enigmatech

On 6/14/2022 at 7:45 PM, nakedjameson said:

Has anyone else had this happen with CGC?
I sent in 2 War Machine comics to be pressed, graded, and signed by Don Cheadle. I payed $260 per item. Today, I receive the shipping notice after a year of waiting, and they were signed by Bob Layton, which was $75 per item? 

So I was upcharged by $185 per item to be signed by the wrong person?

Not doing this again...

That sucks!

On 6/24/2022 at 7:02 PM, enigmatech said:

Haha! Typical response when you’ve packed it in…May all your books be 9.9s!

Urgh! You’re right. I’ve been whining 

On 6/12/2022 at 4:19 AM, CHASEnBLUE said:

Exactly. Clearly, I realize now more than ever we are "just a number" when it comes to submissions. Don't bother looking at the history of the submitter (1K + submissions overall) and think maybe a notation of why a newly produced comic would get a low grade when the member normally submits 9.8's with a handful of 9.6's. To make matters worse, they use the catch all of "provide photographs of the comics before submission" - really? 

I have all those prior to submission photos. Does it really make any difference?

On 6/18/2022 at 9:39 AM, comicginger1789 said:

I was pulling out some books for display and noticed the following on my ASM 265

Under Spideys foot you can see a dark ring. One might assume it is a stain of some sort but it’s not. It actually matches up perfect with the circular image seen on the inside cover.

 

I checked eBay and some copies have this, others do not. Just thought I would shed light on a potential printing flaw that seems common and I wasn’t sure anyone had ever mentioned it before 

So, how would CGC view that—grade wise. Even a guess would help. Thanks.

On 6/24/2022 at 6:58 PM, Jackson13 said:

Haha! Typical response when you’ve packed it in…May all your books be 9.9s!

On 6/18/2022 at 8:34 PM, CGC Mike said:

So, am I right in thinking there are 2 different issues with finger bends?  The one's that have finger bends in the graders notes didn't happen during encapsulation.  The example that @PovertyRow posted seems to have occurred during encapsulation.  

When this thread first popped up, I mentioned to the new QC manager that people were getting a lot of books that had finger bends in the graders notes, and asked him to check into the page counting step of the grading process.  I went on to say that many of these books were pressed by professionals, and in many cases, they were hand delivered to CGC.  It appears that I need to bring up the encapsulation issue as well.  I'm going to swipe the image that Pov posted, and am interested in any other comments that people have about this.  

It appears that their response is to just not give grader notes at all. I can’t even get the online grades for the last 3 books l received back. They aren’t even listed as having been graded (?) And no, l didn’t accidentally send them elsewhere. I’ve used only CGC since 2013.

On 6/24/2022 at 6:33 AM, enigmatech said:

Somebody has no idea what they are doing.

We use gloves to check pages. Maybe they wet their fingers with their tongues to turn them?

On 6/24/2022 at 4:13 PM, Jackson13 said:

You need to reevaluate your priorities 

You are right there!

On 6/24/2022 at 6:00 PM, enigmatech said:

Note that what l posed was a question.

Thinking more about what you noted: CGC is not to blame in any way since they are merely a shell for Blackrock’s vulture capitalism. CGC and their history of service (which has earned them terrific popularity) should be taken out of the equation entirely.

On 6/24/2022 at 10:30 AM, theCapraAegagrus said:

As always, context matters. If a bank offered me a contract to which this was possible, I simply wouldn't sign it.

CGC isn't holding anything hostage. You agreed to their terms when you submitted your order. There's some cognitive dissonance going on here.

Note that what l posed was a question.

On 6/24/2022 at 10:30 AM, theCapraAegagrus said:

As always, context matters. If a bank offered me a contract to which this was possible, I simply wouldn't sign it.

CGC isn't holding anything hostage. You agreed to their terms when you submitted your order. There's some cognitive dissonance going on here.

I agree with you in that we are agreeing to give CGC our money and our valuable books, and l said as much. However, CGC’s published time frames for their services are a far cry from what actually happens, and over those months—sometimes over a year on certain Sig Series, we have (agreed) to let them take our payments up front, given them complete control of our property and to hold them harmless for any damage. We have also agreed to terms that are constantly changing. Using the word “hostage” may have been harsh. “Cognitive dissonance” is certainly incorrect. You need to look that up. “Stockholm Syndrome” might fit the bill.

On 6/24/2022 at 9:33 AM, shadroch said:

Thank you, Sir.   May I have another?

Awe…I’m sorry 😞 shadroch.

On 6/24/2022 at 8:49 AM, enigmatech said:

Would you think it unethical if a bank held your money for 7 months without interest? And without permitting you to make a withdrawal and go elsewhere. That is what the new cgc is doing, but they are doubling it up at the very least—by holding not only our money (in advance) but our property (our books) hostage as well. Plus, they are not responsible for any damage to our property due to any factor including their negligence. CGC has become a Bank. Do you really think they are not using all that $ while we wait and wait? And we agree to all of this. Something is very wrong 😑 

Awe…it’s okay. Maybe they’ll let all their loyal customers join the CGC Hedge Fund!

On 3/10/2022 at 1:06 PM, theCapraAegagrus said:

I don't entirely disagree, however, I am the type of person who would rather sort out my finances sooner than later. I am okay with being charged once the service begins the process (invoice reception, queued for services).

