The next Overstreet Annual will have 9.2 as the top grade.

greg · Post by **greg** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 5:50 pm

According to this announcement:
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/previ ... 899&si=124
... the Overstreet Annual #34 (due April 21) will have prices for grades
2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 9.2.
In the past, the top grade price has been NM94 or 9.4.

Thoughts?

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:24 pm

Why has overstreet done this.
This a clever move by overstreet in my opinion. This WILL drive higher graded copies into the heavens. With the 9.4 standard that overstreet commitied too in years past it was a good middleground for near mint/mint books.
Will this REALLY only affect CGC graded books. Yes in the long run it will, how many others will really notice the change. Honestly does the average reader of the Overstreet care. If you spend 25-27 dollars for the guild you better.
I dont think it will effect non CGC graded books all that much but I guess we will see.

-Brian

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:29 pm

They are going to list 9.4+ prices in the monthly. Looks like a scheme to increase sales of the monthly to me.

greg · Post by **greg** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:53 pm

ckb wrote:They are going to list 9.4+ prices in the monthly. Looks like a scheme to increase sales of the monthly to me.

That seems strange to me, though, because they don't list every title
in the monthly. Even titles like Amazing Spider-man don't list every issue.

What I think Overstreet is trying to say is...
"Raw books are often called 9.4 when they're really 9.2 or lower".
Since true 9.4 books (as CGC calls them 9.4) sell for more than guide...
Overstreet may believe that raw prices are actually more like 9.2 prices,
because people simply overstate the condition on their own books.

With the proliferation of Ebay... you've got books flying all across the country,
being bought and sold based on a bad scan or no scan...
and thousands of different opinions about "near mint".

It's easier to say that people are inconsistent and
that great looking raw books are probably 9.2,
than it is to say that thousands of people, everywhere,
are accurately grading raw 9.4 and getting true 9.4 prices.

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 8:22 pm

I think that Overstreet is trying to differentiate their monthly book from that other fanboy book that is published monthly, and by changing their grading structure they are aiming their book at the serious collector and maybe even the speculators in the marketplace.

CGC is basically using the time honored Overstreet grading guidelines anyway, so I think Gemstone is just trying to stake out their turf the best they can. Once a book has been graded by CGC, it more or less becomes a commodity, and Overstreet is just putting out a guide that professionals such as those at Christies or some other auction house or estate, or probate court, or insurance company for losses can go by.

It sounds to me like they just want to be like the NADA Blue book for comics.

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 8:22 pm

I think a bigger question is how is the "Wizard CGC 9.5" books going to affect the trust of CGC. According to wizard they will be offering exclusivly graded new books in 9.5 grade. I feel this will only hurt 9.4 books and the "trustworthness" of CGC.

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:05 pm

I can't wait for them to have to try to explain the difference between a 9.4-9.5-9.6, is it a 1/128th" spine crease vs a 1/96"

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:11 pm

thespeculatorboy wrote:
x-omatic wrote:I think a bigger question is how is the "Wizard CGC 9.5" books going to affect the trust of CGC. According to wizard they will be offering exclusivly graded new books in 9.5 grade. I feel this will only hurt 9.4 books and the "trustworthness" of CGC.
Hey x-o, did it ever occur to you that that was one of the 27 april fools jokes within that issue??

No.
Seeing how much wizard pushes that CGC graded books are always worth more and to get brade new books graded, I do not see it as a joke.

"The "Wizard First Program," kicking off this spring, is going to make high-grade comicsmuch more accessible. Comics will be taken directly from the printer to CGC headquarters. There they will be graded, slapped with a special label and sent to Wizard. They will then be sold exclusively through www.wizarduniverse.com .
The new grading system marks the biggest change. Comics will be subject to a half point grading scale. 9.2, 9.4, 9.6, and 9.8 ratings have been eliminated. The top books will still be 10.0, but the next grade will be 9.5."

This hardly seems like a joke.

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:30 pm

Is this grading just for the books they do for wizard, or for all the CGC graded books?

