How safe is CGC?

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:37 am

I'm just wondering that, when you have a business that big, with so many employees and so many comics being processed on a daily basis, are their any known incidents of comics being damaged while in CGC's possession? If so, how do they handle it? Do they tell you outright and compensate appropriately, or are there suspicious stories out there of people submitting a definite 9.6 and getting back an 8.5?

Surely there's been an employee somewhere along the line that accidentally dropped an issue or snagged it on a piece of tape while pulling it out of its bag and board.

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 2:39 pm

We've been here and done this before...you just missed it I guess

I just don't feel like writing it all over again, but YES...I've had books damaged, and proper remuneration was given

I was actually the 1st to get so...some 5 years back

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:19 pm

Peter Parker wrote:We've been here and done this before...you just missed it I guess

I just don't feel like writing it all over again, but YES...I've had books damaged, and proper remuneration was given

I was actually the 1st to get so...some 5 years back

How did you prove that the damage was done by them?

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 5:18 pm

whetteon wrote:
Peter Parker wrote:We've been here and done this before...you just missed it I guess

I just don't feel like writing it all over again, but YES...I've had books damaged, and proper remuneration was given

I was actually the 1st to get so...some 5 years back
How did you prove that the damage was done by them?

Simple...they called to inform me of so

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 5:25 pm

What book was it?........Just give us the quick and dirty version of the story.

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:05 pm

400yrs wrote:What book was it?........Just give us the quick and dirty version of the story.

Well, there were FOUR actually

...in the SAME submission

1) X-Men# 3 Originally graded a VF+ 8.5

after the "slabbing process damage" a CGC 6.0

2) Batman #227 Originally graded a NM 9.4

after the slabbing process damage a CGC VF- 7.5

3) Dark Knight Returns#1 Originally a CGC NM/M 9.8

you know the rest..a CGC VF 8.0

4) AMS#200 CGC NM/M 9.8

after the nightmare...CGC VF+8.5

As you can read, some serious drops in grades, and no, they did not answer me directly, nor specifically when I asked HOW this all happened

They simply said..."we're really sorry, it happened during the slabbing process"

However, after a bit of wrangling with the details, they paid me MARKET value for the original grades...which I felt was stand up of them

They DID try and convince me that they should only pay the price of the book by GUIDE standards

...which I laughed at (literally) and told them that just would not do

From that day on, I had a rather solid relationship with a few guys there (this was when they were still in NJ) ..they are a stand-up, professional business..which is why I always pontificate to all about being cautious using others

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:38 pm

Peter Parker wrote:However, after a bit of wrangling with the details, they paid me MARKET value for the original grades...which I felt was stand up of them They DID try and convince me that they should only pay the price of the book by GUIDE standards ...which I laughed at (literally) and told them that just would not do

Yeah, that definitely wouldn't do. Why did they bother slabbing them after they were damaged. I guess it must've happened while slabbing like they said, but that wouldn't explain the new bad grades. Maybe that explains some of the *SQUEE* grades out there like a 6.0 Solar #10.

Those were some nice books to screw up. Even by giving you market, it would still be a pain in the butt to replace them.

Peter Parker wrote:From that day on, I had a rather solid relationship with a few guys there (this was when they were still in NJ) ..they are a stand-up, professional business..which is why I always pontificate to all about being cautious using others

They were set up in NJ? I thought they started down here. Was that like a second operation?

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:49 pm

Cool, but now that they've gotten bigger, I wonder if they still handle screw ups in the same fashion. As businesses get bigger and (necessarily) more impersonal, small-minded middle men end up making the calls that used to be handled by the big boys with the vision.

I don't necessarily know this to be true of CGC at all. It's just a general business trend that's hard to ignore.

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:16 am

400yrs wrote:
Peter Parker wrote:However, after a bit of wrangling with the details, they paid me MARKET value for the original grades...which I felt was stand up of them They DID try and convince me that they should only pay the price of the book by GUIDE standards ...which I laughed at (literally) and told them that just would not do
Yeah, that definitely wouldn't do. Why did they bother slabbing them after they were damaged. I guess it must've happened while slabbing like they said, but that wouldn't explain the new bad grades. Maybe that explains some of the *SQUEE* grades out there like a 6.0 Solar #10.

Those were some nice books to screw up. Even by giving you market, it would still be a pain in the butt to replace them.

Peter Parker wrote:From that day on, I had a rather solid relationship with a few guys there (this was when they were still in NJ) ..they are a stand-up, professional business..which is why I always pontificate to all about being cautious using others
They were set up in NJ? I thought they started down here. Was that like a second operation?

