These Grade Drops HAVE TO STOP.

[@nicofaretta6082]

It’s simple, don’t do business with a heavily flawed and untrustworthy company. I don’t get the people who complain and then still send these books in. I understand if you want to change the slab due to OCD but it’s the risk you play with a company that is subjective at their job.

[@dahger7]

Comic grading is like an umpire's strike zone.

[@Sinsightful]

Exactly

[@MintHunterComics]

@@dahger7 hahahahaha

[@shadowman8786]

You yourself did mention, "It is all a risk". That's it. Nothing more. CGC will always be changing up their shiny case designs forever. They won't stop that. You can't keep getting re-slabs done. The disappointment will destroy you. Sorry you have gone through this.

[@saleens330]

I stopped collecting slabbed books. Went back to non slabbed books. Plus I get to read them now lol.

[@SABERTUUTH]

#RAW

[@Whytemonkee]

Its very simple, the CGC has gotten bigger, and the quality of people they hired has dipped. Happens every Time.

[@Lithograph_Comics]

I don’t expect you to remember a comment I made eons ago, but I’ll restate it here: I’ve sent three slabs in for signatures, pressing, and re-slabbing. An Omega Men 3 in a 9.8 for Giffen, a GIJOE 21 in a 9.6 for Hama, and a New Teen Titans 2 in a 9.4 for Perez (which later changed to Wolfman after Perez’ passing). Out of those three books, the Teen Titans 2 maintained the 9.4, the Omega Men 3 lowered to 9.6, and the GIJOE 21 lowered to a 9.4. I should mention that the GIJOE was an old slab/label that had never been pressed previously, and STILL got a lower grade. It didn’t even maintain FFS. I made the decision to never crack a slab ever again for a signature, and I have stood by that decision.

[@RobbyRobDu929]

Agreed, that's scary for sure, love the sigs, especially the custom labels with them slabbed...but I can't imagine cracking unless below 9.6 for any reason...and even then, rather just buy one done or get a raw signed and submit.

[@thirtyacres7504]

Extremely frustrating.

[@UrsusObesus]

It's because your slabs aged, especially older slabs. You think just because it's incased in plastic it isn't aging but in fact it's aging faster since the acidic gasses the pulp wood paper are making are locked inside the slab and the old absorbing paper isn't absorbing anymore. The longer you keep a comic book in a slab, the more it will age, especially older books where they used paper made out of tree pulp.

[@rayengstrom1905]

The people who keep going back to CGC after all these issues are like people whose significant others treat them like crap, but they keep telling you about how they used to be good or how they promise to get better...

[@timo7203]

I send in about a dozen books a year, for the last 6-7 years, and haven't had any issues. I guess I'm lucky. The moment I do get burned though, I'll change my tune.

[@leoneldheming2445]

Dont apologize for your tone bro, you are mad and it’s understandable, rant and express what you feel, eventually you will have to move on because that is how life goes but no need to apologize for what you are feeling and they way you are expressing those feelings. You are not hurting ANYONE so don’t feel like you need to apologize. Hope to see that video you were working on very soon!

[@redrighthandnet]

Scandal-ridden, non-transparent, by their own admission they don't grade to objective standards (See that behind the scenes video a couple months back), actively not grading 9.9 and then charging to screen for 9.9 etc, etc, etc. At this point, if you're sending stuff into CGC for resale, you're willing participating in a scam. Their grades are meaningless, there is no integrity.

[@Spidermoore007]

I have never, will never, trust a total stranger with my books. I have a lot of "mint" "near mint" books. I don't need a grade to tell me that. Also, I don't plan on selling them either. So they can keep their grade and I'll keep my books as is.

[@michaelboyle8667]

Same with me. I have a huge Spider-Man, various titles, dating back to the early 80’s. I’d say about 90% of them I bought direct from either Marvel or a shop, read them, sleeved them, put them in clear view pages in 3” three ring binders, laying horizontal in storage.

[@SuperpowerReview]

I am entirely sick of CGC, it's something new every month. It's beginning to be irrelevant to me.

[@Darth.Shredder]

If OCD is hurting your wallet and devaluing your collection, maybe it would be less stressful to just sell off the old slabs and re-buy the books again in new slabs instead of paying to re-holder and keep getting grade drops.

[@michaelparker9046]

I love how people keep saying, " they were a trustworthy company." Since when? Six or eight years ago, maybe? This company has seen nothing but scandal every few months. I no longer trust them, nor allow them to grade my books.

[@Anlien1]

For a company that's supposed to sell trust, I don't get why people have not pushed back.

