Hudson Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 On 8/20/2023 at 12:53 PM, Ken Aldred said: The usual justification on Ebay is "I am not a professional grader". More like 'I am trying to learn, and I am currently being mentored in this process by an alpha male chimpanzee at our local zoo. However, I have yet to come anywhere close to his primate level of grading accuracy, so please cut me some slack." Would be more truthful. I purchased a book on eBay this week with that "I am not a professional grader" phase. Perhaps the most overused phase on all of eBay. Can't wait to see how the book looks when it gets here. Ken Aldred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post southern cross Posted September 1, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2023 (edited) 'Im not a professional grader' Yet they've been slinging comics on the Bay for decades. Yet they know what comics are worth. They are not professional graders yet they seem to know the value of a hulk 181 is. The I'm not a professional grader is code for I know how to grade, the book I'm selling is a dog's breakfast and a complete limp cloth yet I want to sell this spoon from my inventory at a mint price. Suckers hit buy it now please 🙏 And if this was the 1800s I'd be trying to sell you my amazing health tonic, good for what ails you! Edited September 1, 2023 by southern cross Larryw7, Hudson, Off Panel and 3 others 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted September 2, 2023 Share Posted September 2, 2023 On 8/31/2023 at 8:25 PM, zzutak said: You're right. Snow white is so overrated. I'd like mine toasted, please! Only a slight drop to "off-white to white". There must have been scribbles on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted September 2, 2023 Share Posted September 2, 2023 This one is not the seller's fault: Off Panel, Larryw7 and grendelbo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post C. Spaulding Posted September 9, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 9, 2023 Bump with this current NM- copy on eBay. Larryw7, Superman2006, comicjack and 6 others 2 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendelbo Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 "High grade" romance to "high grade" romance. Superman2006, Larryw7, comicjack and 2 others 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicjack Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 On 9/9/2023 at 7:43 PM, C. Spaulding said: Bump with this current NM- copy on eBay. In who's universe Larryw7 and C. Spaulding 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicjack Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 On 9/10/2023 at 3:00 AM, grendelbo said: "High grade" romance to "high grade" romance. This one just makes me laugh grendelbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 (edited) On 9/10/2023 at 12:43 AM, C. Spaulding said: Bump with this current NM- copy on eBay. I suspect that by ‘File Copy’ the seller would mean, more accurately, “Filed away in a Garbage Bin”. Edited September 10, 2023 by Ken Aldred 1950's war comics, C. Spaulding, Larryw7 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollyComics Posted September 11, 2023 Share Posted September 11, 2023 I think those sellers are using NM- to attract the buyer. It works but it's stupid move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Balls Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 On 9/11/2023 at 5:41 PM, JollyComics said: I think those sellers are using NM- to attract the buyer. It works but it's stupid move. “It’s Near Mint MINUS, you know - just a few defects.” 1950's war comics 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valiantman Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 On 9/13/2023 at 5:55 AM, Dr. Balls said: On 9/11/2023 at 6:41 PM, JollyComics said: I think those sellers are using NM- to attract the buyer. It works but it's stupid move. “It’s Near Mint MINUS, you know - just a few defects.” NM- is similar to 13+ on movie ratings... >13 and <NM Everything above 13 qualifies for the movie, and everything below NM qualifies for the grade. Off Panel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Balls Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 On 9/13/2023 at 8:37 AM, valiantman said: NM- is similar to 13+ on movie ratings... >13 and <NM Everything above 13 qualifies for the movie, and everything below NM qualifies for the grade. So, if it's PG13, it's probably good to watch, but PG is kinda lame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valiantman Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 On 9/13/2023 at 9:39 AM, Dr. Balls said: On 9/13/2023 at 9:37 AM, valiantman said: NM- is similar to 13+ on movie ratings... >13 and <NM Everything above 13 qualifies for the movie, and everything below NM qualifies for the grade. So, if it's PG13, it's probably good to watch, but PG is kinda lame? If the seller uses NM- to indicate everything below NM qualifies for their grading, yes, they are less than 13 years old mentally and very lame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southern cross Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 But if they are not a professional grader, how about selling me that Hulk 181 for a $1? Because you're also not a professional pricer either! 1950's war comics and Larryw7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nschenks Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 On 9/11/2023 at 7:41 PM, JollyComics said: I think those sellers are using NM- to attract the buyer. It works but it's stupid move. Does it work though? I know for me personally, if I click on something that says "NM-" it's because I'm usually looking for a book in a higher grade range. The second I see it's not even close (assuming I can't tell from the first thumbnail lol), I will move on. And anyone searching for NM is gonna pass hard. Anecdotal though, I guess... That said, in my experience scanning books sold recently, the price most books go for is usually more or less reflective of the visible grade and not what's listed. Occasionally you'll get the uninformed buyer, but that's an exception, I think, particularly for GA and SA where the buyers are usually more seasoned in terms of recognizing when something is over-graded (or *shiver* has unlisted restoration). I actually don't mind the over-grading as long as the pictures are good (I'll usually just laugh and move along)--what I hate way worse is poor quality photos that are intentionally blurred or obfuscated in some way to cut out or reduce defects. I feel like uneducated buyers are way more likely to fall for those than something listed as NM- that is clearly VG. Or maybe my outlook is too rosy and I'm just hoping these lame 'tactics' don't actually work. grendelbo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) On 9/13/2023 at 5:26 PM, southern cross said: But if they are not a professional grader, how about selling me that Hulk 181 for a $1? Because you're also not a professional pricer either! Nosebleed pricing. 4x cover price. They should be satisfied. Edited September 14, 2023 by Ken Aldred southern cross 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) NM- used like that simply telegraphs… ‘Well it’s obviously not mint, but I can’t grade, so who knows anything else about it other than that. Yes, I’m useless.’ Look, I’ve participated in some of the grading contests here, ended up next-to-lowest in the rankings in one memorable example, and clearly my slab or bag grading ability is atrocious. But, at least I can admit to the shortcoming. Edited September 14, 2023 by Ken Aldred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valiantman Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 On 9/14/2023 at 3:57 AM, Ken Aldred said: NM- used like that simply telegraphs… ‘Well it’s obviously not mint, but I can’t grade, so who knows anything else about it other than that. Yes, I’m useless.’ Look, I’ve participated in some of the grading contests here, ended up next-to-lowest in the rankings in one memorable example, and clearly my slab or bag grading ability is atrocious. But, at least I can admit to the shortcoming. But you aren't trying to trick people into overpaying. MAR1979, Larryw7 and Ken Aldred 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Aldred Posted September 14, 2023 Share Posted September 14, 2023 On 9/14/2023 at 2:50 PM, valiantman said: But you aren't trying to trick people into overpaying. Precisely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
