U Grade FAQ

shawn_k

Sith Lord
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
1,173
Location
U.S.
I've been working on this for a little while now and feel it is finally to the point where I can share it. However, it will probably go through a few more revisions, so if anyone has any ideas for additions/feedback, feel free to contact me.

I find the effects of the U grade sickening, as I know many others do, and when I did the actual number crunching I couldn't believe the results. I hope this will open some eyes to the situation. I'm not trying to bash the U collector, only to inform. It's what they do with that information that counts. I feel that with a web page on this issue I can reach out further to an audience that doesn't join in forum discussion. I hope to make a graphic that people can use in their auctions which they can use to link to the page.


Shawn's AFA FAQ
 

Capetown

Moderator
Staff member
Supporter
Joined
Oct 1, 2008
Messages
4,923
Location
Netherlands
shawn_k said:
I've been working on this for a little while now and feel it is finally to the point where I can share it. However, it will probably go through a few more revisions, so if anyone has any ideas for additions/feedback, feel free to contact me.

I find the effects of the U grade sickening, as I know many others do, and when I did the actual number crunching I couldn't believe the results. I hope this will open some eyes to the situation. I'm not trying to bash the U collector, only to inform. It's what they do with that information that counts. I feel that with a web page on this issue I can reach out further to an audience that doesn't join in forum discussion. I hope to make a graphic that people can use in their auctions which they can use to link to the page.


Shawn's AFA FAQ

Very well done Shawn.

This should be sticky'ed.
 

Paul-itoy

Jedi Knight
Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Messages
286
Location
West Yorkshire
An interesting read for sure.

Just looking at the numbers done in 2009 compared to 2010, it's pretty convincing that this isn't going away anytime soon.
 

spoons

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 22, 2006
Messages
8,314
really good site Shawn - very clearly done too

I'm shocked by those 2010 figures, that's a lot of baggies and cards :shock:
 

Lee Gregory

Sith Lord
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
1,466
Location
Jabba's palace
Shawn belting read and very informative have you posted this on RS and TIG.


It's one of the reasons I won't do business with certain people any longer , Robbie Mullan being one. Like you say it's their call but it's also my call who I do business with and I steer clear of folk who are killing the hobby.
 

ODB

Jedi Master
Joined
Jun 2, 2010
Messages
699
Thats a really informative article and shows that some people just don't care so long as they get what they want or can make a quick profit. Also shows where the AFA's priorities are.
 

tiefighterboy

Grand Master
Joined
Jan 22, 2008
Messages
11,131
Location
Michigan USA
It's all the truth Shawn. I mean I do not need AFA to tell me a figure is in mint shape when I can see it is sealed on a card or in a baggie. I also agree that even if it is a **** cardback, you destroy it's value to me by removing it from the card, thus destroying yet another sealed figure.
 

Paul-itoy

Jedi Knight
Joined
Aug 18, 2009
Messages
286
Location
West Yorkshire
tiefighterboy said:
I also agree that even if it is a **** cardback, you destroy it's value to me by removing it from the card, thus destroying yet another sealed figure.
Place a rough card in a Star Case and it gets a whole new lease of life. I'd much rather see that over a 'loose' figure anyday.
 

Vaders_Child

Padawan
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
180
Location
West Midlands
Very informative and truthfull site.
I used to be hooked on buying beater cards and sending them to afa,but now i wont do it as the damage done is not worth it.
I think U grading has had its day and the prices are dropping all the time,it was a new thing and a money spinner for a few but as with most things its dying off,the MOC rules and will always rule.
The outcome of all this will be that collectors will eventually have to pay inflated prices on moc's dependeing on popularity for vintage star wars collecting and depending on the strength of the vintage collectors market which has hit a low as of late.
The piece about the DT Vader and Ben has shocked me to the core as i did not think U grading could strike so low,but as has been proved there is nowt as queer as folk and the mind boggling things they will do.
 

weasel

Moderator
Staff member
Supporter
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
19,845
Location
My Island
Great effort Shawn, really hope this stops people going down the U root.

PS, I noticed one spelling mistake in the "Those examples are just basic figures. Is there any damage actually being done to anything rare?" second paragraph.

Ohh and I'll sticky this (If I can figure out how)
 

airjedijamie

Jedi Knight
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
288
i can go both ways on this i do have some u grades but i only get u grades if the card is ripped beyond help there was one carded figure i had i got a 4lom done as a u grade because some one had cut the empire logo and the name out of it but then i do have a lot of carded bits that i love and i got a ev9d9 on card but a mouse has had a bit out of the side of the card it got a low grade but i dont care it still a carded figure so
 

Justin H

Padawan
Joined
May 27, 2010
Messages
73
thats shocking how its increasing all the time, soon though there will be so many graded that the prices will not be worth grading them, i won,t be buying any
 

shawn_k

Sith Lord
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
1,173
Location
U.S.
weasel said:
Great effort Shawn, really hope this stops people going down the U root.

PS, I noticed one spelling mistake in the "Those examples are just basic figures. Is there any damage actually being done to anything rare?" second paragraph.

Ohh and I'll sticky this (If I can figure out how)

Cheers! and thanks for telling me about the mistake. I'll see if I can find it and get it fixed.

I just added another section at the bottom of the page directing the user to several of the threads where U grading has been discussed.

Thanks to everyone for the support. I've had a quite few good hits to the article since posting this a week ago. The next step for me is to get a banner created that can be used in ebay auctions to help get the word out to those not on forums. Anyone is free to link to the site.
 

tigerham

Sith Lord
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
3,164
As I didn't know anything about 'U' grades it's been very educational and know to steer well clear but to be hoenst they've never tickled my fancy :wink:

I think it sacrilege what people are doing, call themselves collectors... like mentioned, think they're just after a nice shiney case :evil:

Me? Yeah I go for graded MOC's for 2 main reasons, to know they're genuine and to preserve the beauty of they're original states as they came like off the production line... not loose in an acrylic case!

So thanks Shawn, well appreciated :)
 

shawn_k

Sith Lord
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
1,173
Location
U.S.
I'm sure some of you have seen the debate going on in the AFA section of RS.

At the request of another member, I've added a petition element to the bottom of the FAQ. I invite all who would like to see something done about the U grade to sign. It may not do much, but at least it could give them/us an actual idea of how many collectors do not agree with that part of their service.
 

tigerham

Sith Lord
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
3,164
Yeah cool, I'll sign. I have a U grade Speeder Biker but those U grades are different surely as they've been pulled from a Crate not a cardback!

Ham
 
Old Thread: Hello . There have been no replies in this thread for 365 days.
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.
Top Bottom