grading

[Drakesfuture]

I have had this question for a while, but the recent CGC argument has led me to ask it out loud.

I am a very amateur grader. So amateur, that I prefer that people view images of my comics before buying them online.

At any rate, I have been practicing and, I think, improving.

I very much want to avoid overgrading. In fact, I am so paranoid about it, that I think I am undergrading all my comics.

My question is: When buying online from a stranger: would you rather A) buy a comic for a greater cost they grade NM hoping they are correct B) buy a comic for lesser cost graded Fine+ with a reasonable degree of certainty they are right on or even below the actual grade?

[mordo]

Probably option B.

When buying books from a stranger online, my experience is that the books advertised as NM are usually VF at best and sometimes VF- or F/VF. The scans don't always reveal that when you are at the buying stage.

I think I have a decent eye for mid grade books. If you call one a F+ I can usually tell from the scan (at least to my satisfaction) if it really is F+ or lower. That is assuming there is nothing wrong with the back cover, spine, or interior.

Undergrading comics (half-point or full point) or being a conservative grader is not necessarily a bad thing. You will have more satisfied and repeat buyers that way.

[grininbarrett]

It really depends on the % correctness of A.

On ebay:
I would say that the # actual NM / # claim NM is about 1/7 for the average seller with crappy pics. Broken down as follows:
10% Good or worse (scammers)
20% VG (scammers)
30% Fine (I am not a professional grader, so look at my crappy pics)
25% Very Fine (If I was buying these books I would not grade them above VF, but since I am selling them they look SOoooo much better)
15% NM

Now, the folks who put up individual scans or pics that take up the majority of the screen are a lot better maybe 1/2 and they break down like this:
25% Fine or less (scammers, who know that the average buyer doesn't know how to grade anyway and that with minimal refunds they will make more money on people overpaying)
30% VF
45% NM

[68 Guns]

If the book has a large scan, I feel better if I agree with the sellers grade. A book can have great looking covers but still have a serious defect. I bought a great looking Cap America 109 that I honestly thought had a shot at a 9.6 or better. It came back an 7.0 and when I called they said it had a huge chunk out of two interior pages.
To sort of answer your question, I won't pay anywhere near NM price for any book from a person I don't know. If I'm getting the book at a huge discount( at least 50%), I might take a shot if the person has great and extensive feedback

[toz1960]

Some astute observations and very good points so far.Do you all think this could be one reason why prices realized on ebay is only 10 to 50% in most instances for single books?
That along with the fact that most average collections are pretty much complete.

I haven't been to a show in over 20 years.There you can hold the book in your hand and actually see it and grade it for yourself.So how are prices there compared to on line?

Sorry Drake,not trying to hijack your thread.

[micasacomics]

When Selling your books,give your grade,be bold! If you feel its NM then say it.....Then describe any or all flaws in your listing.This way a buyer as some ideal of where your coming from.

[kenmacny]

And don't forget there is a good chance the seller will package the book like a chimp and it will get damaged en route. Always bid like its coming dinged and dented and you won't be disappointed.

[dc kev]

So how are prices there compared to on line?

I can't speak to all shows, but at the shows in the Dallas area, the "better" comics are priced right at or just below guide. (Say, 10% below book) The only exception to this would be lower-grade beaters (Good-ish) which are always well below guide, and the newer "hot" books, which are always speculative. Most non-key books are being blown out, either in $1 boxes, or in some form of the 3 for $5 deal.

[nocutename]

My question is: When buying online from a stranger: would you rather A) buy a comic for a greater cost they grade NM hoping they are correct B) buy a comic for lesser cost graded Fine+ with a reasonable degree of certainty they are right on or even below the actual grade?

My opinion may not count as much since I worry more about cost over condition. When I purchase on-line without any pictures I assume that the grade is either 1/2 or full grade off. So NM = VF and Fine = VG and if the book is within an acceptable price range given my assigned grade then I may purchase it. So when I order from CCL or CPG I assume the worse but am willing to accept the risk within reason without complaining because I purchased sight unseen.

If I am purchasing on a site that shows a picture of the actual comic and I can make a better determination then I am willing to pay more for the comic.

I am not a grader myself but if I feel that the seller is within the range of the assigned grade, I definitely would take a look back at their inventory. However, if it was off then probably will never return for seconds.

[vathgar]

It is bad that most folks out there grade so poorly and package poorly. Makes it harder for folks who are doing their best (like me) to grade conservatively and package well to get rolling. That is one reason I have always done test orders for someone who has a bunch of things I might be interested in just to see how they handle grading and packaging. When I get nervous is when they say they do not do returns.