So grateful for this video. I've been buying slabs for the past several months and haven't even paid as much attention to the book as I should have before storing them away.
I sell comics on eBay and recently had a comic book writer and artist buy a CGC graded 9.4 copy of Evil Ernie. He cracked the case open and then demanded a return of the book as he said he already read this issue in one of those omnibus compiled anthologies. I denied his return. He challenged my denial and held up my $455 payment to me. I had to send in proof that I don’t accept returns on my sealed comics. I won my case with eBay eventually and got my funds released to me. Great stories Tom & Jeff! 🤘👍
Yeah, I thought marvel should have put a better artist on Wolverine #1 at the time for such a high profile book. That’s why I wasn’t into it at the time.
@@chrischreative2245 honestly, despite the fact it's a #1 issue and his first monthly title, I hated this book. No uniform on Wolverine, re-imagined him as a street-level hero and changed his name to patch. I disliked everything about that book (I know people love it, to each their own). I sold mine, and would do it again The 1982 limited series #1 with the great Miller art will always be my "superior" Wolverine #1
Marvel and their fans have always been frauds and POS. You all pushed so hard on those shit Marvel movies, just to raise values. But, all those Marvel movies were just like their comics...Boring kiddie trash.
Great story! Bought a one ounce Canadian gold coin on eBay ten years ago that was fake, but I had no idea until I tried to resell it. Had to deal with the cops plus eat the $750 I paid for it cuz too much time had gone by to trace the original seller. Buyer beware always!!!
Tom, I found the ebay sale of your book and am just curious why you didn't hit the seller with negative feedback? Feedback is how the community polices itself and we rely on Feedback to know what sellers we can and cannot trust. I purchased a raw Batman 179 in NM/NM+ 9.4 minimum condition. I checked the pictures and all looked good so I won the auction. When I got the book there were numerous colour-breaking spine ticks that were most definitely not in the pictures...at least not until I increased the magnification on the areas to 500% and then I could finally see the definitive photoshop marks. The seller had photoshopped the spine defects out of the picture. The book had been sold 2 previous times by the same seller but when asked about it, I received no response. You can bet that I opened a case against him and hammered him with Negative Feedback. Unfortunately, ebay is still allowing him to sell. Tells you what ebay's priority is.
I assume he didn’t hit it with negative feedback because he’s going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and assume that he’s not the one who attempted to slide one past him and that it was done before the seller had acquired it? Just a guess
someone just threw me a wolverine #1 roughly 9.4 as an extra thank you on an ebay order like days before it started taking off. im just stockpiling books at this point everything is becoming worth $$$ graded.
Yeah, no doubt. Remember when Amazing Spiderman 252 & 361 were common issues? Remember when "The Death of Superman" was nearly the death of D.C.? Remember when everyone who collected had multiple cover variants for Spider-Man Torment issue #1? Picking up Wolverine's 1st appearance or snagging a clean copy of Moon Knight Issue #1 was once fairly easy (and reasonably affordable.) I'm also beginning to suspect that every single McFarlane/Spidey book will begin to fetch a small fortune in the next few years when savvy collectors gobble them up and finally finish adding them to their permanent collections. The saturation phase of the early/mid 90's nearly drowned the entire comic industry. Now, suddenly fans & collectors are starting to recognize what a powerful paradigm shift that particular decade truly represented. Comics would not be what they are today if not for the edgier artwork and more adult-driven narratives born during that unconventional wave of non-traditional artists. I know this much, when my copy of Sleepwalker Issue #1 becomes a $100 book, I'll know I've finally come full-circle. Welcome to the Renaissance of "Special Limited Foil Embossed Collector's Edition" comics. Buckle up! This is about to get bumpy...
@@jayblack7495 I recently started to collecting early image books (Youngblood,Wild C.A.T.S ect.) Just because a lot of that stuff isn't being reprinted.
How do you constantly confuse buying something ONLINE but you say you bought it OFFLINE? OFFLINE meaning you purchased local or face to face. You got it backwards homey.
Agreed. Now let me lay some street smart on ya. Know your product. I have purchased sunglasses that I thought were real and they were but the guy did a bait and switch. Lesson learned. Playa got played. Bought a Jordon Alvarez signed rookie card on eBay. List 150. Offered 75. Accepted. When revived. It is a business card with a very nice printer work. With sealed case and make shift authenticated case. Now that said. Also bought some comics off a auction on the tube here and never got them. And I won some stuff. But I say things and am very verbal. So kcuf them. Lessons learned. Not worth my time 2 get pissed. Just do better work. Now this is key. I have been the one who got over on someone. Bk I know more than u. Ex. Box of comics NM98 inside. Me pawnbroker. I will give u 20 for the whole box. Deal!! Me. Pull that comic. Similar deal scored Secret wars 8 newsstand!!!! Also traded all my first walking dead for my spawn collection I lost. 🥸🥸🤌🤌🧐🧐🤷♂️. But I got all my spawns!!! Well not all but the first 25 back. Side not spent 85 bucks on spawn comics today. So 2 explain my point. Tom, you are a voice in the community. If you expose there account u can make sure this does not happen. I do not bk I just deal with it. And if I were 2 care like a lot. Like real money. Bk I have none. Talking like above 300. I will find you if u screw me. I will take a road trip and document my voyage of asskicking. Would sell maybe Marvel presents weapon x. Set. Should cover most of the U.S. but that’s if I get pissed. Ah if Nick Cage only bought comics instead of houses!!!
