kell

24 minutes ago, AdamW said:

When someone is paying $1.5m for a 9.8/A++ Super Mario 64 - wouldn't it be kinda useful to know whether another one exists already? Or another two? Or another ten?

If the person who bought that game doesn't care, why should we ...?

I get the idea of them, and your point. However, I just don't think they add much, if any, value at this time. Again, it's just one part of the equation driving the market value.

I am a huge numbers/data driven person, but I don't get why so many are pushing to get pop reports. 

Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't believe one can extrapolate that much useful data from a process that really only took off what, a couple years ago, and has very limited visibility to the entire population.

I usually find those that push numbers will do so in pursuit of their own interest. Statistics can, and often do, lie.

1 minute ago, tidaldreams said:

I always take pics of mine before sending them in, pokemon cards as well.

Definitely a good idea. 

3 hours ago, ExplodedHamster said:

Sure, but I think a lot comes from people who never would buy or want to buy a sealed game ever for any reason. Before I started collecting sealed and way before WATA and these crazy prices, I saw these threads all the time with people fighting about it and it turned me off a ton. So I basically stopped reading the main forum and started posting more in Gamer’s Gauntlet and the off topic forum. I suppose it makes more sense now, but it’s been like this forever lol. Just seems like playing the games would be a more positive use of time. 
 

Tbh, outside of time with family, the thing I’m most excited about is adding some arcade stuff to my basement and building a game room with pins and stuff set up so I can get to games I never thought I’d be able to.

As a long time sealed collector I can relate. Always hesitate to post about some sealed gaming, values, etc.

Pins are the best!

20 minutes ago, ExplodedHamster said:

New people coming in won't care about Hagane, so I guess it's a matter of "Collector Perspective" versus "Investor Perspective." 

Which is why I’ll hang on to banjo Kazooie/tooie, ninja gaiden trilogy, etc. some gems that aren’t currently in hot demand.

7 minutes ago, epiczail said:

I have a hugeeee lot that I let get away a couple years ago. A friend of a friend of a friend bought a storage unit absolutely packed full of GB, GBC, GBA, & DS games/consoles. Loose, CIB, Sealed. This was one pic of the heavy hitters. All sealed lol. https://imgur.com/a/0HbVsEv

So your saying we should be buying storage units... lol

From a financial perspective... all those Pokémon GBA games: multiple emeralds and sapphires. Had found a case of Emeralds on clearance at Target for $17.48 each. 

Was never into Pokémon and only collect games I’ve played, or want to play.
 

Also, selling my mint Ninja Five-O and Rule of Rose.
 

1 hour ago, MrWunderful said:

There were millions and millions sold nothing about the game is rare outside of the condition. 

Supply is only one side of the equation.

6 minutes ago, a3quit4s said:

I'm not sure why you all are bitching and not out there putting up your graded games for sale, this is good for you lol

Agreed, lol

And it doesn’t matter how he got his money, he built up a business, increased its value and sold it. Good for him. 
 

And unfortunately you can no longer see grades in the post-grading phase.

It’s definitely a dilemma if you want to get games graded that have high recent sales. Wata did use that SM 64 auction (while open) to value the one I have with them. In their defense, I believe they did use a conservative number for mine.

I have one... which I guess is my point. How many more under the radar are there.

@Gulag Joe

So that is just a subset of the (unknown) population. Are you then extrapolating that percent to the entire sealed population?

24 minutes ago, Gulag Joe said:

I'm here to argue that the most useful data is the total number of games graded for any particular title.

You mind expanding on that thought?

SM 64... $1.56M

@A_Feisty_Pickle Thanks so much for this post! Really appreciate it.  I was poking around but couldn’t find the grades within the code. 

1 hour ago, A_Feisty_Pickle said:

A few of mine finally went into post grading today. Assuming it doesn't change, looking at the response from the API... I've got a few nice grades coming back!

How you pulling that data?

Legit first party v overlap seam. Have one in post grading now.

9 minutes ago, DoctorEncore said:

It wouldn't be a bad idea to create a community guide that shows official seals for all consoles. I'd be happy to contribute, but have no interest in taking the lead.

Same

1 hour ago, LaC said:

I don't collect graded games either.  Would just grade to sell if I was doing that. Are you planning on sending it to HA? Not sure if you are aware, but HA does all the grading for you at no additional charge.  

 

Actually didn’t know that, so thanks. I’d prefer to selll outside HA, but again, trying to maximize the resale so HA is an option. If they don’t have to grade, I may be able to negotiate a lower fee.

4 minutes ago, DoctorEncore said:

 

 

Wow, I can't believe people continue to send games to this company. I'd rather leave a game ungraded and be unable to sell on HA than pay their ransom. 

Grading has no value to me unless I’m selling. Only reason I get games graded is to optimize resale. That’s it. Otherwise, I don’t give a shit if you have a 9.8 A++... unless we are talking about boobs.

28 minutes ago, Gulag Joe said:

Wait, so your games enter "post grading" and then how many days after that did they email and tell you they're holding your games hostage?

Two weeks in post grading, then the email. Now I have to send PayPal, send them the receipt that I paid then “we will continue moving the game through our grading process and ship it back to you as soon as it is encapsulated. ”

41 minutes ago, A_Feisty_Pickle said:

I've got games at Wata right now and of course I want high grades, but it's pretty sketchy when they have a financial interest in giving you a high grade so they can charge you more money at the tail end of the process. 

It is. At first I understood it from a liability perspective, and still do to a certain extent. However, they really need to change how they are compensated. As you stated, there is too much incentive for them to lean higher.

3 minutes ago, inasuma said:

What did they want money for? Did you ask for the deep badge upgrade or was your game valued higher than what you declared in the submission? 

No idea what the grade is, they are asking for additional value dollars... which ends up being about 4 times what I already paid them.

I asked where the value came from and what the grades are on the two games so I can assess myself.
 

I’m thinking I’m just going to have to suck it up, but not happy that I’ve paid them thousands of dollars and they’ve had games since Nov. I haven’t gotten any games back and now they are asking for more money.

Just got the “send us more money” email from WATA . This business model does not help their turn times... how much time do they spend valuing games. I wonder if they only go after high dollar games.