Spare a grade: ASM 300 | CBCS Comics

I called CGC about the giveback benefit. 1.13K	1.13K beastboy1980 private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 0
	Quote: Originally Posted by Davethebrave I think the idea that anything “needs” to be graded is funny. I am often stuck between grading or not grading and because I collect for the long run, things like TATs absolutely play a role. Now, for what it means when selling or buying, I am reluctant to spend much more than $x on an ungraded book. For me my upper tolerance is probably a couple thousand unless I know or trust the seller a lot. Of course I also ask myself why someone didnt get the book graded prior to selling(since they could have sold for more $$). If in a bubble market like today for some books (<cough> Marvel<cough>, I might not want to deal with a 6 month TAT on some books that I have raw and could get silly $ for immediately (one example). Because tomorrow is tomorrow and maybe it won’t be worth nearly that much. There is also the cost (actual time and actual $). So it is not a “frictionless” or pure arbitrage to use trader-speak… there are costs and risks. And, yes, ASM300 is a ridiculously overpriced book for something that probably has 50-100k+ copies that would grade 9.0+. I would sell copies raw for a reasonable price all day long (and if I had to buy the book despite the silly pricing, I would likely find a raw copy too). No offense intended btw, I buy massively overpriced books too sometimes ;-) As for its grade, I would say 80% probability will grade 9.2+ based on the photos but only 5% of 9.6. Hard to tell off just those photos…so probably 100% my estimates are wrong a few years back i was in the process of buying a amazing spider-man annual 1 from a comic store in ny i wont name names. but nice guy and all i said we both agreed on price and i said would it be possible if i send it in to cgc right here you pack it up and i will pay so they can run restoration check. i dont want to take comic home then send it off so there is no trust . he passed up on it. said no and was annoyed with me. i said ill pay you now for it and the grade but i want to send it off to have restoration check.
	3 years ago	Post 29 • IP flag post

@beastboy1980 That is the best thing about CBCS and CGC (though I also really like CBCS’ sig verification too!) They help validate certain elements of authenticity.

There is a risk/reward element of buying ungraded books and their pricing reflects that. Like I said, there are frictions and costs and so it isn’t as clear cut as you suggested. I have some raw books that I have virtually zero doubt are completely unaltered. Virtually zero is good enough spread across many books as I diversify away the risk of me missing something.

It is the equivalent of self-insuring. I cannot comfortabky self insure on a $10k book purchase as one mess-up will cost me a lot of what is “gained” other “good deals” … so I cap what I am willing to risk in a single purchase for a raw book. My cap may be higher than most and much much lower than some people.

Also, the cost/benefit of someone doing undisclosed restoration work that is so good that it takes a keener eye than mine to discover is usually only worth attempting at higher price points …AND if truly done well, honestly is not as big a deal anyways.

So the above is my logic. I DO see books that start creeping into mid high price points that do look suspect and I avoid. But am I comfortable buying a raw book from MCS or something like that? Or a dealer I have a relationship with? Or some older chap that has a collection dating back decades and is now unloading (and not going to go through all the “newfangled” efforts to grade)? Absolutely - and I have had tremendous success getting some incredible books this way.

Collector 8	8 shonuff444 private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 4
	This was my book. I didn't grade it because I just didn't feel like waiting for it to come back. I bought it raw from my LCS for a great price. This is probably like the fifth or sixth copy I've had over the years, and it's not a book that I need in my collection at this point. Also, as someone pointed out earlier, I'd rather use the money now since I've been buying a ton of stuff recently than wait for weeks/months to get it back and then sell it. I've primarily been using my comics to fund my sports cards purchases. (I don't post much, if ever, on these boards, but I do follow them.)
	3 years ago	Post 26 • IP flag post

" . " 15.33K	15.33K Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 1
	I think the idea that anything “needs” to be graded is funny. I am often stuck between grading or not grading and because I collect for the long run, things like TATs absolutely play a role. Now, for what it means when selling or buying, I am reluctant to spend much more than $x on an ungraded book. For me my upper tolerance is probably a couple thousand unless I know or trust the seller a lot. Of course I also ask myself why someone didnt get the book graded prior to selling(since they could have sold for more $$). If in a bubble market like today for some books (<cough> Marvel<cough>, I might not want to deal with a 6 month TAT on some books that I have raw and could get silly $ for immediately (one example). Because tomorrow is tomorrow and maybe it won’t be worth nearly that much. There is also the cost (actual time and actual $). So it is not a “frictionless” or pure arbitrage to use trader-speak… there are costs and risks. And, yes, ASM300 is a ridiculously overpriced book for something that probably has 50-100k+ copies that would grade 9.0+. I would sell copies raw for a reasonable price all day long (and if I had to buy the book despite the silly pricing, I would likely find a raw copy too). No offense intended btw, I buy massively overpriced books too sometimes ;-) As for its grade, I would say 80% probability will grade 9.2+ based on the photos but only 5% of 9.6. Hard to tell off just those photos…so probably 100% my estimates are wrong
	3 years ago	Post 27 • IP flag post

" . " 15.33K	15.33K Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 4
	@beastboy1980 That is the best thing about CBCS and CGC (though I also really like CBCS’ sig verification too!) They help validate certain elements of authenticity. There is a risk/reward element of buying ungraded books and their pricing reflects that. Like I said, there are frictions and costs and so it isn’t as clear cut as you suggested. I have some raw books that I have virtually zero doubt are completely unaltered. Virtually zero is good enough spread across many books as I diversify away the risk of me missing something. It is the equivalent of self-insuring. I cannot comfortabky self insure on a $10k book purchase as one mess-up will cost me a lot of what is “gained” other “good deals” … so I cap what I am willing to risk in a single purchase for a raw book. My cap may be higher than most and much much lower than some people. Also, the cost/benefit of someone doing undisclosed restoration work that is so good that it takes a keener eye than mine to discover is usually only worth attempting at higher price points …AND if truly done well, honestly is not as big a deal anyways. So the above is my logic. I DO see books that start creeping into mid high price points that do look suspect and I avoid. But am I comfortable buying a raw book from MCS or something like that? Or a dealer I have a relationship with? Or some older chap that has a collection dating back decades and is now unloading (and not going to go through all the “newfangled” efforts to grade)? Absolutely - and I have had tremendous success getting some incredible books this way.
	3 years ago	Post 30 • IP flag post

Collector 3.1K	3.1K Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 1
	@Davethebrave - Well said my friend!
	3 years ago	Post 31 • IP flag post

Spare a grade: ASM 30015277