I've seen the same thing happen to VGA cases that are not shipped in their poly-bags. ALWAYS SHIP GRADED GAMES IN A BAG. The bottom-back edge of the cases are not sealed shut and packing-peanut-dust can work it's way inside the case.

I got Darth Vader's TIE Interceptor graded once and AFA had either run out of polybags or simply didn't have any big enough to cover the case (it was about the size of a NES system box) so they shipped it back to me just wrapped in bubblewrap. The case was filled with tiny pieces of styrofoam. I sent it back, they re-cased it and never shipped another graded item without a bag on it.

I recommend the same.

Side note that I learned today, you can always do a sub and have the games come back at different times.

In my case, I have one potentially valuable game with a bunch of alright ones. So I might opt for the $70 archival super-fast turnaround on the expensive one, and the cheaper tiers on the rest.

You get hit with two return shipping numbers that way, but the speed of delivery would be worth it in my case. The faster I get something and sell it, the faster my collection grows.

x2

Thanks for the awesome writeup MinusWorlds! Today I boxed up my first VGA submission, and it will go out the door tomorrow. Two games, both double bubble wrapped and then packed in a box inside of another box .

So I am on the verge of submitting this guy ... the sticker removal process is my question . There is a decent security sticker and another on the back ... How would that affect rating ? Or would it ?

^ Probably max you out at 85. You can ask them to try and remove but I'm fairly certain they will leave that security sticker be. The other one they might be able to remove.

Yea I agre with 85. I've removed a security sticker before. Just use goof off (I do not like goo gone) to get the sticker to come off, then rub some more over the security strip. It comes off in a circular square, kind of like a little maze lol. Though I do not think I ever graded a game after doing so take it for what is worth.

yeah it sucks it's there in the first place cause it's a beautiful copy otherwise ! thanks for the info guys ... I'm sure I'll have more questions soon

Ok so I'm not sure if this is relevant to this thread but I'm gonna ask anyway. I have a few sealed games that I'm thinking about getting graded but I thought I'd post my pics here and see what you guys think. But before I do that I would like to know any tips you have on tacking photos? Maybe it's just me not knowing how to use my camera correctly but when I try get some close ups they come out grainy and blurry. Do you guys have any general tips when taking photos of your games? Any particular lighting or background? Any particular camera settings I should set?

what kind of camera do you use ?

I cant remember the exact model of the top of my head (plus I'm at work right now) but it's either a Fujifilm Finepix S1000fd or something very close.

Can't wait to see these!

Can non licensed games be VGA graded? Like sealed Wisdom Tree games?

^ Yup. They even got a graded Caltron on their homepage.

Is that the one that was on eBay recently? I had the same issue with my Majora's Mask. I got an 85. 

so im going to submit my smb3 to be graded, i've never done it before... how do you guys recommend shipping it properly? i looked at the forms to submit and it looks confusing as sh*t lol... any advice for a newb?

It IS confusing at SHIT! haha

bubble wrap, box, send the cheapest route and submit tier V-S-3 and add cleaning $3, and UV protection if you plan to display. Done and done

haha, ok so VS3 gotchya.. i wanna send it out asap so i get it back quicker lol

V-S-3 is sllllloooooow boat.  If you want this back ASAP go V-S-A and it will include UV protection.  A happy medium would be V-S-2 and add UV protection.

i mean, im truly not that inpatient... if it means quality ill wait a long time... is that the difference betweens VSA and VS3? or what

is the UV poly bag worth it? i kinda think it looks better with out that in the case

V-S-A is fastest, includes UV and most expensive. If you are truly impatient send V-S-3, and only add UV protection if you plan on displaying...

I have a question Tom, I only ever see like 75s and above. What would happen if a game was still factory sealed but the condition wasn't great at all. Would they give it a super low number but still grade it or just reject it. Like say you had a game that was perfect and then someone stepped on the box and damaged it. Would they still grade it if you sent it in? Or would they just tell you that it isn't worth it? I don't collect sealed but I would be so damn picky that I would always be afraid that I wouldn't get at least an 85+ so I would be too afraid to buy.

I saw that Paul had a graded SMB that said 10 for a grade but it was an avatar pic so I didn't know if that was REAL or Photoshopped ( and I never thought to ask him about it.)

EDIT:  I also wanted to say that I think this is a really good and cool idea for a sticky thread you have here, Tom.  It makes it easy for a sealed/vga noob like myself to get a better understanding of how the VGA thing works and get my questions answered by proxy through other members who are active in the sealed world.  Maybe someday I will venture into this territory after I finish my loose collection and get the games I really love sealed and graded, and then I will know how it all works!

Paul SMB 10 was real. there's a thread somewhere about it.

The case is UV not the bag, the fee includes the bag and you can take it out.