Vince G

On 5/5/2024 at 11:02 AM, skypinkblu said:

I was not that far off on the Secret Wars because I GUESSED the CGC grade and bumped it up, the same way I was only off 1 on the Web of Spidey, I would have called that book a 5.0 with the crease. I originally used a 6.5 because of the grading guide, but bumped it up...pure, GUESS the cgc grade.

We keep going around with this guessing thing. When CGC started, there were some very strong graders in the groups of 3, the grades seemed to be a moving number, part of the "secret sauce" but it was understandable as the service was brand new and perhaps it was baked in that way, to allow them to make changes. 

I never heard of comic book grading until I found eBay....Pages? they needed to have a certain number of pages? who knew? I just read them and put them in piles to give to my friend's kids.

But with CGC, there was supposed to be a sense of security. The rust inside that SW really bothers me, almost as much as it bothered me to open a PGX book and find 1/2 a page was missing in a GA GL or the time I bought a Shield Wizard 1, that was CGC slabbed with "cream/OW pages" only to find that every wrap inside was split.

The video we saw last week, with the young woman talking about not having formal training was also concerning.  I'm sure most collectors didn't have "formal training" ...although I treasure the forum I attended in Chicago one year when Bedrock and Matt explained how to find restoration. However, maybe "professional"  graders, grading books potentially worth a year's salary SHOULD have formal training?

I don't consider myself an expert grader,  I am OK with low grade GA, because that's what I collected, but there are some fantastic graders of all kinds of books,here, in this contest. Their input is very valuable.

Maybe @CGC Mike could suggest some kind of focus group where collectors could suggest some additions to the grading guide (which is not terribly specific regarding the defects that are described) and CGC could actually agree to train their graders with at least some of the guidelines regarding hidden defects.

I used to go to focus groups for all kinds of stuff...that was in the days before zoom. It was an easy way of earning a few extra $$ and hearing about new products, or suggesting changes to old ones. Doing one now (with some kind of compensation to encourage the really good graders to join) might be fairly simple.

I agree 100%.  This is an excellent post.

On 5/5/2024 at 12:57 AM, Superman2006 said:

There were a couple of books this contest where I felt a bit disadvantaged by not having a copy of the CGC grading guide. I missed one of the two books by 1 point, but missed the other (SW #8) by 4 points!

I for one do have the grading guide, and I undergraded 16 of the 20 books, some by a ton - including the MSH 8 as a 6.0.  In my opinion, the guide provides way to wide a grade range for many defects.  That staple rust with migration ranges from 6.0 to 9.6 I believe.  Personally, I found it to be a horrible defect on a modern book so graded it 6.0.  I was way off.

On 5/4/2024 at 8:08 PM, Doctor Dositheus said:

How did I miss that crease in Web of Spider-Man?  Too many near mints in a row blinded me.

The other 4 I consistently graded 1 point lower.

I missed it too.  Same reason as you.

On 5/1/2024 at 9:05 AM, TSwift25 said:

I too was surprised by the SW 8 grade. I had it at 7.0.

 

I have the CGC grading guide and this is what it said regarding rusted staples and rust migration. I know there's the famous Action 1 with the rusty staples in 8.5 and I've seen slightly rusted staples in VF range grades, but I thought that rust migration would (1) put it at best in the F/VF category (and that book to me is otherwise 9.4/9.6) and (2) would warrant a graders note on the label that the rust had migrated to the centerfold. Frankly, if there was ever a situation for a "qualified" grade with a rusted staple, that book may be it. For reference, here are the applicable pages from the grading guide:

 

Yep.  I have the guide and saw the same.  I graded it as low as I could based on the guide notes.  It's pretty clear to me that they have seriously loosened the standards on a bunch of defects.  In days past, you were lucky to get anything higher than a 6.0 with that type of defect present.

On 4/30/2024 at 9:01 PM, skypinkblu said:

I had it at 6.5, wanted to make it a 6.0. I wanted to make the Secret Wars a really low number because not even "I" would buy a book with that kind of centerfold rust...then I lost a few more overgrading books after the last round where we had a 9.6 that I couldn't see as more than a 9.0.

8 points. I knew it was a disaster after I saw that video CGC put out last night...talking about grading a book by how it appears and not needing any training...unfortunately I saw that after I submitted my grades, lol. That video was scary.

You have the link to the video, or let me know where to find it?

On 4/30/2024 at 8:06 PM, Point Five said:

OK so how about 66th place. Any prize love there?

I'm fighting you for that spot.

On 4/29/2024 at 9:07 AM, MattM CS said:

Hello @Vince G,

These can be shipped to us in the same package but will be returned to you separately. Thanks for checking! 

Thanks, Matt.  I did find the answer to my question via digging through the help but appreciate the confirmation.

On 4/27/2024 at 9:54 PM, CGC Mike said:

 

Hi guys

I enjoy the posts in these threads.  The build up for the reveal, the reactions afterwards, all good.  I have also noticed that there is very little bickering/arguments in these contests. I enjoy seeing that.   The sole reason I do these are to provide fun contests for the members.  If they no longer are fun, there is no point in doing them.   In the last contest, the books were all golden age.  This happened because we had to use a different source, and that was what was available.  Some people found GA books to be very hard to grade, and requested later material.  It seems that no GA books in this contest is causing some difficulty as well.  Maybe half GA and the rest later books is the answer.  I can make this happen.  I can also request easier books.  I think we can find a selection that will better satisfy the majority of participants.      

You do a great job, Mike.  Just my opinion here but I'm cool with a mix and also, the toughest books possible.  I enjoy the challenge.  

