Originally posted by: B.A.
I'm going to shift gears a bit here and go ahead and talk about some of the things I'm personally not keen on with VGA. These will probably be by and large ignored because they aren't about money, thus not sensational enough, but here goes.
- Although they don't disclose their criteria for grading, most people who pay attention know what they look for. I think it's crazy how they value the condition of the wrap over even the game box. An example of what I mean is there was a SMB2 that had a noticeably smushed in corner, yet had no scuffs/tears in the shrinkwrap and was given a gold grade. They put WAY too much emphasis on the condition of the outer plastic IMO. Does it really matter if the wrap has a scuff if the game itself is perfect? Not so much to me.
- Qualified grading. This is my biggest gripe with VGA. Qualified is riddled with flaws. Trying to call something new but open is just asking for problems. If you read the manual is it still new? How about if you write in the manual? People have admitted to putting together mint components (frankensteining) to get a qualified grade, that shouldn't work. The label for qualified grades should be much more noticeable so that listings on ebay will be obvious.
- Grading of prototypes, NWC's and the like. Now don't get that confused with authentication, I think there is real value in an authentication service. I'm talking about assigning an 85+/gold, 85/silver, what have you grade to a prototype. What difference does it make the condition of something like that? These also obviously aren't new, the comeback is they were never available in packaging, that still flies in the face of their prior stance of only grading new items. They will give it a "NG" for no grade, but from what I understand that is only by request.
I like grading of new sealed games for those who want it, it's by and large the extra stuff they get into that I'm not a fan.
This is a sound criticism of VGA.
All I can add here is something about the SMB2 in question cause it was a game I originally got graded. Not that I want to take defense of VGA, but I must disclaim that while the game had a very significant bump to one corner, the game itself was coming from a complete 6-pak of SMB2. I can attest that the game was virtually flawless aside of the bump. Was it worth 85+? Questionnable, for sure, but at the least, this shows they evaluate the game all around and don't focus arbitrary on one flaw.
This said, yes, they put too much emphase on the condition of the wrap over the box, which is a big flaw in their grading. I'm even inclined to think that once the seal is verified, they could simply pull it off and then grade the condition of the box, and slab it without the plastic wrap, but there's no way sealed collectors would accept this