I’ve been seeing more and more ads for Action Figure Authority, a business that rates toys and action figures and assigns them scores based on their condition (though apparently it has been around since 2000). There is a similar service for comic books that has been wildly successful, but I’m a bit surprised that it’s working for toys as well.
The idea is that you have an independent entity establishing an indicator for what the condition of the toy is to reduce the subjectivity that sellers may introducing in rating a toy in fine, good, very good, etc. condition. With toys, of course, not only is the toy itself being graded but also the packaging since so many toy collectors want their toys in mint in box condition (though AFA does rate loose figures as well).
Personally, I’m the sort of person who spends $100 on a mint in box Super Powers figure so I can rip open the packaging and display the figure, but others are really into the packaging.
Anyway, I was curious just how effective using a service like AFA was. It turns out that Australian business professor Michael Kind authored a paper on the effect of product grading on eBay pricing that looked specifically at AFA grading’s affects on auction prices,
This paper reports on a case study of a U.S. organisation called Action Figure Authority (AFA) that grade and case action figures, playsets and other collectable toys. The study conveys that grading items through AFA significantly increases items auction value when traded on eBay and the confidence of potential buyers. In fact depending on the grading of the items, some have been auctioned off for as much as ten times their expected secondary market value. This study finds product grading is an alternative mechanism to creating trust and inducing higher auction prices.
AFA does in fact NOT grade loose figures, only MISB (mint in sealed box), MOC (mint on card) or MIB (mint in box: opened box but figure in unopened bubble).
“AFA does in fact NOT grade loose figures”
In fact, if you visit their website they clearly advertise the grading of loose figures.
The items you are referring to they grade as packaged items even if the box is not sealed (such as for figures that were sold in packages that were not sealed), but this has nothing to do with their grading of loose action figures.
“AFA grades loose action figures from the following toy lines:
* Star Wars
* GI Joe
* Masters of the Universe
* Raiders of the Lost Ark
* Battlestar Galactica (Vintage Mattel)
* Lord of the Rings (Knickerbocker)
* Super Powers
* Starting Lineup “
AFA = Bull Shit waste of $ and who cares about the authority. Just a way to jack up toy prices for newbie collectors.
I agree. Waste of money. Are people getting so docile and naive to believe that one mint collectable is better than another mint collectable just because some scammers say so… or are people just getting to lazy to do their research and grade the stuff themselves?
I disagree with the other comments. I believe AFA has saved the toy collecting hobby. When you buy a toy you want that toy in Mint condition; not, almost mint, kinda mint, minty, or mint-ish… Mint. When the toy arrives you can’t help but be proud of that toy, but you’re afraid to let anyone handle it, look at it, and forget about displaying it. There’s too many elements involved for the possible demise of your cherished toy. So what happens? You put it away in a dark room/closet, under your bed, or in a climate controlled storage unit never to be seen again until you either move or change storage units.
Well now, thanks to the help of CGA/AFA, you can proudly display your Mint item without the worry of someone damaging the damn thing, or UV light fading it, and heaven forbid if dust begins to accumulate on the case, now all that is required is a paper towel and shot or two of Windex and you’re good to go! No more high powered air blowers and white cotton gloves.
Along with everything that I’ve said, you no longer have to fear of an unscrupulous seller lying about the condition of the toy so he can make a sale.
This is why CGA/AFA is worth the time, money, investment, and happiness for a hobby that was once dying and dying quickly.