[700block]

so who made them the authority to grade?

[GI abe444]

I personally dont own any AFA graded stuff. I think its way to much money to send your stuff to them anyway and i just wouldn't do it.

[Mandingo Rex]

The silly thing is, it's all silly when it boils down to it. I love toys as much as anyone on this board, but let's face it. We're grown men spending money on toys that (for the most part) aren't going to be played with by actual children, unless you have children of your own. And even then, it's an excuse; you love toys because you love toys.

Yes, there are degrees to how silly it may be for grown men to buy toys, but we are splitting hairs if we're saying buying toys to play with or buying toys to keep in a box is any sillier than the other. It's all silly, no matter how much we love our hobby or defend it. Everyone has their right to buy whatever, but if you're a grown ass man on this board talking about other men buying toys and how their toy buying method is dumber than yours, stop and think about it for a minute.

[Mazinger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700block

so who made them the authority to grade?

It's just like any other organization or company.

They get together and creating a rating or certification process and hope other people adopt their ways and it eventually becomes a standard. Throw enough weight around and constantly mention your name in the business and it'll be a household name.

I'm in the construction business. There are standards, ways to do things, codes, etc... A lot of these were created by individual companies and were eventually adopted to be "standard".

The newest scam in the field is LEEDS certification.

[Zefram]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CobraElite

This is America and the last time I checked ...

Wrong!

This is the internet.

And it's serious business, yo.

[700block]

i see the AFA clowns every year at SDCC i take it they grade stuff on the spot. maybe this year i will burn down that booth. will i be a hero?

[cobralalalala!]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DESTRO

I don't hate them but I do think its silly. If your a collector and you can't tell that something is in Mint Condition then ask a friend. I would never pay for this service, I can tell with my own eyes whats mint and what is not.

Exactly how I feel. Any one of us is qualified to grade a toy's condition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.I.A.D.

See, what kills me is that their name includes "Authority". With all due respect, who made them the Authority? I didn't get the memo....

This^^^^^

[sharky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700block

i see the AFA clowns every year at SDCC i take it they grade stuff on the spot. maybe this year i will burn down that booth. will i be a hero?

I don't know about all that, but I would buy you a Coke.

[skekSil]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 700block

so who made them the authority to grade?

Every person who has dropped the extra cash for an AFA item. Collectors can complain all they like, but every one of us that has broken down and bought an item they've graded, validate the practice. It's finding $80 graded items on Hasbro's website that confuses me.

[NAJA EMPIRE]

i just like the display cases they put the item in. that alone is pretty cool.