Comic Book Grading

[gmk51]

Do you have any opinions on comic book grading when selling on Ebay

The opinions that I read on the internet is that PGX over grades comics and CGC grading is more accurate.

My opinion is that CGC under grades comics and that PGX is the accurate grading.

Why is it assumed that if PGX grades a comic at 5 and CGC grades a comic at 4.5 that CGC ‘s rating is accurate.

It seems like a lot of the negative comments about PGX originated on the CGC message board. I guess if you want to eliminate your competition you make negative comments about them. If we don’t allow truthful competition in the market place we will just have to be satisfied with paying a company exorbitant prices to have our comics graded.

[doc-holmes]

Here's the issue with grading of any kind...it's just the opinion of the person looking at your item on any given day. Pick whichever seems to sell the best and go that way. 

[1786davycrockett]

I've been dealing in comics since the mid-1960s; so count me amongst the conservative bunch.

I simply do not agree with overlooking obvious flaws as a "simple matter of opinion."

[gsjrz_89]

I only started buying and selling slabbed comics a few months ago.

I had what I thought were my most valuable, rough estimate >$200, of my raw comics shipped 41 to CGC for grading. I found in a lot of cases that they their grade was lower than I expected, but I have no complaint. Nor do I have any opinion as between CGC and PGX.

But I’ve come to somewhat regret that I had them slabbed at all, and now I prefer to buy raw comics and avoid slabbed. 

It’s an aesthetic objection, I guess. Slabbed comics cannot be used for the purpose they are intended for. They are purely trade objects. You can never read them. I started collecting comics for fun, partly nostalgia trip. When the boxes came back from CGC, they felt dead.

 I recognize the benefits. The comic is preserved and protected. Its condition is established for trade purposes (obviously the buyer must rely on it, since he can’t see anything but the cover). This has commercial benefit; I think there’s generally around a 20% premium for CGC over raw in the market.

But when I buy a comic I want the possibility of opening it. It’s more fun to get it in the mail. On the selling side, I get to take some pride in grading it honestly and conservatively and describing its defects and taking good pictures. I accept the risk my buyer might complain, but it hasn’t happened yet and if it did, I could defend my description!

This is too long, sorry. I would love to see replies.

[pink_box_lady]

Hi, not sure if you are still wanting to continue this conversation but I have a few questions. What does slabbed mean? And I was trying to figure out if I’m supposed to have my few comic books that I have graded or not but I’m curious if I list them and I have not had them graded and they’re in perfect condition literally, I’ve never even taken them out of the package since the day I got them. Never have even read them. Completely forgot I had them. So do I take it out and take pictures of the inside pages to show that it’s in perfect condition or is that bad? 

[1786davycrockett]

@pink_box_lady 

Be aware that "perfect condition" is almost impossible to attain.

You may not be aware that scratches, indentations and rub-wear are all considered to be defects, which decreases the value of ANY item.

And don't forget about fingerprints, and mis-cut covers.

You can investigate a more realistic value of your comics, by checking out the extensive grading guide inside the latest Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, which you should be able to borrow from your local library, or purchase on-line or from most retail comic book stores.

Keep in mind, as well, that many contemporary comic books are liberally overvalued -- check out some serious "sold" prices before assuming that you're sitting on a goldmine:  Forty years ago, when I was working full-time at a comic book store, a friend of one of my co-workers brought in a long-box filled with long runs of various 1970s and 1980s Marvel titles -- all in what was described by the seller as "near mint" condition.  The seller was planning on attending college, and was all starry-eyed that his long box would pay for his four years in college.

However. . .when our corporate buyer examined the contents of the long box, the most that was offered was less than $100.00.  The reason why:  Overvalued and over-graded inventory, most of which was  also over-produced and thus over-abundant.

The seller was devastated that he had over-invested in what was largely useless inventory.  

And he also changed his college plans.

Collect and invest smartly.