I think with the volume of books they receive they tend to rush them through at times. Also, by learning the craft you reduce the amount of hands the book has to go through before grading. That’s a good thing. Thank you for the videos, you’ve been a tremendous help in my journey to learn. I’m still practicing, still learning and getting better. 🤘

My theory is with CCS is that because it is part of CGC, they'll grade higher on books submitted through their pressing services vs third party pressers (or books that are submitted for just grading without using CCS), you're paying more money to use both services, they'll give you higher grades for that repeat business.

It’s almost like if CCS/CGC would have taken a little bit more time with your books, they would have been in 9.8 “condition” - but since they didn’t take their time, you were awarded 9.8 “grades” instead.

A 9.8 in my book is no spine ticks and all sharp corners and great bold colors. U make it clear as glass I'm get me book done some where else. Thanks for your info extremely helpful.

I used CCS for the McFarlane signing event last year and they actually made the books worse than what they were. Like you I will never use that service again.

Interesting experiment - I give you credit for taking such pristine books and using them for a test like this. (And nice job finding those books for sale - just bagged and boarded right after they were bought and stored away. Love that.)

I love the 303 Mac cover. One of my favorites.

Good experiment. I haven't used CCS but have tried 4 3rd party pressers to see what results i would get and was pretty satisfied with them all. No one is going to be as particular as the owner of a book but not everyone has the time or skill to press their own books.

I've used CCS one time and that was for a signature series book that was a 9.6 and they gave it a press and came out a 9.8. That's the reason I would use them is for signature series books that need a press.

Great video. Tried CCS with two signature books already graded so had to use them. Both books came back the same grade and worse off no Grader Notes. Complained to CGC and got nowhere. CCS only presses your book once, that’s it. They don’t take the extra time to inspect your book after they press it. Life lesson, don’t use CCS unless you wish to waste your money. Use a good presser.

I thought you might be interested in a video CGC posted on their youtube channel yesterday titled; CGC Insider: Publisher Defects, it would give you some insight on how they decide to grade a book as 9.9 & 10. Not many books coming directly from the printer make the grade and they show you why.

I have only used CCS when sending 9.8 Graded Slabs to be signed. Just incase it was manhandled during signing. Nail bitting experience, but I was able to maintain the 9.8.

I sent three books to cgc for pressing and every one came back with a wavy cover in the case. I’m convinced that the humidity level in Sarasota Florida is the reason for this. I cracked all of them and pressed them myself after I purchased my own press with much better results.

I wish the teachers and professors that I've had throughout my life were as thorough and measured as you are! In fairness though if I had shown the same interest I do with comics maybe they would have reciprocated! 😂 Great video as usual! 🎉

I believe CCS only does cold presses. And the rumor is just for 8 hours. Certainly no humidity, heat, or tac-iron work. That said said, my tinfoil hat theory is using their pressing services for Signature series events will earn you less strict grading and maybe slightly exaggerated grade bumps just for the sake of visibility on their behalf.

I've ONLY used CCS for pressing and cleaning and my average is about 50% with them since I started using them. My last submission, 8 out of the 10 books I submitted got the 9.8 though and those books ranged from copper to modern age so take that for what it's worth.

I don't have a presser, so whenever I sent to CGC, I use CCS to press and clean. It's a hit or miss with them, but the last couple have been misses.

CGC will only press, no spine work :( . I just started pressing, and your videos helped and i love it. I can't believe how good a book looks after a clean and press.

My friend basically did the exact same experiment as you did, and got similar results. He cleans and pressed his own books with good results and wanted to compare his work with CCS's work. He submitted 26 books (18 modern, 8 bronze age) that had realistic 9.8 potential (he's a very good judge of that!). The modern came back 12 9.8s and 6 9.6s. The bronze age came back 4 9.8s, 3 9.6s and 1 9.4 that is absolutely rediculous (it looks like a 9.8 to both of us...we can't figure out what flaws they see in it that both of us are missing). He cracked open the 9.6s and the 9.4 and it was obvious that they missed easy to fix flaws. It seems like they just do a simple press and don't work on the book in any kind of detailed way. He cleaned and pressed the 10 comics he cracked open and re-submitted them along with 10 new books (all modern) but this time with a 9.8 pre-screen. He hasn't gotten them back yet.