[@hieinh]

@@Anlien1 Because prior to psa grading books where would you go?

[@penmanovicxxxxxx2694]

@@Anlien1 I think it's because so many people and auction houses are very heavily invested in CGC product.

[@johnnydropkicks]

@@hieinhCBCS?

[@charlesversfelt]

I love my raw book.

[@cjdesign5700]

Keep em Raw...no problem...Don't use CGC...no Problem.

[@SABERTUUTH]

Say it louder for the people with earplugs in and blindfolds on…damn shame

[@MrRawnch]

STOP SENDING YOUR BOOKS TO GET GRADED BY CGC!!!! Seriously, it baffles me that people keep sending their books when it's known that CGC lacks ethics, integrity, and accountability. The idea of re-submitting a book to the same company in hopes of getting a higher grade is...ironic. Grades should be given with expertise and care for a 'one and done' assessment.

[@MintHunterComics]

9:53

[@stephennewberry9815]

​​​@@MintHunterComics. But it's bad business sending expensive 9.8s and getting cheap 9.6s or below back. Stock comes. Stock goes. Get the most you can for the book. reholdering for any reason is just playing Russian roulette, and you know it. And as I understand it. When you reholder, they automatically regrade. As for PC books. Sell the 9.8 as is and start the hunt for a new one matey. Those price drops on some books just makes it unfeasible for the reholder lottery

[@MrRawnch]

@@MintHunterComics The juice ain't worth the squeeze. Especially when CGC is known to ding books when requesting minor changes (new cases, borders, signatures, and re-grades).

[@rayengstrom1905]

​@@MintHunterComicsso wait, they're regrading your reholders?

[@ComicsMetropolis]

We did Not know that authenticating a signature through CGC requires re-grading!Does someone psy extra for this or is the service covered by the authentication price?Never send an already Certified 9.8 label to get the signature of a creator.We have a Crisis #8 9.8 and we never sent it to the Marv Wolfman signature event fearing a Grade ding.Send books only if they are 9.6 or lower or if they have a sentimental value to you and want the signature without caring so much about the grade,it will return in!

[@John-w3u3w]

Well have to justify those 10.0 grades more corporate greed

[@goldeneastgun]

I sent in a pile of bronze age books during the pandemic, and I was delightfully surprised by the higher than expected grades I received. However, my more recent submissions have been the opposite. Books that look much better by side to side comparison consistently receives much lower grades, which has me scratching my head. I suspect they are trying to tighten up their standards for various reasons... so I've had to adjust my own submission standards accordingly. As a result, I send in much less books... and I don't like glaring inconsistency.

[@zoso73]

A couple of days ago, as part of a 9-book submission, two of the books that came back had labels with each other's grade/label information. Because CGC's Quality Control is a fairy tale. So guess who has to spend time and effort, and wait time, to get these two slabs back to CGC so that they can correct their gross negligence and send them back to me with the correct labels?

[@saintmarc226]

I'm concerned the real reason for the grade dip is "Price Fixing"... Especially because cgc is involved in so many auctions

[@robertenyart9982]

Quit grading books. You are paying for someone's opinion on how nice your book is. And that someone doesn't seem to care about how they treat your books.

[@SABERTUUTH]

Exactly!! I don’t need someone telling a book I’ve always wanted is a 8.5, hell if it’s raw I can think to myself it’s a 10 because it’s a book I really wanted.

[@totalnv16]

It is a game with CGC. They are making money with you resubmitting for the JSA authentication but they are are told to grade dip so you can now press and resubmit again. It is a game because this is how they get vintage revenue up

[@DeusExAstra]

You should see what's happening now with books being bent in the inner wells when they get slabbed. I would not send ANY books right now until they fix this problem. If you do, you're asking for your books to get damaged.

[@getchatubeon585]

CGC damaged 11 of my books in bent inner wells this year. I sent 6 of them back to hopefully fix the problem and all 6 of them came back the second time in bent inner wells. Apparently, they have no idea how to solve the problem of bent inner wells. CGC can kiss my ass.

[@ViperVenomComics]

Me: I'm so glad i don't like graded books.

[@Markus465]

I think I'm going to put it in my will that my 2 Secret Wars 8's will NEVER be slabbed. LOL

[@StevenLuckey-k1t]

Hey Mint, it was really nice seeing the collector side of you in this video. The frustration is real my man.

[@mikes2719]

You got the right idea to just stop. I haven’t given CGC anything for two years now after an incident of my own. Their in house pressing is horrible. They are better trained at spotting and penalizing you for outside pressing than actually doing a good job themselves. They ruined two key silver age books of mine and that was it.

