Am I Going To The Bad Place For This?

[jaydeebee]

For years and years I've been reading posts back and forth as to the merits and flaws of third party grading. And even though I've picked up a few slabbed books, it was never a big part of my collection.

So to make a long story short, I was going through my long-boxes and found some comics I had extra copies of (mostly pre-Crisis DC). I thought they looked pretty nice and my curiosity got the best of me, so I sent some of them off to PGX for grading. There, I said it! Comic gods forgive me!

Now I'm not expecting to retire on them, I just wanted them for display in my Comic Fortress Room and I thought it might be a neat way of seeing if their grading is on par with mine...or mine with theirs. :D

Sent eleven of them off today (6/30) via Priority Mail. Figured the total I'm paying to have these encapsulated will still be significantly less than what I'd have had to pay for them on Ebay. And it will be a good way for me to learn whether or not these grading services are worth my time and trouble (not to mention money).

So am I darned to eternal darnnation now. Will I go to, you know...Heck for what I've done?

(PS - I would have sent them to CGC, but their grading service costs a bit more and I'm not crazy about doing business with an organization that would ban a great guy like me from their discussion boards. :( - Their loss. )

[dhennen]

Nah, it's all good the big guy upstairs won't hate you for it! Good luck on the grades

I haven't seen as many PGX slabs as CGC but I've agreed with the PGX grading on some and disagreed on others. I don't think they're any better or worse at grading than CGC but I do think the CGC slabbing process is mechanically superior to PGX

Dave H

[comicstock]

I just sent 3 older comics into CGC Saturday morning.

I'll meet you in Hell. Lovely this time of year.
I wonder if there's Global Warming issues there?

[jaydeebee]

I just sent 3 older comics into CGC Saturday morning.

I'll meet you in Hell. Lovely this time of year.
I wonder if there's Global Warming issues there?

Do you suppose there are separate hells for CGC and PGX? I've been banned from CGC you see. :rolleyes:

[toz1960]

Don't know if you'll go to "heck" for what you've done but if you do I wonder if you will be "Slabbed" for eternity.

And if so what "grade" you will be.

Have you ever had any surgery? If so you know what that means.Purple Label of darnation!#rofl#

[jaydeebee]

Don't know if you'll go to "heck" for what you've done but if you do I wonder if you will be "Slabbed" for eternity.

And if so what "grade" you will be.

Have you ever had any surgery? If so you know what that means.Purple Label of darnation!#rofl#


No surgery...hmmm, but I just had a terrible thought about "trimming"!:zapd:

[Capitalrecoveryman]

I could use some 'pressing' on my mid-section.

[geezer]

IMHO, CGC's grading can be inconsistent at times but I've seen PGX grading that has been appalling, I mean worse than Ebay grading. I lost my last bit of faith in them after seeing a scan of a PGX book (I think it was a 9.4 JIM # 109) with extremely visible wear and heavy spine stress.
Anyway, I hope you're happy with your books when they come back. what grades are you expecting?

[geezer]

I could use some 'pressing' on my mid-section.
Too much information. :shock:

[comicstock]

I went in for a vasectomy about 20 years ago so I'm missing a couple parts, kind of... I wonder if I'll get a 'Qualified' grade?

[jaydeebee]

Anyway, I hope you're happy with your books when they come back. what grades are you expecting?

Well several of them are like brand new because they haven't been handled very much, and as a result I expect those to return fairly high grade, 9.6 perhaps? :confused:

Then there were a couple of Marvel Star Wars that will no doubt be mid-grades, but I wanted them as part of my Comic Room display. :o

It would be really cool if one of my Action Comics or Brave and the Bold that I sent in came back in 10.0...but I'm not holding my breath for that. Since these were books that I had more than one copy of, I'll be happy no matter the grade I guess, as long as they look good in my Comic Fortress! :D

[jaydeebee]

I went in for a vasectomy about 20 years ago so I'm missing a couple parts, kind of... I wonder if I'll get a 'Qualified' grade?


No..no no no noooooo...absolutely no sharp or pointed objects go in the area, no...besides, I was thinking more of a non-voluntary trimming.... #curtain#

[clayface]

I don't think you'll go to hell, I think that's reserved for the greedheaded, non-disclosing pressing people.

[Mariner]

I don't think you'll go to hell, I think that's reserved for the greedheaded, non-disclosing pressing people.