Love to get clean and pressing tips from u I do mine with diff results

I already heard they were horrible and supposedly they only do cold pressing and no spine work. The only time I use them is with the signature series. If it’s raw I’ll still clean & press it before I send it in.

I did it using the same seller. Doing nothing, 4 books, same grade as the seller listed (9.x), third party presser same grades the seller listed again, ccs two 2 down 0.5 and two down 1.0 from what the seller listed

Cool channel! Question: when you calculate your profit, do you include your time spent prepping and shipping books + filling out order forms, etc.? I think most people don't, since it is a hobby. Just curious if you do. Thanks

Wish I had your grader. My books were harshly graded and I got an error on one books

That’s disappointing, but I’m not surprised. Give Comic Spa a chance if you decide to test out other pressers. He does Lunch Money Comics’ books. He’s very talented.

I submitted to CCS only a couple times and learned my lesson, they VERY clearly didn’t even touch the books I gave them or looked at them and thought eh yeah that looks good I don’t need to do anything

For 12 bucks or whatever it is, I doubt you’re getting a tac iron or humidity. Just a minimum press, every book the same. That’s my guess.

Whatever we send from Spain we get very low grades, even after we have press them. Is there a different bias on grading books that come from outside the US.??🤔

I thought they raised the price to $15 a couple of years ago. No matter, any company or other pressers taking in high volume will find ways to short their customers from getting 100% attention on their books.

I wish there was an established database of local pressers. I’ve been having a hell of a time finding an East Bay CA presser.

I believe ccs only cold presses...no heat pressing.

I have just begun the process of going through my late father's collection. He died in 98, and left us 10 or 11 long boxes full of comics that have been moved from house to storage unit and everywhere in between. How do you decide what is worth getting pressed and graded? I am about 25% through the first box and so far the site I am using to record the collection says ive got over 5k in books. But I have no experience with having stuff pressed or graded. How do you ensure they don't scam you and say they lost your books? I am trying to figure out the best way to do all this. Thanks so much.

Love your shows. I like to clean and press my own books with awesome results. Lets do a video chat one day on you tube LOL

You need to understand CCS does not use tack irons, or heated presses when pressing books. That is obvious when I submitted my books. If your expecting a clean when your selecting pressing on your submission form nowhere does it say your getting your book cleaned. I don’t understand where the comic book community thinks that they are getting a cleaning service. That service falls under restoration. Had CCS cleaned every book it pressed return times would be extremely long. Now I don’t know if they do spine work, but what is definitely known is the lack of! So, you can safely assume they do not do spine work. And if my assumption is correct it’s probably due to time constraints which had they done spine work with time constraints you would see damage from trying to do spine work. They just don’t want to open that can of worms. My suggestion on the CCS page when you see everything broken down you just don’t expect that cleaning is going to go along with pressing. My belief is the KZfaq personalities coined that phrase (press and clean) and it stuck to where everyone just associate pressing with cleaning. Facts are you want a cleaning you just got to do it yourself. If you’re expecting spine work just simplify the process and do it yourself. To me CCS is a last resort case it’s there press in a pinch. You want quality just do it yourself. Besides you have a better shot of obtaining your graded product if you know how to grade and your skills on conservation along with pressing are really good! I am a former coin/paper money guy who did this professionally for several years. It just so happens that comics are relatable to the numismatic community. Also if in doubt just read Certified Collectibles Group terms of services. It’s all there!

I wish I could send my books to you for a clean and press.

Your findings were dead on with my CCS experience. I think they do no spine work with a tack iron and often do a too short or a single heat press when longer/ another press would have done the job. It seemed to me as if they did a formulaic light dry clean with single press without assessing what each individual book might require to make it the best possible outcome it could be.

Large commercial pressers that only charge $12 per book, leave no room for fine tuning and multiple go overs by paid staff. Production pressing. Quick go over and right into the press.

Best thing to do, in my biased opinion, is find a local presser. I do a lot of cleaning and pressing for stores and people in my area. From what I have heard, and seen, it looks like they don't even do anything other than basic press and let the results land where they will. I do the best I can with what I am given. I don't think these other places care about their customer or results. They just want the easy money.

I’m looking to send a few things to CGC that hold a higher value. Do you take out insurance through a company prior to shipping the big stuff?

I've found when it comes to quality vs quantity, quantity always wins, especially with the amount of comics I imagine CCS get in a day.