There's always a chance of slight color touch and once you buy you should own a black light and look at that book very carefully, both inside and outside the cover to see any deviation.
I have a 9.9 from the 90’s on the old label, but I’m too scared to get it reholdered. I feel like if they regraded, you could just stare at it wrong and it would drop to a 9.8.
I bought a PGX 9.8 Wolverine #1 (direct edition) from the ongoing series for an amazing price several months ago on eBay. I received it and inspected the slab and the slab could be completely opened from the bottom. I contacted the seller for a return or discount since I figured the book was essentially “raw” at this point. The seller apologized, gave me a full refund and told me to keep the book! Amazing!!! Definitely not a scam that time. I took it out and sent it to CGC, and realized that PGX’s labels are part of the sealed plastic that the book is in inside of in the holder. The CGC label is separate from the book. I really wish that the CGC label was sealed with the book like it is for PGX for extra fraud protection (can’t believe I had something good to say about PGX 😜).
13:58 I had a similar experience with eBay. Bought a long box of comics from a seller in Tennessee. The box was in the Memphis Network Distribution Center (it has 1.2 ⭐ rating in Google Maps BTW). I contacted eBay after almost 30 days of the box being at the distribution center. I was issued a refund, thought I was never going to see the box. I also notified USPS lost packages 📦 department. One day in September 2021 the long box was delivered at our door 🚪. I was able to keep it along with all of the comics. It's interesting how eBay doesn't ask or require the buyer to return the package after a refund.
When i eventually become the supreme ruler of earth (its inevitable obviously) i will BAN ALL comic grading companies from existing since they are assiting in ruining collecting by jacking up prices on things that have no buisness being so expensive.
I've gotten scammed on eBay before. I have gotten a refund from eBay while not having to send back said NOT as described item because the seller initially refused my return.
I am always taking chances buying cracked slabs and reholdering or regrading but always ask for pictures and more pictures. You never know out there, but this is a great community that supports each other.
I just received a 9.6 cgc comic. The sides of the case are so loose and open, that you could easily slip any comic in or out of it. The book looks 9.0, and not 9.6. I'm returning it to the ebay seller.
Yikes. Good to know. I'm not buying any more comics on Ebay that have only one picture of the front and back. Seems like they are trying to get away with something without closeups of all the corners.
Broken CGC case that opens wide enough to pull out a comic and replace it with another one = scam. Happened to me too from Ebay. I returned it immediately to the seller. Seller had put a "7.0" with 5 long spine ticks and a small stain on the cover into a 9.6 CGC case. Do not accept a broken CGC case from any Ebay seller. Return it immediately to the seller.
I have a copy of the newsstand Wolverine #1 that I bought at a greeting card shop when it was released. I believe many people overlooked this issue because Wolverine had been the cover feature of Marvel Comics Presents, so they failed to realize how important the starting of the ongoing series was. Sort of lost in the shuffle at the time. But I was buying the first couple of issues of most titles back then, so I got it.
I thought of a reason to put tape all the way around. Tom actually mentioned the possible reason. In the older cases you could crack them open slightly, but not all the way. And I have had CGC cases that do this. I could understand someone wanting to put tape on the edges to keep any dust, dirt, or hair from getting inside the case. Now that I think about it, I may want to do that for my older cases. However, I would use masking tape instead of Scotch tape because it is easier to remove.
Had an Ebay experience where I won a cool high grade bronze age book that was an auction that ended with a really low price. ( can't remember what book or grade it even was now) The seller sent me a completely different book in a low grade . I reached out and the seller apologized and said he sent my item to another person and their book to me. It happens, I've done it. Anyway 3-4 months in and I still didn't get my book after sending the other book back. Finally involved Ebay and got my money back. Seller then sent me an angry message saying I wasn't patient with him. What makes me suspicious is the seller tried to get me to keep the book he sent instead the one I won . That, and the ridiculous amount of time involved makes me think that the seller felt the auction price ended too low and wasn't willing to let the book go for that. Anyway, thanks for sharing and reading this.
@@BloodFromSpain no I'm saying they tape bubble wrap around items to conceal damages because alot of people will leave it like that thinking itll keep it safer when they store it.