On 4/27/2024 at 8:43 PM, Cman429 said:

I thought the Spotlight was minty AF. I hope the 1/4 of participants who saw it as a 8 or lower never get hired by CGC because I’d hate to have to pass their standards 

Well, you definitely don't have to worry about me being hired by CGC.  I graded it 6.5 for two reasons - 1.  The distribution ink/overspray on the top of the book onto the back cover.  2. The light shadowing on three sides of the back cover.  In the past, CGC always seemed to knock a book down for these defects.  And considering both defects were present on this copy and, in my opinion, were non-trivial, I went low on the grade.

I will tell you that I have a few books, most notably, ECs from the 50s that are very clean copies (no staining, no creasing, no color-breaks, etc) but have similar shadowing on the back covers.  Those are all in 7.0 holders.

In looking at the grading guide, I find that overspray no longer detracts from the grade except if it is more than 1 inch wide or 1/4 in in depth.  Also, thin and light dust shadows/light shadows are acceptable in 9.8.  

So to summarize, yes, my grading was terrible on this book, and it was due to the fact I was going off memory of how I recall these defected used to be treated.  Maybe it's time to send in those ECs for regrading.

On 4/27/2024 at 12:47 PM, boron said:

I saw some major fugly flaws on the right side of that front cover - gave it a 6.0

I did as well but made the assumption it was camera glare.  Whenever there's glare on the spine, I assume anything that looks like glare on the right side most likely is glare.  That same issue got me a few times previously.

On 4/27/2024 at 9:10 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

No, but JLA I had at 8.5 and MS6 I gave a 9.0

I had the JLA as an 8.0.  This may be a new single round record!  I can't wait for the stats to be posted!  16 points 

On 4/27/2024 at 8:51 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

Did not do well this round. I undergraded most of these severely..... Link to my Ebay anyone 

Join the club   I'll bet you didn't give the Spotlight 6 a 6.5 like I did

On 4/26/2024 at 10:34 PM, scburdet said:

Hmm. I've got shadowed books that got dinged harder than that. TBF, if the preliminary notes hadn't mentioned the shadow, I would have gone higher, but still wouldn't have guessed 9.6. Also TBF, grading high grade comics in scans is hard. I feel like I'm trying to find the hidden defects

Same on my shadowed books here.  I believe the grading standards with respect to certain defects have gotten very lenient.  

@MattM CS  Follow up question.  If I want to create a second submission for magazines, can I ship both the books and the mags in the same box.  I imagine I will need to create two separate submissions.  Do these need to be shipped separately?

On 4/26/2024 at 8:25 PM, zzutak said:

A true production defect should be common to most (if not all) copies.  According to the 48 copies shown in the Heritage Archives, this tiny tear is NOT! 

Correct.  I have a 9.6 copy of this book and no tears.  Actually, my copy looks like a 10.5 - 11.0 compared to this 9.6

On 4/26/2024 at 8:11 PM, JollyComics said:

My former Marvel Spotlight #6 is much better that book but I got 9.0!!!!!

9.6 with some dust shadows????? No way!!!!!  This is rigged!

Crazy, right?  The overspray and the dust shadows put me at 6.5 on this book, so I got mauled.  Those defects formerly knocked a book down into that upper mid grade level at best.  Things have certainly changed down at CGC.  

On 4/23/2024 at 9:49 AM, MattM CS said:

@Vince G

Yes sir! 

Thank you!

On 4/23/2024 at 9:27 AM, MattM CS said:

Hello @Vince G,

The Unlimited Value Tier has a pricing breakdown of 4% of Fair Market Value with a $100 minimum per book. Because the declared value you listed is above the value for the High-Value tier, these would need to be submitted through the Unlimited value service. If you have any other questions, please let us know. 

I see, so basically, what we're saying is that anything submitted on the UV tier is a charge of $100 per book minimum, correct?

On 4/22/2024 at 9:10 PM, Mr. Zipper said:

Same. I thought Showcase was structurally a 9.6 and deducted 3 increments for the stain landing at 9.0. Sheesh. Why don't my submissions EVER get it this easy? 

And the 9.4 Superman with spine corners frayed at the top and bottom? C'mon... 

I had the showcase at 8.5 and the superman at 8.0 (for the frayed corners and, upon examining the back cover, identifying what appeared to be a miswrap).

On 4/22/2024 at 8:41 PM, Lninefingers said:

Resist the urge! 
 

Stains are a death sentence: https://boards.cgccomics.com/topic/520963-pgm-iron-man-55-worth-an-appeal/

 

Hey, resend it!  I just looked in the grading guide and I see the grade range for the stain defect is 1.0 - 9.8   "So you're telling me there's a chance!!"

On 4/22/2024 at 8:13 PM, Doctor Dositheus said:

14 points, harshly undergraded every one except the ASM.

Join the club.  You're in good company

On 4/22/2024 at 8:05 PM, Lninefingers said:

I was sure that was a stain on the back of the power girl book and treated it accordingly. 
 

2 points otherwise, but 5 (yes, five) on that one  

kill me  

 

Don't feel bad.  I scored one bullseye and still wound up with 13 points for the round, grading all books low.  Exactly how I started the last two grading contests, and once again, I'm out   I think I'll be shooting for last place this time around... while trying too!!!

Forgive my ignorance if this question has been asked previously.  I'm putting together my first submission in about 5 years and had a question about the high value vs. unlimited value tiers.

If I have books with an FMV of $1500, on which tier should I submit?  

If I specify UV, the fee of 4% would be $60 per book, which is actually less than the fee of $85 for a high value sub (max $1000).

Would I submit these books on the high value tier or the UV tier and what would be my cost per book?

Again, forgive the ignorance here.

Thanks.