This week's assignment from the League is an interesting one.
What is something you absolutely hate or love or just don’t get, or maybe it’s something you have never even seen or read. What is your deepest, darkest geek confession?
This topic ought to get some good responses and I can't wait to read what my fellow bloggers have to say. For me I'm going with the 'I just don't get it' angle.
AFA graded toys.
The whole issue of grading collectibles seems to have started with coins and later made popular by PSA with trading cards. Then comics were graded and now toys - specifically action figures.
I just don't get it.
I guess I can understand grading coins and trading cards...but comics and toys? Once that comic is sealed in that plastic slab you can't even read it anymore! Same thing with toys. Isn't part of the draw in collecting toys (for me - Transformers) being able to fiddle and dare I say play with our toys?
I do have one AFA'd Transformer in my personal collection, but I didn't buy it. It was a birthday gift from a good friend of mine a few years ago. I do have to admit the presentation of the graded toy is very nice and I'm glad I have it, but I just don't think I could pay any amount of money to grade a toy. The only reason I see myself doing this was to re-sell that toy at a higher price...and on that it brings me to another point.
High prices. You basically are having to pay through the nose to buy a AFA'd toy just because some self professed "expert" says your toy is mint or near-mint or whatever. Blah. I know it gives some buyers a sense of security when making a high dollar purchase that the item is in the condition the seller says it is, but it's just not for me.
This isn't a slam against anyone who collects graded toys at all - it's just one of those things in hobby that has gained in popularity that I just don't understand.
I'm not the only one that has some geek confessions to get off their chests:
- Memories of Tomorrow doesn't get some types of video games.
- The Surfing Pizza hasn't beaten the original Super Mario Bros. for the NES (what a lightweight!)
- Tupa's Treasures doesn't get the Avengers? Wha?!
- Life with Fandom doesn't get cosplay...and I couldn't agree more! (sorry)
- Lair of the Dork Horde...well just read the post as it's quite good
I'm not the only one that has some geek confessions to get off their chests:
- Memories of Tomorrow doesn't get some types of video games.
- The Surfing Pizza hasn't beaten the original Super Mario Bros. for the NES (what a lightweight!)
- Tupa's Treasures doesn't get the Avengers? Wha?!
- Life with Fandom doesn't get cosplay...and I couldn't agree more! (sorry)
- Lair of the Dork Horde...well just read the post as it's quite good
I'm right there with you. I didn't even realize that they graded toys, but it doesn't surprise me. I can understand graded cards and coins. There are only two sides both visible in the slab. But your right, with both comics and toys when graded you essentially take away what they were meant to be. Read and played with. It's like grading a paperback or hardback book. hmmm I wonder if they do that yet?
ReplyDeleteGrading books? Give it time. I suppose if there is even a small market for that it may happen!
DeleteAMEN! Graded toys just boggle my mind. Then again, i don't even like collecting toys in their packaging. I'm strictly a loose toy collector. You nailed it right on the head; toys should be fiddled with, posed and reposed. And I get the eerie feeling that in 10 years, all of these AFA graded toys are going to be worth exactly squat, like all of those pre-bagged comics from the 90s.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
So I'm guessing you're not a fan of grading loose toys then?!
DeleteOh jeez, you just opened the door, and it's all about to break loose. I predict this post will have more responses than any other post you've done.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, here is my take:
I agree that toys are meant to be played with, no one should deny themselves the pleasure of playing with transformers especially because they are literally two toys in one. However, I feel that a certain part of the transformers history deserves to be preserved. I don't care about grades or future value or any of that jazz, what I do care about is the toys themselves being preserved for history. AFA does a great job of doing this by sealing the figures in their original condition. I think everyone should be able to appreciate the beauty of these figures as they were originally presented to us 25 years ago. And I feel like if every single G1 Transformer in the world was opened something would be lost. Transformers (the G1 line especially) was so influential to everything that came after it seems like it is worth preserving.
And personally I don't buy any sealed figures (usually) that I don't have a loose version already but I can understand why there are collections out there of sealed figures only. Hell, I don't even play with my loose figures, I pretty much just look at them so a sealed collection wouldn't be that much different for me.
I understand the whole preservation angle...I mean how cool would it be to visit a toy museum filled with toys from your childhood?
DeleteI like the presentation of graded toys, I really do, but I would never buy a graded toy. I didn't even touch on the whole aspect of grading loose toys. Now that is something that I REALLY don't get!
Once the grading companies stepped in, collectibles such as comic books became nothing more than a commodity. I'm all for graded coins and trading cards--they're only two sides and the plastic container will certainly help to preserve them, but really, what's the point for comics and toys unless you are selling them. With the rise of eBay and a bunch of shady sellers, the grading companies saw an opportunity and pounced.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, if you have a high-value comic or toy--something worth $1,000 or more--grading is a good thing.The hard plastic cases alone would make it worthwhile to protect the item. And if you lose your job and need some cash fast, it's a whole lot easier to sell a graded item than an ungraded one.
I get protecting high end toys, especially if you look at them more as investments. Let's face it, some people can make a lot of money selling toys - so I get that.
DeleteAgree 100% ... I get em loose, my only caveat is that they are as complete as possible. Even the MIP figures I have are gonna get opened when I review em. Comics to me....having a written piece of work and not reading it is like putting a tarp over visual art! Whats the point!?! Play with em and read it !
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: if I can go back into time and drop in front of a news stand, then buy all the Detctive Comics #27's for about 10$....I'll encase em right then and there !
I can't agree more! The very thought of keeping any toy, especially a Transformer, in a slab just confuses me. I refuse to buy a MISB or MOSC toy. Why pay so much for something if I'm just gonna rip it open as soon as I get it?
ReplyDeleteWholeheartedly agree, I would so much rather be able to set up and group my collections on my shelves. What's the fun of a transformer you never transform? Granted, it is a thrill to get your hands on an unpunched cardback from time to time.
ReplyDeleteLet me throw this out there: Imagine you have collected all the toys you wanted in loose form and you have nothing left to collect. I imagine that the appeal of sealed figures may change at that point. Why not have a few high-end super nice items as the jewels of your collection? Especially if you don't have anything else to buy.
ReplyDeletePersonally I'm a G1 junkie, I just love the stuff. But there are only 354 different american G1 toys. So once I had all of those in loose form, sealed items started looking better and better. Just sayin' sometimes priorities change. To each their own though.
I can understand your sentiment. I just can't get past the price. I have the money to spend, I just can't get past the price. Maybe I'm too cheap.
DeleteI'm all for collecting European and Japanese figures. Maybe if I could only find a MISB version of a figure, that would change my mind. As of now, in looking forward to completing my G1 American figures, then the overseas stuff. After that, one version for each mode.
Great discussion! You were right Arkvander, this post has garnered more responses than any other post has!
ReplyDeleteI get collecting the sealed stuff. I have a few sealed TFs that I got at a super crazy price where the items now command a lot more. I can't bring myself to opening them. Probably never will. I also get protecting sealed stuff, especially those of high dollar amount. I guess I just don't see myself as ever collecting sealed or AFA toys.
Buying a present for a geek does not mean you have to break the bank in order to do it. One business sector that has cashed in very successfully on the rise of geek culture is the clothing industry.
ReplyDeletegeeky toys