Actually, there are nine circles of Hell. So you may go there thinkin yer safe cause you disclosed pressing when selling to your buddies, but the person at the pearly gates is that clueless little old lady who was selling her dead husband's old books and you failed to disclose what the books were truly worth. Or the kid to whom you sold that slabbed 9.8 infinite crisis book for three hundred bucks. Hey, it might even be a comic reader who damms your soul for locking away a book so nobody can read it.

[jaydeebee]

Bummer.

Well, these comocs are just for my own personal enjoyment, so I hope that means I'm safe. #angelic# (at least for now.)

[malaprop]

I'm a fundamentalist, so I say you're damned. But now that Mariner mentioned it, that $20 I paid the little old lady for a big box of Golden Age will be counting against me. This was a true story, and it turned out they were her son's comocs. He was in the slammer for bank robbery. He didn't need that Four Color #79 in there.

[habib]

Oh No!! :shock:

I just sold 4 CGC comics at WW Chicago this weekend (and I made some profit off of them!)......does this mean I am going to the bad place?? #exorcist#

[comicstock]

How did you sell them? To dealers or customers?
My son tried to sell some Pokemon cards (yes, Pokemon cards!) a few years ago at the MegaCon in Orlando and a show official gave him the old 'cease and desist'. He was 15-16 years old then.

[habib]

Jim....I had two booths at the convention and I did not check out the buyer's badges so they could have been either dealers or customers (I happily sell to both :))

[marvelguy]

This is slighty OT but how did it go at WW Chicago?

[habib]

This is slighty OT but how did it go at WW Chicago?

Good sales + good purchases = happy habib!

[marvelguy]

That's good to hear.

[jaydeebee]

Here's a list of what I sent in for grading. As I said, nothing that's going to allow me to retire early (or ever) but some books that I quite liked and thought would be neat sitting on a shelf or decorating my walls.

Action Comics #500 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Action Comics #544 - My Grade Estimate - VF
Action Comics #700 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Action Comics #800 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Green Lantern #200 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Brave & The Bold #184 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Brave & The Bold #193 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Brave & The Bold #196 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Star Wars (Marvel) #5 - My Grade Estimate - VG
Star Wars (Marvel) #6 - My Grade Estimate - FN
Star Wars (Marvel) #16 - My Grade Estimate - FN

We'll see what happens. #tomato#

[68 Guns]

Okay,I'm sorry but I have to ask this. What is your logic behind spending $20 to encase a VG Star Wars #5? You could buy a NM one for less than $5 and a super rigid case for less than that?

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

Don't know if you'll go to "heck" for what you've done but if you do I wonder if you will be "Slabbed" for eternity.

And if so what "grade" you will be.

Have you ever had any surgery? If so you know what that means.Purple Label of darnation!#rofl#


Ohw, that was good. I'm still smiling.

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

Yeah, why slab them? Slabbing has some criteria for me and the first is that the book has to be worth a lot more than the cost of slabbing.

[68 Guns]

I've always wondered what percentage of books CGC slabs are such that the cost of slabbing exceeds the sales price of the book.I'm stunned by some of the books I see for sale on ebay. I bought a "mystery lot" of CGC slabbed books from a huge wholesaler a few years back. $25 for 15 slabs,plus $15 postage,so roughly $3 each.Got a Micronauts 5 or so in 8.5.,a couple GI Joes in the teens in 8.5,an Xmen 173 in 4.5 and the prize was a Dazzler 1 in 7.0. I really bought them for the slabs themselves.Its fairly easy to open the slabs and replace the books. You can't sell them as CGC books,but they make nice displays.

[disneyteddies]

Going to hell for sending to PGX no...pgx going to hell ..definatly. Sorry for your loss..

[jaydeebee]

Okay,I'm sorry but I have to ask this. What is your logic behind spending $20 to encase a VG Star Wars #5? You could buy a NM one for less than $5 and a super rigid case for less than that?

No need to be sorry, I'm not sure that logic comes into play here. #creep#

As I stated earlier, the comics are going to be decorations in my Comic Room, nothing more, nothing less. Besides that, I was bored, so getting these comics graded is something to do. #woohoo#

Plus the cost of the grading is $10 per book, unless the comic was published before 1975, which none of these were. :D

[68 Guns]

$10 a book,plus round trip shipping.Shipping ten slabs isn't cheap.

[jaydeebee]

$10 a book,plus round trip shipping.Shipping ten slabs isn't cheap.

