AFA grading how does it work?

[Jedi83]

Hi all,

I keep seeing all this AFA graded figures etc and was just wondering how it all works? How much does it cost etc. Does sombody have a job valuating vintage starwars items all day? Couldent be a bad job checking out all them mint condition items. Who started it all off?

 

[craignwo4life]

Here's their website:

http://www.toygrader.com/

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

In short, one of the guys who started it was a chap called Tom Derby. He used to own Cloud City Collectables and so had seen just about everything going in all sorts of conditions. He now authenticates the rarer or trickier stuff for AFA through another spin-off company called CIB (Collectable Investment Bureau).

AFA are just graders (although they are trained to reject recards, reseals, repros etc). As an example you send them a carded figure and it costs about £20 plus postage for them to give a grade to the card, figure and bubble, plus an overall grade. They then seal the figure in an acrylic case to help preserve it.

A lot of collectors don't like it as they don't see why they should pay someone else to judge their figures. On the other hand it can make buying figures without seeing them in person a little easier (AFA is no substitute for proper research though). Its all down to preference. The Americans in particular can argue for hours about it :lol:

 

[mr_palitoy]

How long is the turn round time if you go for the cheapest turn round time?
AFA acknowledged receipt of my item about 5 weeks ago now.

cheers


Jason

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

30-40 working days for a carded figure on the cheapest scale.

 

[weasel]

30-40 working days for a carded figure on the cheapest scale.

That's quick!
WTF do they do with your item for that length of time? Set it in a pile with all the others that arrive that day and ignore it?

Any idea how many graders there are at AFA?

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

There must be at least 5-6 full time graders, maybe more.
I think they do set it aside until it ready for its grading 'window' 30 days in and then it gets done as and when they can. I always go for express if I want to see something reasonably quickly. The items value also limits what you can submit on which service which is bollocks imo.

 

[tiefighterboy]

The Americans in particular can argue for hours about it :lol:

Only the most anal american star wars collectors of which most post on Rebel scum. Oh and try not to disagree with them as the only way they know how to deal with an opposing opinion is to get thier MODS to boot you :twisted: :evil: :twisted:

 

[tiefighterboy]

30-40 working days for a carded figure on the cheapest scale.

That's quick!
WTF do they do with your item for that length of time? Set it in a pile with all the others that arrive that day and ignore it?

Figure out evil ways of how to remove minty figures from your carded and replace them with less minty figures and do a seamless reseal.....Oh and take several coffee breaks and look at porn (Watch out for sticky finger prints on graded stuff :lol: )

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

The Americans in particular can argue for hours about it :lol:

Only the most anal american star wars collectors of which most post on Rebel scum. Oh and try not to disagree with them as the only way they know how to deal with an opposing opinion is to get thier MODS to boot you :twisted: :evil: :twisted:

Yep sorry, I shouldn't generalise :wink: You're right though, having an opinion can be dangerous on there sometimes :roll:

 

[weasel]

....having an opinion can be dangerous on there sometimes :roll:

No, no, your allowed an opinion, it just HAS TO BE the same as theirs! :roll:

 

[tiefighterboy]

....having an opinion can be dangerous on there sometimes :roll:

No, no, your allowed an opinion, it just HAS TO BE the same as theirs! :roll:

Hit that right on the ****in nose......Bastards :evil:

 

[tiefighterboy]

Back to the subject. I do not use AFA and feel confident I know the grade of my collectibles, but for some people It is a way to assure they are getting a legitimate product and that it is fairly graded especially when making a great monitary purchase via ebay(Twats!). Just my opinion, which you can freely express here.

 

[Ron]

AFA stuff just cost more. Its bad for the bank balance. My whold collection is now AFA

 

[tiefighterboy]

AFA stuff just cost more. Its bad for the bank balance. My whold collection is now AFA

Ron...you must be loaded

 

[mr_palitoy]

Ok, just got an email saying that they have shipped a package back to me. Do I have to wait until it arrives before I found out how it graded or is there a way of finding out online?

cheers

Jason

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

They should be able to give you a run down of the grades from their system. They will just need the submission number. What did you get graded?

 

[mr_palitoy]

A minty Palitoy 45C Walrusman. Do I have to call them up to get that info?

cheers

Jason

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

No, just email them, they usually get back pretty quickly. I think they can call it up by name of customer as well. I was speaking with Tom Derby a while back and he had his computer on (which must link into the AFA system) and he ran through the grades of one of my submissions without me giving him any numbers.

 

[mr_palitoy]

I emailed them yesterday. Waiting on a reply.

Jason