What does this term "slab" refer to? (I've lost track of some of the terms in the comic world since I stopped collecting back in the early 60's, though I have picked up a few of them informally over time). Thanks.
I don't understand why they would but Scotch Tape all around the case other than that it was tampered with. Definetly not worth the investment on this book with all this weird tampering. How wasn't putting tape all around the case intentional, Tom is giving this seller way too much credit.
I've had sellers absolutely decimate highly collectible comics by utterly cocooning them in Scotch-tape. A Gemini-box for an ungraded book or a USPS Priority box with a few tight swatches of bubble-wrap for a graded/slabbed book is all that's needed for a safe shipment to arrive intact. Anyone trying to be more clever than that tends to think that tape is the solution... I always cringe when my packages arrive.
Might be to prevent possible water getting inside if the package gets wet. While the comic itself is sealed, the case is not watertight. Not saying that is the reason here, but it is a plausible explanation.
If you don’t want comic collectors to get flim-flammed NAME THE PERPETRATORS!!! I remember asking about Comicxposure a year ago and all I got was crickets
I recently sold my copy of Wolverine #1 and it was CGC graded (9.4), I had it for quite a few years and I never had any problems with the case it was in. It’s sad to see people that are out to scam people in this hobby. Same goes for sports cards.
Great video and 2 interesting (but frightening) stories. I’ve had a few issues when buying books off EBay, but nowhere close to the money you guys were talking about. We all need to share our stories to help each other be more informed in the future 😎👍
I buy loose (raw) copies on ebay for a couple reasons, the two main ones are price - because a lot of the times you can get the same book for cheap and only spend $30 or $40 some odd dollars for a press and grade, rather than spending $300 or $500 for a 9.8. And the fact that I'll be the original owner and won't fall victim to whatever's out there. I just bought an X-Men #4 (1st Omega Red) for $40, the owner described it as a 9.0. No color loss on the spine, edges are sharp etc, the only thing wrong with it is a spine roll on the back, which can be pressed out along with any finger dents etc. On another note, CGC doesn't note "Newsstand" on books. I don't know if they recently changed that, but mine doesn't say it and I'm the original owner. The latest batch of slabs I got shipped back was from earlier this year.
Beware of a human from SC selling "graded" Star Wars comics on eBay. They were cracked cases and home printed grade labels on beat up books. The one I returned were listed with new labels within a week.
I just purchased a Strange Tales #170 on Ebay. This was after I watched the top 10 hottest comics. It was ungraded. Any tips on grading. I was looking for a video your page.
Thanks, I have a membership with CGC and plan to send it in. Just wondering what to look for in the future for myself when looking at comic conditions.
I bought a slabed 7.5 Cgc starwars #1 and noticed months later there’s a crack in the casing. What would you do if you wanted it slabbed again. Crack the case and send t in and hope it’s gets graded at 7.5 or higher or if I send it in would they just recase it for me and put my label back in?
Moral of the story: CGC has shit cases, that are easily tampered with and they longer release the notes. Sounds to me that a new grading authority needs to take over the market.
Just curious : where did you get the Newsstand ratio / percentage from for the Wolverine #1? According to Milehigh's ratio on the newsstand to direct it is more closer to 15% and may be as high as 30%. As of 1986 ratios it was still a 50 / 50 split between Newsstand and Direct according to Milehigh's chart / stats. 1990 it was 15% according to Milehigh's chart / stats. So the '88 percentage of Newsstand to Direct might fall in between 50% and 15% if you are following Milehigh's chart / stats . Is there another source for the Newsstand percentages than Milehigh? I've never seen one and would love to see a comparable to Milehigh's percentages. Thanks.
Fascinating. And somewhat depressing. I have a direct edition copy of that Wolverine issue just sitting in a box along with others in the series. No idea what its grading would be. I have a low opinion of the entire grading system, anyway. We're talking comic books - low quality newsprint for the most part, with not the best cover stock, either. They're the very definition of disposable. It's not like we're assessing bank notes or rare stamps or first edition Chaucer's! It's no wonder their spines are cracked, their pages yellowed, their colours faded. I have probably thousands of boxed comics from around 1983 up through till 2018/19. No idea how to get rid of them (not living in the USA), and wavering between selling every one of them for a dollar each (regardless of potential value) or just binning them! The latter option is looking increasingly attractive the older I get! 😂😂
Heard recently that CGC will only put it on the label if you've personally noted it as the "newstand edition" on your submission form. (Not sure of the accuracy of that; just what I heard. :) )
I just receieved a CGC slab with a plastic chunk missing from the side seam, an obvious prying attempt. Not sure if the book inside is legit or not. Online seller made no mention of the damaged case. It's graded at 9.2 and the cert # checks out on the CGC website. Will wait for a suitable custom label to be offered before submitting for reholdering.