No, they started the business in Parsippany, NJ...and they we're there for the first two years of the operation. They moved because the business costs were about 50% less in Sarasota, FL than NJ

The move was in 2001-2002...FYI

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:46 am

Peter Parker wrote:
400yrs wrote:
Peter Parker wrote:However, after a bit of wrangling with the details, they paid me MARKET value for the original grades...which I felt was stand up of them They DID try and convince me that they should only pay the price of the book by GUIDE standards ...which I laughed at (literally) and told them that just would not do
Yeah, that definitely wouldn't do. Why did they bother slabbing them after they were damaged. I guess it must've happened while slabbing like they said, but that wouldn't explain the new bad grades. Maybe that explains some of the *SQUEE* grades out there like a 6.0 Solar #10.

Those were some nice books to screw up. Even by giving you market, it would still be a pain in the butt to replace them.

Peter Parker wrote:From that day on, I had a rather solid relationship with a few guys there (this was when they were still in NJ) ..they are a stand-up, professional business..which is why I always pontificate to all about being cautious using others
They were set up in NJ? I thought they started down here. Was that like a second operation?

No, they started the business in Parsippany, NJ...and they we're there for the first two years of the operation. They moved because the business costs were about 50% less in Sarasota, FL than NJ

The move was in 2001-2002...FYI

Business costs? I'm sure that was the main reason. But take a walk in Parsippany and then take a walk in Sarasota, and it's a real no brainer. Once the business was successful and the long term viability was not in question....well....it was a wise move all around.

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:07 am

ckb wrote:But take a walk in Parsippany and then take a walk in Sarasota, and it's a real no brainer.

Another famous Sarasota no-brainer: Pee Wee takes the dog for a walk.

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:13 am

ckb wrote:
Peter Parker wrote:
400yrs wrote:
Peter Parker wrote:However, after a bit of wrangling with the details, they paid me MARKET value for the original grades...which I felt was stand up of them They DID try and convince me that they should only pay the price of the book by GUIDE standards ...which I laughed at (literally) and told them that just would not do
Yeah, that definitely wouldn't do. Why did they bother slabbing them after they were damaged. I guess it must've happened while slabbing like they said, but that wouldn't explain the new bad grades. Maybe that explains some of the *SQUEE* grades out there like a 6.0 Solar #10.

Those were some nice books to screw up. Even by giving you market, it would still be a pain in the butt to replace them.

Peter Parker wrote:From that day on, I had a rather solid relationship with a few guys there (this was when they were still in NJ) ..they are a stand-up, professional business..which is why I always pontificate to all about being cautious using others
They were set up in NJ? I thought they started down here. Was that like a second operation?

No, they started the business in Parsippany, NJ...and they we're there for the first two years of the operation. They moved because the business costs were about 50% less in Sarasota, FL than NJ

The move was in 2001-2002...FYI
Business costs? I'm sure that was the main reason. But take a walk in Parsippany and then take a walk in Sarasota, and it's a real no brainer. Once the business was successful and the long term viability was not in question....well....it was a wise move all around.

I kind of like Parsippany

...for Jersey, it ain't bad

As for Sarasota goes, surely a nice place, but i'd personally have no part in living in Florida

sorry. Too much rain, and too much heat for me...oh yeah, and too much Hurricane activity

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:24 am

and too much Hurricane activity

Although it's a good excuse for why they can never get a book graded and returned on time.

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:56 pm

whetteon wrote:
and too much Hurricane activity
Although it's a good excuse for why they can never get a book graded and returned on time.

oldjello · Post by **oldjello** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:49 pm

How many board members are CGC members?

greg · Post by **greg** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:36 pm

oldjello wrote:How many board members are CGC members?

You mean a member of the Collector's Society?

I'm not.

You save more money by "not joining" and just submitting your comics
using a "discount link" like this one:
http://www.cgccomics.com/index_cobrand. ... filiate=GP

You send your books directly to CGC, and they send them directly back to you...
but you get the discount because you "mentioned the right people".

oldjello · Post by **oldjello** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:54 pm

Thanks for the link!
I need to make a donation...

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:00 am

I know some people are concerned about "SCS" (Shaken Comics Syndrome) when it comes to CGC. Have they addressed this with a better "slab" design? I know PGX says they have, but if I were going to sell a comic (the only reason I personally see to get a comic slabbed) it seems CGC brings about better prices, and I have two that I seriously want to sell (Batman 608 2nd print and Batman 612 2nd) and I think that they would grade AT LEAST 9.6.

So I guess my ? is, is it finally "safe" to send comics off to CGC and not worry about slab damage in transit? Any thoughts are appreciated.

