Wait til they start having people send in their sealed games so they can open them and give them and "uncirculated" grade. Thats when you will never get a deal on a sealed game again.
so your okay with sending your games out, risking the lost in mail option, risking the service screwing something up, then having to pay to get it in a little case and what some group of noob NES collectors think the rating is, and then waiting to get it back? Not being able to play the game unless you break the case open etc..
sounds like a annoyance to me.
It's not that I'm saying I would grade every game I buy raw. I just think that having a game already verified as being authentic and in the condition stated when I buy it without being able to look at it in person is helpful. Also being the fragile nature of the game boxes it insures the game will make it to me from the seller undamaged. I guess its because of my background in comics that I'm more open to grading then some other people are and that understandable. Like everyone else I really would be disappointed if this caused prices to go through the roof. I think my collecting habits for videogames will be similar to comics though. I end up buying certified more then not when I can't see the item in person or know the seller is reputable. If the seller is reputable I will usually buy raw and I always buy raw in person.
PS - http://www.vggrader.com/ now has submission forms up. The rest of the website is still being finalized from the looks of it, but they've thrown up some forms so that people can get started if they wish
So it looks like my three games will cost $24 each, plus $6.25 each to ship, so I'm dropping $100 after I pay to get them there in the first place. Ouch. That's a lot for something to sit on my shelf. In fact, that's about what I paid for them in the first place. And I've gotta wait 30-40 days. And they might "upgrade" me if they find my games are worth more than $200 FMV.
I just noticed something that might hurt their grading reputation. It seems you have to pay extra to have the case protect the game from UV light. This feature comes standard on CGC (Comic Book) cases and in my eyes is vital in insuring the accuracy of the grade as time goes by. Who is to say that some collector or store owner doesn't display their game in a sunny room and the box fades becuase it wasn't protected. Its still in its graded case with the grade asigned. The next person who buys it now has a game that isn't in the condition stated but is unaware becuase of the label. Anybody else have a major issue with this?
Interesting read... I'm not sure I agree with the charging 2.5% of "fair market value" for the Express Tier, as that's a value that's in constant flux. With comics and baseball cards, those values are a little more obtainable and concrete; with NES games, not so much. That said, who determines what FMV is for, say, a sealed Myriad? There's not much of a basis for comparison, as the last sealed one that sold was the one I purchased. Does that mean that's the value now? I think it's worth more than I paid at this point, but why would I divulge that information only to get slapped with a high grading price?
I was fairly open to the idea of grading before I read that price sheet. It kind of reminds me of eBay's methodology: nickle-and-dime them, and they won't notice. I can understand custom-sized casings costing more, UV cases costing more, faster shipping and turnaround times costing more, but what I don't understand is why value has anything to do with grading pricing, at least not in the video game realm. I'm new to the whole grading scene (entirely), so I'd imagine this is just something that qualifies as "that's just the way it is". Someone please explain the reasoning behind this -- I don't get it.
the % of market value thing I've seen in comics too... I guess the idea is that a really pricey item they will have to be extra careful with. Realistically, if they are grading a $10 comic or a $1,000,000 comic, there is a big difference in the amount of time they are going to take to make sure they get it right. Whether or not I agree with it I'm not sure. But they aren't the only ones doing this, I'll say that much. With comics I think its 2.5% subject to a $1k maximum grading fee, but there isn't a game out there at this point that would be worth enough to get to 1k anyway
I just noticed something that might hurt their grading reputation. It seems you have to pay extra to have the case protect the game from UV light. This feature comes standard on CGC (Comic Book) cases and in my eyes is vital in insuring the accuracy of the grade as time goes by. Who is to say that some collector or store owner doesn't display their game in a sunny room and the box fades becuase it wasn't protected. Its still in its graded case with the grade asigned. The next person who buys it now has a game that isn't in the condition stated but is unaware becuase of the label. Anybody else have a major issue with this?
