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03-06-2009, 01:29 PM | #1 |
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Location: Unofficial GI Joe fan site
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Love it or hate it, they are what some collectors use to say what condition their toys are in. They give you a nice Acryllic case with a sticker and say it is this grade. So what makes an AFA grader? I did not see anything on AFA's site about their screening process so I decided to ask them what it takes to be an AFA grader. It was kind of short and to the point and after I sent it I reailized I forgot to ask what the average salary was for graders. Here was my e mail:
"I was curious about what type of qualifications your graders have to become a grader? Is there testing that you do through the company? If not how does someone get into the "grading" business? I am just wondering because I did not see anything in the FAQ that talks about this. Is there a screening process for individuals that apply and how does one apply? I appreciate any time you take to answer my questions." Here is their response: "The graders at our company each have between 4-8 years experience grading collectibles and received 2 years of training before they even began to work independently on any tasks. In addition, items are checked by 3 graders over the course of the process and final grades must be confirmed by a master grader, of which the most inexperienced has been doing this full time for 6 years. Most of their experience lies in grading toys of various types and also in authenticating factory seals, cellophane included. Just like any other job, all AFA employees receive on the job training. There is not school for graders within the collectible community and all of our staff receives knowledge based on the standards our company has developed. The name authority is part of our corporate identity and dates back to action figures. The same question was posed in 2000 when AFA began grading action figures. Since there is no common regulation or entity to monitor grading collectibles of any type, we would assert that our company has a great deal of related experience and already grades enough sealed items on a regular basis to far surpass any other entity in the world for assessing the authenticity and grades for sealed collectible toys." |
MAJOR BLOOD |
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03-06-2009, 01:35 PM | #2 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: in the 80's
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Wow, I'd love to be a "toy grader", sounds like the idea job scrutinizing toys all day, hell I do that anyways. But no matter how you put it, someone's going to say it... "You're paying for an opinion". I for one no longer collect AFA figures but had a nice little collection back in the day, I think it was a great idea for a toy grading company, above all else they at least have nice cases to protect our figures.
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03-06-2009, 01:40 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Corpus Christi Texas
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Wow...long time to become a master grader. Makes me wonder if the employees there that are collectors like us cheat on their own toys? And that some people will pay a grader to have a certain item of their own to receive high grade ie 90,95,100. I heard stories about this but of course, I can't confirm it but its plauseable to me.
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03-06-2009, 01:46 PM | #4 |
Screwballin'thread jackin
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: toronto
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Quote:
the last thing i want is some kid getting peanut butter and jam all over my Zartan.
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Rhino DVD sets, boglins, joes transformers and Resident evil all in my most randomest bst thread on the tank. Go look: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...ml#post1672775 feedback here: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...perhead33.html |
03-06-2009, 01:48 PM | #5 |
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now THIS is what the Tank is all about.
nice work, MB!! |
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03-06-2009, 01:51 PM | #6 |
Rhymin & Stealin
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Texas
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No offense to anybody who uses the AFA grading system or thinks highly of it, but to me it seems like one of the best/worst scams to ever hit collectors.
But the company wouldn't be what it is if people didn't buy into it and use their services right? To each his/her own, it doesn't affect me in any way so I don't get all bitter about it. Last edited by CallMeRotten; 03-06-2009 at 01:56 PM.. |
03-06-2009, 01:59 PM | #7 |
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What other grading company are there? I'm aware of two so far, one being AFA and I forgot what the other company name as I think its a new company.
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03-06-2009, 02:30 PM | #8 |
So much drama 'n the LBCs
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03-06-2009, 02:43 PM | #9 |
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AFA is a double-edged sword for collectors.
On one hand, if you value your collectibles regardless of what condition they are in, you're going to cherish them. Their "worth" is subjective to your own opinion. On the other hand, if you come across an AFA graded collectible that may not be your cup of tea (but in your price range,) a collector will pounce on it because of it's "worth" and flip it to another collector willing to pay the premium. Either way, AFA works. Some of my most cherished Joe pieces are AFA graded and that's fine with me. If I EVER did part with them, I know myself, along with the potential new suitor, will have confidence in knowing that the item has been assessed by a qualified hand. AFA is a necessary part of this culture and I, for one, am glad they're around. |
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03-06-2009, 07:38 PM | #10 |
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