Taking the shipping both ways into consideration, it came out to about $13 a book.

[Mariner]

I'm a fundamentalist, so I say you're damned. But now that Mariner mentioned it, that $20 I paid the little old lady for a big box of Golden Age will be counting against me. This was a true story, and it turned out they were her son's comocs. He was in the slammer for bank robbery. He didn't need that Four Color #79 in there.

She needed the money to pay for her son's lawyer. But because she only got $20 she got a bad lawyer. Her son's appeal failed and he got defiled in the shower many times, until it drove him so mad he killed a guard. The guard left a family at home, who no longer had financial support, and the kids ended up in prostitution and drug dealing themselves. One of them got sent to jail, where he killed the guy who killed his dad. But then he dug his way out with a spoon and now he's running a tourist boat on a remote beach in Mexico. So it all turned out okay

[SILLYSHIP--pirate eye--]

O....K.....

[geezer]

No need to be sorry, I'm not sure that logic comes into play here. #creep#

As I stated earlier, the comics are going to be decorations in my Comic Room, nothing more, nothing less. Besides that, I was bored, so getting these comics graded is something to do. #woohoo#

Plus the cost of the grading is $10 per book, unless the comic was published before 1975, which none of these were. :D

Nothing wrong with getting books slabbed for the fun of it. Comics can mean more than just the money they're worth. #oldie#

[jaydeebee]

Comics can mean more than just the money they're worth. #oldie#

Geezer is right!#oldie#

[68 Guns]

I'm kind of amazed that the same folks who seem to think CGC is the anti-Christ have no problems with PGX.
I know its no big concern when you are slabbing books out of the bargin bins,but four years after they opened their doors,PGX hasn't revealed who their graders are,what type of insurance they carry in case there is a problem,published a single photo of their facility or explained their relationship with several sleazy eBayers,that just happen to share email accounts with the company.Everyone knows CGC is a long way from perfect,but there are a myraid of reasons why PGX is stuck being such a minor player in a field that certainly could use some competition.Perhaps Red Hook could chime in with his tale of the owner of PGX trying to foist photo-shopped scans on him to explain how a book went from a restored CGC holder to a universal PGX holder.

[jaydeebee]

I'm kind of amazed that the same folks who seem to think CGC is the anti-Christ have no problems with PGX.
I know its no big concern when you are slabbing books out of the bargin bins,but four years after they opened their doors,PGX hasn't revealed who their graders are,what type of insurance they carry in case there is a problem,published a single photo of their facility or explained their relationship with several sleazy eBayers,that just happen to share email accounts with the company.Everyone knows CGC is a long way from perfect,but there are a myraid of reasons why PGX is stuck being such a minor player in a field that certainly could use some competition.Perhaps Red Hook could chime in with his tale of the owner of PGX trying to foist photo-shopped scans on him to explain how a book went from a restored CGC holder to a universal PGX holder.

What folks are you referring to? Certainly not me I hope, as I have stated at length that I have very little if any knowledge of CGC or their practices. In fact my only real gripe with them is the fact that they summarily banned me from their message board without cause and that the layout of said board is weird. :?

That's not to say that there aren't people here who have an ax grind with CGC and with PGX for that matter, I just want to be clear, that I'm not one of them...not yet at least. :p

And I didn't slab any books out of the "bargain bin". The books came out of my collection which I happen to treasure, not some smelly bin of flipped through birdcage fodder. #woohoo#

[stupidman]

I'm kind of amazed that the same folks who seem to think CGC is the anti-Christ have no problems with PGX.
I know its no big concern when you are slabbing books out of the bargin bins,but four years after they opened their doors,PGX hasn't revealed who their graders are,what type of insurance they carry in case there is a problem,published a single photo of their facility or explained their relationship with several sleazy eBayers,that just happen to share email accounts with the company.Everyone knows CGC is a long way from perfect,but there are a myraid of reasons why PGX is stuck being such a minor player in a field that certainly could use some competition.Perhaps Red Hook could chime in with his tale of the owner of PGX trying to foist photo-shopped scans on him to explain how a book went from a restored CGC holder to a universal PGX holder.


http://www.justafanboy.com/PGX/

[stupidman]

Plus the cost of the grading is $10 per book, unless the comic was published before 1975, which none of these were. :D