Would you think it unethical if a bank held your money for 7 months without interest? And without permitting you to make a withdrawal and go elsewhere. That is what the new cgc is doing, but they are doubling it up at the very least—by holding not only our money (in advance) but our property (our books) hostage as well. Plus, they are not responsible for any damage to our property due to any factor including their negligence. CGC has become a Bank. Do you really think they are not using all that $ while we wait and wait? And we agree to all of this. Something is very wrong 😑 

On 3/5/2003 at 7:14 AM, OldGuy said:

"I guess the general idea is that stamps have been worth big money and been susceptible to fraud 50 to 100 years earlier than comics have, which explains why their hobby has developed better scientific techniques to detect fraud."

 

Maybe it's also illegal to "alter" or counterfeit stamps because they are basically a form of US currency? I don't know, but I would assume so.

The percentage of remaining “gum” on the back of a stamp’s surface might have to be ascertained, along with checking for re-gumming attempts, tiny remnants of hinges on the back, and examination of the number & condition of perforations—all elements that contribute to value. And those are only a few of the factors. But yes, the stamp collector’s tools are definitely useful for the examination of comic books.

On 6/16/2022 at 3:02 PM, nickv27 said:

I have been a collector for 35+ years.  I am very meticulous with my books (bagged and boarded right when purchased).  I started submitting books to be graded several years ago and in small batches.  I typically have sent multiple of the same book as well in order to get a feel on how books are graded.  My early submissions were as expected and received 9.8's on the books I deems justify that grade (ie not all of them!).  Most recently in my last two submissions, really since the company was sold, I am getting grades all over the place but only a few 9.8 grades.  This is really getting me upset as I know what I own and know when I should be receiving 9.8s vs 9.4s.  You may poo poo the idea that there are really minimal differences between these grades BUT that is not true when it comes to the value of the book.  The difference is very significant.  Oh and there are no graders notes.  So I am left with a feeling that there is a conscious effort to reduce the grades on books.  And it is really very upsetting.

Exactly, me too. Silvers, Bronzes & Moderns received low grades without explanation. No grader notes—in fact 3 books were just returned to me and have No Grades at all listed under verification. These are moderns carefully selected from multiple copies for SS submission—so, as you said, what would be a 9.8 slipping to somewhere between a 9.2 and a 9.4 really makes a difference. Plus, cases have multiple scratches. Obviously, l lose $ on these books. Looks to me like New owners have instituted some kind of quota system. I don’t want to risk anymore books.

On 6/8/2022 at 7:57 PM, Sand1man said:

I take all my books to other trusted collectors for review and analysis.  Every precaution is taken:  gloves, temperature, no book stacking, etc.  We compare prior graded books, newer graded books, grader notes, before/after submission photos, and even examples from this chat board!  The conclusions are clear, CGC is NOT what it was when it comes to quality and accuracy - and that's a shame.  One of my books was reported to have "tape removed" from the cover (in the grader notes) - but CGC was not interested in my pre-sumsission photos that showed NO TAPE on the book !!!  I was hoping with CGC's new ownership and increased numbers of graders that things would improve.  Still, I know some folks, where CGC has treated them fairly, even "more than fairly" with no major conflicts of any kind.  But I would never send an expensive book to CGC for grading, etc., - once-bitten-twice-shy.  I thought I could trust them - I was wrong!  My advice would be to execute private trades/sales of raw books - if you can.

Definitely have to find alternatives.

On 6/8/2022 at 12:15 PM, Sand1man said:

Absolutely Yes.  I've sent in 26 books - 8 have returned - all 8 have "finger bends!"  I am seriously reconsidering my grading options as this was the "least" of my "concerns" in re grading and book handling!  Plus, "finger bends" come in Light, Moderate, Heavy and Extreme LEVELS from what I am seeing with my returns and other collectors returns - with whom I compare with all the time!  Maybe "visible-light reflections" will be next?  Its to the point that no one can really tell what a potential grade "may be" because the criteria are becoming so vague, inconsistent and erroneous, that its just a shoot!  Lots of room for improvement here...not mention the $$$ loss due to this ....well...you know...

Somebody has no idea what they are doing.

On 5/26/2022 at 9:38 PM, RedKryptoniteSuperman said:

At least you're getting "Grader notes"  I had a book rated 9.0 with zero notes as to explain why it was graded that way. CGC just doesn't seem to care anymore. 

 

-RKSM  

Me too. Lousy grades on books sent in at 9.8–maybe 9.6 with an explanation. Returned damaged in slab. No grader notes, and multiple scratches on cases.

On 4/24/2022 at 9:37 PM, buttock said:

@CGC Mike  This is becoming a common enough complaint to justify looking into.  

Please! I’m avoiding Sig Series completely now. Very careful to send 9.8s. Getting them back as bent up 9.0s to 9.4s, making the moderns worthless in this climate. I’m taking losses every time. I still have 26 books out and dread their return. Also, many low grades don’t even have grader notes. A complete disaster for me. I took out a loan to invest in SS. I’ll never be able to pay it back. Maybe CGC just assumes we are all millionaires.

On 12/26/2020 at 1:37 PM, EmoJackson said:

Tried to purchase some of these fancy bags, CGC is coming back with a shipping rate of $45.00 to me in Alaska. 

I'll be making my window bags out of unwanted poly's.  

I got the same shipping rate and l’m in NY.

You can order these bags with signature series “mailing kits” which are advertised as having free shipping to the lower 50. l’m in NY, so l figured l might qualify for the free ship deal. But every time l try to check out l’m charged over $50 shipping. Any ideas?