Did CGC Damage My Book? Unboxing High Grade(ish) Silver Age Key Comics...

[@PhilipChung-e4h]

Had CGC damage a comic book recently. Somehow while putting the comic in the holder a chunk of the cover got torn off. When I called CGC about it they said they would look into it. When I sent it back for them to look at it, they just took out the piece of the comic that was torn off and reholdered it. Still got the same grade - there is no way that someone would believe this comic is now a 8.5 with this piece missing. Now stuck with a damaged comic that's misgraded. Now I think twice about sending comics to CGC. For the small timer like me, CGC is just not worth it.

[@miykael81]

Had a slab damaged by USPS a few months back, thankfully it only required a re-holder which was done at no cost, I got lucky. Also great to see you on the VeVe stream last night. Keep up the great work!

[@River.Rambler]

I’m glad you upgraded that book. I bought your original mid grade copy off your live sale. Always glad to see you still replacing and upgrading the Avengers run. Love the book and I thank you for it.

[@comicfanagain8405]

I honestly can’t believe how much real and serious cash I have tied in this random and arbitrary so called grading system. It’s like mass hysteria….but I still can’t stop…stoopid…

[@davidsamuelson2089]

Just think about how many different people making next to nothing touch your book from the time it gets literally thrown into the warehouse & none of them cares about the handling. What are the odds that your book gets damaged?

[@josenieves5747]

They did the same for my first gambit. Had a 9.8 but came back 9.6 but with bends and ticks. Not happy at all.

[@raulmendieta9696]

Avengers book was switched 😮

[@TheKhaosra]

They damaged my book as well. Mine was a 9.6 and they ripped the back and down graded it to a 7.5.

[@JohnnyVanost]

I bumped into and had a quick hello at C2E2. Great seeing you get out to the midwest cons. Keep up the fantastic videos. Your one of the few that I can relate to, and I love your stuff.

[@erb1211]

Yes, some of my books came back damaged. I had photos to confirm this. Am I 100% certain it was CGC? No, I do not, but after seeing how they handle our comics during the CGC 9.9/10.0 video and the history of internal CGC employees swapping lower grade comics with customer's higher grade comics, I'm longer feel confident in submitting additional books to CGC. Just too risky.

[@jeffstanley6013]

Vintage vs. High Value - been wondering the same thing for a long time.

[@rushdiehard8784]

it goes both ways.....i sent in an asm 129 hoping for a 9.0.............it came back a CGC 9.6 white pager....not complaining

[@thirtyacres7504]

Not saying that you're not a good grader, but you could have under-graded it. This is a great problem to have. In Swagglehaus' case, those imperfections were not there before. This was most likely mishandled by the graders, causing blemishes such as spine ticks and fingerprints that were not there. In your case, you may missed some blemishes, or the grader could have overlooked even more imperfections than you did. I think you're probably a very critical grader like I am. I see everything, which is good and bad. Haha. Congrats on your 9.6!

[@rushdiehard8784]

@@thirtyacres7504 👍

[@zachbrobst9473]

Ive definitely had a few books get damaged while out for grading. Between shipping and grading your book is gonna go through a lot of hands that dont really care about it. Its just work to them. Damage is gonna happen

[@mi_comix_closet6528]

Those are still Awesome grades for those books. I’ve had books get lower grades than I expected and there was obviously damage that was caused by shipping or handling at CGC and CBCS.

[@furbl4345]

You mentioned you had those books pressed & cleaned, were they done by CGC internally or a 3rd party. If done internally at CGC, we can eliminate one less shipping damage risk from the 3rd party to CGC.

[@garyhonn2382]

EMOTIONAL DAMAGE 😂😂😂😂. I'm used to being disappointed by cgc grades. My last submission was just way off, losing the coin toss and then some. Only had a few books that I got a Holy $h!t response in a good way. A Grendel 1, signed and remarked by Matt Wagner. Was expecting a 9.2ish. Came back a 9.8, as of now, the only 9.8 signature series on the census. Another was a jim114, first absorbing man, one of my favorite villain character, was expecting a 8.5 and came back a 9.4

[@holyharlot5222]

You saw the way the CGC guy was handling the "9.8s and 9.9s." It was a crime scene.

[@fredp5781]

About 4 years ago I purchased FF 5 from my LCS. I was expecting either a 2.5 or 3.0 grade. I received a 2.5 which I was cool with. However on the label they clearly stated that my cover was detached. I was astonished as when I sent the book for grading the cover wasn’t as secure as a new or high grade book however both staples were attached. I’m super fearful of sending some of my treasures to cgc (my Incredible Hulk beteeen a 9.4 and 9.8; amazing Spider-Man 129 could easily grade a 9.8; etc, etc. ) I just haven’t had the cajones since that incident I described happened to send any of these high value books to CGC. Maybe someday….