The ONLY reason I can think that the the seller may have taped the perimeter for was that the case is not airtight and he/she wanted to ensure the case stayed together. Most likely a scam but can appreciate you not casting shade, at least until you know 100% if the book was switched and/or is still the real deal.
I need your help on info if the 2 Kiss Marvel Super Special presented as Replica on Ebay i recently purchased. Is there known fakes? If yes. Are these collecrible or worthless Xerox copies? Do I contact seller first or report to Ebay.
Damn, last 3 days.. I mailed out 11 shipments.. not all boxes🥶, but I am ordering 50 off of Amazon immediately .. I definitely have to UPGRADE now, every ship.... wow bruv, that issue is foul🤢💯
I sold Strange Academy #1 9.6 2weeks ago... I've got xmen 282 while sig 9.6🏆/batman b/w Jim Lee variant 9.8🏆/ 3 slab: spiderverse #5 9.8🥇+venom#19.6 🥈cates +venom 26 9.8🥉.. I could never🤣
Maybe they put the tape on to protect the slab. Inexpierienced collector. If no scuffing present, to prevent scuffing on edges. Ive got slabs back at CGC to fix the label error. Luckily i cought it within the 2 week timeframe. Does the book look 9.8, would you grade it 9.8. Did you ask them why they did it?
You might be surprised the amount of damage that CGC cases can take. As long as the grade sticker is on the top and those tampers are in place a reholder will happen.
Just bought a comic book on ebay cgc 9.8, seller was selling 2 of the same ones, unboxed it with excitement only to realize the case had been cracked open (i could even see the marks the tool made to pry it open) , very sus. Returning it, comic inside looks nice but doesn't look 9.8... pretty sure it was swapped.
I know the exact feeling of “wanting to buy a nice book” lol. Happens to me every payday.
i guess Im kinda off topic but does anyone know of a good website to watch new series online?
Felt this 😂
I would have flipped my shit if I spent that much for a possible scam, good job coming out on top with the whole situation
So grateful for this video. I've been buying slabs for the past several months and haven't even paid as much attention to the book as I should have before storing them away.
I sell comics on eBay and recently had a comic book writer and artist buy a CGC graded 9.4 copy of Evil Ernie. He cracked the case open and then demanded a return of the book as he said he already read this issue in one of those omnibus compiled anthologies. I denied his return. He challenged my denial and held up my $455 payment to me. I had to send in proof that I don’t accept returns on my sealed comics. I won my case with eBay eventually and got my funds released to me. Great stories Tom & Jeff! 🤘👍
"Buy it off line" threw me for a second lol
Dealing with a fake 9.8 is probably frustrating but, getting a free Hulk #181 ultimately should’ve been worth the stress.
Yeah, I thought marvel should have put a better artist on Wolverine #1 at the time for such a high profile book. That’s why I wasn’t into it at the time.
@@chrischreative2245 honestly, despite the fact it's a #1 issue and his first monthly title, I hated this book. No uniform on Wolverine, re-imagined him as a street-level hero and changed his name to patch. I disliked everything about that book (I know people love it, to each their own). I sold mine, and would do it again
The 1982 limited series #1 with the great Miller art will always be my "superior" Wolverine #1
The scammer got scammed lol
I love it
This is why I check the cgc number to make sure it's legit first then inspect the hell out of the book when it arrives.
Lmao that " See you Sucker " took me out 😂😭
CGC needs to release grading notes for free and E-Bay needs to Boot these bootleg peddlers from causing any more thief
This
And photos online
Marvel and their fans have always been frauds and POS. You all pushed so hard on those shit Marvel movies, just to raise values. But, all those Marvel movies were just like their comics...Boring kiddie trash.
Wow! Jeff basically with a free Hulk 181 in a 9.0? Talk about coming out smelling like roses!
Great story! Bought a one ounce Canadian gold coin on eBay ten years ago that was fake, but I had no idea until I tried to resell it. Had to deal with the cops plus eat the $750 I paid for it cuz too much time had gone by to trace the original seller. Buyer beware always!!!
Tom, I found the ebay sale of your book and am just curious why you didn't hit the seller with negative feedback? Feedback is how the community polices itself and we rely on Feedback to know what sellers we can and cannot trust. I purchased a raw Batman 179 in NM/NM+ 9.4 minimum condition. I checked the pictures and all looked good so I won the auction. When I got the book there were numerous colour-breaking spine ticks that were most definitely not in the pictures...at least not until I increased the magnification on the areas to 500% and then I could finally see the definitive photoshop marks. The seller had photoshopped the spine defects out of the picture. The book had been sold 2 previous times by the same seller but when asked about it, I received no response. You can bet that I opened a case against him and hammered him with Negative Feedback. Unfortunately, ebay is still allowing him to sell. Tells you what ebay's priority is.
What pisses me off about seller ratings is that the percentage only accounts for the past 12 months.
