AFA Grading on a 1988 MOC Storm Shadow?

[wookinpanub]

In the process of selling my collection, one of my more valuable items will be this 1988 v2 Storm Shadow MOC. I'm struggling whether to get this AFA graded based on what I think I see selling these on EBay. Ungraded appear to have been around the $60-80 range, while graded ones are 150-300. For the $30 fee that seems like a good investment?

Looking closely at my item it appears to be in very good condition. No creases to the cardboard, original sales sticker, promotional sticker intact, front and rear of card very clean. There is a staple at the top on the rack hanger slot from the store, but outside of that it looks to be very clean.

Pictures are here: Front of Card (http://www.littlemountainphotography.com/Events/GIJoe/22873467_5VwsRc#!i=1836666022&k=xdxJsfM)

and

Rear of Card (http://www.littlemountainphotography.com/Events/GIJoe/22873467_5VwsRc#!i=1836666119&k=Dckwz6S)

Mouse hover on the picture on the right, select 'Original' View Size to get the extreme close up of the image.

Thoughts on getting the AFA grading done? Thanks!

[This I Command!]

Probably not worth it honestly, the hang tab is punched and restapled together. The card does have some minor discoloring and age spots on the logo, and Storm Shadow appears to have some minor yellowing compared to the white of the cardback, and I would think you may lose some grading points from having the price sticker on there.

If you are doing it strictly for the purposes of selling it, it might actually work against you because the grade it may receive would possibly turn off buyers of high end Joes (who are usually the people that want AFA stuff). Just my two cents though, others may chime in with totally conflicting opinions so it's ultimately up to you what you think is the right thing to do. If it was mine though, I wouldn't do it.

[Xenos]

I think This I Command is right. Probably not worth getting it graded. Stuff like the staple really hurt the grade it will be able to get, but at the same time probably won't drag down the price of it much if you sell it as is.

[5h4rK]

Not worth it for sure.. sorry man!

[wookinpanub]

Good to know, thanks for the expert advice....

I'm struggling a bit then, given the wide array of pricing I see on this type of item on EBay (from 60 to a couple hundred). What's a realistic sale price on this item given the condition? Feel free to PM if it's more comfortable to estimate, I'm just looking for a general consensus / ballpark, thanks!

[5h4rK]

The problem is.. If I'm looking for a MOC figure, the card has to be perfect or near perfect with minor defects.. otherwise, it's good as an opener..

[This I Command!]

The problem is.. If I'm looking for a MOC figure, the card has to be perfect or near perfect with minor defects.. otherwise, it's good as an opener..

Yeah exactly. Anyone that would want an item like that MOC is either gonna be someone buying just to have a carded example, possibly for sentimental reasons or because they have a beginner/cheaper collection. No matter what it will still be worth more than a loose one, but as to how much is really just gonna come down to who is looking for one at any given time on ebay or the forums. My best advice would be to monitor ebay and list it when there are none or next to none of them on there as that may help you get slightly more for it just due to demand, but I would definitely expect prices on the lower end of the spectrum.

[AlleyViperEXE]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that price sticker didn't really hurt grade that much on carded figures? I thought the only way it took the grade down was if you tried to remove the sticker, and ended up screwing it up.

I've never had anything graded, but I remember reading something like that and it surprised me, because I thought a sticker would be a huge, obvious hit to grade.

[nighthawk]

I think placement of the price sticker has something to do with that. If they placed right over a predominant part of the card art (ie. on Storm Shadow's head), then that would definitely drive down the grade.

[AlleyViperEXE]

Ah. That makes sense.

[wookinpanub]

BST List Added Here: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-buy-sell-trade/231731-wookinpanub-1983-89-b-s-t-vehicle-figure-cards.html#post3599518

Thanks to everyone for their help!! For those that did, you'll see a discount for you listed on that B/S/T list, my way of saying thanks!!!

[TheRealDubya]

If you did anything AFA-related with this figure, you'd want to to do the Uncirculated Loose option, where they'd open and encase it loose. That might have some value, but I don't know.