optimal_max

These are modern slow I assume? I have 2 modern/slow stuck in SFG 3/14 & 4/4 received dates. My 2 previous orders were 2.5 months, so it seemed like TAT's were drastically improving. Your TATs are not bad at all.

If we have multiple independent pressers/cleaners who are cheaper and much faster then CCS, why does anyone still use CCS?

Not scantily clad...but dang Marvel Girl got THICC

Not sure what I have to gain by lying about it, but I'll play along.

Minor issue, but still inaccurate info Got both of these back this past week. "Fleer Ultra X-Men Cards included" Nope, these are both Newsstand Editions which did not include cards.

ok, sorry if it's been posted already, but what is up with this? I could see if it was "newsstand" https://www.ebay.com/itm/353986786420?hash=item526b41b474:g:BSQAAOSw0nhiR3aI

We already pay about 5,000 other taxes. Income tax, phone tax, sales tax, environmental tax, death tax, toll taxes, social security tax, FICA tax, Medicaid tax, and many many more.

My last 3 modern no-press orders have been under 4 months. The grading has been noticeably stricter, but the times have improved.

Comparing Same here. And, to compare, my CBCS grades have come back almost exactly as I expected, so how can I be so far off with one company and spot on with another? I also have noticed spine tiks on returned CGC books that were not there when I sent them (and I have shipped thousands of books, so I know how to get them there safely). And other books' grader notes (on a modern book) that say "light spine tiks", brought the grade to 8.0 :O ) but I'm seeing nothing upon intense scrutiny. I seriously think the labels got mixed up, especially how often people post pics of returned books with labels from completely different books.

We don't talk about fight club?

Modern no-press received in the system 12/7 shipped today. That's under 4 months. Too bad the grading (at least my books) has been way off the past couple months.

Yeah, I realize it's an old thread, but I got into pressing last year and have become decent at it, though I'm sure there are many better than I am. It is too complex a process to list everything in detail. Here are some tips I can share that work for me. Type of Press: I have not noticed a difference in press quality between a "regular" and a clam-style press. They will both get the job done. Suggestion: Practice about 100 times on comics that you don't care about. You will make mistakes. Preparation : I typically use 5 pieces of laser-jet paper (re-useable)and one backer board (re-usable) per press. The backer board gets inserted in the center of the book (at the staples) with a piece of paper against the shiny side of the backer board to prevent sticking). 2 pieces of paper under the front cover, and 2 inside the back cover. I personally prefer to use two sheets of smooth metal above and below each comic when pressed, as the press itself often has bumps/deformities. And the metal sheets tend to dissipate the heat better in the case of a press that doesn't dissipate heat equally. I also prefer to use parchment paper (instead of teflon paper) above and below to protect the comic from burns, and you can re-use parchment paper until it gets wrinkly. I typically press comics for about 10 minutes per side. Older books (pre-glossy paper) get pressed at 170-175 degrees. Newer books (with glossy paper) I press at 155-160 degrees. If you press glossy paper books at higher temps, you will ruin the books. Squarebound books I press even lower temperature 135-140 (to not melt the glue) and a much softer press to not deform the binding. The after-press is just as important as the press. I use glass shelving to cold-press the books immediately after hot-pressing. Glass has some weight, and is 100% smooth. I leave it under glass for a few days for best results. There are plenty of helpful videos on youtube for a more detailed process.

My feelings exactly. It wasn't long ago I was spot on with grades, and now I can't believe what I get back. We are paying more now, for lower quality grading. I'm seeing grader notes "light spine stress" and looking at a spine that is smoother than smooth. I have another book with no spine stresses noted and there are multiple obvious stresses (which by the way were NOT there when I sent the book in) and it's a 9.6. I also bought a CGC 9.8 book recently that shouldn't have graded a 6.0. 3 corners were all sorts of bent (no damage to case which means they let it slide). <--- Stuff like this makes me think bigger retailers get preferential grades.

I'm not sure what any of this means. Is this a quote?

Fo sho, my man. The plastic would have to crack before making a bend like this. The part that drives me nuts is the number of flawless books I've sent in that came back 9.4, and Dynamic Forces gets this.