Mykdude

No, it's dumb to say "received" without listing what titles were received. Maybe it would be nice to know everything I sent made it to CGC. It's dumb to say my stuff is "graded" (implying to me that the process is complete) without listing the grades. I don't see what CGC "received" until its "graded" and I dont see what the grade is until it says "shipped" So basically I already am seeing nothing until the book is shipped.

I don't get why a status says :"received" but nothing is listed. Now my status has said "graded" for a few days now but no grades. Seems like listing stages of the process is kind of dumb if no real information is available until it is listed as "shipped"

The biggest issue with creating the window on your comic is that Stan can hardly see. You will notice that many times someone is pointing as to where he should sign. He will sign over other signatures and such if you aren't specific. If that happens you can generally take the problem to Max and work out a resolution. Due to his advanced age, line and schedule delays can happen at any time. This happened in New Orleans but he was also nice enough to extend his time at the con for an extra day. It is fast because so many people want him to sign something and there are only so many hours in the day. Personally, I really don't see what Stan gets out of the experience, a mess load of money for sure but one would think that this would be the stage of his life in which to slow down a bit and enjoy every moment. I have met Stan 3 times in the last 5 years and I fail to see the fun in it for him. Then again, maybe all of these people crowding up to the table to see him is his thing.........who knows? If you want to hear more from him, go to the panel but don't be too shocked if it is much of the standard -script that we have all heard over and over again in shows and comic documentaries.

Yeah, I can't really disagree with any of this. My son and I had the experience of meeting him (if that's what you want to call it) and getting a couple books signed. They were somewhat key issues, Star Wars 1, Howard the Duck 1 and First Appearance of Dead Pool but after doing the math (including getting to the con) it will be some time before I break even. I think that has become a problem with this whole process in that the initial cost more often than not leaves you fairly deep in the hole. One can do much better waiting out some auction on Ebay than to get the job done themselves. I see many of Stan's CGC SS books go for less than the cost of the grade and the signature. Maybe the people who have the resources to submit 200+ items to one of his personal signings get a much better deal. Fortunately, I have no aspirations to make a habit out of this for any signature. It was a one time deal and we enjoyed ourselves. It seems to me that trying to line up convention activity with the availability of a CGC witness already starts the whole process as one big pain in the butt.

I am a bit new to this whole CGC and Signature Series thing but it is pretty easy to grasp the whole manufactured rarity concept that it creates. I think most common sense people understand that given his long life and involvement with the fans, a Stan Lee autograph will never be rare or difficult to find. Will these SS values hold or is it just creating a bubble that will burst down the line? Only time will tell. Recently we met Stan at a convention and after getting a few comics signed I chose to go the whole route to get them graded. I must admit the process is a bit of a circus that kind of leaves you thinking that you just got took in a shell game. Given the original post on this thread I have noticed that CGC either has the signature series or "Name written on cover in marker" stating that CGC neither has the skill or talent to authenticate an autograph they didn't see. So if finalfan7asy wanted to get the comic graded what would be the reason to use CGC over another grading service that provides signing unseen authentication? I understand the process is not as reliable as the signature series but it certainly is not unreliable. Of course, getting a comic graded with the signature on the inside falls under the guise of a Jedi mind trick. Still I cant think of any use or desire for "Name written in marker" on my book.