Newbie to CGC grading, Ive got some Qs for you guys...

[OLI_817]

Ok so I have a few not-so-common books Id like CGC graded. Maybe Ill send them for pre-screening, but I dont know what grade I should pick as my minimum as Im not familiar with book grading. They all seem great to me but of course im no pro at this... should I just pick 9.0? I can post pics of my scans if it helps any...

[Drift]

For maximum return on an investment on modern comics you are looking for a 9.8 or higher. I would consider a 9.6 a minimum grade as the returns on anything less, unless they are super key or hot books are almost exponentially less for every grade lower.

If you were not looking to start your own CGC collection or looking to flip these but just wanted a way to display these without damaging them, I would suggest just finding a nice frame and getting them done with a piece of UV shielding glass.

I personally am not a fan of CGCing comics (not to say I wouldn't own any if they were the right books that came along at the right price) so I am sure there are others that may be able to add more info that I have overlooked

[slym2none]

Tell us the comics, and we'll be able to help you better.



-slym

[OLI_817]

ok well they are

Rai 0,1,2,3 and 5

Magnus 12

Solar 10 first print of course

Unity 0 RED

Chaos Effect Omega GOLD

Harbinger 1 and 4 with coupons

[slym2none]

OK - go with Drift's post, then. "Moderns" such as that need to be in the 9.8 range for maximum profit. A 9.6 might make money, but probably not.



\-slym

[OLI_817]

Thanks.... just noticed theres a minimum of 50 comics you have to send for pre-screening....

[Escaflown4]

Yes 50 is the minimum for now. Sometimes they can be flexible only when they are not backed up. However, I spoke with CGC last week and they said they've been getting tons of submissions. Also when pre-screening Valiants, you will lose money to the slabbing process if it doesn't come back a 9.8 for a majority of them. There's only a very few I can think of where you might break even at 9.6.

[OLI_817]

Yeah, I guess ill hold on for a while. Im not in a hurry or anything, I was just putting some thought into it.

[Mike J]

Yeah, I guess ill hold on for a while. Im not in a hurry or anything, I was just putting some thought into it.

Keep that *SQUEE* raw dawg and bail

[Chiclo]

Yes 50 is the minimum for now. Sometimes they can be flexible only when they are not backed up. However, I spoke with CGC last week and they said they've been getting tons of submissions. Also when pre-screening Valiants, you will lose money to the slabbing process if it doesn't come back a 9.8 for a majority of them. There's only a very few I can think of where you might break even at 9.6.

Further elaborating on Esca's point, specifically out of your list the Unity 0 Red, Harbinger 1 and Solar 10 (first print) would be the most likely to sell at or above slabbing costs in a 9.6. Maybe *MAYBE* those three might in a 9.4. The Magnus 12 and Chaos Effect Omega Gold would be the next 2 likely to see a return in 9.6 near or equal to slabbing costs. Rai 3 if it was well-centred. The others probably wouldn't be worth it. All this is my guess - I am much more familiar with raw books than graded.

In fact, I'd pay grading costs at least for your Unity 0 Red if it comes back at 9.0 or higher. Definitely at least $25 for an 8.0. I'd definitely pay $25 for it raw too, though, much as I am sure at least 10 other guys here would.

[OLI_817]

Chiclo, thats more what I wanted to hear. Thanks for taking the time to explain. Maybe Ill venture and go ahead and send the two "best looking" ones to get graded. I read minimus is two, ill send Unity Red and Harbinger 1, they seem to be immaculate on the outside.

EDIT: on the Rai 3, Ive seen some are "miss-cut" and have some pretty chopped up ones, mine isnt like that, could that bring up the value?

Also I just found that the Armorines no.0 I have is the stand alone issue, I didnt know the difference until I saw on the database. I took out the book from the bag and sure enough, the back board was covering the timewalker ad.

[Chiclo]

Chiclo, thats more what I wanted to hear. Thanks for taking the time to explain. Maybe Ill venture and go ahead and send the two "best looking" ones to get graded. I read minimus is two, ill send Unity Red and Harbinger 1, they seem to be immaculate on the outside.

EDIT: on the Rai 3, Ive seen some are "miss-cut" and have some pretty chopped up ones, mine isnt like that, could that bring up the value?

Also I just found that the Armorines no.0 I have is the stand alone issue, I didnt know the difference until I saw on the database. I took out the book from the bag and sure enough, the back board was covering the timewalker ad.

We are quickly getting out of my depth on the graded books. One of the other guys that pays more attention to stuff like that could tell you more.

The Rai 3s that are cut the way they are supposed to be are referred to as well-centred. I don't know how much that really affects the value of the Rai 3 but well-centred Rai 3s are certainly better advertised that poorly cut specimens.

[OLI_817]

Thanks, I guess thats all I need for now...

[ckb]

Yes 50 is the minimum for now. Sometimes they can be flexible only when they are not backed up. However, I spoke with CGC last week and they said they've been getting tons of submissions. Also when pre-screening Valiants, you will lose money to the slabbing process if it doesn't come back a 9.8 for a majority of them. There's only a very few I can think of where you might break even at 9.6.