[@montylc2001]

so what does CGC do when confronted with damages incurred by them?

[@bronzevillecomics2581]

Still some awesome grades for silver keys. Great books to add to the collection. PC or sell?

[@MichaelChavez-wf1yf]

I wonder how many damaged books per year CGC averages? It's gotta be rising with the numbers they are facing not to mention that other thing.

[@thirtyacres7504]

That's millions of dollars in losses to the value of those books. Especially books that are golden, silver, and bronze age. Heck, even some moderns. No accountability whatsoever.

[@davidtorres4514]

That's why they should have a flat rate per Era. Not a pay tiered system. It's 1 way they can gouge the customers of money. So what happens when they have a book that's say $400 as a 9.8. Then something happens in the Mcu to drive the book up over $1000?

[@bvandermeersch]

I was also at c2e2! I was very underwhelmed. I had a goal of picking up some Golden Age Uncle Scrooge, most notably Uncle Scrooge 1, not a single dealer had one, or any golden age scrooge for that matter. Are you going to be doing a dealer recap from the show?

[@theothercomicguy]

I always wonder if they swap better grades out for themselves. Sending lesser grades back. Then, say, opps sorry a new guy was rough with your book.

[@FrogBrawler]

To each their own, but I’m convinced that CGC just is not the best grading company. I don’t grade a ton of books (maybe 15-20 a year) but I’ve fully switched over to CBCS. Bry recently did a video praising CGC for a favor they did for him but that’s the only positive thing I’ve seen for CGC in months.

[@lennyserna2904]

So watching this video surprise me first question that comes to me is how long have you been collecting comics....... Because with CGC there is no consistency and grading a comic is subjective so just because you have other books that are 9.4 or 9.6 that if you submit a book that looks similar will be that exact grade that's not how it works and by the way they don't always put all the grader notes.... They leave out a lot of stuff food for thought

[@brute_nm]

Ideally, damage should never happen, but realistically, a few books here and there might get damaged. I just wish they'd cop to it. Honesty and humility goes a long way. The harsh grading is interesting - since CGC consciously decided to start giving more 9.9/10's, that would theoretically make 9.8's easier to get, not harder. I don't know what to think anymore. It seems like graders are unsure, too, which leads to more grader-to-grader variability

[@thirtyacres7504]

This is one of my biggest fears when it comes to grading comic books. One of the graders mishandling my comic book and lowering the grade. Are they going to be honest? Who knows..

[@apcomics7187]

always document high value books before submission. sent in a SW8 9.8 contender came back 9.2 with tics and cover bends in the exact spots as your avengers 71

[@ObsessedCollector]

It could be possible your package was randomly chosen by usps to inspect before going to cgc. And in doing so, they damaged to books and left fingerprints

[@ddougherty8266]

It's random - what I will never understand is why, since everyone knows how random it is - that if one took ten 9.2's, ten 9.4's and ten 9.6's... cracked them, and sent them in raw... the "Match rate" of the new slabs would be 33%. A third would come back the same as their original (random grade) and a third would come back higher, and a third would come back lower. Soooo.. Why do people pay more for a 9.6 vs. a 9.4 vs. a 9.2? For the label number? A label that everyone knows is unreliable. I just don't get it, and I guess I never will (but it's their money - so, meh!).

[@clelandwarrenjr850]

I had a nyx #3 it was a 9.2 I cracked it out pressed and cleaned it. Had it in a s/s bag took to megacon to get joe quesada to sighn it submitted to cgc at megacon. Got it back it is a 8.5 and was dropped be someone at cgc bottom corner is crunched. It was my personal copy I bought of the shelves in my last when it was new.

[@jonsaircond8520]

I think they take advantage of the smaller individual senders as they can get away wirh it. I know this last month a mass retailer that sends thousands a year they fessed up to dropping 3 books. I think between the volume and how meticulously the books are vetted before submission they knew it wasn't gonna fly. Like always the small guy gets screwed in these cases

[@miguelh4750]

Bottom right corner gets creased from encasing. It happened to my ASM 129. CGC never admitted responsability.

[@stevenburns9314]

What is the shelving you used for your comics on the wall? It looks really nice

[@RedRockShane]

I've done exactly 1 submission of 9.8 candidates in my collecting lifetime. 6/10 books came back 9.4's with little spine ticks that weren't there when I shipped. If you want it mint, don't ship it to Florida. Lesson learned.

