Subject:
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Re: Proposed Construction Toy Grading Standards
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.market.appraisal
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Date:
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Thu, 25 Oct 2001 02:19:47 GMT
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Viewed:
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2761 times
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Looks good to me!
--Gary
jedi*mugin
alaskanjedi
to many aliases to list in this sig....
richard marchetti <blueofnoon@aol.com> wrote in message
news:GLqJo3.IyD@lugnet.com...
> Hey Y'all:
>
> I am not the cross-posting genius or anything, so forgive me if this • annoys.
> I just thought that the first time I posted this I might have pigeonholed • it
> a little too much. The original of this post is available here:
> http://news.lugnet.com/market/appraisal/?n=510
>
> Anyway, I could use some feedback on this so any and all comments are
> welcome. Please respond in this forum so that others might see your
> comments and see what has gone before. Besides additions or corrections • to
> the proposed standards, I am seeking feedback as to whether or not people
> are inclined to use such a grading standard in the first place.
>
> If I get some approval of the standards overall, I will clean them up a • bit
> and present them in a more appealing html format. I view this as merely • the
> first written draft.
>
> Just to get you up to speed on the discussion so far...
>
> Chris thinks the standards might be too rigid. Kevin thinks that the
> standards may be too complicated to apply to all bricks esp. if they are • new
> out of the package (a kind of "hassle" factor). James thinks that the • only
> useful descriptions are "new" and "used" and the rest is best left to • chance
> as he is a casual hobbyist.
>
> Here's what I think in response to these comments:
>
> The rigidity of the standards is intended to encourage precision in item
> descriptions on the part of the seller and this is probably a good thing
> (newbie sellers on eBay could certainly use some help in this area). At • the
> same time, and as per Kevin's comments, I have suggested that the • standards
> might apply only to items where it makes sense: single elements valuing • more
> than $0.50 USD and complete, or semi-complete, sets where condition is a
> factor in valuing the item. It is suggested that the standards should not
> apply to items valuing less than $0.50 USD as it quickly becomes • cumbersome
> to scrutinize every item and the return for the effort is minimal. And
> while I am sensitive to James' approach, I have been burned often enough • and
> over enough money that I think we NEED some kind of easily referenced
> grading system to facilitate trading and purchases amongst construction • toy
> enthusiasts.
>
> I apologize for the length of this post, but I think it occurs in pursuit • of
> a worthwhile cause...
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> --Hop-Frog
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Proposed Construction Toy Grading Standards
>
> Construction toys are generally sold such that they are comprised of three
> main components: the elements (or bricks) themselves, an instructional
> booklet and promotional materials, and a box or some other packaging
> material containing the whole. Larger sets may have top opening flaps,
> plastic windows, and certain elements displayed in plastic bubble • packages.
> Instructional booklets come in a variety of forms: single folded sheets,
> small stapled booklets (which may or may not have been folded in the
> original sealed packaging), and even large magazine-like volumes.
> Promotional materials may include catalogues of product lines and even • such
> things as posters. The elements are often packed in several sealed • plastic
> bags which may themselves include additional instructional materials. A
> Mint in Sealed Box set (hereafter MISB) will certainly have ALL of the
> materials originally found in the box as if it had been purchased new.
>
> Below you will find grading criteria suitable for each component of a
> complete set whether it is new, used, or somewhere in between. It is
> recommended that each component be graded separately and that one do so • with
> a very critical eye to spotting defects.
>
> It is a reality that no set that has already been opened can be considered
> in the same category as a set that is still in its factory sealed box --
> there is simply no way to track that all of the constituent elements are • the
> same ones that originally came in the set (what some have termed "the soul
> of a set"). With this in mind, only a set in Mint in Sealed Box (MISB)
> condition may considered truly mint condition. All other sets, however • well
> maintained, should only be considered Near Mint or graded to an even less
> generous description as the "soul" of a set vanishes with the opening of • the
> package. Grade accordingly.
>
> In considering single components, such as a single plastic element, one
> should grade very severely. Consider that fact that even elements removed
> from a freshly opened MISB set can be in less than desirable condition --
> already marred with scuffs and scratch marks from the other elements in • the
> package. Again, such elements should be graded certainly no higher than
> Near Mint. It is not the status of the element just removed from a sealed
> package that makes it mint when it is considered alone -- it is the
> condition of the individual element itself. Nothing else matters in such
> circumstances, regardless of whether the item under consideration a single
> element, an instructional booklet, or even a box being sold on its own --
> How does this one item measure up? is the only question.
>
> Special attention should be given to clearly damaged components. Be • honest
> in dealings with others concerning such defects as it is the case that • many
> construction toy builders often collect whole sets with a specific element
> or short list of elements in mind. Such a person would be dismayed to
> discover that the elements that they have paid top dollar for were, in • fact,
> in marginal or unusable condition.