Just curious, how did you get them slabbed for $10 apiece? The cheapest I see is $15 apiece for Moderns if you send in 10 or more, so even with the 10% discount, that's still $13.50 apiece. Did you have some kind of additional coupon to combine with the 10% discount?

http://www.cgccomics.com/services/services_and_fees.asp

[jaydeebee]

Just curious, how did you get them slabbed for $10 apiece? The cheapest I see is $15 apiece for Moderns if you send in 10 or more, so even with the 10% discount, that's still $13.50 apiece. Did you have some kind of additional coupon to combine with the 10% discount?

http://www.cgccomics.com/services/services_and_fees.asp

Stu, are you smoking the stuff again? I clearly stated that I sent my comocs to PGX for grading. #jester#

[stupidman]

Stu, are you smoking the stuff again? I clearly stated that I sent my comocs to PGX for grading. #jester#

Whoops, sorry - I got confused :) I shoulda re-read (or not skimmed) before posting.
I'm always looking for ways for people to give less money to CGC :)

[Red Hook]

I'm kind of amazed that the same folks who seem to think CGC is the anti-Christ have no problems with PGX.
I know its no big concern when you are slabbing books out of the bargin bins,but four years after they opened their doors,PGX hasn't revealed who their graders are,what type of insurance they carry in case there is a problem,published a single photo of their facility or explained their relationship with several sleazy eBayers,that just happen to share email accounts with the company.Everyone knows CGC is a long way from perfect,but there are a myraid of reasons why PGX is stuck being such a minor player in a field that certainly could use some competition.Perhaps Red Hook could chime in with his tale of the owner of PGX trying to foist photo-shopped scans on him to explain how a book went from a restored CGC holder to a universal PGX holder.

First of all, can we take it down a couple of notches with the hyperbole, Shad? Anti-Christ? Yikes! Poorly written and inaccurate.

Second, PGX wasn't trying to foist those scans on me. Why don't you do a little footwork and provide the folks here with a link to the appropriate thread on the CGC boards. Ask Joanna. I believe she experienced first contact on that issue if I'm not mistaken. I just helped out analyzing the scans.

Thirdly...as a pretty close follower of the PGX saga... I wouldn't send a book to PGX for slabbing if they did it for free and sent me a $100 bill back with the book. They've been totally discredited imho. And that's not a news flash.

Red

[jaydeebee]

Thirdly...as a pretty close follower of the PGX saga... I wouldn't send a book to PGX for slabbing if they did it for free and sent me a $100 bill back with the book.
Red

That's actually exactly the deal I made, how did you find out? :D

[Red Hook]

Well, for moderns, I consider that acceptable. #oldie#

[geezer]

Speaking as a supporter of CGC who is realistic about their failings, I think it's a shame that there isn't any viable competition to CGC. As Brad mentions, PGX are pretty well discredited with a lot of the people in the hobby and I'm surprised that they/he actually keep going.

[68 Guns]

As long as people keep sending him books,I suppose he'll keep slabbing them. Its not like he has much overhead.Up until a few years ago,there was a guy who advertised in Overstreet that he would grade your book and put it in a shiny new mylar for $1 a book. I always wondered how he made out off the ad.

[jaydeebee]

..I think I'll stick to posting comic reviews in the future...:-?

[toz1960]

..I think I'll stick to posting comic reviews in the future...:-?

Don't worry about it jdb.Not everyone can lighten' up and have some fun every now and then.You still got me though.

[jaydeebee]

Uh oh....maybe the whole point of this thread is moot!

From USPS.gov-

We attempted to deliver your item at 9:28 AM on July 2, 2008 in EUGENE, OR 97402 and a notice was left. It can be redelivered or picked up at the Post Office. If the item is unclaimed, it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

[geezer]

..I think I'll stick to posting comic reviews in the future...:-?

Don't be discouraged, I think it's cool that you got books slabbed (even by PGX) because you like the books. #banana1#

[clayface]

Speaking as a supporter of CGC who is realistic about their failings, I think it's a shame that there isn't any viable competition to CGC. As Brad mentions, PGX are pretty well discredited with a lot of the people in the hobby and I'm surprised that they/he actually keep going.

Any competiton to cgc woiuld have to be backed by some serious money to even have a chance at this point and would have to aggresively woo current cgc customers. I don't think that it would make money for quite a while and thus I don't think any investors would take that chance.

[geezer]

Unfortunately, I agree. :(

[dhennen]

I think a grading and preservation/slabbing group that focused only on Golden Age books would have a chance.

