Making the Grade


When you're selling items on eBay, it helps to know what kind of shape your items are in. For many categories of merchandise, that means grading the item's conditionaccording to some very formal rules.

Grading is a way of noting the condition of an item, according to a predetermined standard. Collectors use these grading scales to help evaluate and price items within a category. If you know the grade of your item, you can include the grade in the item's title or description, and thus more accurately describe the item to potential bidders.

Making a Mint

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a "universal" grading system for all items; different types of collectibles have their own unique grading systems. For example, trading cards are graded from A1 to F1; stamps are graded from Poor to Superb.

That said, many collectible categories use a variation of the Mint grading system, as shown in Table 17.1.

Table 17.1. Mint System Grading

Grade

Abbreviation

Description

Mint

MT, M, 10

An item in perfect condition, without any damage or imperfections.

Very Fine

VF

Similar to mint.

Near Mint

NM, 9

An item with a very minor, hardly noticeable flaw. Sometimes described as "like new."

Near Fine

NF

Similar to near mint.

Excellent

EX,8

An item considered above average, but with pronounced signs of wear.

Fine

F

Similar to excellent.

Very Good

VG, 7

An item in average condition.

Good

GD, G, 6

An item that has clear indications of age, wear, and use.

Fair

F

An item that is heavily worn.

Poor

P, 5

An item that is damaged or somehow incomplete.


Degrees between grade levels are indicated with a + or . (For example, an item between Fine and Very Fine would be designated as F+.) Naturally, the definition of a Mint or Fair item differs by item type.

Getting Graded

If you're not sure what grade an item is, you may want to utilize a professional grading and authentication service. These services will examine your item, authenticate it (confirm that it's the real deal), and give it a professional grade. Some services will even encase your item in a sealed plastic container or bag.

Where can you get your items graded? Table 17.2 lists some popular websites for grading and authenticating collectible items.

Table 17.2. Grading and Authentication Services

Collectible

Site

URL

Autographs

OnlineAuthentics.com

www.onlineauthentics.com

 

PSA/DNA

www.psadna.com

Beanie Babies

Peggy Gallagher Enterprises, Inc.

www.beaniephenomenon.com

Books

PKBooks

www.pkbooks.com

Coins

American Numismatic Association Certification Service

www.anacs.com

 

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America

www.ngccoin.com

 

Professional Coin Grading Service

www.pcgs.com

Comic books

Comics Guaranty

www.cgccomics.com

Jewelry

International Gemological Institute

www.e-igi.com

Sports cards

Professional Sports Authenticator

www.psacard.com

 

Sportscard Guaranty, LLC

www.sgccard.com

Stamps

American Philatelic Society

www.stamps.org

 

The Pilatectic Foundation

www.philatelicfoundation.org

 

Professional Stamps Experts

www.psestamp.com


The cost of these authentication services varies wildly, depending on what you're authenticating, the age or value of the item, and the extent of the service itself. For example, Professional Sports Authenticator rates range from $5 to $150 per sports card; Professional Stamps Experts rates range from $15 to $500 per stamp. Make sure that the item you're selling is worth it before you go to this expenseand that you can recoup this expense in your auction.

Tip

eBay provides a page of links to "authorized" authentication services at pages.ebay.com/help/community/auth-overview.html.


Other Ways to Describe Your Item

There are some other grading-related abbreviations you can use in your item listings. As you can see in Table 17.3, these abbreviations help you describe your item (especially in the title) without wasting a lot of valuable space.

Table 17.3. Grading-Related Terms

Abbreviation

Description

Meaning

ARC

Advanced readers copy

A pre-publication version of a book manuscript, typically released to reviewers and bookstores for publicity purposes

BU

Built up

For models and other to-be-assembled items; indicates that the item has already been assembled

CC

Cut corner

Some closeout items are marked by a notch on the corner of the package

CO

Cut out

Closeout item

COA

Certificate of authenticity

Document that vouches for the authenticity of the item; often found with autographed or rare collectible items

COC

Cut out corner

Same as CC (cut corner)

COH

Cut out hole

Some closeout items are marked by a small hole punched somewhere on the package

FS

Factory sealed

Still in the original manufacturer's packaging

GP

Gold plate

Item is gold plated

HC

Hard cover

Used to indicate hardcover (as opposed to softcover, or paperback) books

HE

Heavy gold electroplated

Item has heavy gold plating

HTF

Hard to find

Item isn't in widespread circulation

LE

Limited edition

Item was produced in limited quantities

LSW

Label shows wear

Item's label shows normal usage for its age

MCU

Might clean up

Might show a higher grade if cleaned or otherwise restored

MIB

Mint in box

Item in perfect condition, still in the original box

MIMB

Mint in mint box

Item in perfect condition, still in the original boxwhich itself is in perfect condition

MIP

Mint in package

Item in perfect condition, still in the original package

MISB

Mint in sealed box

Item in perfect condition, still in the original box with the original seal

MNB

Mint, no box

Mint-condition item but without the original packaging

MOC

Mint on card

For action figures and similar items, an item in perfect condition still in its original carded package

MOMC

Mint on mint card

Item in perfect condition, still on its original carded packagewhich is also in mint condition

MONMC

Mint on near-mint card

Same as MOMC, but with the card in less-than-perfect condition

MWBMT

Mint with both mint tags

For stuffed animals that typically have both a hang tag and a tush (sewn-on) tag, indicates both tags are in perfect condition

MWBT

Mint with both tags

Same as MWBMT, but with the tags in less-than-mint condition

MWMT

Mint with mint tag

Mint-condition item with its original tag, which is also in mint condition

NIB

New in box

Brand-new item, still in its original box

NOS

New old stock

Old, discontinued parts in original, unused condition

NR

No reserve

Indicates that you're selling an item with no reserve price

NRFB

Never removed from box

An item bought but never used or played with

NWOT

New without tags

Item, unused, but without its original tags

NWT

New with tags

Item, unused, that still has its original hanging tags

OOP

Out of print

Item is no longer being manufactured

P/O

Punched out

Same as CC (cut corner)

RR

Re-release

Not the original issue, but rather a reissue (typically done for the collector's market)

SC

Soft cover

A paperback (nonhard cover) book

SS

Still sealed

As it says, still in the original sealed package

SW

Slight wear

Only minor wear commensurate with age

VHTF

Very hard to find

Self-descriptive

WOC

Writing on cover

Item has markings on front surface


The big problem with any grading system is that grading is subjective. Although there may be guidelines for different grading levels, the line between very good and excellent is often a fine one. You should be very careful about assigning your own grading levels; even better, supplement the grade with a detailed description and photographs so that bidders can make up their own minds as to your item's true value.




Absolute Beginner's Guide to eBay
Absolute Beginners Guide to eBay (4th Edition)
ISBN: 078973561X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 204

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