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Post by Warmonger on Jan 29, 2016 15:02:36 GMT -5
I don't mind grading so much, I just think people are WAY too anal about it.
Why the hell should there be 8 basic grades?
I've rarely noticed the difference between books graded "very good" and "fine".
After all these years, I'm still not even exactly sure what their criteria is.
As long as there isn't weird crap stuck to the book or pages missing, I'm fine.
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Jan 29, 2016 15:04:59 GMT -5
I don't mind grading so much, I just think people are WAY too anal about it. Why the hell should there be 8 basic grades? I've rarely noticed the difference between books graded "very good" and "fine". After all these years, I'm still not even exactly sure what their criteria is. As long as there isn't weird crap stuck to the book or pages missing, I'm fine. There are times when I could pay more attention. I did just buy some Doctor Stranges out of the book bin at the antique store, and there was definitely some funky looking black #$%^ crusted on the back. So I think my grading standards are the same as yours. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 15:07:45 GMT -5
I post every single book I buy, just about.
But it's not to impress, it's to share and strike up conversation, as I rarely JUST post the book. I always have comments I put along with it. Because, I would think, that in places like this online community for comic books, that if my posting a picture of a book I just got can possibly get someone else interested in it as well? Then I have maybe turned someone else onto a great read, and we can possibly have a discussion that may lead to something they can get me interested in picking up and reading.
There are soooo many things that I NEVER would have thought to even look twice at, if it was not for this place. I wouldn't own 75% of the collection I have now. And that mainly started by viewing pictures in the purchased thread.
I NEVER, in a billion years, would have EVER thought to even pick up a romance comic, EVER, if not for stumbling upon Crimebuster's hilarious review thread.
Jez doesn't JUST collect for monetary/financial reasons, though. She reads as well.
Same with me.
And if we were only reading, NOT intending to collect it, then I think most people WOULD choose the cheaper option of the lower grade book which will cost less.
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Post by DE Sinclair on Jan 29, 2016 15:55:55 GMT -5
I can't speak for anyone else, especially not for anyone living in a vacuum, but this is not true in my case. I buy the nicest things I can afford because I like to have nice things, not to "define class boundaries and acquire social capital". I want a car that's nicer than a beater, not because I'm trying to impress my neighbors, but because it has less problems associated with it and is more comfortable to drive. When I buy old comics, I buy the ones in the best condition I can afford. I rarely post the comics I buy or show pictures, so it's not to impress anyone here or elsewhere. It's simply because I enjoy them more in better condition if I can manage it. But I also buy worn comics, or even ones with the top of the cover torn off if they didn't sell off the racks, if that's the best I can afford.
So, I'm not a psychiatrist, but I've got to say this doesn't hold water.
I hate to tell you this, but you are a bizarre psychological abnormality. If only you knew how often I've been told this... But, like Slam said, buying a better condition car seems like basic cost-benefit analysis. You're assuming that by putting more money down upfront you will avoid having to spend money and time on the back end for repairs. (Conversely, I will virtually always go with the cheaper option upfront. But every aspect of my life indicates that this is usually a bad idea.) Still, I don't understand the psychological basis for "wanting to have nice things," as it pertains to comics. If you're looking at it purely in monetary/financial terms like Jez THAT makes sense. Their is a big dollar economy based around comics, and grading is a huge part of it. But on a practical level, I don't understand why the practice started. But if you can two options that offer exactly the same reading experience, and one of those options is way cheaper, why wouldn't you choose the cheaper one? Although now I am theorizing that it was based on adult embarrassment of reading children's entertainment. If comics can be defined as commodities then you can explain to other adults why it is ok to have them, and grading made them seem more like commodities - It's a way of not losing social capital. The psychological basis for "wanting nice comics" is really pretty simple. I like the look and reading experience of a comic book that looks newer better than I do one that looks worse. You ask "But if you can two options that offer exactly the same reading experience, and one of those options is way cheaper, why wouldn't you choose the cheaper one?" I assume by "exactly the same reading experience", you aren't including original comics vs. reprints, because reprints will generally be the cheapest way to read something, but are a slightly different experience from reading the original comics, letter pages, etc. Also, assuming you mean two copies of the same comic, just in good and poor conditions, you refer to the poorer one as "way cheaper". I generally buy cheap back issues, with $5 being the point I start getting uncomfortable. So the choices I make aren't between comics that are "way cheaper" than each other. But if I find the same comic in poor condition for $1 and in substantially better condition for $4, I'll probably go for the $4 comic. Because I like the cover to be shiny and smooth instead of worn and wrinkled, I enjoy the look of the comic more. Because I like the interior pages to be as close to the original color as possible, so the colors used on the page to look as close as possible to how they were intended, makes it so I can enjoy the story pages better.
It's really as simple as that. A comic in better condition is closer to how the comic was originally supposed to be presented, and I enjoy that more than something that is considerably more beat up.
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Jan 29, 2016 16:00:20 GMT -5
Ok, I can see that. ESPECIALLY the part about not paying more than 5 dollars, of course.
