What's Eligible

AFA (Action Figure Authority) – for packaged, loose, and prototype action figures and related toys

• Standard Grading Scale – 100 point scale for sealed/new in package toys and new in mailer box toys from all years
• Unified Grading Scale – 10 point scale for sealed/new in package toys and new in mailer box toys from all years
• Loose Grading Scale – for loose, complete Kenner Vintage Star Wars figures
• Qualified Grading Scale (items are accompanied by documentation) – for opened package toys with new contents, handmade prototype toys, incomplete rare and pre-production loose toys, and autographed toys

VGA (Video Game Authority) – for packaged and prototype video games and related items

• Standard Grading Scale – 100 point scale for sealed/new in package video games, systems, and accessories from all years and sealed VHS North American releases with a watermark or security seal.
• Unified Grading Scale – 10 point scale for sealed/new in package video games, systems, and accessories from all years and sealed VHS North American releases with a watermark or security seal.
• Unused in Box – for opened package with complete but new contents video games, systems and accessories from all years
• Complete in Box – for opened package with complete but used contents video games, systems and accessories from all years

To be eligible for grading under either our Standard/Unified Grading Scale, items must be factory sealed if this is how they were available at retail. If items were originally available without a tape, sticker, or cellophane seal or if boxes have an internal blister seal in addition to the tape seal, we will need to verify the contents as new and unused in order to assign a grade. Factory sealed items are not typically eligible for standard grading if they are double-taped (one piece of tape cut and a second placed over the first). While double-taping can occur at the factory, it isn’t possible for us to verify the double-tape as factory applied in most cases. If your toy or video game-related item is double-taped and you wish to have it graded, it is recommended that you cut the double-taped side, verify the contents as new, and submit the item under our Qualified Grading Scale.

To be eligible for our Loose Grading Scale, items must be complete with all original accessories. For items in original factory bags, the bag must be heat or tape sealed to be labeled and graded as a ‘bagged’ item.

Some prototype, pre-production, and extremely rare loose items which are authentic, but missing accessories, can undergo outside authentication by CIB, and become eligible for grading under our Qualified Grading Scale. As with all items graded under this scale, CGA provides accompanying documentation in addition to the label sealed within an acrylic case. This documentation is meant to provide additional details, which in these particular cases would include information about the missing accessories required to complete the item, and allow for grading under our Standard Grading Scale.

For a toy or a video game to be eligible to receive a grade under our Qualified Grading Scale (Toys), or Unused in Box or Complete in Box (Video Games), packaged items must contain new or unused contents. Plastic bags inside the box should not be intentionally opened and there should be no evidence of prior assembly of any part of the item. If bags are torn open significantly, or other packaging inside the box is damaged, but all parts are still new and unused, (i.e. stickers unapplied and plastic parts still on plastic trees, etc.) CGA may, at its sole discretion, assign grades to items. These defects will be noted on the accompanying documentation CGA provides with all ‘qualified’ items. Unused, but tape-cut items which also have internal blister seals to house figures or other items must still retain all internal blister seals to qualify for grading under any scale.

We WILL grade unsealed boxes if the following criteria is met:

• For grading under standard/unified scales, an item must not have originally come sealed from the factory. This must be the exclusive or most common way the item was released and the contents must be verified as new. We will only grade boxed items which are no longer tape sealed (i.e. tape cut or lifted) under either of these grading scales if a boxed item also has an intact interior blister seal, and all of the accompanying contents and paperwork are stilled sealed in their respective bags when applicable.
• For grading under the qualified/unised in box grading scales (available only for items submitted to AFA or VGA), an item can be opened, but must contain unused contents. To qualify, all parts must be attached to plastic trees or in their original factory state, sticker sheets must be unused, and all cardboard, styrofoam, or plastic inserts as well as all documentation and paperwork must be present. Tears in plastic bags and other similar flaws must be deemed unintentional to qualify (i.e. happened at the factory or from contact with a sharp part within the box). However, these flaws may be noted on the qualified COA which accompanies each item graded under this scale.

Autograph authentication is not a service we provide. Items with autographs may be graded under our Qualified (Toys) or Complete in Box (Video Games) categories without the autograph labeled or treated as a major flaw. Accompanying documentation will verify that an item is authentic and has been graded, but that the autograph cannot be verified as authentic. The only exceptions to this policy in which items may receive a grade under our Standard/Unified Grading Scale and be labeled as autographed, are items submitted directly by the manufacturer or event promoter licensed to offer autographed products, items which can be verified as part of a planned limited autographed release.

Provided items of this type can be verified as authentic via outside authentication by CIB, a grade can be assigned under our Qualified Grading Scale. Accompanying documentation will also be provided in order to provide details about the materials used and type of pre-production item. Items such as wax sculpts, certain types of hardcopies, and certain other fragile pre-production items may not be eligible for grading because they cannot be safely encased in acrylic for transit.

We WILL NOT grade any item which exhibits the following:

• Restoration defined as any foreign and permanent addition to an item (examples include ink or paint used to cover flaws, glue used to re-seal blisters or repair boxes, replaced cellophane, etc.) CGA reserves the right to determine what constitutes restoration.
• Glued limbs, weapons, and accessories.
• Holes or cracks large enough to allow an item, parts, or accessories to be removed from a blister or box
• Reproduction Items
• Incomplete Items (i.e. missing parts or accessories)
• Incorrect item – accessory combination
• Re-sealed Packaging
• Hand-made pieces excluding prototypes, pre-production items, and licensed release items.
• Extensive damage which is deemed likely to worsen if sealed in a case
• Repainted items, parts, or accessories.
• Lego minifigures, loose or contained within removable clamshells as seen with NYCC and SDCC exclusives, are not eligible for grading. Additionally, opened Lego sets cannot be graded under our Qualified Scale and are ineligible for grading.
• VGA does not grade Asian PC games, Famicom Disk System games, foreign VHS, qualified VHS, unofficial ports, or DVDs and Blu-rays (only U.S. VHS is eligible).

CGA reserves the right to refuse any item for any reason; grading fees still apply.