I see UV protection as a big deal too - but isn't there some level of UV protection on the standard cases? If somebody has time we should call cust. service and ask
To some extent I can understand the 2.5% with comics, simply because you have to go through each page, etc. With a sealed game, even the most careful inspection would take, what, 10 minutes tops? Seriously, these are sealed games were talking about here. I feel that charging a fee like this makes them much less impartial than a grading service should be. It means they have a say in the value, and that's a slippery slope.
hmm good point. You're right, there isn't as much to verify. I don't know if vga works the same but with cgc (comics guys) they REALLY give you the benefit of the doubt on value. Like you got hundreds of dollars of cushion with cgc anyways. I don't have any experience with afa
I believe that they ask for a FMV fee because people are seeking to make money out of grading stuff. Considering that their services are enhancing the overall value of many sought after products, it may appear legitimate that they deserve a certain percentage on that value increase.
Personally, I see no real point in FMV fees. Plus, if I had to send them different games for grading I'd be expecting that every piece graded by them should deserve the same treatment, regardless of their absurd fair market value.
It's a slight mistake in their business model, since it gives good credible competition a foot in the door for high-end things.
That said, it's only slight since there really are only like six games that could even possibly be sealed that would be FMV $1000+ (F2, Myriad, Porn & SE...would a sealed Caltron even top this?) and the competition would need to be really good for anyone to want their game graded by "the other guys." Like CGC or PSA offering it.
So would DW3, FFF AW, DK Jr Math and the obvious others noted above.
A New Big Box Gyromite, BB2, DK3, Mario Bros Arcade, Bonks Adventure, Little Samson, Wrecking Crew, Zelda and a few others could possibly reach over 1k on a good day being graded
I ended up buying a Conan from them that was a VGA 85 as it was cheap. I put $0 value into the grade, but I was thinking an 85 would be really nice with only one or two, if any, flaws.
I ended up getting it for the same price it would have gone for ungraded (maybe even slightly less) so I was happy. Today it arrives and if this is an 85, I have some games that are in the 95-100 range. Flaws all over the place on this "85" copy. Nowhere near mint. If someone described this as mint in an auction, I would either be sending it back or complaining. I feel bad for the person who paid $320 or so for the Castlevania 2 that is a "90". They just paid over double the value for a copy that probably is nothing special at all.
If this is how they grade games, I certainly will never use their service and I don't see why anyone would. Maybe I just got unlucky and received a game that received a significantly higher grade than it should have (this should be a 70, MAYBE a 75 at most), but I will be avoiding graded games unless it is something I REALLY need (and even then, I will take the grade with a grain of salt and certainly not pay any extra for the case. The case IS pretty nice, though).
Thanks for posting this, now I'm actually curious to use the service again. I got sticker shock and backed out, but now I want to see what my Snow Brothers comes back as. It's flawless, but I was afraid of getting an 85 or something.
Wow, that's bad. They need to be doing their best work as this thing gets started, and this is a bad sign.
Here's something I've been thinking about. If I had some super-rare sealed game, there's no way I would send it through the mail for this service. Not only could it get lost or stolen en route, but it would be so easy for the game to incur even the slightest amount of damage on the way. And if they're really being as picky as they claim they are, that would make it a lower grade (not to mention damage my super-rare sealed game).
On the other hand, it sounds like they're not being that picky, so I guess it doesn't matter :-S
Can't beat the price, though. Really probably in line with what I received. Kind if disappointing, though, when you are expecting a really nice copy.
If it is flawless, Dangevin, I do not see how you could get anything lower than a 95. Will post pictures of the flaws when I can just to give you an idea of what an "85" really is.
I picked up the VGA 90 copy of Cobra Triangle and I have to agree their grading is loose. I would have thought it to be maybe a NM to NM+ copy but not NM/MT. Coming from comic collecting that is a near impossible grade to achieve and even the extremely slightest flaw can knock it down from that. Its a beautiful copy don't get me wrong but not NM/MT for sure.
Comments
so your okay with sending your games out, risking the lost in mail option, risking the service screwing something up, then having to pay to get it in a little case and what some group of noob NES collectors think the rating is, and then waiting to get it back? Not being able to play the game unless you break the case open etc..
sounds like a annoyance to me.
It's not that I'm saying I would grade every game I buy raw. I just think that having a game already verified as being authentic and in the condition stated when I buy it without being able to look at it in person is helpful. Also being the fragile nature of the game boxes it insures the game will make it to me from the seller undamaged. I guess its because of my background in comics that I'm more open to grading then some other people are and that understandable. Like everyone else I really would be disappointed if this caused prices to go through the roof. I think my collecting habits for videogames will be similar to comics though. I end up buying certified more then not when I can't see the item in person or know the seller is reputable. If the seller is reputable I will usually buy raw and I always buy raw in person.
so how do they grade genesis games in the clamshell case? wouldn't these get a much higher grade etc..
