Has the 10 point grading scale improved the hobby for serious collectors? 0

[DavidTheDavid]

After reading the Overstreet Guide to Grading Comics and its commentary on the scale, alongside the context of comments made here from old-timers about "old-school" comic grading, I'm curious what people think about the scale as part of the development of the hobby's grading criterion.

It seems to me, in my admittedly limited knowledge of the topic, that grading refinements have been a natural progression of a maturing hobby. I'm certain people can point to the follies of a 10-point scale in the hands of amateurs, so I qualified that question to include serious collectors.

When you consider the collectors who you find insightful, knowledgeable, and with a keen eye for condition, do you think the 10-point scale has made things better? Or has it and the now-entrenched phenomenon of slabbing led the hobby astray? Or more likely, something much more nuanced.

I'd love to hear from you veteran collectors about how grading has changed, how that's affected the vintage market, and what changed when CGC cracked things open.

Happy Friday, y'all.

[Lazyboy]

Was there ever a time when the hobby used a 10-point scale? We currently have a 25-point scale.

[01TheDude]

15 hours ago, Lazyboy said:

Was there ever a time when the hobby used a 10-point scale? We currently have a 25-point scale.

 

I miss the bronze age days when it went to 11

 

[FineCollector]

It's sad when you're talking to someone, and call a book a Fine, only to have them look at you with a confused look and ask what the numerical grade is.

I daresay the serious collectors at this point in the game are the ones buying comics so rare that the condition doesn't matter anymore.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, the newbies are only interested in the distinction of 9.8 or not 9.8, and don't know a bloody thing about grading beyond that.  The rest of us are looking for uncommon books to check off our lists, and having to learn the prices paid of the numerical grades, because that's what sets pricing now, slabbed or raw.

[Lazyboy]

3 hours ago, FineCollector said:

I daresay the serious collectors at this point in the game are the ones buying comics so rare that the condition doesn't matter anymore.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, the newbies are only interested in the distinction of 9.8 or not 9.8, and don't know a bloody thing about grading beyond that.  The rest of us are looking for uncommon books to check off our lists, and having to learn the prices paid of the numerical grades, because that's what sets pricing now, slabbed or raw.

You must be kidding. It seems like the newbies are the ones more focused on rarity (even if the supposed rarity is a lie for one reason or another).

[jools&jim]

What, exactly, is a "serious" collector?

Someone who spends a lot of money on comics?

Someone who knows what they want and who knows how to get it at the right price?

Someone who only collects "blue chip" books?

Someone with a small collection but a deep knowledge of the hobby and its history?

Someone who carefully curates a large but (relatively) worthless collection of lower grade comics to read and enjoy, or for research purposes?

Someone who collects for investment only?

Someone who collects only certain kinds of books (ducks; classic covers; modern keys; esoteric stuff; variants; foreign editions; etc., etc., etc.) in any/all grades?

Autograph chasers?

Run collectors/completists?

People who simply accumulate stuff they like and don't give a toss what it's worth?

Trade paperback afficianados?

Oddball kids with two shoe-boxes full of Archie Digests who cherish them as much as an Action 1?

All of the above?  None of the above?  Multiple combinations of the above?

Sorry...but I call this (i.e., the title of the thread) a flawed premise, and highly CGC Boards-centric.

There's a wide and wonderful world out there of people who read, love, obsess over, and stockpile comic books for all sorts of "serious" reasons that have NOTHING whatsoever to do with anyone's "grading scale".

Has 3rd party grading changed the hobby and transformed the habits of many collectors?  Yes, absolutely -- there is no doubt about that.

Still, my sense of it is that there are many VERY serious collectors out there, broadly defined, who don't give damn about 3rd party grading, and never will...