[@tannerdimick5802]

Classic case of fuck around and find out. You wanna send in your books 3-4 times to get a minor grade bump you're gonna find out 🤷‍♂️

[@MickeyCoalwell]

All of your qualms are fair and reasonable. It may be that you are facing the existential question about the point of collecting in the manner you have chosen. Yes, stop cold turkey. You’re being screwed over and it’s not going to get better. Big change needed…in you. Sorry, man. Glad you could rant about it here.

[@leerogers5318]

Just a few more points. In the past, CGC would just take the inner well and place it in a new outer well and slap on the same grade. However, since the whole flipper scandal, it appears that they are re-grading a book when re-slabbing. CBCS has always done this to prevent exactly the type of scandal that CGC went through. Another point of interest is what is the experience of the grader? CGC certainly will not divulge this information. Another point, it is obvious that they damage many of the books that are submitted, and they know that there is no possible way for you to prove otherwise.

[@lllo0o0olll]

Well, when their lead grader is such a moron that he doesn't understand the process that a high end restoration company uses, so decides to call them fraudulent in public, what does that say about how the people under him are trained? That guy should have been knowledgeable on how the company did things but 'mE nO unnERsTanD bOOk maGic MUst be TRiCk!" Cost them 10 mill and I as of right now on his linkedin he is still in that position. When the main guy is a moron, why should we expect good quality control anymore.

[@DW3010]

I don’t understand why people don’t just switch to CBCS. It’s like everyone thinks CGC is the be all and end all and if I don’t go to CGC, nobody’s gonna want to buy my CBCS Comic. It has to be CGC or nothing. It’s like going back to a restaurant every time they burn your burger. Why are you going back there if they burn your burger every time?

[@MintHunterComics]

Prob is CBCS damaged a bunch of my books this year lol (Can't win hahahaha)

[@DW3010]

@@MintHunterComics wow you seem to be cursed 😄

[@deviljin22]

Because CBCS dont sell as much for CGC. Market trumps all

[@Criner05]

Last year I submitted Nightwing #100 2nd print to CBCS for grading just a few months after it was released. It came back an 8.5 with a huge dent (not a tiny crease or fold) of maybe half an inch on the bottom spine corner that was not there when I submitted it. A friend of mine submitted comics to CBCS to be pressed and graded. Somehow they came back in worse condition than when he submitted them. CBCS fucks up too and claims infallibility.

[@DW3010]

@@deviljin22 oh I know. And I don’t understand that as CBCS is owned by Beckett

[@jeremytiner7358]

While I'm interested in the state of grading, I'm like Gollum. I like my books raw and wriggling.

[@DBackcomics]

You didnt even mention the latest controversy about the bent inner wells! Got 4 9.8s back, 2 have visible defects because of the inner wells. Not sending anything to CGC for a while.

[@MintHunterComics]

I'm not 100 percent convinced of that whole inner well thing. That may be a stab in the dark. I've submitted thousands and have never seen that issue before

[@DBackcomics]

@MintHunterComics Yep, I wasn't either until I got these back. Trust me, you can't miss it. And I'm not anti CGC! I'm just going to keep cleaning and pressing and wait until the problems get resolved before I send some back in. Forgot to tell you, LOVE your videos. Been watching a long time! :)

[@MintHunterComics]

I've since got some books back - yeah I totally see it - I wonder if it's like a change in machinery over there? I honestly think it may have made it more like 9.4s inctead of 9.8s.... they need to fix this ASAP

[@DBackcomics]

@@MintHunterComics I agree! I've got books stacking up to send. It's like the leaning tower of comics here!

[@BobBoozle]

From a business perspective, minimize risk. Get the books, grade the books, move the books. Getting stuff regraded to have them in the highest grade with the latest slab for your PC is a mental thing you're going to have to overcome.

[@pravarshanmurugasen2641]

Interestingly, someone commented on a CGC signature series instagram post saying that CGC ruined the books they resubmitted for the Wolverine 50th anniversary panel. When I replied asking if they had any cautionary tale because I was going to resubmit some books for the Frank Miller signing, CGC deleted both our comments! I did submit those books but I am worried about grade declines.

[@lllo0o0olll]

CGC used to delete negative commentary on their official boards as well, but complaints, valid complaints, have been coming in at an exponential rate so they no longer can without looking even worse than they already do.

[@JernosComicsPopCulture]

This just proves that that white sticker with the black numbers on it means absolutely nothing.

