Why do people hate on VGA so much?

I don't have any VGA graded items but I don't understand the hate people show for them. I agree that some stuff jumps too high in value based on the VGA grading and I also agree that the grades are not always consistent but personally I think it's good to have stuff graded and sealed for preservation. Why the hate?

 

Cart games it's not a good idea, considering they may have batteries, and batteries are prone to leakage.
And slabbing a video game is a harder thing to swallow compared to a comic book, and collectors already view CGC as a rather dubious enough service.

 

Oh and I just think the whole "grading " thing is silly but IDK that's just me.

 

"sealed for preservation"

if you want to preserve the game(s) it's not a good idea to keep it sealed in it's original packing much less with a dorky custom case with a seal on it. This can be a huge problem depending on what is inside the game's box, because -- and these are the examples that have more immediate effects on games -- caps can leak and corrode the game's PCB, EPROM based stuff will lose data, decaying plastic sleeves on turbografx games can ruin the hucard's label paint and texture, etc.

I wish people would stop thinking that having something "sealed" two consecutive times preserves anything. I wonder why they don't just put the declaration of independence on a VGA case, that would really cut down the preservation costs for the national archive significantly. Bottom line is, if you want to preserve your games go become an archivist or something, or even better, donate your item(s) to an actual museum with experienced staff. Otherwise, go play your games you dummy.

unless you're talking about preserving your "investment", which in that case I can only say ayy lmao

 

The grading stuff is stupid because as Borman said, they're certainly no authourity on video games.

I do however like their cases for certain uses. As people have said above, cart-based media being in a sealed case probably isn't a good idea at all. But for things such as my sealed Super Marathon for Pippin and other assorted sealed PC/Mac games, they're pretty good. The cases are high quality and sturdy, and if you choose the correct one (without all the grading bullshit) the games aren't difficult to get out at all.

 

I dunno...

 

For all their faults or conspiracy theories, VGA lacks viable competition. If I had to grade and slab a game, who else would the general public recognize?

 

For the most part, why would you need a grade for your game?
Their cases are pretty decent though, they have UV protection which will help keep the boxes.

 

News to me

 

I've seen prototypes "graded" (no grade), and sealed in those plastic boxes. That has always really bugged me. Hopefully those people at least made a personal backup or something.

 

It's a swizz to inflate prices on items. As others have said what makes them an authority on games? I believe it's the same company that has graded hundreds if not thousands of resealed/doctored Star Wars figures though its figure grading service.
I'm sure people have deliberately submitted repost games and have had them graded.
Whats their experience? one thing to note is having games graded is expensive the VGA makes good money from grading peoples games.
I wouldn't submit any of my collection to them thats for sure.

 

Never even heard of this before. Very interesting read. Personally, when I sell my old, sealed items on eBay, I will discount a lot if someone messages me they will actually play it and not keep it on a shelf somewhere.

 

So I bought this brand new game but I'm just not sure whether it's really new and complete. Maybe I should pay someone to open it up and check if it's really got a manual, if the disc or cartridge is brand new and deny myself the satisfaction of doing it myself. No fucking way : )

Sarcasm aside, I don't need someone to tell me the condition of any of my games. I am perfectly capable of judging that on my own

 

In my opinion, it even reduces value. It's useless.

 

Sometimes I like to ask the seller of said items if they can remove the stupid case. They all say promptly that it costs money lol.
It's just that, to prove for themselves that something is valuable.

 

Did anyone else think -- when first reading the title of this thread -- that it was about VGA monitors?