opinions on comic book encapsulation cgc vs pgx vs ace

[bigphill]

I am really thinking about getting some of my books profesionally graded. I don't have the biggest collection (due to theft) but I do have a pretty decent collection. I want to get a few books graded of course for resale value, but I am also interested in having them displayed. One of the issues I have run across is their policy on signed books. They have to be in the presence of the book getting signed for them to give it the proper grade/color ect. I 100% understand why this is the case but I have a near mint x-men #139 signed by john byrne and I am worried that the signature would actually make me lose a "grade" being that they can't (won't) verify the signature. does anyone have any over all opinions on the 3 companies (cgc,pgx, ace) and if so can you share the experience/opinion

[Mikey]

If the sig will bring down the value than it's totally not worth having it graded.

I would have it encapsulated in a removable case (just for dislay)

You can buy decent ones at comic shops

Hell with the graders

[suspense39]

The grading thing is ridiculous, although given the extreme high prices being paid for prime books, I kind of get it....but it's out of hand. If you have a Spider-Man 1 in great shape go for it...if its an ok copy of tales to astonish 79 or what ever why bother...I can't believe all the .05 graded books I've seen, realy what the point....Cgc should send the book back if someone sends something like that in.

[bigphill]

i am convinced that some people send books in and don't have a clue as to the value.....im not really looking to sell once, done, but I think they would look good in a display

[Blue Meanie]

If you want to display your books then go to AC Moore and they have individual cases for comics that you can display your books in. If you want to bump the price up on your books for sale...be careful what you ask for. Grading is subjective...what you may think is a 9...may be a 7 in CGC grading. I am not a fan of CGC at all. I personally think it's a sham/scam. I've bought on CGC book in the past and actually broke it out of the holder and put it in my collection. It was graded as an 8.5 and it was much better than an 8.5. I've heard stories about the fact that if you are friends or know someone at CGC you'll get better grades. I've heard stories where some have broken books out of the package and sent it back in and gotten a completely different grade. It's way to shady in my opinion. They have no written terms on how books are graded. At least overstreet has an entire book on how they grade books for use in the price guide. It's a completely separate book...not just the 2 page description in the price guide. You can get that book at a Barnes and Noble.

[bigphill]

I emailed pgx and they said the signature won't be negative towards their grading process.....I think I am going to do that one, just to have one. I don't think the grading by gcg,pgx ect....is essential, but if you "can" do it, why not, not a neccesity, but nothing negative about it either. I am also going to look into ac moore a sblue meanie suggested

[palitoy]

Not a fan of "professional" grading services at all.

[johnmiic]

CGC charges an arm and a leg for thgeir services. PGX charges far less. If you're flipping a book to make money do you generally get less for a PGX graded book when you sell it in an auction?

[suspense39]

I have definitely seen them sell for less, and have no idea why

[number 6]

I have definitely seen them sell for less, and have no idea why

CGC performs a restoration check, PGX does not. There's also some questions that have been raised about the quality of the work PGX does (over-grading books, dog hair encapsulated with the book) and the ethics of the owners of the company (reports of them buying CGC books labeled as restored, cracking them out and then PGX grading them as unrestored; or simply upgrading books that CGC has graded lower). Plus the fact that, for whatever reason, CGC is the company that is accepted as the standard for 3rd party grading - for those who are open to such a thing. When it comes to 3rd party grading, you get what you pay for.

To the OP questions: In terns of resale, a CGC graded book has the best potential to realize a higher price at sale - IF it's the right book in the right grade. Grading standards in the last decade have tightened. Also, there's a lot more certified high grade copies of books from the 70's and 80's than there was 10 years ago. Getting a CGC 9.4 for a books from that era doesn't guarantee 3 to 5 times OSPG like it used to. If your books aren't high grade enough or "in demand", having them CGC graded may make them more liquid but the actual price you realize may not even cover the grading fees. Check completed auctions on Ebay and Comiclink for the books you're thinking of having graded to get an idea if it makes financial sense.

As far as signatures that are not verified by CGC, they won't necessarily knock it down a grade, but it will receive a Qualified grade with a green label. Not a guaranteed quick, high-dollar sale like a Signature Series book, but not the kiss of death like a purple Restored label either. At least a potential buyer will be confident that it's a) not restored b) the grade is "accurate". As far as the signature, it would be like buying any other book that someone says they had signed at a convention - a leap of faith.

With PGX, people who are open to buying them usually treat them like raw books - it's a crap shoot as to whether you get a restored or over-graded book, that's why there's not as big a premium.

If you're mostly interested in displaying them, then the hard cases by AC Moore are probably the most economical way to go, especially since CGC is back-logged and turn-around time is like 100 days right now!

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I wouldn't go with them places that grade and seal them either. I think you'll start seeing problems with those services in a decade or so, as the sealed collectibles continue to degrade IN the pack.

Don C.

[suspense39]

Good point! Like all the mint sealed one armed hulk on cards out there!

[number 6]

Hmmmm....

I wouldn't go with them places that grade and seal them either. I think you'll start seeing problems with those services in a decade or so, as the sealed collectibles continue to degrade IN the pack.

Don C.

Yeah, I forgot to mention this. CGC recommends you have the book reholdered every 5 years. Reholdering's not as expensive as the initial grading, but still....

BTW, I'm not trying to promote 3rd party grading. Most of the books I buy raw, the few I buy CGC graded for my collection I crack out.

If you're going to sell it might be worth it, but if you're keeping the books in your collection, yeah I personally wouldn't mess with it.

[vulcan2074]

Not a fan of "professional" grading services at all.

Same.
Sammy

[suspense39]

I very much dislike CGC books although I just picked one up this morning....Briefer Frankenstein 1, super rare ill take it how ever I can get it. Problem is now I can't read it