[@kennythecomiccollector]

That sucks my guy! I’ve been hearing a lot of issues lately. I see a growing trend of people deciding to pause or completely stop sending in their comics to get graded. Perhaps more of that needs to happen in order for them to change for the better! 🧐

[@Maz08]

All I know is if I sent in a 9.0 of any book to gamble a grade bump and it came back a 7.0, that would be the end of sending books in to be graded. I’m so glad I never got into grading books.

[@card_and_comic_investments]

100% AGREE James! There needs to be consistency w/ CGC & CBCS. It's LITERALLY LUCK as to which grader you get.

[@BowlerBP]

Its a shame. It used to be that a collector shoudve desired to own a graded book. If you bought a 9.6, it was a 9.6. The subjectivity was supposed to be in raw books. 🤦

[@Anlien1]

I greatly prefer raw books but do own 4 cheap slabs. I get the need and appeal for grading high value books, but don't get the over reliance on CGC after their continuous stream of scandals. There's just no trust left in the company, but everyone keeps using them.

[@Darth.Shredder]

I personally would never send in or have a vintage key signed. It's already collectible and valuable on it's own merits. Why deface it with an autograph or worse... risk it being handled again if it's already slabbed? IMO, that's what modern books are good for. A nice crisp 9.8 variant with the artist's signature makes a not so valuable or sort after book worthy of slabbing and displaying. I realize some will disagree - but these are my opinions.

[@beatsarebroken]

Books not keeping their grade on a reholder is insane. Its basically an admission they don't back prior grading. If the criteria has changed, then give it a legacy grading label or something!

[@prospero7867]

Or they are saying their cases cause damage to comics

[@rambler85478]

I feel like the "graded slabbed comics" thing is losing its luster. A lot of traditional fans of comics aren't that in to slabbed books. Most (not all) of the slabbed stuff is bought by investors. If they're aren't really good movies, etc. out there... it's not gonna drive up any prices. People may not want to hear it, but my guess is that it's gonna get worse for slabbed stuff. If you weren't around during the comic boom and bust of the 90's, you don't realize how bad it can get. Be careful.

[@RobbyRobDu929]

But it boomed again...and will again soon with all the new MCU/Gunn DC action. It ebbs and flows like anything. Take advantage.

[@aldershot8008]

the numbers represent the condition of the book at the moment of the grade / appraisal. Them being an appraisal company obviously will update the grade as they see them. It's literally their job. Your books keeps getting dinged for points because atmosphere, light, and time eats at the books condition, even encased, not to mention mailing it back and forth constantly. It's a grade that represent the book, not a high school.

[@ericwilliams1845]

If you have OCD, collecting anything is hard. It’s also sometimes not rational to pair expectations with reality

[@geraldwright5283]

I understand completely. I got screwed by CGC, so I don't use them anymore. They cannot have anymore of my business. It's been about 3 years since I cut them off and I refuse to go back

[@Bar-Lord]

I’ve been hearing even reholders are all getting graded again as a part of the process due to reholder gate. Ryan at Automatic Comics actually said a while back he’s holding off on submissions until that and the holder bend issue are resolved.

[@MintHunterComics]

He was wise to do so haha

[@johnnyr859]

My fellow collectors... Don't reholder or resubmit for signatures- you will get a grade dip. CGC just lost more business! CBCS forever!!!

[@Criner05]

Last year I submitted Nightwing #100 2nd print to CBCS for grading just a few months after it was released. It came back an 8.5 with a huge dent (not a tiny crease or fold) of maybe half an inch on the bottom spine corner that was not there when I submitted it. A friend of mine submitted comics to CBCS to be pressed and graded. Somehow they came back in worse condition than when he submitted them. CBCS fucks up too and claims infallibility.

[@CptRameus]

I thought the color yellow was Green Lantern's weakness? Does it not follow that yellow labelled books have a negative affect? No surprise to me😆

[@MintHunterComics]

Hahahaha I absolutely love this comment

[@CptRameus]

@@MintHunterComics that was truly painful to watch James, better tomorrows.

[@toddmacleod5915]

Hello James, I have not left a comment in a while, but I do enjoy your shows and this one has re-open a wound from CGC. In short, I was actively cleaning and pressing books, plus submitting, because slabbed books of all grades were worth more than selling raw. But it all changed when I started buying slabbed books after reading the graders notes, I would CPR and waiting anxiously for the proverbial grade bump only to have the grade drop. Unfortunately, I thought it was because of my history of getting labelled a "cover cleaner" (4 books with the label "cover cleaned") I stopped trying for a grade bump when the grades dropped instead on some very big books from my PC, it is still a soul crusher, it was a waste of time and money. Thanks for reading my rant... Todd

[@ThunderBucketsComicsandG-pw5op]

If the signer caused the damage that's not CGCs fault. If the signer puts a spine tik because of how the hand rested on the book or during hand off. On the other hand, reholder - provided the well wasn't compromised, should not lose a grade. If they damage it, they should be responsible for it.