Can you fix the waviness if you cracked them?

Hi, I just sent my first ever 14 book submission to CGC and used their CCS pressing service. I received some fairly perplexing results and was wondering if I could get your professional opinion? Here is an example of a perplexing result and graders note… CGC 9.6 White Pages Comic Description: X-Men 130 2/80 Marvel Comics Grader Notes: very light spine stress lines to cover Or CGC 9.6 White Pages Comic Description: Universe X Spidey 1 1/01 Marvel Comics Recalled Edition Grader Notes: light spine stress lines to cover Or CGC 9.6 White Pages Comic Description: Wolverine 1 11/88 Marvel Comics Grader Notes: moderate fingerprints on cover My question is are these not press able and removable defects that CCS Cleaning and Pressing services should easily remedy? These are all very small non color breaking spine ticks?? I received the books in hand today and also noticed several wavy covers. This issue was not present on these comics when I sent them in?? Is this normal? This looks terrible. Did they even press my books? What did I pay for? Thank You for any and all help with this matter and set of questions. Donnie

how are they getting 9.8s with those defects? would they be 9.9 candidates if you cracked them?

Some of those spine ticks you're seeing is CGC mishandling the comics when slabbing them.

Not to standard. Rippling often is caused by not allowing a cool down period. They’re hot bunking their presses

If you frequent the CGC message board, you know to not use CCS. An absolute waste of money.

Well it says pressing, so I'm guessing all they do is press only. Not tack iron. Cleaning is probably only wiping down the book but not actually using an eraser. Sad they they charge that and get those results. Worst thing is that you get graded on their inept skills. You keep doing your own pressing to make maximum profit when you sell.

Just saying you went with CCS I knew it would not be up to quality. I heard they are a cold press. Often it is better to press yourself or a trusted 3rd party.

Do they actually offer Cleaning services or just pressing?

Can anyone confirm that GCG only uses cold pressing techniques and without moisture?

there is no way CCS does spine work. Probably no humidity, no tack iron

I used CCS and they did absolutely nothing to fix any of the non-color-breaking spine ticks, and the grades I got were lower than I thought they were before a press. Complete waste of 💰 Never Again!!

Looks like a crap shoot Jim. I'm definitely going with a 3rd party grader.

I would trust anyone with my books.

Hey Jim, it’s always a little frustrating watching your videos because I can’t see the flaws (or lack of flaws) you’re trying to show us. Look at eta nicks old videos on grading. He watches through the viewfinder and tilts the comic until he sees the flaw, thus ensuring that it is captured on the video. Also, this video could have benefited from more controlled before and after shots. Maybe ccs/cgc introduced new bends in handling the books.

I’ve used CCS once and never again.

so that Secret Wars #8 newstand 9.8 on the wall, would you be willing to sell that to me for say $25? I'm a bit pressed for cash :)

Also I don’t believe they clean books at all. Just pressing.

CCS STINKS They damage as many books as they press . Jeff at comic Spa is the man.

CCS only presses books, they will not clean or work on the spine stress/tics.

CCS did a lousy job on my Teen Titans 44. Never Again!

I like you content? Question is there's a way that you do a video how to press foil cover? God bless you and Jesus protect you and your family.

Clean books that need a press, you cant beat the $10 press with CGC with an elite membership. If you have a comic that needs some real help you need to find a professional presser

When you do the video you lift your price the value and the profit. Problem is is that you list the price that you paid for the book but you do not incorporate the fees of shipping it to CGC the cost of grading the book and the cost of having them clean and press the book. If you incorporate all that many of those books would’ve had a net loss and not profit.

😱🫣😫😭😢

AFTER THEIR SCANDAL YOU JUST CANNOT TRUST THEIR GRADING SYSTEM ANYMORE.. ITS LIKE THEY ARE GIVING BETTER GRADES THAN THE BOOKS DESERVE TO MAKE UP FOR IT...

If i were you id never send to them..they are horrific..

Anyone else find it cringey to post profit margin for unrealized gains? What's to say a book isn't gonna tank by the time anyone watches the video?

CCS is a scam, I tried them and nothing was done. F CGC

CCS is abundantly awful. I understand the conceit of the concept here, but now that the point has been succinctly made, please don't give them more of your money, lol. They suck.