[@mantis20992003]

I have a question are you going to do a video on how to submit?

[@austin323la]

This is what makes me not want to send my books to get graded.

[@danalvin1184]

Have you seen their recent promotional video? You might not wonder about CGC grading discrepancies anymore after watching that lol

[@jabezcreed]

But your comic is now perfectly encapsulated and protected from further damage, so that's a success.

[@davidv.3135]

I have had a similar experience. They make mistakes for sure.

[@coydogf23]

"Mommy, who's this strange man on Swaggle's channel???"

[@pingadol1555]

001 Silver Surfer 10 11/69 Marvel Comics 002 Avengers 59 12/68 Marvel Comics 003 Giant-Size Conan 1 9/74 Marvel Comics 004 Ghost Rider 1 9/73 Marvel Comics Just sent in my Avengers 59 .I'm thinking my Avengers 59 will beat yours. We'll see. I'm hoping for a 9.4 minimum. Congrats on your 9.4

[@tracemarcy9962]

Hmm, interesting observation at the end of video. That would also suggest you can "buy" your grade...

[@michaelstarr1285]

This whole grading thing is ridiculous.

[@adamlata3869]

In a word, yes

[@erb1211]

Perhaps there are still CGC employees swapping your higher grade comics with lower grade ones. Hmmmm.....

[@b25907]

I had CGC damage 20 of my books. Someone there must have dropped my entire submission and damaged the bottom left corners of everything. Worst part was I was submitting for someone else. CGC decided to press all 20 to try to get the damage out, and it worked 80% on the books. But I submitted a Killing Joke and a Dark Knight Returns, both prestige and no coming back from corner damage. They did nothing to help. Not even an apology.

[@sade281]

Yooooo incan tell u I sent a few.Books to cgc for pressing and I got lower grades !! Someone told me there pressing is not all that good !! Jus saying what can u do Man U will never kno

[@deerichardz]

The title should be, 'I damaged my books, by sending them to CGC'. Your Avengers 71 would be a 9.6 or a 9.8, still, if you didn't need someone(CGC) to verify your grading.

[@jabezcreed]

Very true

[@jabezcreed]

I've said it before. Once they acknowledge that 9.8 is not a perfect book, then why not actually document the real damages on the books? All the spine knicks, bends, and splitting should be lowering a lot of those 9.8 to 9.6, etc. The hobby has to adapt to a range of values beyond just raw and CHC 9.8. Maybe a 9.4 silver age book is really pretty cool to own.

[@panteraJTM]

CGC destroyed one of my books last month, it was a Shannon Maer Catwoman 80th anniversary spectacular

[@supersteve76]

Even IF the USPS damaged the books, IF USPS is the method CGC had you use (even paid for!!) then CGC needs to take responsibility for the damages. Or CGC needs to implement a new/different method of shipping. It appears to me that your book in particular was swapped out with a lower grade book. Same old tricks.

[@21Million]

You can narrow it down. You DO know for a fact that the return shipping didn't cause the damage. So, it had to have happened on the initial shipping or during grading or pressing. Did you press it?

[@leerogers5318]

Ah, now that you're experiencing it firsthand, it stings, doesn't it? I've been warning you about the significant decline in Quality Control and services at CGC for some time now. Unfortunately, this won't be the last instance of such disappointment, you can count on that.

[@martin_wilson81]

"Gift" grades are a real thing with CGC unfortunately. Just depends on who you are

[@furbl4345]

Human graders can be very subjective, doing favors, etc. We should let AI take over as graders to eliminate all these human errors and unfair "giftings"

[@davidsamuelson2089]

Grader gets a perfect book, 9.8 no notes. Gets to another book & knocks that one off the table & bounces off the corner. Picks up book, now 8.5 with damaged corner on notes … 🤡

[@smilsdo]

Sad that we continue to trust accuracy in grading with so many stories recently like yours. Bet you get a 9.9 on your next submission. For years I've said that the lack of video evidence present during grading only adds to the lack of trust issue. Let's not just let the grading company slide by when you have picture evidence of your submissions. I'm sure your packaging and shipping efforts makes the chances of USPS as the culprit, that much lower. How do you know these were even your books you got back? Answer: You just don't. It's a shame.

[@davidsamuelson2089]

Has anyone ever had the experience that CGC admitted to damaging a book? Ever? I’d be willing to bet they have never, ever, admitted that they screwed up a book - statistically that is an impossibility with the amount of books that they handle.

[@jeffkeller9009]

If you sell those, sell them for the higher grade prices, Telling people to buy the book and not the holder. VERY NICE books !!!!