I assume he didn’t hit it with negative feedback because he’s going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and assume that he’s not the one who attempted to slide one past him and that it was done before the seller had acquired it? Just a guess
You couldn't give a Wolverine #1 away for free back in the day, nor Eternals #1, nor Ms Marvel #1, or She Hulk #1!
someone just threw me a wolverine #1 roughly 9.4 as an extra thank you on an ebay order like days before it started taking off. im just stockpiling books at this point everything is becoming worth $$$ graded.
No doubt.
I got Eternals #1 like 3-5 years ago for 5 bucks.
Yeah, no doubt.
Remember when Amazing Spiderman 252 & 361 were common issues?
Remember when "The Death of Superman" was nearly the death of D.C.? Remember when everyone who collected had multiple cover variants for Spider-Man Torment issue #1?
Picking up Wolverine's 1st appearance or snagging a clean copy of Moon Knight Issue #1 was once fairly easy (and reasonably affordable.)
I'm also beginning to suspect that every single McFarlane/Spidey book will begin to fetch a small fortune in the next few years when savvy collectors gobble them up and finally finish adding them to their permanent collections.
The saturation phase of the early/mid 90's nearly drowned the entire comic industry.
Now, suddenly fans & collectors are starting to recognize what a powerful paradigm shift that particular decade truly represented. Comics would not be what they are today if not for the edgier artwork and more adult-driven narratives born during that unconventional wave of non-traditional artists.
I know this much, when my copy of Sleepwalker Issue #1 becomes a $100 book, I'll know I've finally come full-circle.
Welcome to the Renaissance of "Special Limited Foil Embossed Collector's Edition" comics.
Buckle up!
This is about to get bumpy...
@@jayblack7495 I recently started to collecting early image books (Youngblood,Wild C.A.T.S ect.) Just because a lot of that stuff isn't being reprinted.
How do you constantly confuse buying something ONLINE but you say you bought it OFFLINE? OFFLINE meaning you purchased local or face to face. You got it backwards homey.
Agreed. Now let me lay some street smart on ya. Know your product. I have purchased sunglasses that I thought were real and they were but the guy did a bait and switch. Lesson learned. Playa got played. Bought a Jordon Alvarez signed rookie card on eBay. List 150. Offered 75. Accepted. When revived. It is a business card with a very nice printer work. With sealed case and make shift authenticated case. Now that said. Also bought some comics off a auction on the tube here and never got them. And I won some stuff. But I say things and am very verbal. So kcuf them. Lessons learned. Not worth my time 2 get pissed. Just do better work. Now this is key. I have been the one who got over on someone. Bk I know more than u. Ex. Box of comics NM98 inside. Me pawnbroker. I will give u 20 for the whole box. Deal!! Me. Pull that comic. Similar deal scored Secret wars 8 newsstand!!!! Also traded all my first walking dead for my spawn collection I lost. 🥸🥸🤌🤌🧐🧐🤷♂️. But I got all my spawns!!! Well not all but the first 25 back. Side not spent 85 bucks on spawn comics today. So 2 explain my point. Tom, you are a voice in the community. If you expose there account u can make sure this does not happen. I do not bk I just deal with it. And if I were 2 care like a lot. Like real money. Bk I have none. Talking like above 300. I will find you if u screw me. I will take a road trip and document my voyage of asskicking. Would sell maybe Marvel presents weapon x. Set. Should cover most of the U.S. but that’s if I get pissed. Ah if Nick Cage only bought comics instead of houses!!!
Guru! Glad you got your money back and got to keep that book. In the end.
Never have this problem with the good ol raw books!!👍🤔🤣
I have a story on a raw book that I got screwed over
@@STASHdadtv It is possible online,but never in person!
books are meant to read.
@@Ransolo626 they are not just books though
There's always a chance of slight color touch and once you buy you should own a black light and look at that book very carefully, both inside and outside the cover to see any deviation.
8:55 I love how he zooms Jeff's taking out the tape on the slab! 🤣
One of those moments we all needed to appreciate lolol
I have a 9.9 from the 90’s on the old label, but I’m too scared to get it reholdered. I feel like if they regraded, you could just stare at it wrong and it would drop to a 9.8.
I bought a PGX 9.8 Wolverine #1 (direct edition) from the ongoing series for an amazing price several months ago on eBay. I received it and inspected the slab and the slab could be completely opened from the bottom. I contacted the seller for a return or discount since I figured the book was essentially “raw” at this point. The seller apologized, gave me a full refund and told me to keep the book! Amazing!!! Definitely not a scam that time. I took it out and sent it to CGC, and realized that PGX’s labels are part of the sealed plastic that the book is in inside of in the holder. The CGC label is separate from the book. I really wish that the CGC label was sealed with the book like it is for PGX for extra fraud protection (can’t believe I had something good to say about PGX 😜).