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Post by DE Sinclair on Jan 29, 2016 16:02:24 GMT -5
Ok, I can see that. ESPECIALLY the part about not paying more than 5 dollars, of course. By the way, thanks for my new signature line. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 17:41:52 GMT -5
I don't mind grading so much, I just think people are WAY too anal about it. Why the hell should there be 8 basic grades? I've rarely noticed the difference between books graded "very good" and "fine". After all these years, I'm still not even exactly sure what their criteria is. Well one criteria would be two very similar looking copies until you open them up and find one with a loose centerfold. If that's not a big deal, cool! But I'd prefer the best copy I can get factoring cost. |
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Post by Warmonger on Jan 29, 2016 19:42:32 GMT -5
I don't mind grading so much, I just think people are WAY too anal about it. Why the hell should there be 8 basic grades? I've rarely noticed the difference between books graded "very good" and "fine". After all these years, I'm still not even exactly sure what their criteria is. Well one criteria would be two very similar looking copies until you open them up and find one with a loose centerfold. If that's not a big deal, cool! But I'd prefer the best copy I can get factoring cost. That's fine... But the VAST majority of the time, the difference between "very good" and "fine" is some totally obscure crease or crack in the binding that you'd be hard pressed to notice without a magnifying glass. That's what I mean by a lot of comic purists being EXTREMELY anal about this stuff. |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jan 29, 2016 19:53:06 GMT -5
Well one criteria would be two very similar looking copies until you open them up and find one with a loose centerfold. If that's not a big deal, cool! But I'd prefer the best copy I can get factoring cost. That's fine... But the VAST majority of the time, the difference between "very good" and "fine" is some totally obscure crease or crack in the binding that you'd be hard pressed to notice without a magnifying glass. That's what I mean by a lot of comic purists being EXTREMELY anal about this stuff. Quite wrong unless you have poor eyesight |
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Post by Warmonger on Jan 29, 2016 19:57:48 GMT -5
That's fine... But the VAST majority of the time, the difference between "very good" and "fine" is some totally obscure crease or crack in the binding that you'd be hard pressed to notice without a magnifying glass. That's what I mean by a lot of comic purists being EXTREMELY anal about this stuff. Quite wrong unless you have poor eyesight Maybe... Unless you think the pages being a tenth of a shade yellow-er or a single coffee stain a third of a centimeter in diameter on the back cover is a deal breaker... |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 20:05:33 GMT -5
That's fine... But the VAST majority of the time, the difference between "very good" and "fine" is some totally obscure crease or crack in the binding that you'd be hard pressed to notice without a magnifying glass. Nope, that's not true at all when it comes to differentiating between a VG (4.0) and a FINE (6.0). VGs have accumulated a number of conspicuous flaws. Here's some VG (4.0) detail.
Average used copy with significant moderate wear. Overall look is as if read many times. Corners are probably blunted and worn, cover likely has low reflectivity, spine may have a moderate roll or up to a 1" split, staples may have discoloration, and pages can be tan but not brittle. Minor cover soiling and minor to moderate staple tears allowed. Up to 5/8" piece may be missing on corner or edge. Cover may have moderate to significant surface wear with moderate cover creases. Cover and centerfold may be loose, and centerfold may be detached at one staple. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 20:20:26 GMT -5
While some here claim they will never understand collectors who collect slabbed books or collectors who buy unslabbed books, but books whose condition is based on a grading system, well, I will never understand why those people even care enough to think about it. I do not collect stamps or coins, but I would never tell someone who collects these things that I find the type of collecting they do to be ridiculous. Nor would I have to remind them once a week that I do not understand why they collect something the way they collect it. If you don't like that someone pays a lot for books that are slabbed or unslabbed, graded or not graded, who cares?  ? Seriously, shut up about it. The wondering gets old. And no one's mind is getting changed. |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jan 29, 2016 20:21:48 GMT -5
The distinction between VG and F has been used for decades among the comics community and is quite accepted. Overstating your own confusion does not speak for others
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Post by Warmonger on Jan 29, 2016 20:23:42 GMT -5
That's fine... But the VAST majority of the time, the difference between "very good" and "fine" is some totally obscure crease or crack in the binding that you'd be hard pressed to notice without a magnifying glass. Nope, that's not true at all when it comes to differentiating between a VG (4.0) and a FINE (6.0). VGs have accumulated a number of conspicuous flaws. Here's some VG (4.0) detail.
Average used copy with significant moderate wear. Overall look is as if read many times. Corners are probably blunted and worn, cover likely has low reflectivity, spine may have a moderate roll or up to a 1" split, staples may have discoloration, and pages can be tan but not brittle. Minor cover soiling and minor to moderate staple tears allowed. Up to 5/8" piece may be missing on corner or edge. Cover may have moderate to significant surface wear with moderate cover creases. Cover and centerfold may be loose, and centerfold may be detached at one staple.If that's the case, then I'd say at least 70% of my books from the 60's and 70's are above that criteria and they are in what most would consider "very good" condition. Maybe a text smudge here or there (still perfectly readable), a little yellowing of the pages, maybe a minute tear at the bottom of page 20-something... Hell, my copy of Amazing Spider-Man #129 would be worth around $700 instead of $450 (from CGC themselves) if it wasn't for a 1/4" tear on page 16. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 21:02:35 GMT -5
When one square inch of paper can be worth more than a brand new car in an Aston Martin showroom I'm interested  |
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