Could someone please enlighten me as to exactly how AFA grading benefits collectors?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SDCC-2008-AFA-9-0 ... .m14.l1318

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I am going to try very hard to exercise some restraint in this response, because I don't think very highly of the AFA. They have set up their own grading system based on who knows what parameters that to the best of my knowledge has not received the approval or authorization of a majority of the leading toymakers in the action figure world. They are a self-established "Authority" (the second "A" in their name), and as such in my opinion do not represent any sort of authority whatsoever. However, they've been very successful at selling themselves to that faction of the collecting community that is inclined to keep their toys on card and hermetically sealed in the first place, and want to have this sort of grading system in place so they can declare the superior condition, and as such value, of their toys compared to others. Of course, the AFA charges a fee for this. There is unfortunate evidence that such graded toys do sell better on eBay and such, but once again, one must assume that they do so only within that aspect of the action figure community that acknowledges the AFA in the first place. Honestly, anybody could have set up something like the AFA and probably gotten away with it. These guys just thought of it first. So be it. If a certain percentage of the collecting world wants to acknowledge them and base the value of action figure collectibles on the basis of the AFA's system, that's their business. I, for one, think this sort of thing diminishes a lot of the enjoyment of the hobby, and it's also an attitude that I have encountered long before the AFA came along, and I want no part of it.

Oh I fully agree with evrything you have said. But like with most things on ebay, I reserve most of my contempt for anyone stupid enough to pay these kind of prices just because some unofficial body has "graded" a figure.

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$400, heck I've seen 'em at $600 already, but they are AFA graded mind you

Gotta agree with Boom Boom Wheeler on this. AFA is a joke, but what's a bigger joke is the people that play thier game. I can understand and accept if AFA was a program that existed as a guidelines for the community to go by, such as creating a similair system to C-1, C-9, MOC, MIB terminology for carded and boxes items, but as they stand now, it's just silly.

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AFA is an "independant" "3rd Party" and their grade is "unbiased". That is why AFA was able to take off...because for the most part, any AFA 80 figure is going to be AFA 80. where I might call it Mint C8, Trekker might call it a C9, and Zombieguide would call it a 7.5.

That much variation in condition really dose effect the price or value of an item. I don't own anything AFA graded, nor have I ever had anything AFA graded, but I can see it's value if it stays pure to it's original values...I'm not sure it has, and that's why I put all those descriptors in quotes.

I still would like an AFA 10 Crystal Ball though.


I've just never really understood the need to AFA new figures...especially ones like Marve Legends that were all in a plastic bubble alread.

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AFA doesn't determine the starting price. They just give you a grade or number. It's the seller that comes up with the starting price that leaves you scratching your head.

However, the origins of AFA is shady to begin with. I am not going to type it out but this thread on a TF board is what I have heard about AFA and Cloud City Collectables in the past.

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/toyark/16 ... ading.html

I don't look for AFA items. The rarity of some of the international figures I go after out weighs any AFA grade that could be attached. Hence, AFA is useless to me.

Beav should start up a JoeCustom grading system. He could fund the site for years doing that, hehe. Buy some of those card holders Hasbro has for the G.I.Joe figures and tape it close with a sticker saying it's grade.

But yeah I never have understood this grading. Even with comics. I mean at least it is a little more understandable with a comic, but I still wouldn't pay triple just because they put a grade on it. Heck I don't even like paying too much above price as it is. Those people willing to pay those higher prices are only doing it to themselves when they pay. But $400 for that Cobra Commander, you could buy an AT-TE and 2 Falcons for that.

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Of course when they see money they become "dependant" "Your Party" and will take as much time and money as possible to give you thier "opinion"

God I hate those jerks.

That's a hefty price.

About AFA, I think that the fact that they even grade loose action figures and jam them in a case is ridiculous. I don't see them doing any good for our hobby. I don't need them to tell me the conditions of a figure.

Then again, this isn't the let's hate AFA bandwagon, so I'll stop here

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Actually... I think it may be.

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so if the figures is in bad shape it gets a grade like JcPhail or JcSputnick?

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And Perfect Mint would be "BRAWLIN'"

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What makes this even worse is the fact that a company like Hasbro Toy Shop has "legitmized" AFA by selling their products on their website and at the con itself. I kid you not they had a whole sheet of AFA graded exclusives they were trying to sell for those suckers who were caught up in the moment.

But yeah, AFA to me is a scam. I don't collect for the investment potential, I buy for my enjoyment now. If somewhere down the line my stuff doesn't trip my trigger any more then I'll sell it for what I can get or just donate it to charity. But there won't be a single AFA "graded" piece amongst the whole lot. AFA is for speculators and those looking at their toys as an invenstment pure and simple and that just makes me sad.

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I don't own any AFA items, but I do plan to get some of my vintage stuff done by AFA. Why? Well, these are items I intend to keep sealed forever. The price of getting something graded isn't far different from getting it put into an acrylic case. And the acrylic case is included in the AFA price.

I think any time you have something graded by a third party, there is always a lot of scrutiny on how consistent they are and if they are shady or not. It is the same topic with the CGC. That scrutiny should exist. But so far the AFA items I have seen have been consistent.

Honestly, there is no stopping anyone from doing the same thing they do. And I don't even think they thought of it first. I think it is just a case where they are the only one that has bothered to do it. If someone can be more consistent with grading or create a set of rules that are more clear-cut, then there may really be a market for it. As it is, there is a demand for this and AFA is the only provider.

I was flipping through the latest Lee's and on top of comics, hot wheels, and action figures you can now get your MIB video games graded. I didn't even know there was a market for that. At least with a sealed action figure you can still see the figure and enjoy that part of it. Who wants a sealed video game box that may or may not contain the actual vidoe game cartridge?

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