Free, Associate, Premium, or Elite?

I used the free membership when I first signed up for the registry. At the time I wasn't interested in getting my own books graded since I was just learning the system, not to mention I couldn't read them. I joined a good two years before I purchased my first graded book. I wasn't skeptical about the grading process, I was outright against it. As you can see my opinion has altered.

A few years ago I changed my free membership to an associate membership. This was $39.99. Upgrading allowed me to send in my own books rather than use the same day service CGC provided at Wizard World Philadelphia. During that first year I sent in only ten, after all I still had to test the waters.

If I send a book to CGC, there is a 98% chance I am doing it because I want to keep the book. The 4.5 copy of my New Mutants #15 is a testament to that fact. I have sold or tried to sell books but that was because I wanted to upgrade a book (either by grade or by signature) or possibly get something better. I began acquiring in 84', but I started to seriously collect in 86'. I use the word "seriously" to show the extreme difference between collecting and giving up meals. I don't pass on meals anymore but I will save for a comic book before anything else.

My membership advanced again this year, this time to a premium membership due to winning the best Copper set for my New Mutants collection. This also gave me a coupon for 4 free comics to be graded; of course I just have to figure out which four to send in. I will eventually send more of my New Mutants and Sandman books but I also want to get a few older books graded that might get a 9.0 or higher.

What is your membership tier? How much do you spend to send books in? Or do you buy books already graded. Has anyone purchased an Elite Membership?

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

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