Ap
13:58 I had a similar experience with eBay. Bought a long box of comics from a seller in Tennessee. The box was in the Memphis Network Distribution Center (it has 1.2 ⭐ rating in Google Maps BTW). I contacted eBay after almost 30 days of the box being at the distribution center. I was issued a refund, thought I was never going to see the box. I also notified USPS lost packages 📦 department. One day in September 2021 the long box was delivered at our door 🚪. I was able to keep it along with all of the comics. It's interesting how eBay doesn't ask or require the buyer to return the package after a refund.
Great info. I just started collecting slabs, so this is something I’ll be looking out for!
When i eventually become the supreme ruler of earth (its inevitable obviously) i will BAN ALL comic grading companies from existing since they are assiting in ruining collecting by jacking up prices on things that have no buisness being so expensive.
*F-yes!* *EFF all these damn stupid slabs*
I've gotten scammed on eBay before. I have gotten a refund from eBay while not having to send back said NOT as described item because the seller initially refused my return.
Just using u as a platform. Thinking of postin some of my collection on Instagram. 🤔🤔🤔
Moral of the story....don't buy expensive comics in a slab on the internet.
I am always taking chances buying cracked slabs and reholdering or regrading but always ask for pictures and more pictures. You never know out there, but this is a great community that supports each other.
Thank you for sharing this Tom and Golden Age Guru!
It was great meeting you both in San Diego last month!
Tom you are awesome but you don't buy off line from eBay you buy on line everything from the internet is getting it on line as in on the internet.
I just received a 9.6 cgc comic. The sides of the case are so loose and open, that you could easily slip any comic in or out of it. The book looks 9.0, and not 9.6. I'm returning it to the ebay seller.
Yikes. Good to know. I'm not buying any more comics on Ebay that have only one picture of the front and back. Seems like they are trying to get away with something without closeups of all the corners.
Broken CGC case that opens wide enough to pull out a comic and replace it with another one = scam. Happened to me too from Ebay. I returned it immediately to the seller. Seller had put a "7.0" with 5 long spine ticks and a small stain on the cover into a 9.6 CGC case. Do not accept a broken CGC case from any Ebay seller. Return it immediately to the seller.
I have a copy of the newsstand Wolverine #1 that I bought at a greeting card shop when it was released. I believe many people overlooked this issue because Wolverine had been the cover feature of Marvel Comics Presents, so they failed to realize how important the starting of the ongoing series was. Sort of lost in the shuffle at the time. But I was buying the first couple of issues of most titles back then, so I got it.
I thought of a reason to put tape all the way around. Tom actually mentioned the possible reason. In the older cases you could crack them open slightly, but not all the way. And I have had CGC cases that do this. I could understand someone wanting to put tape on the edges to keep any dust, dirt, or hair from getting inside the case. Now that I think about it, I may want to do that for my older cases. However, I would use masking tape instead of Scotch tape because it is easier to remove.
Insane. Thanks for calling this out. Never would have imagined that this sort of thing happened.
Crazy stuff. The Guru made out like a bandit on that one, lol.
Stuff like that only happens to rich people damn!!!
Tom staying extremely cool n collected about this whole shenanigans. Crazy story bout that hulk 181
$1,000 is ridiculous!👎👎
Had an Ebay experience where I won a cool high grade bronze age book that was an auction that ended with a really low price. ( can't remember what book or grade it even was now)
The seller sent me a completely different book in a low grade . I reached out and the seller apologized and said he sent my item to another person and their book to me.
It happens, I've done it.
Anyway 3-4 months in and I still didn't get my book after sending the other book back.
Finally involved Ebay and got my money back. Seller then sent me an angry message saying I wasn't patient with him.
What makes me suspicious is the seller tried to get me to keep the book he sent instead the one I won .
That, and the ridiculous amount of time involved makes me think that the seller felt the auction price ended too low and wasn't willing to let the book go for that.
Anyway, thanks for sharing and reading this.
That is exactly what happened.
Wowwww! Sorry to hear about the suspect books and grades but glad you guys were on top of it!
This is what makes me soo leery of using eBay the shenanigans are real and there is always people out there looking to scam.
I think with the recent boom in the comic book industry, these incidents will be more common
Anytime ebay sellers tape bubble wrap around your items you know that shits gonna be damaged 😂
That's not always true lol some throw some in there for extra padding.
@@BloodFromSpain no I'm saying they tape bubble wrap around items to conceal damages because alot of people will leave it like that thinking itll keep it safer when they store it.
WOW SOME PEOPLE YOU NEVER KNOW
I always make sure to pull it out of the ugly poly bag, examine it and place it in a mylar.
It’s probably either a fake book or dude tried to sell you a slabbed book while getting a full price.
Crazy how fraudulent some people can be. Very good stories, Tom. Appreciate your content. Keep it up!
