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Grading Process

Package Grading

It’ happens all the time, we make an online purchase, only to be disappointed when we receive the box and see a poorly packed product with damaged packaging. At Aussie Syfi package and product condition is very important to us.

A great deal of retailers tend to ignore the importance of collecting and do not service their market well. This is what makes Aussie Syfi Collectables a great Collector option – we are collectors! we know what we want and the care we would like taken when it comes to shipping our items. We recognize the requirement for functional handling systems and have them in place to accommodate our collector base. Our entire business is built around the idea that a collector should be able to choose the condition of their product and receive it in that condition when they open their package.

We recognise some of the larger sellers in the USA as an industry leaders in this field and have developed our models around their practices. We are not as big nor do we have the time in market of those business, but we do share their philosophies, and we bought that mentality down under for the local market.

When a shipment arrives our staff sorts, grades, and warehouses the products by the condition of the packaging and item if visible using the internationally accepted C Grade system. When purchasing a product you will choose from several different packaging grade band options:

  • Used- Denotes a second hand item
  • Loose- Denotes a loose item (may have packaging without inserts)
  • Sub- Denotes a substandard collector display item with packaging damage taken from the C5 Band down
  • Std- Denotes a case grade item as it comes selected from the C5.5- C7.5 Band
  • Collector- Denotes a high quality packaging item selected from the C8-C10 Band

For those who are unfamiliar with our grading, or grading of toys in general, we offer the following as a guide.

The C- condition refers to box or package condition. Note that AFA refers to Action Figure Authority and CAS is Collector Archive Services, the two notable toy grading companies. A general outline of the various grades is below:

C-10 Perfect, no flaws. (AFA or CAS 95 Equivalent)

C-9.5+ Essentially perfect, no flaws. (I prefer this grade because virtually nothing is C-10) (AFA or CAS 90 Equivalent)

C-9.5 Near perfect. (on carded figures generally perfect but may be punched, on boxed items factory wear from shipping at most) (AFA or CAS 90 Equivalent)

C-9.5- One minor flaw. (minor edge wear, minor mark, surface crease, etc.) (most likely AFA or CAS 85 possibly 90 Equivalent)

C-9+ One noticeable flaw. (slight crease, bubble ding, very minor sticker tear) (most likely AFA or CAS 85 possibly 80 Equivalent)

C-8.5+ Couple of minor flaws or one moderate flaw such as moderate corner crease, edge wear etc. (most likely AFA or CAS 80 possibly 75 Equivalent)

C-8.5 Same as C-8.5+ but maybe more noticeable flaws or also has another minor flaw as well. (most likely AFA or CAS 75 possibly 80 Equivalent)

C-8+ Toy is brand new but box is not as presentable. There may be flap tears or other more serious flaws. (AFA or CAS 75 Equivalent)

C-7.5+ Box serves as an example only with intent to upgrade but is generally intact. (AFA or CAS 70 Equivalent)

C-7.5 down to C-6.5 Four or more flaws that are substantial. (AFA or CAS 60 Equivalent)

C-4 – C-5 Box taped together, torn up or simply is barely present. (AFA or CAS 40-50 Equivalent)

MISB/MOC/MIP: Toy is mint and never played with. The toy is still in the original package, stickers, if any, are never applied and the weapons are all present and unused. The package has never been opened. The C- condition refers to the box.

MIB UNUSED or Sealed Contents: Toy is mint and never played with. The toy is still in the original package, stickers, if any, are never applied and the weapons are all present and unused. The box has been opened, or the tape cut, but the contents are still in original baggies or on bubble. The C- condition refers to the box.

MIB stickers unapplied: Box has been opened and the toy built and displayed. The stickers have never been applied to the toy. The C- condition refers to the box.

MIB: toy is played with and stickers are applied. The toy should be complete unless noted and in good shape. The C- condition refers to the box.

Loose Complete: Toy has no package. The toy however is complete with all accessories. The C- condition in this case refers to the toy condition.

Loose: Toy has no package and is not complete. It may or may not have some accessories. The C- condition again refers to the toy.

Loose Boxed: Toy has packaging but may lack mounting packaging. The toy however is complete with all accessories. The C- condition in this case refers to the toy condition

SYB or YB: Bubble is yellowing. A SYB is a slightly yellowing bubble whereas YB is a very yellow or even brown bubble.
Warehousing
We warehouse our own product. We don’t use fulfillment centers. We control every aspect to ensure that your order arrives in the condition you expect. Our warehouse staff are all experienced collectors trained to consistently identify our grading requirements. Products are warehoused and inventoried according to their assigned grade. Our warehouse staff is trained in the businesses best practice packing techniques so your items are protected and arrive in the desired condition. Our warehouse is clean, organized, and climate controlled. All of these elements are critical to the philosophy of the collectible toy market.