Comic Collectors Grading Association slabbing

[dhennen]

I saw this Spidey book on Ebay and decided to indulge my curiosity. It's "professionally" graded and slabbed by the Comic Collectors Grading Association

The holder looks like its lucite. There is a certificate, a folded in half piece of cardstock sandwiched between the top of the book and the holder and held in place by the top weld. Then the slab is sealed with a shiny tamper indicator serial #'d sticker. This is #280309 so if they started at 1 they've been pretty busy :)

The book (ASM 583 4th print) is graded 9.9 but there's enough room to wiggle the book inside the holder that it was either a 9.2 before being slabbed or been damaged since then

There's no way to open the slab without a very carefully wielded utility knife or a power tool but I did get the book out!

All in all, I'm not a fan of CGC but they don't have any competition here. Maybe these guys are just trying to make an honest living but I would never seriously consider purchasing a CCGA graded book. They even spelled "Forth" wrong on the certificate

Just thought I'd throw my opinion out there, check out the pics
Dave H

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/dhennen/corral/ccgasamp.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/dhennen/corral/ccgasamp2.jpg

[marvelguy]

I've heard of this company but not often. I don't like the placement of the label on the back, it hinders the view of the back cover.

[oxbladder]

Their "slab" is a Top Loader.

[marvelguy]

Their "slab" is a Top Loader.

Cheap!

[oxbladder]

And your book will move around in it too if you move it around.

[dannyboi1]

I don't like the idea of the cardstock label up against the back of the comic.

They've got a ways to go before they'll be considered competition to the evil empire.

[toz1960]

Not really any competition to cgc or pgx.I think these guys are just taking their own comics and top loaders,giving themselves a cool sounding name and calling it a pro graded comic.Kinda like ACE a few years back.

I've seen their auctions and seen them go for cheap.You've probably got more in shipping than the book I presume?

[dhennen]

Yup, they were so cheap there was really no downside so I splurged. They did ship promptly, I think I received them three days after paying but they're not ready for prime time

Dave H

[nocutename]

So they use a top loader? Is it sealed? I don't collect slabs and agree that I think they just are promoting their own books.

[dhennen]

the top edge was sealed, it looked like they inserted a stick of lucite and then glued it or maybe heat sealed it. It was kind of bumpy along the top edge

[jaydeebee]

I think these guys came along about the same time as those ridiculous multiple Obama printings did. I guess they figured that if Marvel could scam the comic-buying public so well then why not take advantage of it.

9.9 by the CCGA? INDEED! I wouldn't buy anything less than a 9.92875 on a fourth printing!

[grininbarrett]

I put these guys in a category below the "chase my comics" (at least with those guys they "might" not be pulling an outright scam)
The original seller went NARU recently. Other than the newbie Obama collectors most understood what they were getting.

[oxbladder]

To me it looks like silicon sealant like that stuff you put windows in with.

[nocutename]

9.9 by the CCGA? INDEED! I wouldn't buy anything less than a 9.92875 on a fourth printing!

Don't ya mean forth...:D

[jackie0109]

I don't dig the idea of including Obama in an issue of Spiderman.

[JERKYJOE]

Do you have to know how to spell to grade comics? Anybody can start a professional grading service. All you need is a restoration expert. Graders are not certified or licensed. They require no specific training or degree. Are all the graders used for existing professional services experienced or versed in the hobby? Do they hire their cousins or people of the street and train them to grade?

[Drakesfuture]

lol--jerky.

You have a small point. After all, any of us who have ever sold a comic with a claimed grade on it are, at least, amateur graders--plus we all have a story or two about how innacurate the "gold standard" (CGC) can be.

However--even a real amateur like myself can see the problems with this one.

1) A glaring spelling error just screams "unprofessional
2) The grade can be right on--but if the comic can move within the packaging then it isn't worth anything--as the grade can change as the comic gets dinged.
3) Putting a professional wrapping on an amateur grade is deceptive. I can claim on one of my ebay sales that a comic is NM. However, it is very obvious to anyone that I have put a personal grade on it--not a professional one. When you say a comic is being graded professionaly, you have taken out the right to be a little off. If I pay for a CGC'd book at 9.2 and it arrives at 7.5 I have a real right for restitution. If i pay for a personal graded book of NM and it arrives 7.5, then I really have no complaint (legally speaking).


So--yes, anyone can place a grade on a comic. Almost all of us do. However, when you start claiming that it is a professional grade higher standards need to be adhered to that clearly aren't in this case.

[oxbladder]

Would you really have a right to restitution from CGC? They don't guarantee their grading/service according to their labels. CGC may be professional business but they are far from being a professional standards business. They conduct themselves fairly well but having experience with what comprises a quality control standards body CGC is a long way off. So if CGC doesn't even make the grade in my books you can just imagine what I think of this "company". It is easy to start a business it is harder to make it professional in appearance and even then that doesn't make that company a legitimate body for governing standards.

[Drakesfuture]

I don't argue with you at all OX. However, CGC has--for reasons better left to another debate----become the industry standard. A fact that is easily born out by the consistently inflated sales of their slabbed books.
I do, in fact, get encouraged when another group enters the grading market--because I personally think those inflated prices should have come down long ago. I just wish they would do a better job than the shmoes from this thread.

[68 Guns]

When CGC was formed, the people hired to grade comics were all leading dealers, people who had outstanding reputations for their grading and honesty.. Their employees reputation is what helped CGC get its company accepted. In addition, Steve B went to a dealers roundtable and passed out a good amount of books that each dealer graded. Supposedly, the grades the books earned were the basis for CGCs guidelines. CGC was pretty transparent about their operations. PGX or whatever they called themselves was the almost total opposite.
Their website listed graders that no one had any experiance with. i've seen lots of photos of CGCs operation, not a one from their competitors. CGC has listed the insurance policy that covers your books while in their custody, has any other company done so?
It's true that anyone can grade a comic, but I'll go with the company that employees the folks with the best reputations.
I'm not a big CGC fan, but as far as third party grading goes, they are the industry benchmark.

[oxbladder]

That just it this industry doesn't know any better. CGC thrives because most people don't know or desire to demand more. I won't argue that CGC does a decent job but it is built on a very flimsy structure and unless they strive for a better one it could well come crashing down some day. I can accept them for now as they are but it won't stop me from pushing for more. It will also certainly not stop me from telling people to learn how to grade for themselves instead of passing the buck. CGC has dominated the market because most people are lazy and as long as they remain that way CGC has zero impetus to do better.

[yarmak]

oh dear this reminds me of an Aussie comic "price guide" a few years back written and printed by the dealer of their own comics they had in stock
Dave