AFA Grading

[iamirondude]

i agree but as they say"a fool and his money are soon parted." i just don't understand how a misb item can be twice the price of the same misb item that hasn't been sent to AFA. i've also heard of horror stories of AFA actually damaging and opening vintage misb items and then not bothering to compensate the owner and of actually grading KO items too(if they claim that they are the toy authority, then they should of been able to pick them up straight away).

[Skullcruncher]

i agree but as they say"a fool and his money are soon parted." i just don't understand how a misb item can be twice the price of the same misb item that hasn't been sent to AFA. i've also heard of horror stories of AFA actually damaging and opening vintage misb items and then not bothering to compensate the owner.

lol I've heard horror stories of kids opening G1 transformers back in the 80's. Stuff that nightmares are made of. Even worse of so called collectors swapping out accessories and putting them with transformers that are in better condition and then even selling them on! Call the police!!!

The debate could go on for ever so I'll just post this and see how many members get their undies in a twist.

[iamirondude]

lol I've heard horror stories of kids opening G1 transformers back in the 80's. Stuff that nightmares are made of. Even worse of so called collectors swapping out accessories and putting them with transformers that are in better condition and then even selling them on! Call the police!!!

The debate could go on for ever so I'll just post this and see how many members get their undies in a twist.

don't do that. you'll cause a riot. what i can't understand tho is that how can a piece that is AFA graded can go for 3 or 4 times the amount of the ungraded item(even if the ugraded item is in better shape).i can understand that you've gotta put a premium on top for the grading but won't it be just the same as going down to the local hardware and getting the perspex your self?

[Jetfire in the sky]

don't do that. you'll cause a riot. what i can't understand tho is that how can a piece that is AFA graded can go for 3 or 4 times the amount of the ungraded item(even if the ugraded item is in better shape).i can understand that you've gotta put a premium on top for the grading but won't it be just the same as going down to the local hardware and getting the perspex your self?

LOL

AFA is a load of balls, when I first learned about them, I thought, yeah thats cool. But then I really thought about, and I wondered, who has made them an "authority"? Themselves and those who believe they have authority (the consumers) thats who.
I purchsed an MOSC Rippersnapper once and the card and bubble are sweet as, but it had been sent to AFA and deemed ungradable because there were some staple holes in the card that had been dotted in with black marker, the item is still in it's acrylic prison but I got it at a steal because nobody bidded on it due to its ungraded status. Crazy!! Its still an MOSC G1!!

[Skullcruncher]

AFA is a load of balls, when I first learned about them, I thought, yeah thats cool. But then I really thought about, and I wondered, who has made them an "authority"? Themselves and those who believe they have authority (the consumers) thats who.
I purchsed an MOSC Rippersnapper once and the card and bubble are sweet as, but it had been sent to AFA and deemed ungradable because there were some staple holes in the card that had been dotted in with black marker, the item is still in it's acrylic prison but I got it at a steal because nobody bidded on it due to its ungraded status. Crazy!! Its still an MOSC G1!!

Ha you might have purchased that from me - to me if its been touched up its not Mint any more so its OSC - thats the same as the criteria for AFA.

[Sinnertwin]

LOL

AFA is a load of balls, when I first learned about them, I thought, yeah thats cool. But then I really thought about, and I wondered, who has made them an "authority"? Themselves and those who believe they have authority (the consumers) thats who.
I purchsed an MOSC Rippersnapper once and the card and bubble are sweet as, but it had been sent to AFA and deemed ungradable because there were some staple holes in the card that had been dotted in with black marker, the item is still in it's acrylic prison but I got it at a steal because nobody bidded on it due to its ungraded status. Crazy!! Its still an MOSC G1!!

It's so simple in it's execution, isn't it? Anybody with eyes, internet access & an opinion can be a toy grader. There's no recognized university degree that i'm aware of that you have to complete successfully, in order to display a diploma behind your desk that reads:

Jetfire In The Sky
Master Toy Grader

[Skullcruncher]

It's so simple in it's execution, isn't it? Anybody with eyes, internet access & an opinion can be a toy grader. There's no recognized university degree that i'm aware of that you have to complete successfully, in order to display a diploma behind your desk that reads:

Jetfire In The Sky
Master Toy Grader

Its the same with many different types of appraisers. Insurance assessors quite often don't even know what they are valuing for insurance assessments/claims.

AFA is the only company really in the game and they get plenty of business so you can sit there and mock them and the collectors that like the service, but their making money and the haters, well they just continue to get even more bitter.

[Sinnertwin]

Rather than mock and be bitter about it, i'd like to know what you find appealing about having and/or dealing with figures that have been graded?

[Gouki]

Its the same with many different types of appraisers. Insurance assessors quite often don't even know what they are valuing for insurance assessments/claims.

AFA is the only company really in the game and they get plenty of business so you can sit there and mock them and the collectors that like the service, but their making money and the haters, well they just continue to get even more bitter.

I've never seen an insurance assessor claim to know about the items they're appraising. Only about the type of insurance you're claiming against. I've seen AFA claim to know a lot about toys.

So they have a monopoly and can do what they want with no reprecussions, but fooling a few fans with more money than sense? It's great that you like them, and if you have the cash awesome (wouldn't you rather just get a bunch of MISB stuff for a fraction of the price?), but let's not pretend they're doing anything other than what they're doing; sticking toys in plastic cases to make themselves some high profit margins.

[Megatron]

If any seller believes that they can make some money by placing an item in an acrylic case, getting it graded, attaching a sticker & outrageous price tag to it, they will.
Star Wars, G.I.Joe, G1 or reissue MISB/MIB/MOSC/Loose etc, they're all part of this scam of perceived value that the AFA has created.
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/t...template=65827

i agree but as they say"a fool and his money are soon parted." i just don't understand how a misb item can be twice the price of the same misb item that hasn't been sent to AFA. i've also heard of horror stories of AFA actually damaging and opening vintage misb items and then not bothering to compensate the owner and of actually grading KO items too(if they claim that they are the toy authority, then they should of been able to pick them up straight away).

+1

AFA grading is a scam, as far as I'm concerned.

I would buy one of the MISB original G1 Jazz's that are on eBay at the moment in a heart beat, if it weren't for the fact that they have been AFA'ed. They've been there on eBay for months now. As much as I really, reaaaaallly want that collector's piece, I just can't bring myself to support that scam. Such a shame.