This is the next installment in a series of articles to address questions that are commonly asked of CGC. This week, we will discuss the values of books submitted to CGC.
Will CGC tell me the value of my book before or after grading?
We don't get involved in the buying, selling, or valuing of comic books. We only grade them based upon condition. You may want to research your titles on auction sites (i.e. ComicLink.com, All Star Auctions, E-Bay and HeritageComics.com) or through GPAnalysis.com. There are many publications that you can use as references, also. They include the Overstreet Price Guide, Wizard Magazine, and the Comics Buyers Guide. You can even contact some local dealers for their opinion.
How can I value my book if it’s not graded already?
You should value your comics as you would for insurance purposes, as this is the reason a value is required. You should determine your assessment of the condition of the book as well as take into account your personal investment thus far. You would then use this value to determine the appropriate tier for your comic submission by using the “Max.Value” column on our Services and Fees page (http://www.cgccomics.com/services/services_and_fees.asp).
What happens if I undervalue my book?
If we were to grade a book such that its market value would significantly exceed the maximum value for the tier selected, we would call you with market examples to let you know and also “bump” your book up to the appropriate tier for its value.
Do I have to bring my books to Sarasota if I want to use Walkthru service?
The term "Walkthru" is used to describe the speed of the service; since the books are completed in one day, as if they were "walked through" our facility. Submissions for Walkthru service may be mailed to our facilities in Sarasota. The minimum charge per book for a walk-thru is $110 and the maximum is $1000, but it is otherwise calculated at 2.5% of the Fair Market value of the book (whichever is greater but does not exceed the maximum). What this means is if you send us a book valued at $10, you will still get charged the minimum price of $110.
If I select return shipping by FedEx, how will that affect my insurance?
Fed Ex has limited liability of $100 per shipment so you may want to privately insure your books before submitting them.
(*Please Note: Our rates have changed, so please check your form before submitting:
For 2-Day FedEx, it will cost $42 for 1-10 books and an additional $10 for 11-20 books, etc. Also, we can only fit 30 books per box; if your submission is more than 30 books, we must start calculating at $42 for the next increment of 10 books.)
Does it matter how much I insure my books when shipping them to you, if at all?
You can ship your books to us by any method you prefer. We recommend using an insured and trackable shipping method to safeguard your collectibles, but it is not required. You may also want to check out our shipping (http://www.cgccomics.com/services/shipping_your_books.asp) page for other recommendations on how to safely package and ship your comics for grading. If you choose to ship to us using FedEx or UPS you will need to call us to get our street address, as they do not ship to a PO Box.
