IMHO CGC is a complete crock...

[Blue Meanie]

Here's an auction that just finished:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CGC-8-0-FANT...p2047675.l2557

It got an 8.0 grade...It has a moisture stain in the upper right corner of the book. It goes through the book because if you look at the pic of the back of the book you can see it in the upper left corner of the book. How can that book get an 8.0 grade. Moisture stains, in my opinion, brings the book to at best a VG - VG+. About 2 to 3 points lower than it is graded. Moisture stain is not even mentioned in the notes. What is your opinion on this?

[LonnieFisher]

I've seen comics in really crappy shape get high numbers from them, a very long time ago. Lots of damage not even mentioned, but very visible.

[enyawd72]

Well, to be honest, I can see why it graded an 8.0

That stain really appears to be the only flaw on the entire book. The corners are sharp, I don't see any stress marks on the spine anywhere, and it appears to have nice cover gloss.
Also, I think the enlarged photo probably makes the stain look worse than it really is in person. Just my opinion.
Should they have mentioned it? Maybe, but it is clearly visible in the photo, so it's not like they're hiding it.

I've been very happy with every CGC book I've bought, but then again, I only buy 9.6 and I inspect every inch of the photo before I buy. Overall, I've been much happier with CGC graded comics than loose comics where the seller grades their own.

Plus, they just look so beautiful in those cases!

[Blue Meanie]

That moisture stain that runs through the whole book is just as bad as minor creasing on a spine. The both break color. Minor creasing is equivalent to about a 6 - 7 grade. This is graded an 8. An 8 is in the VF + area and in my opinion this book doesn't reach that criteria with that moisture stain. It's at best a 6.5 - 7.0. This is another reason why it's a crock...grading is subjective by the individual collector. I'd have a little bit more confidence in a company like CGC if they had any written standards...and they don't. The one thing that most collectors have given up on, Overstreet Price Guide, actually had/has there own book on how to grade books with written standards.

[enyawd72]

They're a quick read as well.

I have reading copies of all my slabbed books.

[WannabeMego]

I'd have a little bit more confidence in a company like CGC if they had any written standards...and they don't. The one thing that most collectors have given up on, Overstreet Price Guide, actually had/has there own book on how to grade books with written standards.

Someone recently posted about getting books CGC'd & I replied with this:

http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?102897-Looking-to-CGC-a-comic-book&p=1213034#post1213034

If buyers don't educate themselves on the basics of grading, then they have no venue to complain when issues arise.

Some Grade harsher then Others...I'm a bit more liberal, but IMHO, a water stain that runs through all pages affects all pages and infects the paper where as a crease on the Cover impacts just the cover in most cases, so I see where this may require a lower grade...but...it's ultimately up to the Buyer.

Lastly...if the Marketplace (Buyers) were more critical of CGC's Grading, then CGC would be forced to be more stringent in their grading, but unfortunately it's been a Seller's Marketplace for quiet a while...so as the old saying goes...Buyer Beware!!!