AFA Grading

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Originally Posted by Skullcruncher

Well with tape sealed ones you know someone hasn't swapped parts out at some stage, they look great on display, the UV cases means you can almost display them anywhere with worry of someone doing damage (unless the drop it lol), the box art looks super shiny and you have something that is over 25 years in its original condition and giving the best chance to last another 25 years.

I collect both MIB and MISB figures - display wise there is no comparison.

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While it's clear we won't agree on the subject, it's been interesting reading your opinions & that of others & the reasoning behind your choices.

The original question was for re-issues. It's more acceptable to have this for original G1.

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Originally Posted by Skullcruncher

So first world explotation? :D There is no conspiracy, just market forces.

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Well I never said it was conspiratorial; doesn't have to be. But first world exploitation.. yep, I'd have to agree with that. ;)

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Originally Posted by Skullcruncher

I just did a quick search for AFA 85 and AFA 90 MISB or MOSC vintage items less than 100 over many toy lines, hardly saturation. Something at saturation would be a G1 encore hoist or ironhide. Can hardly give those things away.

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Of course... the market isn't fully saturated - yet. Hopefully, it will never reach that point. But the option of buying certain ungraded rare toys is becoming more and more difficult, as they receive the AFA treatment, one by one. Whilst I understand that this may not be an issue for many collectors, it is to me.

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Originally Posted by Megatron

Of course... the market isn't fully saturated - yet. Hopefully, it will never reach that point. But the option of buying certain ungraded rare toys is becoming more and more difficult, as they receive the AFA treatment, one by one. Whilst I understand that this may not be an issue for many collectors, it is to me.

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Indeed - the option of buying certain rare toys is becoming more and more difficult

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Originally Posted by jazzcomp

The original question was for re-issues. It's more acceptable to have this for original G1.

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I've long forgotten how this even started :D

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Originally Posted by Skullcruncher

Indeed - the option of buying certain rare toys is becoming more and more difficult

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That... goes without saying. :rolleyes:

This topic heated up quickly, and to be honest it's a good one to talk about. I stand by my intial post, but to be honest if I had an AFA graded G1 Optimus MISB I'd be bloody stoked, they do display great in the acrylic case there's no doubt about it.
It's fair that AFA items are higher in price than non AFA mainly due to the expense of getting the item to and from tha AFA, the cost of "grading" and the cost of mounting the item in the case. I think I looked into it once and I just thought what a rip off, so perhaps someone can give us an idea of total cost involved in getting something graded. (Sorry if this has been mentioned, I scimmed a few posts after a while) :p

Anyway this has ignited some passion which I love to see, two threads in a week, first Bidoof's what to do with an MISB present one and now this, it was definitley a full moon week :D:D

AFA grading is completely lost on me as I open everything I get (Sooner or later :o) and display it. This also includes any G1 items:D. I must admit I just haven't had the heart to open my Ramhorn & Eject packet which I bought about 12 or more years ago for $30.00;):). AFA grading re-release items seems even more pointless than G1's but each to their own and who knows 15-20 years down the track if your looking at making money out of your collection this may be the way to go.

And thats the thing, in 20 years time, those case fresh reissues that have been sealed all those years might be worth 1000% more than what the person paid today.

I'll find an old invoice this weekend and post it up.

Long term there would be no point in hanging onto(as an investment) the graded items as there will be less people who would want to buy at todays prices. There is a huge jump from an 80 to and 85 and then again to an 90.

For example 90 Megatron - 15K+, 85 would be 5-10K while an 80 would be around 2K. These are the current 'going rates' there will always be sellers who try and sell for more.

Or maybe Hoist 90 ($1000) 85 ($750) and 80 ($500). So how desirable the toy is makes a big difference.

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Originally Posted by Skullcruncher

I'll find an old invoice this weekend and post it up.

Long term there would be no point in hanging onto(as an investment) the graded items as there will be less people who would want to buy at todays prices. There is a huge jump from an 80 to and 85 and then again to an 90.

For example 90 Megatron - 15K+, 85 would be 5-10K while an 80 would be around 2K. These are the current 'going rates' there will always be sellers who try and sell for more.