[@MintHunterComics]

now THAT I totally understand. It's more when blue label to blue label regrading that drives me nuts

[@RocknComics]

I feel your frustration and was just talking to my favorite shop owner who has a very nice collection of slabs and even he said if he doesn’t get it pressed at CGC, he gets a dip unless it’s a brand new book. He cleans and presses his own books and it doesn’t matter.

[@troytutti5415]

It’s almost like there’s big changes going on with the lawsuit and slab gate. It be best just to stay away and see what PSA does.

[@Dr.HUGENSTEIN]

I learned my lesson a few years ago. No more CGC for this guy.

[@DouglasCaldwell-y6b]

Sorry this is happening to you. I expected this after the ReHolder Gate, that CGC would bring the hammer down on the grades because they are trying to save major face. The last thing they want is a KZbin video going up, exploiting how weak their grading system is. The flip side is, they are acting in bad faith to their existing collector base that have personal collection items and are now getting penalized and, essentially, having their collection DEVALUED due to the negligence of the company. I have a bunch of books, CGC SS 9.8s in old holders I was going to get ReHoldered, but I hesitated sending them in to hear from the community on how things were going. Long story short, thank you so much for posting this video, and videos like it, as I know you are taking hits, hard hits, but the fact that you are being vocal and transparent about it, is truly and genuinely helping other collectors like me. Not that it means much, I understand, but I wanted to say thank you, all the same. Cheers, Doug

[@Nahga]

Not the grades that need to stop. Stop sending books in to be graded. Doing so has made them the authority and it never should have been that way.

[@MintHunterComics]

9:53

[@mattc4086]

You gotta take pictures or videos of everything. I caught them switching my UF4 that was absolutely perfect and replaced it with a 9.6 that should probably be a 9.4. My photos showed that I had a different book because the wrap was showing an extra 2mm than my book was. They said it was definitely not stolen or switched on purpose. It must have been an accident. How? They gave $1500 of store credit and I lost my 9.8. Oh and then 2 years later they announced a couple was arrested for stealing books and replacing them with lower graded books. Sounds familiar. I’m sure I was one of their victims. Without the photos, they wouldn’t have given me anything. Hoping to win your UF4 9.8 to make up for it. Good luck with your next submissions.

[@MintHunterComics]

But considering you sign a waiver that anything can happen even with all the proof in the world it doesn't really do anything - it's wack

[@zoso73]

On the subject of grades, CGC has been ridiculously brutal these last few years. I've been submitting to them for the last 20 years, and I have never seen such 'grade harshness' as I have the last few years. Your GL 14 is a perfect example.

[@jaimemarquez2597]

I would NOT send my books in right now (and I haven't) with the inner wells warping that's bending the books inside them that's happening right now too, yeah bad times for CGC.

[@janicearroyo-wright8529]

Collecting anything is rough right now. I feel your pain bud.

[@iamtoddwolfe]

These stories make me keep my books raw. Sorry to hear about the drops.

[@Fr.NathanBiornstad]

I agree with you. I don't know they can't just reholder without regrading. I have a book with a broken case that I eventually plan to reholder, but I am cautious for reasons like you have given.

[@DanielRamirez-qi4oy]

So I don’t remember where I heard this but supposedly CGC said the books get damaged in the case in transit or over time when being handled inside the case, so if they ever get regraded or re holder that’s why they get a lower grade. Doesn’t make any sense to me. 🤦🏽🤷🏽‍♂️🤦🏽🤷🏽‍♂️

[@kalan4787]

You knew better than to send in any Reholders this year. Reholdering was going to be getting very heavy scrutiny as CGC tries to salvage their reputation, and this year is when your legitimately graded books were going to be treated as "fraud until proven otherwise."

[@MIKEYC123]

Games Mike from Florida we met maybe about a month ago I flipped out on cgc for a few books that I sent in seems like a lot of people are getting books back that are bowed my last submission looked like a banana boat WTF I sent some perfect books in came back nine sixes one of the adjectives they described in the greater notes crunch on right front corner😮 I think I'm just going to go Raw I is there a pressing service my book looks like it did when I sent it in one book look worse LOL I was fighting with them but I gave up and probably never going to use them again and if you got trading cards or baseball cards that's even worse don't get me going nice to meet you you have a very informative Channel

[@c-horse4694]

I think they should "Guarantee" the grade when you send in for reholder or signing and then have a very strict process for justifying a downgrade (full explanation, multiple eyes on it, and investigate if damaged on their watch).

