Would you trust Mile High's grading???

[toz1960]

...On a Golden Age book? Here's the deal.I've got my eye on a book they have graded VG and priced about $17 below guide. All I have ever delt with them on is mostly modern books under $5 and the stray Bronze that was fairly cheap.On these they run about 80-90% accurate with most NM books being VF/NM and up catching a generic,first glance type grading deal.

I really want this book bad.They had it for $100 for a long time and have cut the price down nearly 50%.It's fairly rare but not so rare one doesn't come up about once every couple of months.

If you've purchased older books from them,give me some feedback on your experience.

[grininbarrett]

I haven't bought from them in years. So take this for what it is worth.
From anecdotal evidence, I would not buy a book graded NM from them, that I ONLY wanted in NM. (Especially Bronze or newer)
That said, I think you are far better off with an older book they have graded VG.

[habib]

From what most people say it is a crap shoot with them.....so you may or may not get an accurate grade.

That being said if it is a book you want that is pretty scarce then it may be worth a shot.....

[korfcomicsgroup]

I would think that you would be pretty safe with a VG grade. If it's rare and the price is right, I say go for it.

[Drakesfuture]

Always sketchy with MileHigh. I have found that they almost always overgrade AND overcharge. That being said their one virtue is their incredible stock--and, in this case, if they have a book you've been having trouble finding and the price is right--go for it.

[toz1960]

There are 2 up on ebay right now.The MH copy in VG and one CGC 6.0 with about a week left.I think I'll place a bid on the slabbed copy(low ball of course) and then when I get outbid I'll pick up the VG copy.If it's still there.If not,I'll live.

[nocutename]

There are 2 up on ebay right now.The MH copy in VG and one CGC 6.0 with about a week left.I think I'll place a bid on the slabbed copy(low ball of course) and then when I get outbid I'll pick up the VG copy.If it's still there.If not,I'll live.

I would bid up to or just over the price of the MH copy. BTW, is that on sale at MH or a permanent price reduction? I remember watching a few books last year on MH and the prices kept jumping around even without sale annoucements. They really must have something wrong with their pricing software.

[toz1960]

I would bid up to or just over the price of the MH copy. BTW, is that on sale at MH or a permanent price reduction? I remember watching a few books last year on MH and the prices kept jumping around even without sale annoucements. They really must have something wrong with their pricing software.
That's what I had planned,maybe a few dollars more.I don't expect to win it cause it's a $130 book in grade & cgc books usually bring close to guide on GA books.

Not sure if it's a sale but it's a 30 day listing.

[malaprop]

I'm not sure I would trust them to actually send me the book in the scan.

[toz1960]

I'm not sure I would trust them to actually send me the book in the scan.
Actually they tell you right up front it's a stock scan they use.On this one,it's fairly obvious as the scan is of a much nicer copy.Odds are this is the only copy of this book they have.

[nocutename]

I am not sure where they get their scans from but I have ordered from them where they used a stock scan and the book I received was not the same. I didn't think it would be either. Anyway it was a .10¢ romance book and listed as a Fine. When I received the book I was pleasantly surprised that it was in grade and presented nicely. It was not an expensive book either probably around $6.00.

[malaprop]

I know they warn you up front, which is why I even mentioned it, but I still don't like it. Comic books, at least older collectible ones, are not a fungible commodity. We're not buying a 5 lb bag of sugar here. The exact condition of the exact book I'm buying is what I care about, not what a "typical" one looks like. So I won't be buying any issues of My Little Margie from Mile High anytime soon.

[toz1960]

I know they warn you up front, which is why I even mentioned it, but I still don't like it. Comic books, at least older collectible ones, are not a fungible commodity. We're not buying a 5 lb bag of sugar here. The exact condition of the exact book I'm buying is what I care about, not what a "typical" one looks like. So I won't be buying any issues of My Little Margie from Mile High anytime soon.

I've also wondered if I email them and ask for a scan of this copy if they would actually do it?Hmmm,Think I'll try it.

[toz1960]

Well I pulled the trigger on the book from Mile High.It was an Ideal Comics #1 in VG for $58.50.The graded copy went for a little over $100.A good price as it was about a $150 book.

Which brings me to this observation.As far as GA and probably SA books,low and high grade seem to sell for book price or better.People either seem to want a high grade investment or a low buck reader.The Fines to VF/NM always seem to sell for less than guide,graded or not.At least the books I'm chasing anyway.Keys probably don't fit into the secenario,but for the average older books,it seems to be the case.

Any thoughts?

[nocutename]

I don't know the answers as GA and SA are out of my reach but I am curious what you get. Post the book when it in.

[malaprop]

BTW, which series are you talking about? Is it the first series, 1944 funny animal, or second series, 1948 Classical comics? I assume it's the latter, which is more collectible (and worth more).

[toz1960]

BTW, which series are you talking about? Is it the first series, 1944 funny animal, or second series, 1948 Classical comics? I assume it's the latter, which is more collectible (and worth more).

Latter series.I can tolerate most any genre but funny animal.#1 is Anthony and Cleopatra.

Here's the GCD scan
http://images.comics.org//img/gcd/covers_by_id/215/w400/215229.jpg?-7749929285415316296 (http://www.comicscorral.com/issue/233805/)

[illuminated]

Which brings me to this observation.As far as GA and probably SA books,low and high grade seem to sell for book price or better.People either seem to want a high grade investment or a low buck reader.The Fines to VF/NM always seem to sell for less than guide,graded or not.At least the books I'm chasing anyway.Keys probably don't fit into the secenario,but for the average older books,it seems to be the case.

Any thoughts?


You are correct. Mid-grade is where there are the deepest discounts, and seems to have been this way for some time. This likely means that mid-grade books are all overpriced in guides, that we should perhaps have a hockey stick curve. My best guess (and probaby a bad one) is that prices on the mid-grade books might actually increase, if this were the case, as they could seem like undervalued books at lower guide prices. Thought I'm quite pleased when a VF or better oldie falls into my lap, I'm quite content to be a VG-F collector, as I get decent deals, and they're solid books.

The reader market is always weird. Even in moderns. People often pay about the same for readers as others pay for mid-grade books. It's like it's two differnet buyer segments, arriving at similar valuartions for very different books.

[grininbarrett]

With rarer books the demand curve is going to make those in uber high grade extremely expensive and once the limited number of people willing to pay those prices have their copy, the price is going to plummet. Thus the reason why mid grades don't command too much of a premium over readers (especially if you look long enough)

[habib]

Chuck is at the Motor City Con buying box after box of cheap stuff!

[marvelguy]

Chucky is still at it? I've seen him at a Raleigh hotel con. There was like 6 tables there and yet still gets them....

[toz1960]

Got the book today and I must say.I'm impressed.It looks much better than I expected.I'll post a scan later in the What have you won thread.Kudos to Chuck!!!!!

[illuminated]

Glad to hear that. The gamble pays off. Congrats!

(Would be just as simple to post it here, as well.)

[toz1960]

Glad to hear that. The gamble pays off. Congrats!

(Would be just as simple to post it here, as well.)
I'll do that.