How dare someone try to scam sir ComicTom! Shame on that person! Lol
Could the tape around the edges be for protecting the edges of the case from scratching if someone were to have leaning on a bookshelf?
Great video. Very educational and sad at the same time.
What does this term "slab" refer to? (I've lost track of some of the terms in the comic world since I stopped collecting back in the early 60's, though I have picked up a few of them informally over time). Thanks.
Glad i saw this. Made me dig mine out to check and found I had a newsstand also. Should I send it in if it looks more 9.6-ish?
I don't understand why they would but Scotch Tape all around the case other than that it was tampered with. Definetly not worth the investment on this book with all this weird tampering. How wasn't putting tape all around the case intentional, Tom is giving this seller way too much credit.
I've had sellers absolutely decimate highly collectible comics by utterly cocooning them in Scotch-tape.
A Gemini-box for an ungraded book or a USPS Priority box with a few tight swatches of bubble-wrap for a graded/slabbed book is all that's needed for a safe shipment to arrive intact.
Anyone trying to be more clever than that tends to think that tape is the solution...
I always cringe when my packages arrive.
@@jayblack7495 I'll never understand why some people like to put tape anywhere close to a comic book.
Might be to prevent possible water getting inside if the package gets wet. While the comic itself is sealed, the case is not watertight. Not saying that is the reason here, but it is a plausible explanation.
I guess it’s worth it now lol damn hulk 181
Story about how you got your Hulk 181 = priceless.
This conversation looks like my rational mind talking to my fanboy mind
If you don’t want comic collectors to get flim-flammed NAME THE PERPETRATORS!!! I remember asking about Comicxposure a year ago and all I got was crickets
Crazy stories! Thanks for sharing, always things to watch for
Love you guys ^_^ thanks for the amazing content
For all you know it may just be the cover stapled to an Archie book!?!🤣🤣
That' craziness! Both of you lol.
That’s sneaky dirty by that seller.
Definitely not worth taking the risk.. awesome shirt as always my man!! 🤙
I recently sold my copy of Wolverine #1 and it was CGC graded (9.4), I had it for quite a few years and I never had any problems with the case it was in. It’s sad to see people that are out to scam people in this hobby. Same goes for sports cards.
How are you supposed to see the stoch tape? When the plastic case is blocking you from seeing it.
I recently got switcharoo'd on a raw Thor 337. The eBay seller sent a much lower quality book than pictured. Fortunately, I got an immediate refund.
Great video and 2 interesting (but frightening) stories. I’ve had a few issues when buying books off EBay, but nowhere close to the money you guys were talking about. We all need to share our stories to help each other be more informed in the future 😎👍
None of it is true though.
I buy loose (raw) copies on ebay for a couple reasons, the two main ones are price - because a lot of the times you can get the same book for cheap and only spend $30 or $40 some odd dollars for a press and grade, rather than spending $300 or $500 for a 9.8. And the fact that I'll be the original owner and won't fall victim to whatever's out there. I just bought an X-Men #4 (1st Omega Red) for $40, the owner described it as a 9.0. No color loss on the spine, edges are sharp etc, the only thing wrong with it is a spine roll on the back, which can be pressed out along with any finger dents etc.
On another note, CGC doesn't note "Newsstand" on books. I don't know if they recently changed that, but mine doesn't say it and I'm the original owner. The latest batch of slabs I got shipped back was from earlier this year.
Thanks to you both for sharing your stories.
Beware of a human from SC selling "graded" Star Wars comics on eBay. They were cracked cases and home printed grade labels on beat up books. The one I returned were listed with new labels within a week.
😯 crazy, glad it worked out Jeff. And hopefully things get resolved quickly Tom
I just purchased a Strange Tales #170 on Ebay. This was after I watched the top 10 hottest comics. It was ungraded. Any tips on grading. I was looking for a video your page.
You can make an account with cgc or cbcs and ship it to them!
Thanks, I have a membership with CGC and plan to send it in. Just wondering what to look for in the future for myself when looking at comic conditions.
Well, name and shame, broseph! Otherwise more of us may fall foul of these nefarious fiends!
I bought a slabed 7.5 Cgc starwars #1 and noticed months later there’s a crack in the casing. What would you do if you wanted it slabbed again. Crack the case and send t in and hope it’s gets graded at 7.5 or higher or if I send it in would they just recase it for me and put my label back in?
Sad people scamming people. Especially when its another collector. We should be looking out for each other not getting over on one another
Crazy Wolverine stories, glad you both had it work out in your favor.
Wow!! People are crazy!!
Who ever did this is super slick and they have no respect for John Busema's artwork or comic 📚
Scammers gonna scam! Sessh... I'm going to pay a lot more attention to my slabs now!
I still think hulk 181 and ASM 300 are the most undervalued books STILL . Goodluck getting a AF15 or hulk 1 or ff1 in a 9.0 for under 20k lmao .