Further elaborating on Esca's point, specifically out of your list the Unity 0 Red, Harbinger 1 and Solar 10 (first print) would be the most likely to sell at or above slabbing costs in a 9.6. Maybe *MAYBE* those three might in a 9.4. The Magnus 12 and Chaos Effect Omega Gold would be the next 2 likely to see a return in 9.6 near or equal to slabbing costs. Rai 3 if it was well-centred. The others probably wouldn't be worth it. All this is my guess - I am much more familiar with raw books than graded.

In fact, I'd pay grading costs at least for your Unity 0 Red if it comes back at 9.0 or higher. Definitely at least $25 for an 8.0. I'd definitely pay $25 for it raw too, though, much as I am sure at least 10 other guys here would.

I"ll back up Chiclo on his assessment.

On the Rai 3, I think the price difference is pretty much academic unless it's a CGC 9.8 in a slab. And even then it's a mild percentage. Although a badly miscut one would probably sell at a nice discount. For a raw book you might want to ask $5-$10 more for a nicely centered copy.

If you submit without screening it is simply akin to gambling. I've probably submitted over 1000 books and have a lot of experience grading and I would consider it gambling if I submitted moderns looking for 9.8s without a pre-screen.

Sometimes I offer to pool other people's books with mine when I submit, but I don't have any plans for submissions right now.

[OLI_817]

Yeah, Im starting to see this as a gamble... Maybe ill just wait to gain a little more knowledge on these things.

[400yrs]

Yeah, it's a huge gamble right now particularly. Remember that the shipping costs on these aren't cheap either.

Unless you can get a 9.8 on the Harbinger 1 (which is very unlikely), it's probably not worth sending any of them. I recently sold a slabbed 9.4 which was a beautiful copy for like $60. It probably could've sold higher raw with a good picture as sad as that is.

Really, you are hoping for 9.8s and if you don't have much experience with grading, your eye is probably missing alot of the imperfections.

If your goal is making money on selling them, sell them raw with good pics. If they are for your collection, buy some mylar and keep them raw.

[OLI_817]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

[dhudson1]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

Go with mylite 2's with acid free half backs.

http://www.egerber.com/

I put all of my books in them. They are great.

[Escaflown4]

Also I forgot to add, most people tend not to factor this in, but the shipping cost for the whole grading process can add a big dent to the overall cost. Just sending in 50 books for pre-screening through registered mail ran me $40 already. The return shipping from CGC will most likely cost me 2x or even more.

[OLI_817]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

Go with mylite 2's with acid free half backs.

http://www.egerber.com/

I put all of my books in them. They are great.

woah, those are pretty cheap. Thanks Im putting am order in soon.

[dhudson1]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

Go with mylite 2's with acid free half backs.

http://www.egerber.com/

I put all of my books in them. They are great.

woah, those are pretty cheap. Thanks Im putting am order in soon.

Order the standard size, not the modern size, it works better. I put two books in each.

[ckb]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

Go with mylite 2's with acid free half backs.

http://www.egerber.com/

I put all of my books in them. They are great.

woah, those are pretty cheap. Thanks Im putting am order in soon.

Order the standard size, not the modern size, it works better. I put two books in each.

Modern size is just too small. Standard is what you need.

I also, to save cost, put books front and back in my own collection. Odd numbered issues front, even numbers back.

[dhudson1]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

Go with mylite 2's with acid free half backs.

http://www.egerber.com/

I put all of my books in them. They are great.

woah, those are pretty cheap. Thanks Im putting am order in soon.

Order the standard size, not the modern size, it works better. I put two books in each.

Modern size is just too small. Standard is what you need.

I also, to save cost, put books front and back in my own collection. Odd numbered issues front, even numbers back.

EXACTLY WHAT i DO! Great minds.................

[SnotDrip]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

Go with mylite 2's with acid free half backs.

http://www.egerber.com/

I put all of my books in them. They are great.

woah, those are pretty cheap. Thanks Im putting am order in soon.

Order the standard size, not the modern size, it works better. I put two books in each.

Modern size is just too small. Standard is what you need.

I also, to save cost, put books front and back in my own collection. Odd numbered issues front, even numbers back.

EXACTLY WHAT i DO! Great minds.................

+3

[dhudson1]

Well I dont want to sell yet, maybe later. For now I guess I just have to find a way to keep them in good condition.

Go with mylite 2's with acid free half backs.

http://www.egerber.com/

I put all of my books in them. They are great.

woah, those are pretty cheap. Thanks Im putting am order in soon.

Order the standard size, not the modern size, it works better. I put two books in each.

Modern size is just too small. Standard is what you need.

I also, to save cost, put books front and back in my own collection. Odd numbered issues front, even numbers back.

The biggest pain (and expense) was first switching over to mylites. I had around 16,000 comics at the time. It was a family project!