What do you consider to be "High Grade"?6072
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 Why just the women? I like bears.
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Gaard private msg quote post Address this user | |
| More and more, people are saying that their books are high grade/mid grade/low grade. If there isn't a set grade range to equal these statements, like "high Grade" is from 8.5 to 10, it seems like these kind of statements would be very subjective. So, is there some kind of documented/accepted range, or is it simply dependent on the seller's opinion? |
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 Collector
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| This is very subjective. Also varies by age I would think. I would definitely consider 9.0 Golden Age to be in high grade, while last month’s issue in 9.0 not so much. For me (a golden and early silver age guy). I prefer my books in the 8.5 or better range. Other collectors will differ, of course: | ||
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JustABitEvil private msg quote post Address this user | |
| My peronal tiers go like: 1-3.x=Low 4-7.x=Mid 8-10=High |
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Collector
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I would put mid grade at 5-8. | ||
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 COLLECTOR
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Foghorn_Sam private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I would say once you get above 8.0-8.5, high grade is an acceptable adjective, as those books should have no major defects and have superior presentation. | ||
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VCBE private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Silver Age Books 8.0 - 9.0 High Grades 9.2 - 9.4 Very High Grades 9.6 - 9.8 Ultra High Grades |
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MR_SigS private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by michaelekrupp Pretty much how I see it. |
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Collector
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JustABitEvil private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by michaelekrupp You've seen my collection, I have low standards. |
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 COLLECTOR
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conditionfreak private msg quote post Address this user | |
| One man's trash is another man's treasure. In my opinion, it is based on rarity and age. A modern or copper in 9.2 is not high grade. Silver and bronze is high grade in 9.2 A golden age book in 7.5 is high grade. Most often, it depends on if you are buying or selling. |
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Good point conditionfreak | ||
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poka private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by VCBE Lol |
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Redshade private msg quote post Address this user | |
| On a numerical scale 1 to 3 is low. 4 to 6 is medium and 7 to 9 is high. Anything higher is a Unicorn We can all take a bunch of comics and place them in order of desirability but the subjective levels would vary. There should be no difference in grading criteria whether the book is GA or modern. Just saying. Others would disagree. |
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COLLECTOR
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Foghorn_Sam private msg quote post Address this user | |
| There are a lot of Unicorns for sale on eBay, Craigslist and such. | ||
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 Leftover Sundae Gnus
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CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user | |
I've collected quite a few unicorns. Alas, it's doubtful any were virgins when acquired.  It's probably a good idea to differentiate SA from GA when breaking down grade levels. There are just too many higher graded SA to modern books to not ratchet up high grade estimates to 9.0 or above. GA is another matter. In GA, the census numbers of known books in high grade ...or lack thereof... alter the collecting dynamic. I'm not suggesting that this criteria should impact numerical grade or the methods for third party grading, just collector expectations. So, from my perspective 8.5 and above is arguably high grade (with anything above 9.0 as exceptionally high), 7.5 & 8.0 are high mid-grades (that often appear better than grade, but usually have flaws that aren't immediately obvious), 5.0 to 7.0 are mid-grade books, 4.0 & 4.5 are typically lower mid-grades, 1.5 to 3.5 are low grades of varying degree (with rare exception, any book under 1.5 is mostly desirable as a reader copy). Of coarse, these are merely my informed opinions. Everyone's mileage varies and what constitutes a desirable book in any grade is a matter of eye appeal and personal taste. |
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Why just the women? I like bears.
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Gaard private msg quote post Address this user | |
| So, basically, what everyone is saying is that high/mid/low grade mean absolutely nothing when selling or buying comics. Buyer, "You had this comic listed as 'high grade', & it came back a 6.5, so you were wrong." Seller, "No I wasn't, A 6.5 is high grade in my opinion." Because there is no set standard on what constitutes high/mid/low grades, that scenario would be valid (regardless of the comic's era). |
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Leftover Sundae Gnus
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CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Gaard I wouldn't presume speaking for anyone, but your assertion fails to take into account two conflicting paradigms that surround all grading assessments: 1) What constitutes a high grade given the available copies of a book, and 2) how intangible value parameters are applied to any assigned grade (via personal evaluation or third party grading). Allow me to provide hypothetical examples of what I'm trying to describe... First, let's take a random SA book with numerous copies graded 9.0 and above (for this we'll assume there are sufficient third party graded copies to provide confidence in a reasonably accurate census accounting). With this as a reference, the term "high grade" would sync-up with the established 10 point grading criteria employed by third party grading companies. For my second example, let's consider a GA book that is both rare in certified numbers and non-existent in high grade as established by a general census of graded comics. If that book has no high grade examples, it would still have a highest graded copy status. From a numerical standpoint it would be arguably deceptive to call a mid-grade book "high grade", but not at all unfair to describe it as the highest graded copy or highest grade known to exist. The bottom line is that the term high grade has relevance, but it will mean different things to different collectors and it's significance varies with the book being evaluated. It also becomes fair game for buyers and sellers negotiating prices and in furtherance of debates/discussions on boards such as this. That's my 2 cents (inflation adjusted).   |
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 Ima gonna steal this and look for some occasion to use it!