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:31 pm

thespeculatorboy wrote:Did you look at the cover topics? Look at the bottom of the cover. There is a challenge to find all 27 hidden pranks. YOu really believe that an established company would just up and get rid of all mid nrmt grades for one inclusive 9.5 grade? Hey I got some swamp land to sell ya. Im not sure about that wizard first thing though.

I hope you are right. It really seems like a dumb move. It says it would be only for the Wizard Firsts though. If it does happen I think it would kill CGCs reputation.

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:32 pm

wrunow wrote:Is this grading just for the books they do for wizard, or for all the CGC graded books?

It would be only for the "Wizard First" books. If it is not a joke.

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:34 pm

I mean, what would they do with a book that is a 9.6/9.8 raw, just grade it a 9.5 because it came from Wizard and isn't a 10.0?

dino · Post by **dino** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:38 pm

I thought the wizard 9.5 thing was a joke too. Its *SQUEE*. What happens if you send in a book and its meant to be a 9.8 do they give it a 10 or a 9.5, theres nothing else but those too options.

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:40 pm

The only thing is that CGC is marketing themselves with added value products like the signature series they do- maybe they would sign up with Wizard for something like this. Don't forget, CGC is a subsidiary of a company that has been in the Card grading business for years if my facts and memory are correct. I agree it would affect their credibility.

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:42 pm

dino wrote:I thought the wizard 9.5 thing was a joke too. Its *SQUEE*. What happens if you send in a book and its meant to be a 9.8 do they give it a 10 or a 9.5, theres nothing else but those too options.

You wouldn't be able to send a book in. This is only for the "Wizard First" program.

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 8:11 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

thespeculatorboy wrote:
x-omatic wrote:
I think a bigger question is how is the "Wizard CGC 9.5" books going to affect the trust of CGC. According to wizard they will be offering exclusivly graded new books in 9.5 grade. I feel this will only hurt 9.4 books and the "trustworthness" of CGC.

Hey x-o, did it ever occur to you that that was one of the 27 april fools jokes within that issue??

No.
Seeing how much wizard pushes that CGC graded books are always worth more and to get brade new books graded, I do not see it as a joke.

"The "Wizard First Program," kicking off this spring, is going to make high-grade comicsmuch more accessible. Comics will be taken directly from the printer to CGC headquarters. There they will be graded, slapped with a special label and sent to Wizard. They will then be sold exclusively through www.wizarduniverse.com .
The new grading system marks the biggest change. Comics will be subject to a half point grading scale. 9.2, 9.4, 9.6, and 9.8 ratings have been eliminated. The top books will still be 10.0, but the next grade will be 9.5."

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:45 pm

thespeculatorboy wrote:$100 paypal dollars says that 9.5 grade is a joke. Any takers? Or we can wager a valiant book.

Thats a little steep. Maybe a HardCorps Gold book.

x-omatic · Post by **x-omatic** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:49 pm

thespeculatorboy wrote:Okay and ill wager a Archer and Armstrong #8.

Gold for Gold only

dino · Post by **dino** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:51 pm

If speculator boy isnt up for it ill do a gold for gold that it is a hoax

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:08 pm

x-omatic wrote: No.
Seeing how much wizard pushes that CGC graded books are always worth more and to get brade new books graded, I do not see it as a joke.

"The "Wizard First Program," kicking off this spring, is going to make high-grade comicsmuch more accessible. Comics will be taken directly from the printer to CGC headquarters. There they will be graded, slapped with a special label and sent to Wizard. They will then be sold exclusively through www.wizarduniverse.com .
The new grading system marks the biggest change. Comics will be subject to a half point grading scale. 9.2, 9.4, 9.6, and 9.8 ratings have been eliminated. The top books will still be 10.0, but the next grade will be 9.5."

This hardly seems like a joke.

This is, of course if true, the comic equivalent of the Franklin Mint, instant 'collectibles', selling 'retail' for 20-30 times cover price (or more) for brand new books...which will ultimately prove to be utterly worthless, just like almost every manufactured collectible ever invented.

It is the COLLECTING PUBLIC, and the COLLECTING PUBLIC ALONE which always HAS and always WILL determine the true value of ANY collectible, period. You can only hype something so much before the public collectively yawns, and you're stuck with a warehouse full of fancy paperweights.