Is Grading Your Comics Worth it??

Summary

This video discusses the value of getting comic books graded, offering guidance on whether it's worth it. It explores two main objectives: protection and display versus increasing resale value. The video advises using CGC for grading due to its high resale value and provides tips on estimating grades and calculating the cost-effectiveness of grading. It also touches on pressing and cleaning, sharing personal experiences and recommending learning to do it yourself. The script concludes with examples of collections where grading was done right and wrong, emphasizing the importance of doing the math to ensure grading is financially sensible.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The video discusses whether it's worth getting comic books graded, offering insights for collectors.
• 🎯 Collectors have two main objectives for grading: storage and display or increasing the resale value.
• 💼 For storage and display, using archival safe bags and boards can provide similar protection to graded cases.
• 🎨 Aesthetically, graded books in slabs can be more appealing than those in mylar bags for some collectors.
• 💰 If the goal is to increase value, CGC is recommended due to its higher resale value compared to other grading companies.
• 📈 The process of determining which books to grade involves estimating the grade and potential value after grading.
• 📚 CGC's new guide can help collectors learn how to grade their comics more accurately.
• 🧮 It's crucial to do the math on the potential profit after accounting for grading, pressing, cleaning, and shipping costs.
• ⚖️ The decision to grade should be based on whether the increased value after grading outweighs the costs and risks.
• 👨‍🏫 The video advises learning how to press and clean comics yourself, as it's a relatively easy skill to master.
• ❌ The video warns against grading books that are unlikely to recoup the costs of grading, which can result in a net loss.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is determining whether it's worth it to have comic books graded and discussing the factors to consider when deciding which books to get graded.

What are the two objectives the video discusses for getting comic books graded?

The two objectives discussed are storing, protecting, and displaying the comics, and increasing the resale value of the comic book collection.

What is suggested for protecting comic books if that's the only objective?

If the only objective is to protect the comic books, using an archival safe bag and board like mylar and a full backboard is suggested as it provides a similar level of protection as CGC cases.

Why is CGC recommended over other grading companies?

CGC is recommended because it has the highest resale value for graded comics, and their turnaround time and cost of grading are comparable to or better than other grading companies.

What is the importance of estimating the grade of a comic book before getting it graded?

Estimating the grade of a comic book helps to determine if it's worth getting graded by comparing the potential graded value to the costs involved in the grading process.

What resource is mentioned in the video for learning how to grade comic books?

The video mentions the 'Official CGC Guide to Grading Comics' as a resource for learning how to grade comic books, which includes picture examples of different defects and their impact on grades.

What is the significance of the 9.8 grade for modern comics?

For modern comics, getting a 9.8 grade is crucial as most modern books need to achieve this grade to significantly increase their value. The video also mentions using CGC's pre-screen service for modern 9.8 submissions.

Why is pressing and cleaning an important step before grading?

Pressing and cleaning can improve the condition of a comic book, potentially increasing its grade and thus its value. The video suggests learning how to do it yourself as a cost-effective method.

What are some risks involved in grading comic books?

Risks include the possibility that the graded book may not meet the expected grade, may get rejected by pre-screen, and the costs of grading, pressing, cleaning, and shipping may not be recouped through increased value.

What examples does the video give about collections where grading was done incorrectly?

The video gives examples of collections where either too many books were graded that didn't justify the cost, or not enough high-value books were graded to make the collection worth the investment.