I think they only grade collectable games.
lol
PS - http://www.vggrader.com/ now has submission forms up. The rest of the website is still being finalized from the looks of it, but they've thrown up some forms so that people can get started if they wish
Rethinking.
I was fairly open to the idea of grading before I read that price sheet. It kind of reminds me of eBay's methodology: nickle-and-dime them, and they won't notice. I can understand custom-sized casings costing more, UV cases costing more, faster shipping and turnaround times costing more, but what I don't understand is why value has anything to do with grading pricing, at least not in the video game realm. I'm new to the whole grading scene (entirely), so I'd imagine this is just something that qualifies as "that's just the way it is". Someone please explain the reasoning behind this -- I don't get it.
I just noticed something that might hurt their grading reputation. It seems you have to pay extra to have the case protect the game from UV light. This feature comes standard on CGC (Comic Book) cases and in my eyes is vital in insuring the accuracy of the grade as time goes by. Who is to say that some collector or store owner doesn't display their game in a sunny room and the box fades becuase it wasn't protected. Its still in its graded case with the grade asigned. The next person who buys it now has a game that isn't in the condition stated but is unaware becuase of the label. Anybody else have a major issue with this?
I see UV protection as a big deal too - but isn't there some level of UV protection on the standard cases? If somebody has time we should call cust. service and ask
Personally, I see no real point in FMV fees. Plus, if I had to send them different games for grading I'd be expecting that every piece graded by them should deserve the same treatment, regardless of their absurd fair market value.
That said, it's only slight since there really are only like six games that could even possibly be sealed that would be FMV $1000+ (F2, Myriad, Porn & SE...would a sealed Caltron even top this?) and the competition would need to be really good for anyone to want their game graded by "the other guys." Like CGC or PSA offering it.
Narc VGA 85
Renegade VGA 90
Conan VGA 85
Ninja Gaiden II 85
Bucky O'Hare VGA 85
Cobra Triangle VGA 90
Metroid (Yellow Box) VGA 85
narc 41
renegade 88
conan 88
NG2 155
bucky 88
cobra 122
metroid 200
I also agree that paying a percentage seems a little unfair. Do you give them the value or do they have a set idea for each game?
DW4 sealed would bring in over 1k.
So would DW3, FFF AW, DK Jr Math and the obvious others noted above.
A New Big Box Gyromite, BB2, DK3, Mario Bros Arcade, Bonks Adventure, Little Samson, Wrecking Crew, Zelda and a few others could possibly reach over 1k on a good day being graded
I ended up getting it for the same price it would have gone for ungraded (maybe even slightly less) so I was happy. Today it arrives and if this is an 85, I have some games that are in the 95-100 range. Flaws all over the place on this "85" copy. Nowhere near mint. If someone described this as mint in an auction, I would either be sending it back or complaining. I feel bad for the person who paid $320 or so for the Castlevania 2 that is a "90". They just paid over double the value for a copy that probably is nothing special at all.
If this is how they grade games, I certainly will never use their service and I don't see why anyone would. Maybe I just got unlucky and received a game that received a significantly higher grade than it should have (this should be a 70, MAYBE a 75 at most), but I will be avoiding graded games unless it is something I REALLY need (and even then, I will take the grade with a grain of salt and certainly not pay any extra for the case. The case IS pretty nice, though).
~~NGD
Here's something I've been thinking about. If I had some super-rare sealed game, there's no way I would send it through the mail for this service. Not only could it get lost or stolen en route, but it would be so easy for the game to incur even the slightest amount of damage on the way. And if they're really being as picky as they claim they are, that would make it a lower grade (not to mention damage my super-rare sealed game).
On the other hand, it sounds like they're not being that picky, so I guess it doesn't matter :-S
That is the auction I won for anyone who cares.
Can't beat the price, though. Really probably in line with what I received. Kind if disappointing, though, when you are expecting a really nice copy.
If it is flawless, Dangevin, I do not see how you could get anything lower than a 95. Will post pictures of the flaws when I can just to give you an idea of what an "85" really is.
Minty means minty, dammit!
They should let me grade...LOL
Minty means minty, dammit!
Haha I agree! I would sign the petition. You are the mint master.