[@CedRed]

Man, I hate to hear that. I hope CGC gets it together.

[@jermain716]

I submitted around 15 books earlier this year and a few came back almost jokingly low. Like a 9.0 graded at 5.5. I think a grading company needs to create a very accurate scanning computer to grade comics non discriminately. With set parameters created for each grade. This would make it easy to save each book's photos and record each flaw detected digitally. They already have very high tech assembly lines that can distinguish defects. This would revolutionize the grading industry on all collectibles.

[@Mr_Rob_otto]

Somebody needs to explain to me the attraction of getting a book signed. Is it simply to increase the value? Because I look at a signature as defacing the cover art and damaging the book. Writers and artists are not celebrities. They’re people doing a job. I will never buy a book that’s been signed on the cover.

[@JediFarce]

Like you said, they were probably improperly graded and the standards are more stringent these days and with your cleaning and pressing just ended up bringing the grade up where it is supposed to be.

[@moodswing4460]

Never send in 9.8s for signings. Doesn't take much for the artist to damage the book. I think cgc was trying to catch up with all their grading back in the day so they were over-grading books due to inexperience graders. The fact is cgc is very inconsistent and has no quality control anymore. Just look at that GSX they gave a 9.9. They say you can have a spine tic on a 9.9 but then they don't even give 9.8s with a spine tic. I flat out don't trust that company. They made everyone believe they have multiple people grading the books. I say bs on that. I bet they basically have 1 person per book. The more people who look at the book, the longer it takes to grade. Lastly, grade drops from a 9.0 to a 7 is absolutely ridiculous and should not happen. That is a huge drop. Someone had to screw up grading the book the first or second time.

[@hotzonecomics8941]

I'm scared of reholdering. I even sent a 9.2 that had obvious flaws for a signing, and had the flaws pressed, but even though it is OBVIOUSLY improved, I'm afraid it'll take a dip anyway

[@Socrates1973]

CGC went to shit since the “scandal “… talk about OVER correcting. 🤬

[@jesseduran7353]

I've yet to start getting my own books graded. I've been sitting on a stack of books, including already slabbed books that I'd love to submit/resubmit, but getting feedback from customers like you that have been submitting in high quantity for years really causes me to hold off getting anything graded/regraded. With all the recent issues and with more competition coming up, I really wish they would get their act together.

[@johnthurston5517]

I actually got a Killing Joke back with an 8.5 grade that had 2 small non-color breaking indents to the spine. Thought it would be minimum 9.0. The case was messed up and made the back cover dirty as hell with plastic chips. Sent it back for "mechanical error". They accepted it, thank goodness, but are now regrading. I fear a big ding for their screw up in the first place.

[@collectplayandenjoy2800]

One thing that you may want to consider is taking very good high resolution scans of your books front back top bottom corners, etc. to sending them in to BE put into a new slab. At least we can have some proof that the book it’s not in the same condition that you sent it to them, perhaps that will help you get a better result in the event of a grade drop.

[@BrendonLong_google]

Great video. You are right to bring this issue up. There needs to be some correcting.

[@guyverGODZILLAheiseiERA]

So the question is are there actually reputable SLABBERS

[@RobbyRobDu929]

I think this recent issue is leaving the door open to a quality company with integrity flipping the market on its head...it does not take that long to grade a book properly...there is SO MUCH MONEY to be made in authentication and it can be done with little overhead and for A LOT LESS than CGC costs.

[@guyverGODZILLAheiseiERA]

@@RobbyRobDu929 in my collection i have BATMAN : HARLEYQUINN ( the book from the 90s ) street value 2-300 .. and im contemplating if i should get my other 50 variants slabbed INCLUDING A LIEFELD mutants 1-100

[@derekrice5203]

I would never crack a 9.8 for a signature. You’re just playing with fire. To me the risk doesn’t justify the reward.

