...AKA...

CGC Means Buying with Confidence!I'm into collecting keys: First Appearances, Previews, Deaths, Return of, Origins, First Costume, First Crossovers or Meetings, First Published Works (by Artist or Writer), Scarce or Low Print Runs, First Issue, Last Issue, Recalled Issues, and Anniversary issues. Why? Because to me they represent a significant event... a special place in comic history... and history is worth collecting. Recently, while looking through my collection, I came to realize I didn't own a Batman related anniversary issue... least of all one in high grade suitable for CGC grading.So I made a decision to search for one, ungraded, and as cheap as possible, with the intentions of eventually submitting it to CGC.My search led me to eBay where I found an ungraded Detective 600, and according to the seller's description was in high grade. So I bought it. Sadly, on the day the package arrived, the seller sent me the wrong comic. What I got instead was Detective Comics 610. Surprisingly, I wasn't as upset as I thought I would be since I didn't spend much on the item. However, I did contact the seller, who acknowledged his/her error, and said very nicely and apologetically, to keep the comic, and proceeded to refund my money (all charges including shipping charges).Lamentably, this was the about the fourth time that I had walked away from an eBay transaction involving the purchase of a raw ungraded comic feeling I didn't get what I truly wanted. But that's life. Live and learn.The first unfortunate incident took place this past summer and involved a purchase I made from an international eBay seller. There was a delay in the delivery of over a dozen ungraded vintage comic magazines... well over a month. I later found out, according to the seller, our Postal Service had tore open the box, and sent it back labeled "Return to Sender". Sadly, many of those ungraded vintage magazines were either lost or damaged in the fiasco. The seller eventually sent me a new batch of replacement magazines, and reimbursed me for the ones lost and no longer in stock, and also sent me an unexpected little extra token gift (which was actually pretty cool). Overall, it wasn't what I wanted, but I knew the risks one assumes in these types of transactions.The second incident, coincidentally, involved another international eBay seller who had sent me a pair of raw ungraded vintage comic magazines, in high grade, but sadly forgot to label the package "fragile, do not bend". To my shock and horror, my postal carrier folded and crammed the magazines into my narrow mailbox along with the rest of my mail. I immediately raced up to my apartment, took a collective breath, and carefully opened the package. What stared up at me was a blaring crease fold down the middle of each magazine. I ranted and raved like a lunatic, and spewed several choice words to the ethos, and cried over what could have been near perfect 9.8's. The poor things had suffered needless debasement at the hands of a mindless and unthinking automaton. Damn you USPS!!!But such is life... one must move on.The third incident (by now you would think I would have learned my lesson), was not postal related, but a seller's miscommunication. I placed a bid on eBay and won an ungraded key which was described as a 9.8, with white pages. What I got instead was more like a 9.2 with page oxidation. I was unhappy and felt, by what I had read on the seller's description, mislead. I immediately left negative feedback about my experience. Little did I suspect that my posting would illicit a surprise phone call from the seller (who turned out to be a really nice guy). After much conversation, which initially started awkwardly, both parties came to an amicable agreement where I would only pay for what I felt was the appropriate fair market value for the comic. I ended up getting a portion of my money refunded and I petitioned eBay to reverse my feedback from negative to positive... which they did.Now, I must admit, even before the advent of CGC, eBay, and the internet in general (we're talking the 80's here), on occasion, I would order raw ungraded comics (the ones I couldn't find through local dealers), from various sellers who advertised their mail order catalogues in the very pages of my dearly beloved comics. It was a hit or miss back then too... so it seems today, little has changed. Sometimes raw comics come to you damaged, or sometimes they come to you in a grade other than expected, or in rare cases, not the comic book you wanted at all, but something entirely different. However, since the advent of CGC, I have purchased all my CGC keys from eBay sellers, and, most recently ComicConnect, and have, so far, been completely satisfied when it comes to transactions involving third party graded comics. The lesson learned: With a third party graded comic, I never have to second guess what I am buying... never need to worry about the unforeseen intangibles. The CGC has essentially taken that away... which means I can buy with confidence. How? Glad you ask...1. Verification: The CGC provides a unique registration bar code number for each comic it grades which can be found on the front label. You can easily cross reference a registration number on the CGC website and view its description.2. Grade: Unlike raw ungraded comics that are in the hands of amateurs, a team of professional graders at CGC have already determined the grade for you... so no worries.3. Authenticity: No need to worry about signature forgeries, reprints, counterfeits, or reproductions... CGC's already done that check for you.4. Protection from Damage: Although not fool-proof, CGC slabs are very sturdy and because of their large sizes, require special packaging forcing shippers to box them... there's no way they can be bent or damaged unless through the sheer negligence and carelessness of the mail carrier or some catastrophic event... but that's Force Majeure... and then you're *d!5. Preservation and Storage: CGC slabs serve as unique instruments for panelologists seeking maximum preservation means, but once you have them in your hands, it's up to you to find suitable storage. So where do you put them? My best answer is anywhere safe from: fire, heat and sunlight; humidity and areas prone to erosion, flooding and water damage including basements, attics, garages, vehicles, and piping; cigarette smoke, vapor, dust, mold, pesticides, biodegradable organic compounds like rotting corpses, and other toxic air quality; sharp objects; insects and vermin; pets; children; food and perishables; piles of junk; your Aunt Matilda; vengeful ex-girlfriends or wives; broke friends; thieves; nosey neighbors; clumsy and dull-witted people; book burners; Celebrity Divas; Nuclear Reactors; Illegal Toxic Dumping Grounds; Military Testing Sites; Drug Wars, Mafia Wars, Raps Wars, War on Terror... War in General; Bigfoot; Extraterrestrials; Aliens Vs. Predators; T-1000; Paranormal Activity; J-Horror Films; Zombies; Secret Societies; Shadow Governments; The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; and anybody or anything else you could think of that may bring damage or cause accidental or purposeful harm to your beloved collection.Have I given up on buying raw ungraded comics... sight unseen... through the internet or mail-order? YTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.