An FPG Proposal

[frankbmd]

With the hobby being held hostage by third party graders that seem to function at the level of an average third grader.

Fees up
Customer service sucks.
Consider it lucky if your cards are returned in less than a year.
Undetectable card doctor alterations resulting in fraud and profiteering.

Are you sick of it?

This is an invitation to join the AFPG.

Yes, join now it’s free. The only requirement is that you as a first party grader grade yourself, and not your cards or memorabilia. Submit your grade on this thread and become a charter member of the Association of First Party Graders. Use the following guide lines to guide you.

Age: The first number(s) of your grade is the first number of your age in years. If you are 47, the first number of your grade is “4”.
Your grade will ultimately reflect how you compare with members in the same decade of life. A low grade 2 may look better than a high grade 7.

Sides: This is a measure of symmetry. Is your left side an inverted match of your right side. A photograph or mirror will be useful here.

Edges: Without corrective lens and a mirror 20 feet away, are your edges sharp or fuzzy. We are considering adding a “IIII” qualifier in this category. If you need glasses to even see yourself in the mirror the four eyes qualifier may be for you.

Surface: This one is easy. Wrinkles are less penalizing than creases. Acne is a negative. Other visible lumps or voids that destroy symmetry should also be considered.

Alterations: Surgical scars indicate deep alterations. The quality or appearance as well as the length of a scar are also factors. Non-surgical scars due to accidents also should be considered as well. Visible amputations are the equivalent paper loss or clipped corners for grading purposes.

I’ve purposely left out the criteria for certain grades. A decision regarding sub grades vs a blended grade has yet to be made. Once we have 10-12 members our first meeting will be scheduled either in Fargo, ND or Las Vegas.

Apply with your grade, and explain your result, in this thread only. I look forward to hearing from you.

[Casey2296]

Frank- Can we add "Whiskey bumps" & "Poor life decisions" as qualifiers?

[frankbmd]

Now that’s the kind of feedback we need, and an oversight on my part.

[edjs]

Frank, I don’t like doing my age, so I’m going with an “X” for my generation.
Also, I feel edges should be letters, L for Lumpy, T for toned, S for standard, things like that. So I guess I would be X7L(-)5A.

Gen X, pretty symmetrical (Downgraded for my hair part being on one side and my nose pointing a little to one side from a “injury”), lumpy minus because not too bad, mid grade face wrinkling, and some alterations .