gwen Stacey and Norman Osbourne death which are in superb condition. He told me to bring in some of them and he would be happy to help me with advice on which ones I should grade and which ones I shouldn't. I told him I would only want to do it if the price paid for grading would add value to the comic above and beyond the price. Just wanted some thoughts on what the owner is telling me before I take some in.