One of the things I dislike about CGC is the way they encourage fanboys to take brand new books right of the shelf and have them graded in hopes of getting a 9.8 or higher. It's all hype and I think a new group that didn't go that route would get a lot of acceptance in the collectors world.

I don't collect Golden Age but I can appreciate the need for preservation of all that great old paper!

Dave H

[toz1960]

..I think I'll stick to posting comic reviews in the future...:-?

Consider this one totally de-railed.sigh

[stupidman]

I don't collect Golden Age but I can appreciate the need for preservation of all that great old paper!

What's wrong with a Fullback and 4 mil Mylar? No CGC necessary :)

[68 Guns]

What's wrong with a Fullback and 4 mil Mylar? No CGC necessary :)


Don't forget the sheet of deacidfication paper,but you are correct.There are plenty of ways to protect and preserve a book that don't involve CGC.

[68 Guns]

I think a grading and preservation/slabbing group that focused only on Golden Age books would have a chance.

One of the things I dislike about CGC is the way they encourage fanboys to take brand new books right of the shelf and have them graded in hopes of getting a 9.8 or higher. It's all hype and I think a new group that didn't go that route would get a lot of acceptance in the collectors world.

I don't collect Golden Age but I can appreciate the need for preservation of all that great old paper!

Dave H

I don't think I've ever seen an ad where CGC pushed slabbing brand new books. All the ads I've seen that show the price realized for a CGC book compared to a raw book are for older books.
I'd be curious to see where they are encouraging this type of behavior.I must have missed them,which is quite possible.
There was a company that pushed these types of books,but it wasn't CGC itself. Colosseus Comics offered 9.8 subscriptions and such,but other than using their product and advertising on the CGC forums,there is no connection between the two.

[jaydeebee]

I'll just jump in here and say that as far as I can tell, it's companies like WIZARD who are pushing to have new comics slabbed, sometimes even before they are released as in the case of Captain America #25. Although CGC provided the service, it was WIZARD promoting the idea, and representing everything that is wrong with the hobby by doing so. I'll always contend that WIZARD was in the sack with Marvel on that stunt.

[68 Guns]

I agree. CGC is providing the service,but I don't think they are promoting the idea.From conversations I've had with graders,the graders would greatly prefer working on an older book than grading 100 copies of S.I. #1.

[stupidman]

All the ads I've seen that show the price realized for a CGC book compared to a raw book are for older books.


http://members.aol.com/catmanstu/cgcsand.jpg

[stupidman]

I'll just jump in here and say that as far as I can tell, it's companies like WIZARD who are pushing to have new comics slabbed, sometimes even before they are released as in the case of Captain America #25. Although CGC provided the service, it was WIZARD promoting the idea, and representing everything that is wrong with the hobby by doing so. I'll always contend that WIZARD was in the sack with Marvel on that stunt.

CGC promoting Wizard or Wizard promoting CGC?

http://members.aol.com/catmanstu/wizfirst.jpg

http://members.aol.com/catmanstu/wizownscgc.jpg

[stupidman]

All the ads I've seen that show the price realized for a CGC book compared to a raw book are for older books.


I can't find the original, but in the bottom left is an X-Men #266 (and the bottom right is a Wolverine book?)

http://members.aol.com/catmanstu/mxc.jpg

And these, Origin # 1, etc...

http://members.aol.com/catmanstu/cgcwizad.jpg

[stupidman]

I agree. CGC is providing the service,but I don't think they are promoting the idea.From conversations I've had with graders,the graders would greatly prefer working on an older book than grading 100 copies of S.I. #1.

But isn't it in CGC's business model to get as many Modern books submitted as possible, since submissions of older comics are steadily declining? (At least comparitively speaking, and as a whole, if I remember ValiantMan's "census" data correctly?)

[jaydeebee]

This is why I started my statement with the qualifier, "as far as I can tell". Now I have new information that I was too lazy to look for before and now as far as I can tell, CGC does appear to have promoted the idea of slabbing brand new, or at least very recent comics, if one is to believe their advertising at least.

Probably, now that I think about it, CGC would have a hard time surviving if they only graded old GA comics, because there aren't as many around and even fewer that will actually ever be slabbed. Therefore in their own self-interests, they almost would have to grade newer comics, just to be able to maintain their financial viability.

That's not intended as either a slam or an endorsement, merely an observation. To survive they have to have enough comics to grade to keep the lights on.