[@ddougherty8266]

Let's agree that about 20% of assigned 9.4 and 9.6 grades are about .2 lower than they should be, 60% are right on, and 20% are about .2 higher than they should be. We can debate those percentages, but if one cracked 100 9.4's and 100 9.6's and sent them all in raw, about 20 of the 9.4's would come back either as a 9.2 or as a 9.6 and about 20 of the 9.6's will come back either 9.4 or 9.8. The only time anyone complains is when a grade is lower than they think it should be. The lunatic aspect is that some people will pay so much more for a 9.8 vs. a 9.6 vs. a 9.4 when everyone knows that the grades are subjective, inconsistent from grader to grader, and aren't consistently reliable. Would someone pay $1500 for a one-ounce gold nugget if they knew that the scale that weighed the nugget might be so far off that they might be getting only $500 worth of gold? No, of course not. So, why would the presence of a "ONE OUNCE" sticker on that same nugget convince anyone that it's worth $1500 when they know that there's about a 20% chance that the sticker is inaccurate and the nugget might be only worth $500? Fools and their money.

[@lenoxseer]

I totally get the frustration. It sucks.

[@OJ_Pimpson]

CGC stumbling so hard on so many things right before PSA comes into the market is pretty disastrous for them

[@Criner05]

I understand how you feel with the OCD. I've wanted to get some comics reslabbed as well because I like the new look and I want them to match (I'd like to get my Dark Knight Returns #1 9.6 and Batman Adventures #12 newsstand 9.2 reslabbed). But I've always suspected that simply asking for a reslab would lead to them regrading and possibly getting a grade dip. So I've never (and will never) submitted for a reslab. Shit does happen. And the grading companies claim infallibility when shit happens. Last year I submitted Nightwing #100 2nd print for grading just a few months after it was released. It came back an 8.5 with a huge dent (not a tiny crease or fold) of maybe half an inch on the bottom spine corner that was not there when I submitted it. I decided not to contact CBCS customer service because I didn't wanna risk the stress of them claiming something like it was damaged in shipment (which wouldn't be true because other comics in the same grading batch received a 9.8, 9.4, and 9.2 all without pressing). Of course mistakes can happen, like a grading employee dropping a comic. But when that happens, they should hold off on grading it, contact you notifying what happened, and ask if you'd still like it to be graded or not. Also, check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIDMmIaCjp6IjJIsi=oo8vtTZXE9bwXPrf Between that video I linked, what's happened to me, and what's happened to a friend of mine, I've decided that I'm done with grading all together. It unfortunately is not rare to submit a comic for grading and have it come back in worse condition than when you submitted it. A friend of mine submitted comics to CBCS to be pressed and graded. Somehow they came back in worse condition than when he submitted them. Grading companies will always claim they can do no wrong.

[@hopsandcomics]

I have also noticed a major increase in “grade dips”. I submitted all my 9.8 Batman long Halloweens for a Loeb signing and half took grade dips. Very upsetting. I called CGC and all they could say was “ grading is not guaranteed after multi-submissions for an individual book”

[@MintHunterComics]

Yep.

[@hopsandcomics]

What is crazy…. Is my Batman long Halloween was graded in 2012 9.8, resubmitted for a new holder in 2023 as a 9.8, and signed as a 9.4. 😵‍💫 bonkers

[@chaningdodson4245]

This is literally why I don't buy into getting shit graded or anything like that, to me its just a waist of money, alot of time sitting around watching the mailbox, an for what lol dings😂 now raws that come with certificates, especially from stan lee collectibles. I'm all about it. An still. It's staying in a sleave. An thats that. Grading is literally a ridiculous concept. Other then preserving a comics condition. That's literally the only reason I would say, yeah thats a good reason given what ever it is, an its rarity.

[@loumonoph]

Never let CGC open your case. Its not like they have their best people doing that, and they wont take the the same care you will. And the way they handle the books during signins is very questionable. So i wouldnt be suprised of grade dipps with those. Reason i always look at the risk reward. If their is a chance of it dropping, just to have a new case. I wouldn't even consider it. Not worth the chance.

[@doghousecomics2596]

I find CGC's modern tier has the most consistent grading and so the best chance at a grade bump when doing a crack and resub. When you get to higher tiers the grading, at least to me, becomes a bit more spotty. For example, I bought an ASM 129 that was graded as a 7.5 in Nov 2023. I cracked it, worked on it a lot, and took out the creasing that could come out. The book seriously looked twice as good. I figured it must be a bump, but the CGC grader saw fit to give it a 7.0 this time around. It was maddening.

[@erikvonzipper4124]

Love your channel...was wondering if there are several factors playing into this like you mentioned with maybe tagging people they see online talking bad about them and adjusting the census. But if you think about it ....follow the money....if your books drop some grades, what does everyone do? Crack it and resubmit, that way they get even more money for grading the same book multiple times...just my opinion. I was gonna give them a try again after 20 years (all my slabs are from 2003) and have some books graded or reslabbed, but after the issues with the inserts or slabs causing people's books to scrunch up and put stress on the spines....not gonna do it. They know there is a problem and won't own up to it. May send some stuff to CBCS while waiting for PSA to get going, that's who will likely get all of my business in the future if they don't have any major problems. Think they will be more professional. Keep up the great videos.

