From Actoys Now they start grading loose figures.... "AFA now grades loose, complete Generation 1 Transformers up to the size of Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Jetfire. Please submit them for grading under one of our new tiers for loose Transformers listed here. "
They've been grading loose toys like Star Wars and GI Joes for years, but have been staying away from Transformers since apparently it was too much to keep track of parts, instructions, sticker sheets, etc. I guess they finally got their info straightened out to start grading them. in b4 bootleg AFA'd as an original.
I can understand grading a loose SW fig or Joe fig but a TF I dont see because they will probably always grade it in vechiel mode. But still. I have some loose stuff that would hit atleast 90.
damn it, i wanted to afa my loose, broken in half optimus prime, who's missing ALL his parts, including his legs... just to see what they'd grade it as...
If you pay me $20, I'll seal it in a ziplock sandwich bag and adhere my own grading stamp with an RP90 grade on it. In a couple years it'll be worth a mint.
$20? i bought it in a bag for $5 at value village, when i was like 9... with a bunch of junk in it... *hey, i was 9, and i was born in 1983, so by the time i became old enough to have transformers, optimus prime was already dead, but he was still my favorite, lol by the time i was like 7 i think? lol *reruns, and toy catolog from my brother* and i saw an optimus prime and at the time, i was just too happy to have one, lol so i bought it. still, it WAS my first prime but now it's probably not worth much at all, especially since i removed some of the TIGHT joints, and replaced my worn out joints in my g2 with it... awhile back... but still i wonder what grade they'd give it...
Um, I dont think they'd take your loose stuff. The "U90" grade means UNCIRCULATED-90; meaning, they only grade stuff as loose that AFA THEMSELVES have pulled from a sealed box/card (often a beater-card/box). That's what the uncirculated means. At least, this is how they've done it with SW and GI Joe. It's not just for any old already-loose figure! Unless they've changed the rules for TF...
AFA grading has never made me happy. it's like Greenpeace or The World Wildlife Fund killing and stuffing the last living saber-toothed flying squirrel (for example lol) just to preserve it. coffins for toys. and now loose TFs? I weep at the madness.
So one with loose SW figs cant send them in as it needs to be like a smashed card and bubble but still sealed ?. I have never dealt with AFA so I wouldent know. But thx for the info. anyway.
That's silly, and to me loose complete doesn't necessarily mean it still has the sticker sheet and instructions. Mainly just the toy itself is complete. The paper work is just a bonus in transformers because not many kept that stuff back in the 80's.
Isn't that the very definition of the AFA? I guess you could file them under, "I wish I'd thought of that business."
Being in the UK, I have never used AFA (in fact, even if I was in the US I don't think I'd use 'em as all my stuff is opened) but yes, my understanding is they'll grade any toy...
I don't see why they wouldn't grade anything and everything no matter the condition and completeness. If it's loose/incomplete/yellowed/broken/chewed they just professionally seal it for all of eternity in an expensive transparent display case clearly graded and labeled loose/incomplete/yellowed/broken/chewed.
most everything for the "serious" "collectors" who buy toys with no intention to ever play with them tends to leave me speechless. *shrug* what's one more thing?
So I suppose that my dream "serious collector" sacrilege of opening a MISB G1 TF now has to be upgraded to smashing the case of an AFA graded 90 G1 figure....