>
> A sample description might look like this (the example considers an • already
> opened set), note that the paranthetical notation is intended as the value
> of a Numeric Grade:
>
> "Set #XXXX Ultimate Construction Toy Set"
> Box (55): Fine
> Elements (64): Fine overall
> Booklet (94): Near Mint
> Problems: One minifigure arm moves freely and hangs loosely, one antenna
> has a slight bend."
>
>
> All Purpose Numeric Grading Criteria for Complete Sets, Boxes, Booklets,
> Promotional Materials, and Posters: (please use your best judgement to
> discern which listed characteristics apply to the item you are attempting • to
> grade):
>
> 98-100 Numeric Grade (MINT, or also MISB for Mint In Sealed Box)
> Only the finest sets make this grade. Flawless, unused. May have a price
> tag, but it does not damage the overall appearance of the box or booklet.
> Does not show any yellowing, dents, scratches, tears, creases, or cracks.
> Where visible in the box, loose elements appear flawless to the naked eye
> and are in working order. Set is in sealed condition!
>
> 90-97 Numeric Grade (NEAR MINT, or also MIB for Mint In Box)
> Has a minor flaw that is noticeable only under close scrutiny. Slight
> scratches. A small curl in the packaging or booklet, one fuzzy corner, or • a
> corner with slight touches of wear might exist. Might have a small • scratch
> or a paint chip. Box may be opened while the individual element bags
> remained sealed.
>
> 65-89 Numeric Grade (VERY GOOD)
> Contains noticeable wear or defects. Packaging or booklet has frayed • edges,
> small creases, very small tears, moderate discoloration or fading. Minor
> writing may be permissible as long as it does not detract from the • content.
> A few small scratches, paint chips, smudges, or faded decals are • permissable.
>
> 40-64 Numeric Grade (GOOD)
> Contains significant wear. Some yellowing of the package or booklet may • have
> occurred. Item may exhibit small tears or stains. More significant writing
> on the package may be present, writing that may now be considered to • detract
> from the content.
>
> 15-39 Numeric Grade (POOR)
> Heavy wear and damage is visible. Box or booklet may be creased, cracked,
> torn, or curled. Original color gloss is faded. Item may be crushed or
> dented in several areas. Plastic bubble packaging may show signs of dents • or
> crush marks. Pinholes, writing, or fraying may be evident. The value of • the
> item has been significantly compromised.
>
> 1-14 Numeric Grade (VERY POOR)
> Piece is heavily damaged. Packaging or booklet is in almost useless
> condition. Item may be cracked, scratched, water damaged, and otherwise
> stained. The box, even if sealed, is so compromised as to perhaps be
> missing small pieces. The booklet and promotional materials are almost
> certainly equally useless. Such an item, if thought to comprise a • complete
> set, is ideally purchased only for the elements -- which are themselves
> still presumed to be in usable condition while the rest may be clearly a • loss.
>
>
> Numeric Grading Criteria for Single Elements (or Bricks):
>
> 98-100 Numeric Grade (MINT)
> Only the finest elements make this grade. Flawless, unused. Does not show
> any yellowing, dents, scratches, or cracks. Appears flawless to the naked
> eye and is in perfect working condition. If it is a printed element, the
> printing is sharp and precise. No smudged or misaligned printing is • allowed
> in this category.
>
> 90-97 Numeric Grade (NEAR MINT)
> Has a minor flaw that is noticeable only under close scrutiny. Very slight
> scratches are permissable, as those that occur in newly opened sets. • Printed
> elements are still sharp and precise. Overall, the element retains its • full
> gloss and appeal as if new. The element is in perfect working condition.
>
> 65-89 Numeric Grade (VERY GOOD)
> Element has noticeable wear or defects. A few small scratches may be
> visible. If it is a printed element small paint chips, slight smudging or
> fading is permissable. Overall, the element retains its appeal and still
> looks good alongside pristine elements. The element is in perfect working
> condition.
>
> 40-64 Numeric Grade (GOOD)
> Significant wear is evident. Some minor yellowing may have occurred. • Element
> may exhibit minor staining or marking. The element is still in usable
> condition, but may detract in a model comprised of otherwise pristine • elements.
>
> 15-39 Numeric Grade (POOR)
> Heavy wear and damage is visible. Original color gloss is faded. Item may • be
> minorly cracked, scratched, crushed, or dented, show teeth marks where it
> may have been chewed, and even stained or marked. The value of the item • has
> been significantly compromised.
>
> 1-14 Numeric Grade (VERY POOR)
> Element is heavily damaged. Element is in almost useless condition. Item
> may be cracked, scratched, crushed, or dented, show teeth marks where it • may
> have been chewed, and even stained or marked. This element is not really • in
> usable condition any longer. This element is ready to be thrown away.
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