How to Grade Your Action Figures Condition
When buying or selling a collectible action figure, the most popular grading system to refer to is the C-Scale, or Condition Scale. While it's possible to find action figures that are in near-perfect condition, even sealed figures that are directly from the manufacturer tend to have some sort of minor imperfection. This means that there's practically no action figure that can be given a perfect mint rating (C10). When purchasing a collectible action figure, you can request a list of the flaws on both the figure and the packaging.
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Instructions
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Check the packaging, if the action figure is still in its original packaging. This is what will make the figure a worthwhile collectible or not. The back of the packaging that's directly behind the action figure, the backing card, should still have bright colors that haven't faded and shouldn't be creased in order to receive a high grading. Take note of how frayed or curled the edges of the packaging are as well.
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Find the price tag. The original price tag should still be included on the action figure or the packaging, and ideally should be easily readable.
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Look over the plastic bubble that creates the front of the packaging. An action figure that is still high-quality won't have any dents, crushed parts or yellowing of the plastic. There shouldn't be cracks in the plastic either, and it should be correctly adhered to the backing card.
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Tips & Warnings
The worst C-Scale grading is C1, or Very Poor. C2 or C3 is Poor, C4 or C5 is Good, C6 or C7 is Fine and C8 or C9 is Near Mint. Grading is determined by the packaging of the action figure, not necessarily the action figure itself.
Action figures are collectible if they're in their original packaging; it's assumed that if the packaging is intact, so is the action figure itself.
The Action Figure Authority (AFA) scale is also used among highly professional collectors and traders.
When purchasing a collectible, be aware of sellers who aren't representing their products accurately. This is a common problem when buying figures online. Unprofessional sellers may overlook certain flaws in order to give their action figures a higher rating and thus price it higher. Make sure you're buying from a reputable seller; a quick way to determine this is to read reviews or feedback from previous buyers who have worked directly with the seller.