[toz1960]

Not to mention the money they make from "not" grading comics,i.e. their "pre-screening" service.

They get a case of virgin comics with the instructions to not grade anything below a 9.9.How much would that be a case just to look at them?

[68 Guns]

Sandman came out in what,1986-87?
Hulk 181 in 1975
Spidey 300 and Killing Joke were in the mid to late 80s.

Are these really the examples you want to use?
Even XMen 266 is almost 18 years old,isn't it?

[stupidman]

Sandman came out in what,1986-87?
Hulk 181 in 1975
Spidey 300 and Killing Joke were in the mid to late 80s.

Are these really the examples you want to use?
Even XMen 266 is almost 18 years old,isn't it?

Don't forget Wolverine:Origin #1 :) And that ad is at least 5 years old.


I don't think I've ever seen an ad where CGC pushed slabbing brand new books.

You can't say "ever" any more, that's all :)

If I could just find those originals in my MXC pic, there'd be a few more examples, I'm pretty sure.

But please, let's not be naive - without the slabbing of brand new books, CGC would go out of business. (And you did say "brand new", but that translates to Moderns in my brain). All of the ads I have posted have run in Wizard. BUT, there was one or two that were run in CBG (the Conan mag in the MXC pic being one), and they were "older" books. CGC targeted their audience, that's for sure. I'd guess in Wizard, 1975 would be the cutoff.

[68 Guns]

1975 was 33 years ago. Most convention dealers I sell to tell me the hottest books right now are Bronze Age .

[geezer]

This is why I started my statement with the qualifier, "as far as I can tell". Now I have new information that I was too lazy to look for before and now as far as I can tell, CGC does appear to have promoted the idea of slabbing brand new, or at least very recent comics, if one is to believe their advertising at least.

Probably, now that I think about it, CGC would have a hard time surviving if they only graded old GA comics, because there aren't as many around and even fewer that will actually ever be slabbed. Therefore in their own self-interests, they almost would have to grade newer comics, just to be able to maintain their financial viability.

That's not intended as either a slam or an endorsement, merely an observation. To survive they have to have enough comics to grade to keep the lights on.

You're right on all counts. What's more I don't think that there is anything wrong with what CGC has done in this regard. They are a business and any business needs to make money. It's the collectors who are willing to pay such prices that make the market and CGC would be fools to not cater to that market. #professor#

[toz1960]

So jdb,any news on the books you sent off?

[jaydeebee]

So jdb,any news on the books you sent off?

On Monday the 7th, I received an email from PGX that stated that they had received my books and that my expected ship date would be 7/29. So right now, I'm just waiting...:o

[toz1960]

On Monday the 7th, I received an email from PGX that stated that they had received my books and that my expected ship date would be 7/29. So right now, I'm just waiting...:o
That's cool.I was worried for you there.

[The Charlton Guy]

I wouldn't be too worried JDB.

I'm sure Daniel/Terrence stops in here to check up on things now and then.




















"Yes...yes...C.G. is right he is!!!
An incessant Corrral lurker is Daniel...Terrence...everwho..."


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/the-charlton-guy/CGCage/yoda_drunk-3556.jpg

"Grade bump can you expect!!!"

[SolitaireOne]

JDB,

Hey, only a 1mo. turnaround? Not too bad. I'm hopeful that you'll post the final PGX grades/results so we can see how they compared to your initial thoughts.

#professor#

[jaydeebee]

Well, the results are in if anyone cares. I have to say that my overall experience dealing with PGX was a positive one. I found their submission form fairly easy to use, the process of submitting the comics for grading was easy, I didn't have to join anything, which was nice and I found the turnaround time to be satisfactory as the comics returned three days sooner than expected. But how did they do on grading, and how good an estimator of grades am I? Let's find out...