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IronMan private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Low grade, mid grade, high grade are words, not grades. The hobby has two commonly accepted grading formats. Nomenclature (Good to Mint and all in between) and numeric 0-10 Terms like "low grade", "mid grade" and "high grade" have only a little more meaning grade wise than descriptions like "attractive", "pretty" and gorgeous". Obviously people shouldn't use "high grade" to describe a Good book nor mid grade to describe a Near Mint book. If sellers want to use terms that imply a grade range like low, mid and high grade, they really out to instead follow the nomenclature grades and describe them in ranges. The terms below are still ranges, not exact grades. But they also actually mean something grade wise. Most people can agree what grades actually fall into the ranges below. poor to fair range Good range Very Good range Fine Range Very Fine range Near Mint range Mint range When you see low, mid and high grade terms used on eBay it is often an attempt to appear to offer some guidance on the condition of the item for sale - but to do so in such a way as to discourage returns for "item not as described". Trying to avoid eBay returns with soft descriptions is a waste of time. 98% of the time eBay will side with the buyer with such returns. So sellers might as well "be the better person", smile and cheerfully take returns. |
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Logan510 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| My favorite is when sellers state " I'm not a professional grader" as a way of trying to get out of any responsibility. How about having the courage of your convictions or just not selling comics at all if you don't know how to grade? One does not have to be a paid professional to know how to grade properly. |
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doog private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I always include a grade when selling. I shoot for 1/2 grade lower than I actually think it is. The “not a graders” are lazy. Of course plenty of people post at best a 4 and call it fine. Crappy or good pictures are a purchasers best friend. | ||
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Leftover Sundae Gnus
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CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Logan510 Disclaimers like that should be a red flag. If you're in the business of selling comics for a living professionalism comes with the turf. The ideal business policy for a comic dealer would be to offer a fair return policy (90 days to 6 months) for sold raw books that come back in a lower grade from professional pre-screening or third party grading after purchase. I'm sure that there are reasonable arguments why this kind of ethical policy might be too Draconian for some comic dealers, but the overall benefit to customer relations would likely outweigh any inconvenience. |
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KingNampa private msg quote post Address this user | |
| When I sell Raws on eBay I always list the grade number. I also undergrade. I feel like saying mid grade or etc has too much room for misunderstandings. If I have 9.0 raw book for sale I will describe it as 8.0+. That way the customer is pleasantly surprised when they receive it and returns are a minimum. Under promise and over deliver is the key to customer satisfaction. | ||
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Collector
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Logan510 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by CatmanAmerica I could see offering a 90 day to 6 month policy if the book was graded and came back restored or something. But lets say I grade a raw book NM+ ( 9.6 ) and 6 months later the buyer tells me the book came back a 9.4? How am I supposed to know what was done to the book or how many people handled it that could potentially have caused it to drop...assuming I didn't overgrade it in the first place. |
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Leftover Sundae Gnus
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CatmanAmerica private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Logan510 In situations like that perhaps a partial discount or credit might be offered in lieu of a full refund with return of the book. Also, serious collectors don't tend to mishandle high grade books that are purchased raw. It just seems prudent for dealers to trust the integrity of their customers, unless the buyer's grading complaints become a pattern of behavior. The best reason for extending the refund or rebate time to six months is that even with an immediate submission the turn around times can occasionally lag. I'm not being critical here, you're raising good discussion points. |
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Ima gonna steal this and look for some occasion to use it!
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IronMan private msg quote post Address this user | |
| These long (six month) return times have way, way too many problems. Unless the seller submits the book for the buyer to the grading company at the time of purchase, seller has no idea that it's even the same book that he or she is being asked to take back. The grading companies do not publish a grading guide. There is no book or website with hundreds of pictures and detailed descriptions. Nor is unheard of for books that have been resubmitted and had NOTHING done to them to come back a higher or lower grade. The grading companies Explicitly DO NOT guarantee you'll get the same grade they gave the book before upon resubmission. So you are essentially suggesting a higher standard for grading for sellers of raw books than the professional grading companies hold themselves to. Depending on the book, a buyer may have as much in grading and shipping costs as the book cost. What about that? Finally - and this is IMHO most important. Professional grading companies exist because of the need for a widely accepted standard that assigns grade, includes a restoration check and provides superior long term protection from both handling and the environment. You suggest a standard where sellers of raw books are held to the same standards - actually a higher standard - as the sellers of professionally graded books. If you want professionally graded books - buy professionally graded books. If you want raw books - and 99.99% of the universe is raw - buy raw books. And if you want your raw books graded - they are YOUR raw books. It's owner of the books responsibility to look the book over, decide if it will meet your graded expectations. Not the person that sold it to you. If you don't like the way the RAW book you just bought looks - return it - raw - for a refund. If there is good reason to suspect outright fraud that is a different matter. But most people can't say most of the time if a book is 8.5 or 9.0-9.2. Most people including myself cannot reliably catch a small amount of professional color touch or a micro trim. THOSE are the things we pay the grading company for. NOT some store owner, not someone on eBay |
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