Moral of the story: CGC has shit cases, that are easily tampered with and they longer release the notes. Sounds to me that a new grading authority needs to take over the market.
Just curious : where did you get the Newsstand ratio / percentage from for the Wolverine #1? According to Milehigh's ratio on the newsstand to direct it is more closer to 15% and may be as high as 30%. As of 1986 ratios it was still a 50 / 50 split between Newsstand and Direct according to Milehigh's chart / stats. 1990 it was 15% according to Milehigh's chart / stats. So the '88 percentage of Newsstand to Direct might fall in between 50% and 15% if you are following Milehigh's chart / stats . Is there another source for the Newsstand percentages than Milehigh? I've never seen one and would love to see a comparable to Milehigh's percentages. Thanks.
I mean 9.8 specifically 👍 good clarification
Wow man! Sorry that happened to you guys. The 181 ended ok after the stress but that’s some scary shit!
Great video it does raise a question "do you ask the seller for pics to see top and bottom and sides of a graded book going forward"????
I do. I ask to see the back of the book or closer up image of area of cover if needed. Most times they send a pic but some don’t but I ask.
Yeah if they didn’t mention the bad condition of the slab I would definitely return it too
Fascinating. And somewhat depressing. I have a direct edition copy of that Wolverine issue just sitting in a box along with others in the series. No idea what its grading would be. I have a low opinion of the entire grading system, anyway. We're talking comic books - low quality newsprint for the most part, with not the best cover stock, either. They're the very definition of disposable. It's not like we're assessing bank notes or rare stamps or first edition Chaucer's! It's no wonder their spines are cracked, their pages yellowed, their colours faded.
I have probably thousands of boxed comics from around 1983 up through till 2018/19. No idea how to get rid of them (not living in the USA), and wavering between selling every one of them for a dollar each (regardless of potential value) or just binning them! The latter option is looking increasingly attractive the older I get! 😂😂
Are you ever going to have it regraded and pressed for resale Hulk # 181. ?
CGC doesn’t always if ever differentiate newsstand books…. Not stating it on the label is common.
Heard recently that CGC will only put it on the label if you've personally noted it as the "newstand edition" on your submission form. (Not sure of the accuracy of that; just what I heard. :) )
@@jeffstanley6013 I think your correct. PGX does the same thing lol.
I just got my Avengers Annual #10 Newsstand graded by CGC, and the label says Newsstand on the label.
I just receieved a CGC slab with a plastic chunk missing from the side seam, an obvious prying attempt. Not sure if the book inside is legit or not. Online seller made no mention of the damaged case. It's graded at 9.2 and the cert # checks out on the CGC website. Will wait for a suitable custom label to be offered before submitting for reholdering.
That scammer lost a 15,000$ book haha good.
The ONLY reason I can think that the the seller may have taped the perimeter for was that the case is not airtight and he/she wanted to ensure the case stayed together. Most likely a scam but can appreciate you not casting shade, at least until you know 100% if the book was switched and/or is still the real deal.
Now I have to go check my slabs 🤞
I need your help on info if the 2 Kiss Marvel Super Special presented as Replica on Ebay i recently purchased. Is there known fakes? If yes. Are these collecrible or worthless Xerox copies? Do I contact seller first or report to Ebay.
I buy mostly off EBAY but only from venders that have a good and sizable history as a reliable seller.
In the future you will have to get your graded plastics, graded in plastic.
Damn, last 3 days.. I mailed out 11 shipments.. not all boxes🥶, but I am ordering 50 off of Amazon immediately ..
I definitely have to UPGRADE now, every ship.... wow bruv, that issue is foul🤢💯
I sold Strange Academy #1 9.6 2weeks ago... I've got xmen 282 while sig 9.6🏆/batman b/w Jim Lee variant 9.8🏆/ 3 slab: spiderverse #5 9.8🥇+venom#19.6 🥈cates +venom 26 9.8🥉..
I could never🤣
How about 40 or 50 more ads on this video?
Maybe they put the tape on to protect the slab. Inexpierienced collector. If no scuffing present, to prevent scuffing on edges. Ive got slabs back at CGC to fix the label error. Luckily i cought it within the 2 week timeframe. Does the book look 9.8, would you grade it 9.8. Did you ask them why they did it?
You might be surprised the amount of damage that CGC cases can take. As long as the grade sticker is on the top and those tampers are in place a reholder will happen.
Crazy sellers but buyers can be crazy, it happens to me with a buyer with a funko pop
Just bought a comic book on ebay cgc 9.8, seller was selling 2 of the same ones, unboxed it with excitement only to realize the case had been cracked open (i could even see the marks the tool made to pry it open) , very sus. Returning it, comic inside looks nice but doesn't look 9.8... pretty sure it was swapped.