Why has AFA grabbed such a foothold in other figure communities but not Mego?

[Evel KMego]

What is this?? Civility?? Holy friendly conversation Batman!! Not even an invite to meet up and fight at a convention. Mego people rock.

It's true we have our disagreements from time to time, but yes we are much more relaxed. I think Ed hit it on the head. We're sort of the last group to collect mainly for the nostalgia and love of our childhood toys. One of the biggest phrases you'll hear around here is - You bought it, do want you want with it. Rip it off the card if you want, customize it, etc. It's yours! I think all would agree you don't mess with the really rare ones like Dumbldor spoke of, but everything else is fair game. Enjoy it! Repro parts are fine as long as you don't try to pass them as original when selling and very few have ever broke this rule. That's why we love our little community!!!

[k2]

I don't really care about or for afa, especially when it comes to mego. But I am curious how much it cost to have a figure graded. Also I sort of dislike the abuse that happens in shipping so I would be nervous about shipping the figure more than necessary

[luclin999]

Here is a perfect example as to why in the Mego community it is an uphill fight to sell loose AFA graded pieces...

Would you pay a $100+ upcharge for this figure?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321316122291

I wouldn't.

While I cannot speak for everyone, for me at least one of the biggest benefits to purchasing loose figures is the ability to hold, pose and display them which runs completely contrary to the concept of having the toy "inspected" by someone and then sealed away in a box.

Add to that the fact that frankly I do not trust some anonymous person's opinion over what he or she may consider the condition of a piece to be. Are that figure's bands tight? Are it's joints? I can't know those considerations for myself unless I open the case and then *poof* there goes $100 of falsely perceived "value" that I just paid for. I can clearly see flaws in the figure's costume (loose stitches, corroded snaps), which in turn makes me wonder exactly what other flaws this "gold tier" graded figure may have hidden inside of the case as well.

So for me at least, there is just no way on Earth that I will pay the cost by proxy through the selling price for the costs incurred by the seller in having had this figure graded. However, if they take it out of the box and list it for $60-75 then I might consider it.

[palitoy]

Almost all the auctions that dude has are good examples of why AFA is a bit of a joke to me. He's got average graded pieces at sometimes four times their value, nobody is going to bite.

The Hulk on a denim card isn't as greatly over valued but AFA seems to have missed one important thing while grading:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Mego-Pocket-Super-Heroes-Denim-Card-HULK-AFA-75-EX-NM-MOC-/261390582035?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3cdc17c113

[Byrnes]

I don't really care about or for afa, especially when it comes to mego. But I am curious how much it cost to have a figure graded. Also I sort of dislike the abuse that happens in shipping so I would be nervous about shipping the figure more than necessary

It's a joke paying to have a figure graded.

Here is the price breakdown from AFA for carded figures. Roughly $35-50. But you have to include shipping and insurance costs to AFA I would guess which would probably put you close to $75 dollars if your grading a highly valuable carded figure. It could be pricey.

http://www.toygrader.com/submission_packagedpricing.aspx

[Wise4671]

Stop the feuding the answer is quite obvious. If we got our megos incased in that plastic tomb we would not get to smell the megoey scent that teleports us back to our childhoods. I think that about sums it up this thread can be locked now :-)

[Gorn Captain]

Last year, I sold a vintage ESB Han Solo on a Spanish card at a convention.
The guy who eventually bought it spent five minutes sniffing and inhaling the card to make sure it really was vintage and not repro.
It's a strange, strange world out there.
It actually makes people wearing black latex outfits and chains look absolutely mainstream...

[kisstour03]

Last year, I sold a vintage ESB Han Solo on a Spanish card at a convention.
The guy who eventually bought it spent five minutes sniffing and inhaling the card to make sure it really was vintage and not repro.
It's a strange, strange world out there.
It actually makes people wearing black latex outfits and chains look absolutely mainstream...

I got the strangest visual in my head reading that. Did you charge him an extra "Fondle Fee"?

[VintageMike]

If I want to protect my figures I just buy the cases. As far as selling I take good pictures let my 100% postive feedback speak for me.
As long as I'm honest about what may wrong with the piece I haven't had any problems. Even with with the few carded SW peices I've sold my buyers have been happy. Maybe I don't get the AFA premium but I don't have to worry about recouping what i paid to have the figure graded on top of whatever I paid for it. As far the original question the communities are very different. Many of the biggest Mego collector's for example are right here or were at one time. If I wanted an "expert" oponion on something Mego there are plenty of folks right here I'd feel comfortable contacting and asking. On the SW side, it's another story.

[Spyweb007]

Could it be as simple as Megos being more fun to fiddle with? Vintage Star Wars aren't pose-able and fun to mess with as mego figures are, so it's easier to justify sealing them up for display.

[Vinny0026]

ok - so as you know I was trying to get a few figures ready to send to afa

after reading some of these posts and seeing a few non-sense graded figures in the last few days
I have changed my stance on them. I will no longer be sending these

I saw a Batman on facebook yesterday get an 85 graded from AFA with a repro sticker
and also a Fake star wars figure/ recard get a high grade as well

so looks like that AFA is not a legit grading source.
I mean I never heard about trouble like this with CGC - its mind blowing (not saying they are perfect - just saying I have not heard anything

So i now say the heck with AFA

[Drzsmith]

my wife thinks i crazy cause i always smell my comics when i buy a back issue.

[dumbldor]

Another convert! Glad you see the light!

[knight errant00]

my wife thinks i crazy cause i always smell my comics when i buy a back issue.

Nope, not crazy. The scent sensors have one of the most direct connections into the brain, and can stir memories and change brain state almost instantly. That's why incenses are so often used in meditation exercises. I know that exact old comic smell and that Mego smell mentioned previoulsy, and they both can take me back immediuately every time. I had a weird experience over the summer with that when I was driving out of a Walmat parking lot with my window down and caught a whiff of the cigarette the woman in the car next to me was smoking -- it knew it immediately as my grandmother's brand, and had a sudden rush of memories of her and her house, in spite of the fact I she's been gone for over 25 years now.