-slym

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 8:36 am

slym2none wrote:I know some people are concerned about "SCS" (Shaken Comics Syndrome) when it comes to CGC. Have they addressed this with a better "slab" design? I know PGX says they have, but if I were going to sell a comic (the only reason I personally see to get a comic slabbed) it seems CGC brings about better prices, and I have two that I seriously want to sell (Batman 608 2nd print and Batman 612 2nd) and I think that they would grade AT LEAST 9.6.

So I guess my ? is, is it finally "safe" to send comics off to CGC and not worry about slab damage in transit? Any thoughts are appreciated.

-slym

There will always be some danagers to having a book encapsulated and shipped somewhere but to answer you question, yes. They removed the annoying "inner well" feature and have made a slightly better case that, in my opinion, causes alot less slab damage.

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:40 pm

whetteon wrote:
slym2none wrote:I know some people are concerned about "SCS" (Shaken Comics Syndrome) when it comes to CGC. Have they addressed this with a better "slab" design? I know PGX says they have, but if I were going to sell a comic (the only reason I personally see to get a comic slabbed) it seems CGC brings about better prices, and I have two that I seriously want to sell (Batman 608 2nd print and Batman 612 2nd) and I think that they would grade AT LEAST 9.6.

So I guess my ? is, is it finally "safe" to send comics off to CGC and not worry about slab damage in transit? Any thoughts are appreciated.

-slym
There will always be some danagers to having a book encapsulated and shipped somewhere but to answer you question, yes. They removed the annoying "inner well" feature and have made a slightly better case that, in my opinion, causes alot less slab damage.

Unfortunately, they will no longer be using the new inner well design on Valiants. The slabbing process can hurt the book. CGC recently bought a big stack of Valiants from me they inadvertantly destroyed. Yes, they paid me what I wanted for them.

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:54 pm

ckb wrote:
whetteon wrote:
slym2none wrote:I know some people are concerned about "SCS" (Shaken Comics Syndrome) when it comes to CGC. Have they addressed this with a better "slab" design? I know PGX says they have, but if I were going to sell a comic (the only reason I personally see to get a comic slabbed) it seems CGC brings about better prices, and I have two that I seriously want to sell (Batman 608 2nd print and Batman 612 2nd) and I think that they would grade AT LEAST 9.6.

So I guess my ? is, is it finally "safe" to send comics off to CGC and not worry about slab damage in transit? Any thoughts are appreciated.

-slym
There will always be some danagers to having a book encapsulated and shipped somewhere but to answer you question, yes. They removed the annoying "inner well" feature and have made a slightly better case that, in my opinion, causes alot less slab damage.
Unfortunately, they will no longer be using the new inner well design on Valiants. The slabbing process can hurt the book. CGC recently bought a big stack of Valiants from me they inadvertantly destroyed. Yes, they paid me what I wanted for them.

Any details you can disclose?

-slym (or are you just pulling his leg?)

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 1:44 am

What slym said

Were these the Valiants you were waiting on

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:44 am

ckb wrote:
whetteon wrote:
slym2none wrote:I know some people are concerned about "SCS" (Shaken Comics Syndrome) when it comes to CGC. Have they addressed this with a better "slab" design? I know PGX says they have, but if I were going to sell a comic (the only reason I personally see to get a comic slabbed) it seems CGC brings about better prices, and I have two that I seriously want to sell (Batman 608 2nd print and Batman 612 2nd) and I think that they would grade AT LEAST 9.6.

So I guess my ? is, is it finally "safe" to send comics off to CGC and not worry about slab damage in transit? Any thoughts are appreciated.

-slym
There will always be some danagers to having a book encapsulated and shipped somewhere but to answer you question, yes. They removed the annoying "inner well" feature and have made a slightly better case that, in my opinion, causes alot less slab damage.
Unfortunately, they will no longer be using the new inner well design on Valiants. The slabbing process can hurt the book. CGC recently bought a big stack of Valiants from me they inadvertantly destroyed. Yes, they paid me what I wanted for them.

Surely not the 9.6's pre-unity books I was going to buy from you!!!

Son of a b..., those are irreplaable. There are already a low supply of high grade pre-unity books on the market.

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:47 am

Imagne them killing a rare Giant Sized Creatures 1 book. Sure its not very expensive to buy one but the fact is that there are only so many you ever find on the open market. i've looked for a year and only managed to see about 3-4 copies all raw. I know mistakes happen but it just sucks when the books they loose are irreplacable or something that you really care for.

So they give you $2 a book to pay you back?

ckb · Post by **ckb** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:27 am

I'll post a full list as soon as I get time. They killed a double signed Nichols/Shooter Magnus 2 9.6. That was the worst loss.

I managed to get about 18 books unscathed. Again, a list as soon as I get time. I picked them up in Chicago. Big one in there for me was a Vintage Magnus 1 9.8.