[@astrozombie3913]

Ive never sent a book for grading and never really looked into it. When you crack open a slab and resubmit, does it effect the census on CGC?

[@ericwilliams1845]

1. Never let them press your books. They are hiring new people in that department all the time and results vary greatly 2. Grading is not static. It’s done by humans thus mathematically there is a margin of error. So while yeah you could have 9.4 books bump to 9.6, it can always go the other way. And you can’t argue it shouldn’t. It’s because of people grading it. And CGC allows that level of opinion for their graders. If 8 guys call a book 9.4 and 2 call it 9.2 it just depends on who ya get. All the more reason for us as a community to not get so caught up in the level of difference at that grade. A 9.2 and 9.4 should cost the same basically but until we as a community act that way with spending and pricing, this will be what happens

[@TB-TheGoldenAgeGamer]

cant wait for psa

[@donomar7070]

Probably one of the new graders they’re going extra hard and yes, you gotta be careful with what you say. If you call them up and give complaint they gonna mess with your books

[@efigueroa7276]

Happened to me so I understand the frustration. Had a 9.6 newsstand Wolverine limited number 1. Sent it in for a frank miller signing and a senior grader found small, missed color touch from the original submission. I was pissed and was not provided any pictures or evidence. Now I have a comics with an expertly removed color touch. 🤢

[@havok33777]

This is a bummer. Sorry that those books didn’t go your way. It’s gotta be frustrating.

[@frankcastaldi2531]

CGC has declined and now it’s a guessing game what grade you get

[@danmovie-fan6395]

I’m nervous about sending a signed copy to a third party vendor for a second signing on a book. He insists that it’s his business so he takes the process very seriously, but when I’m adding another $400 to a book I’ve already spent hundreds on, am I really doing the right thing, especially after seeing this video!

[@dr.decker911]

Yeah don’t get stuff graded or regraded. Slabbing it yourself gives the books the same or more protection.

[@MintHunterComics]

9:53

[@dr.decker911]

@@MintHunterComics Yeah I understand wanting them all to match. Maybe on any fresh collections keep them away from cgc entirely.

[@Pewsplosions]

@@MintHunterComics Wouldn't it actually be better for your OCD to slab it yourself? Especially the ones you aren't ever going to sell. You get to make them all look exactly the same and exactly how you want them to look and give them the grade they probably deserve. Instead of a grade some random, underpaid, bored person at a faceless company that probably knows less about grading than you do decided to give them that day?

[@Supertomscustoms]

Funny how the biggest criticism of CBCS for years was their label. But now we’re seeing a ton of PSA bandwagon hoppers when their label looks like it was designed by a librarian in 1985. All of these companies blow. It’s such a shame that they hooked so many people. I’m confident we’re going to start seeing “dollar” bins of slabs at cons in the next 10 years.

[@cardboardsword7]

CGC did this to me with a Star Wars #1 in 9.4. I paid for signing, pressing, and the signature. It came back a 9.2. It was signed, but I can see ripples along the top edge where Chaykin handled the book. The ripples should have pressed out after signing. I suspect they had it pressed before he signed it. Once they case it up and send it, you get what you get. It sucks. Very little transparency on what is happening with our orders once they reach the CGC facility. I've also had them straight up damage books and deny it telling me I should have taken pictures before submitting books. I like CBCS cases, but they do not grade as strictly. I have several 9.8 CBCS's that clearly are not 9.8s.

[@kmarty009]

Yeah...This has happened to me, too. Not much we can do about it... CGC is the authortarian standard by the community. We don't value (the community) CBCS as a standard alternative -20%/30% drop base value alone on CBCS. People will continue to send to the CGC even after reholder gate, other scams, now bend gate. I do think they are grading more strict, I see major inconsistencies in grading, even CPR'ing and getting differnt grades again after CPR a second time. If CBCS and when PSA comes and we can retain value that the community will accept eqiuvalency to CGC it can change. However, it hasn't been the case so CGC holds all the power. I truly believe we created this problem ourselves (me included I just sent another order to CGC).

[@frankjuralewicz2687]

Everyone else is paying the price because of the thieves at CGC! I’m with you, if it was graded at 9.8 or whatever, it should stay at that grade getting a reholder!