Or maybe Hoist 90 ($1000) 85 ($750) and 80 ($500). So how desirable the toy is makes a big difference.

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$15K for a toy is ridiculous. I put it in the same boat as paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Phase 3 GTHO. Yeah sure it was a nice car in its day, but what are you going to do with it?

Glad to see that these are problems I'll never have. I don't even keep the boxes :D

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Originally Posted by Trent

$15K for a toy is ridiculous. I put it in the same boat as paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for a Phase 3 GTHO. Yeah sure it was a nice car in its day, but what are you going to do with it?

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I sometimes wonder, why have a big ass collection of anything, but I can go into my toy room and just sit there and look and it makes me happy, so what I do with it is love it in a sense.

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Originally Posted by Jetfire in the sky

I sometimes wonder, why have a big ass collection of anything, but I can go into my toy room and just sit there and look and it makes me happy, so what I do with it is love it in a sense.

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To each their own obviously, but I personally couldn't own a fast car and not drive it. Just like I couldn't own a TF and keep it MISB. To me it defeats the purpose because the main thing as an adult that draws me to TFs is the engineering involved in them. Yes the characters, history and mythos (my nostalgia factor, if you will) no doubt play an equally big part but I wouldn't collect them if all I could do with them is stare at the box. To me that's unthinkable. But I understand that others have other motivations for collecting and so I respect their decisions.



Doesn't mean that I can't make fun of all you box collectors though. :p

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Originally Posted by Trent

Doesn't mean that I can't make fun of all you box collectors though. :p

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LOL :D:D

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

Or you could just not let other people into your collection room without your presence. My own family doesn't access my TF room unless I'm there (it's locked when I go to work). But more importantly... people you live with should be able to respect your toys to not go about dropping it. My infant daughter knows how to handle my toys with care, even G1s -- she's been like that since she was 2... and I've never had to teach her how to handle toys properly. It's probably from watching me play w/ my toys with care instead of bashing them around. Mind you... she can sometimes play with her own non-TF toys quite violently, but she's always VERY careful with the Transformers! :p

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Judging from Skullcruncher's response, I evidently haven't articulated my intended meaning (suffering pneumonia for the past 3 days hasn't helped), so please allow me to clarify what I meant to say...

I was suggesting that an alternative to using acrylic cases to protect your toys might be:
+ supervision of children
+ where the child may have regular access to your room (e.g. is living with you), ensure that the child has a healthy respect for toys, which I think is a good thing to have anyway. ;)

The reason why my TF room is locked and other people aren't allowed in there when I'm not present is because it's a legal requirement of my NSW Gun TF permit. My wife does have a spare key should she need to access that room (usually to chuck in my TF clothes separated from the laundry). I do all the cleaning/maintenance of that room (it's just easier that way ;)). If my daughter wants to go in that room it would be to access the Happy Meal and PlaySkool/Tonka TFs that she likes to play with, then my wife will allow her to do that. She just goes in and takes the toys she wants to play with them somewhere else. :)

I hope that clarified the original intention of my previous clumsily worded post. :o And I can see that while acrylic cases are more costly, it does add extra security for each individual toy as it would provide a constant and more hassle-free form of individual protection for the toys. :)

^ It's your house. You don't need to justify to any nay sayers on who is allowed into your treasured room (I bet there's a treasure trove of goodies :)). Enough said on that matter.

Good to hear your little one appreciates & cherishes TF toys. I dropped my Fort Max Reissue box on the first day and damaged one of the corners. Me bad.:p

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Originally Posted by Skullcruncher

You sound like you have put the fear of death into your daughter regarding your collection room so no wonder she plays with transformers carefully.

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Hahahahahahahah No thats me. MMmmmm Hey kids touch my stuff and lean all about the fear of death. Now go find me something to beat you with. So growing up with grumpy crazy daddy they know to look but dont touch. Bwhahahahahah My bulk of the collection in locked up. I have the only key. I dont care if the kids go in. Its only locked when im out.

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Originally Posted by Megatran

^ It's your house. You don't need to justify to any nay sayers on who is allowed into your treasured room (I bet there's a treasure trove of goodies :)). Enough said on that matter.

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+1