Action Comics #500 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Action Comics #500 - PGX Grade - 9.4 NM

Action Comics #544 - My Grade Estimate - VF
Action Comics #544 - PGX Grade - 8.5 VF+

Action Comics #700 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Action Comics #700 - PGX Grade - 9.6 NM+

Action Comics #800 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Action Comics #800 - PGX Grade - 9.2 NM-

Green Lantern #200 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Green Lantern #200 - PGX Grade - 9.2 NM-

Brave & The Bold #184 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Brave & The Bold #184 - PGX Grade - 9.2 NM-

Brave & The Bold #193 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Brave & The Bold #193 - PGX Grade - 9.2 NM-

Brave & The Bold #196 - My Grade Estimate - NM
Brave & The Bold #196 - PGX Grade - 9.4 NM

Star Wars (Marvel) #5 - My Grade Estimate - VG
Star Wars (Marvel) #5 - PGX Grade - 6.0 FN

Star Wars (Marvel) #6 - My Grade Estimate - FN
Star Wars (Marvel) #6 - PGX Grade - 9.0 VF/NM

Star Wars (Marvel) #16 - My Grade Estimate - FN
Star Wars (Marvel) #16 - PGX Grade - 8.0 VF

I have to say that I'm quite surprised by several of these, while others are right on the mark of what I guessed. Surprising to me was the Action Comics #800 at 9.2. This was the newest of the books I submitted and was prestine looking by my standards. I was also surprised by the 9.2's on two of the Brave and Bold issues, all of which looked as good as the 9.4's to me. But it was the Marvel Star Wars issues that surprised me the most. The 9.0 on the #6 was high in my opinion, especially comparing it to the Action Comics 800 at 9.2...you just can't tell me that there is only .2 difference between the almost new comic and a thirty year old comic that I guessed was Fine at best. But I'm not complaining, just surprised.


All in all, a very interesting transaction. Would I do it again? Maybe, possibly...when I have a little extra money to blow. Maybe next time I should give CGC a try and see how I fare with them?:?

[comicstock]

I just got back 3 books submitted to CGC:

Amazing Spider-Man #1 3.5
Amazing Spider-Man #2 5.5
Daredevil Battles Hitler (Daredevil Comics) #1 5.0

Grading was where I thought I'd be.

[geezer]

The results sound good JDB, can you get graders notes? Might give some insight as to how they were graded.

[jaydeebee]

The results sound good JDB, can you get graders notes? Might give some insight as to how they were graded.

I have no idea. Can I get those? You'd think that they'd send those along with the books wouldn't you? Oh well...

[kenmacny]

Crack those exact books out and send to CGC.

[illuminated]

So, how'd they grade?

[illuminated]

Oh, there's a Page 2. Missed the button. never mind. Move along. Nothing to see here.

[Silverdream]

Sounds like they did a decent job, I wouldnt mind seeing the Star wars books in the slab, just to get an idea of why you thought they would grade lower.

[Khumbu]

The thing that killed PGX for me, is I sent in a Planet Comics #72 to them. It came back graded 4.5, that point is irrelevant, the publisher was listed as "Love Romances". I don't know how many of you know who published Planet Comics, Jumbo Comics, Jungle Comics and so on...Fiction House Magazines. Love Romances was indeed the overall owner of the publishing rights, but as I believe DC is a Time/Warner property, it would be similar to putting Batman #608 down as published by Time/Warner.

[boatfund]

I also finally did the deed last year. Sent 20 copper age books off to CGC, tried to pick out perfect books, came back with 15 9.8s, 3 9.6s, 1 9.4 (ouch) and 1 9.2 (double ouch). I missed a back cover crease on the 9.2, and a corner chip on one 9.6. I was happy but a little miffed at my mistakes in sending in a couple that were less than 9.6. I forgot to send in my spidey 252 that I thought was a 9.8 so I sent 15 more in and checked these closer. I got back 1 9.6, 12 9.8s, 2 9.9s and 1 10.0 (!!!).
The spidey 252 did come back 9.8.

jaydeebee, you won't be sent to the bad place, but once you get some back, it gets addictive to see what others will bring and you will wind up sending in more batches to get graded. Good luck with your grades!

[boatfund]

sorry, didn't realize the date of the OP, and didn't read where he got his books back already, newb mistake.

[jaydeebee]

sorry, didn't realize the date of the OP, and didn't read where he got his books back already, newb mistake.

No problemo boatfund, welcome to the Corral! You're right, it does make you want to send more, unfortunately since my initial foray into the world of comic book slabbing, the economy took a nosedive which has counteracted the effects of the addiction! :o

[tiptophimp]

IMHO, CGC's grading can be inconsistent at times but I've seen PGX grading that has been appalling, I mean worse than Ebay grading. I lost my last bit of faith in them after seeing a scan of a PGX book (I think it was a 9.4 JIM # 109) with extremely visible wear and heavy spine stress.
Anyway, I hope you're happy with your books when they come back. what grades are you expecting?
yes very true