[@furbl4345]

Given what's been going on there, maybe someone working inside swapped your perfect book with a 9.4 😳 just kidding...

[@MasterBison-r3h]

Or its not the 'SAME BOOK' 🤷‍♂

[@reeftheseaforever]

I submitted a 90s xmen I was thinking looks like a 9.4 ill send it in have cgc press and grade it got the book back and the book looked worse than when I sent it off. it had waves in the book! i was like wait this book is mis graded it looks way awful worse . Let me preface by saying ive had great results with cgc pressing . I contacted CGC and CGC was like that era of xmen are like that they have waves! I was surprised by the answer really? anyhow I just said F it its not a book im selling since it s a PC book I brought off the rack in the 90s !! Swaggle Ive signed a NDA with CGC and still send in books lol. ....

[@AmedeeBoulette]

USPS?! Why not UPS?!? Isn’t postal service in the US atrocious?!

[@bobolocs]

I sent a submission of modern books that hadn't been opened (never read). I had them clean and press them, 2 came back 9.6, other a 9.4. No lie the books were flawless, oh yeah no grade notes either.

[@davidsamuelson2089]

Well, the rest of us have to pay the price of low-grade so that CGC can give big dealers & auction houses all of the gift grades

[@xellosmetallium8519]

Either CGC damage your books or you ended up with someone else copy and they got your better quality books. Side notes, while I've heard this complaint many times with CGC; I have yet to hear one case where CBCS damaged or swapped someone comics.

[@scottkrasowski745]

Maybe they kept your book and gave you another?!

[@tikertiker2]

I had a 9.6 ASM238 perfect spine, corners, looks a 9.8. Only grader notes stated fingerprint and small dent. Sent it in for CGC pressing, with sticky notes exactly on the problem areas, and it came back the same grade and same exact notes. Lazy CGC grader took my old label and gave it the same exact grade, only conclusion. Didn’t even regrade it. Waste of money.

[@bgssmartin2]

I am not renewing my cgc subscription coming up next month. They are too inconsistent with their grades, the recent scandals, change to this new 9.9 and 10 garbage, and being owned by big Corp now who is more interested in profits over integrity and quality service are the reasons.

[@greaseball83]

They did it on purpose. Can you get your money back

[@ronaldmartinez3773]

Or your book got switched out for someones lesser grade copy…

[@moodswing4460]

This is why I just buy already slabbed. I don't trust them and if something gets damaged, they can always blame it on shipping.

[@J_Eusebio]

Anyone ever get books back from CBCS damaged?

[@austincrafton178]

Yeah cgc definitely screwed you on your Avengers books.

[@jesselynch1928]

You should so buy this store/business. Oh wait. Squatters? Never mind

[@Spawnuniverse]

I don’t feel sorry for none of you guys who continuously send books in to CGC you know what they are about and you know what they do but yet you continue to send books in the laugh 😂😂 😂 is on you guy STOP SENDING BOOKS And you would never be disappointed

[@WarriorsforInfoTV]

You got hosed Tommy

[@terryhrach9450]

Cbcs woulda treated you better

[@raleighdentcompany]

..are you sure that's YOUR book?

[@joseguiza721]

You got to pay to play. Sucks. Sounds like you're paying for the grade.

[@dandelatorre1870]

I don’t trust CGC.

[@God-k5b]

Chinese manufacturers are making indistinguishable copies of PSA Pokemon cards. They even skim serial numbers from online auctions. Wait till these fakes flood the market. It’s much harder for comic books but for cards, creating an identical replica in mass is no issue.

[@J_Eusebio]

no one cares about pokeymans, at a certain point like Golden Age and Pre Horror Code books, those comics are part of history and great art, pokeymans are like beanie babies…….

[@God-k5b]

@@J_Eusebio bruh they are actually selling like crazy if you look at the market. I personally don’t give a shit but they are. Why do you think Chinese manufactures are bootlegging them.

[@J_Eusebio]

@@God-k5b so were beanie babies…..

[@dragonball3166]

Who’s fool keeps using them cgc this happen to other people as well cgc give blank labels, damage lost books you most likely keep using cgc what’s point what point put damage book in title didn’t this happen to you before ? Cgc is bribing there customers give out high grades now you cgc fan boy

[@gregmarshall2513]

Grading comics is money for old rope ! I will never submit a Comice book I don’t trust them !

[@jorge_villarreal]

Youre videos reminds me of when my nephew crys for everything

[@mrsolodolo967]

CGC is a joke, your books were either damaged or swapped by another shady employee.