If that is the case, wouldn't a blue label Metroplex actually be more accurate since it has already been opened and AFA can verify it? Seems like a red label has more of a chance of having a brick in it.

 

How trustworthy or accurate is AFA?

Has anybody opened their AFA before?

 

The blue labels are used for the Q graded items.

 

I bought an AFA 85 Onslaught off eBay I was planning to share with this board. It came damaged! . The package was opened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and they obviously damaged the Onslaught box! I am from Canada and I bought it from a USA seller so the U.S. Customs must have thought it was necessary to check the box or something before sending it on its way to a foreign country!?

Look at the photos including the photo of the item I was supposed to get in the original condition.

I spent a lot of money on Onslaught seeking it at the beautiful AFA 85 condition and now it is completely worthless.

I am really pissed at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Why would they EVER open it!!!! And can't they be GENTLE about it!!!!!

Can I do anything to make their life miserable!?

 

I’ve got a couple of nice Misb 85’s for sale if anyone’s in the market .

 

Horrible... I have not had any issues of this kind before. Usually there are a lot of "fragile" stickers on the box and a clear description on it too. Did you fully insure it?

 

Fortress Magnus...first of all, I feel for you. That's awful. I'm a little confused, though. Did they actually crack open the display case?

 

No I did not. The seller has a 100% feedback rating that packs well so I trust him and took the risk not to insure it. I am from Canada and I even asked the seller to mark it as $60,00 rather than its true value because I didn't want to pay taxes on a foreign package. I have never had problems before until now.

According to the tracking number, the package was shipped from Hawaii on April 13th, was in Los Angeles by April 21th. It stayed there until it was processed on May 2nd, went to Louisville on May 4th, then to Canada on May 4th also, and then to me yesterday.

I am still depressed. I want to do something. Is there a way I can make the U.S. Customs and Border Protection life miserable?

 

I could not see any evidence that they opened the acrylic box except maybe the right side of the box. So, I don't know how the box got damaged like that on the top. I took better pictures. I also took pictures of the package box it came in, hiding my address and the seller's for privacy.

Do you see evidence? What about the right side of the box? There is a small crack there. Is that common among acrylic cases?

 

It obviously was dropped. I know Chuck packs items well but if dropped hard enough anything could happen. I’ve never heard of anyone being able to get any resolve from customs.

 

could you crack the case and hit it with a little sharpie or something? I know you shouldn't have to that really freakin' blows!!! I would be pissed off for sure.

I don't know a little bit of permanent marker though and visually it might be less noticeable.

that first image definately looks like the case fell on the ground.

 

Did it go through ebays global shipping program? I had an unreleased g2 combat megaton that they destroyed the afa casing on and since it went through the global shipping eBay refunded me my purchase price after showing them the pictures

 

I can understand the case cracking if it was dropped (even if it was bubble wrapped). Pressure will sometimes do that to the case, which I've seen happen on several occasions no matter how well it's packaged. I'm at a loss, however, as to how the box itself turned out like that. I could see the impact maybe leading to very minor damage of the box, but something like that? I guess it's possible. I have no other explanation for it.

 

No. I do not want to open up the acrylic case. Even if I could open up the case, doing touch-ups on a vintage box leaves a bad taste to my mouth.

It did not go through Global Shipping Program. I HATE the Global Shippîng Program; if forces me to pay full value, overcharges me on the import fees that it thinks I would have had to pay at customs and refuses the seller to combine shipping for multiple items won, so the shipping costs to the buyer can be also as ridiculously high as the import fees. This time, however, this time I wish Onslaught had gone through the GSP. I paid a lot of money for a pristine Onslaught and I want a pristine Onslaught.

Next time I buy more AFA or CAS Transformers , I will insist on Express Mail. It should be at my apartment in two, three days. Minimizes damages during shipment by reducing time during shipment and maybe U.S. Customs and Border Protection won't open it if it says express.

I agree. If it was dropped on the right side corner and at the bottom, then how was the damage to the Onslaught box on the opposite side and on top. I can't see the mechanics that would create that kind of damage. It scares me that the acrylic cases doesn't really protect the things inside and that you still have to be careful handling them.

 

I forgot to ask: How was it destroyed? Did they open the package and mishandle the item inside? Or was the package itself with the item inside damaged?

U.S. Customs and Protection opened my package for some reason! Did the dogs smell drugs or something?

Thankfully, you got your refund. I don't think I will get my refund. Because of my stupidity in taking a risk on not paying full value because I didn't want to pay hundreds of dollars in Custom fees if the package was declared at full value. But hey, either I would have had a pristine Onslaught or all my money back.

 

Sorry about what happened to the Onslaught, but why don't you try and sell it if it makes you so depressed? The 85 grade is worthless now, but it doesn't mean you can't recover some of your money.

Also, I wouldn't consider Onslaught to really be a hard piece to find in 85 condition. There are more out there.

 

Is it worth it if I send it back to AFA to have it recased and regraded? What grade would I get if I go this route? Or am I better off opening the acrylic case and selling the Onslaught box as is?

 

It would get a low score if it were regraded. You are better off cracking the case open and selling as is. Of course, this is just my .02.

 

Global shipping opened it up and looks like they dropped it or tried to pry open the case

 

I wouldn't send it back because that's more money, as others say your better just selling as is. The grade it would get would be around 60 I guess. I have seen cracked cases before, I think people forget how fragile the cases are, but I have never seen it damage the box so bad.
I hate that global shipping program too, it just means Ebay makes money for doing next to nothing.