General ATi Questions

Why Use ATi?

When purchasing an ATi professionally graded collectable you gain the confidence that what you are actually buying has been expertly evaluated by a grading specialist. You can rest assured that a graded item is tamper free and you will know exactly what you are getting for your money. ATi eliminates the extra postal expenses of “there and back” tracked and signed for shipping, when using a third party company and the probability of customs charges. There is simply no hassle, as everything is done for you, which also cuts the risk of damage and lengthy insurance claims by more than half!

At ATi, buying a high quality original Vintage or Modern graded collectable is a wise investment. The majority of collectables, once professionally graded by us, hold their value even in an uncertain market. The profit we make is no more than what a third party toy grading company would charge to evaluate a normal submitted item. Everything we stock has been vigorously searched for, tracked down and added to our already impressive catalogue of graded collectables.

ATi graded items also sell for a much higher premium than un-graded items. Selling graded items, If you so wish to liquidise your investment at a later date, will become fast and hassle free due to the tried and trusted name of ATi associated with the product. Buyers will know a quality product when they see one.

How long will it take for my order to be dispatched?

The majority of purchased orders are processed for shipment normally within 48 hours. All shipments have a minimum declared value and are tracked with insurance online and you will receive confirmation of the details of your order which is sent directly to you via email. The amount of compensation you will receive represents the value of the graded item and shippìng fees in the unlikely event of damage. The freight carrier delivering your collectables will be contained within your email, complete with the consignment´s unique online tracking serial number.

If you require help about tracking your item, we will look into your shipment details for you and send them to you by email.

What do you grade?

We grade almost all Modern and Vintage carded figures, boxed ships, vehicles, multipacks, boxed playsets, die cast ships and vehicles, carded and packaged accessories, figures in sealed bags (baggies), collector coins, mailers, prototype cards, proof cards, bootlegs, comics, annuals and books. Most standard-size figures fall under our 2YK and Vintage Categories depending on whether they were produced before or after 1990. Other non-standard-size figures fall under our Custom Size category.

Does ATi grade figures in mail away boxes?

Yes, we do. We remove the figures from the mailer boxes and if the box is still factory sealed the figure would receive an “Uncirculated” designation. For the figure to have “Mail Away” on the grade label, it would be graded and cased with the mailer box.

Does ATi grade packaged toys that are not sealed?

ATi will grade certain items which never came factory sealed, provided the items are in new and unused condition. ATi can also grade boxed items that are no longer factory sealed (i.e. the tape has been broken or come loose) as long as the boxed item has an interior sealed bubble and all the contents i.e paperwork etc are stilled sealed in their bags.

Do you grade loose figures?

We grade only loose figures that are in factory sealed baggies. For figures graded in the baggie, the baggie condition is also taken into account for the grade.

We do not grade normal loose figures. This is due to an unseen amount of figures being damaged and degraded unnecessarily due to bad display and handling practices. Action Toy International understands the natural situation of these “loose” and unpackaged collectables and therefore prefers to leave the debate of storage to be left for the collectors to decide. See the ATi grading page for further details.

Do you grade prototypes?

ATi grades most prototypes and first shots.

Does ATi grade 12″ and 15″ Figures?

Yes we do. ATi grades 12″ and 15″ dolls that are packaged.

Does ATi grade Die Cast items?

Yes we do. We are in the unique situatuion to offer graded die cast collectables under the same umbrella of the ATi division.

Do you grade figures that are not on your list?

We grade almost all popular action figures. Most standard-size figures fall under our Modern and Vintage Categories depending on whether they were produced before or after 1990.

Do you grade other toys?

Currently we grade virtually all packaged toys and only a select loose action figures in sealed bags, also know as baggies. We also grade diecast vehicles and dolls in packaging. See our store page for further details.

Does an autograph affect the grade?

Regardless of its authenticity, autographs are considered flaws and the grade will be limited to 7.0.

How do the subgrades effect an item’s overall grade?

The overall grade is not really an average of the subgrades. In actuality, the subgrades point to where the greatest flaws are, i.e. what has gone into determining the overall grade. Sub-grades are used to better illustrate the overall grade an item receives. They are not averaged to determine the main grade. They are meant to further inform the buyer about the weakest and strongest points of the overall grade. For example, an ATi 8.0 item can have sub-grades of C8.0, B8.5, F8.5 showing the card as the weakest point which caused the overall grade to be an 8.0. An ATi 8.5 can have the exact same sub-grades, but in this particular case, the card flaws which justify the 8.0 card grade do not justify an overall grade of 8.0. They do however show a buyer that the card is lower than average for an 8.5 and is the weakest of the 3 aspects of the item.

Do price stickers lower the grade of an item?

Price stickers are generally not considered as major flaws. They only become a factor if curling, tearing, staining, picking, etc. of the sticker has occurred. The location of the sticker is also a factor, although most are placed in an area such as a corner that does not detract from the overall appearance of the card. Basically, the condition of the sticker on the card affects the card´s subgrade and from there into the overall grade of the item.

Are the ATi cases UV resisitant?

Standard ATi cases are slightly UV-resistant. They will also protect your items by sealing them in hard acrylic to keep them in the same condition as when they were graded. They will not be touched by human hands and the hard acrylic also prevents it from sustaining any additional creases, bubble dings or other damage. In addition, 99% UV-Resistant acrylic cases are also available for extra ultra violet light protection. Store listings will show what particular case the graded item has.

What´s the best way for me to preserve and display my collectable?

We recommend that you do not display your product outside. Always keep your collectable inside away from direct sunlight, even if the item has been ATi sealed in a case which is 99% ultra violet light resistant. Be mindful of strong lighting and large halogen lamps often used at indoor toy fayres, auctions and conventions.

We also recommend that the collectable, whilst at home, be stored or displayed in more of a shaded, mild temperature controlled area, for example between 15º and 23º degrees celcius/60º to 75º degrees farenheit and also take into consideration the time of day when sunlight can be at its most strongest. Also consider whether or not the natural sunlight moves into that partiuclar area for a certain amount of time and then moves out. Doing so, you will avoid unecessary yellowing, fading, blister lifting and warping.

Humidity can also affect items with signs of discolouration and mildew to blister bubbles, inlay trays, windows and the actual items, figures, vinyl capes and accessories themselves. Always check your item on a quarterly basis for any signs of unwanted deterioration to safeguard your investment grade collectable.

If you bare all of the above factors in mind, you will be able to enjoy your ATi collectable for the foreseeable future.

How does the serial code checker work?

Each and every individual professionally graded item is assigned a unique ATi archive code where it can be then verified for its grade, date, serial number, manufacturer, country of origin and characteristics to verify that its authenticity is logged in our archive.

Simply type in your code located on the inside of your display case for clarification that your product is indeed graded by us and is guaranteed authentic 100% genuine. You should also be in the possession of an ATi Certificate of Authentication (COA) which you receive with each and every collectable once it has been graded.

Do individuals really meddle with or counterfeit these proucts?

A professional counterfeiter can easily remove, repaint and reseal a figure without you even knowing. A lot of the expensive figures today also have factory paint variations, so with the advancement of computer technology, they can even produce reproduction pieces and similar counterfeit items. To the average collector it is impossible to identify these fakes.

What is the difference between counterfeit items, custom items and recarded items?

The difference between counterfeit items, custom items and recarded items is that counterfeit items are made to look exactly like the original factory made items and are advertised as originals, when in reality they are anything but original, until an unsuspecting buyer discovers what they have actually purchased.

Customised figures, items and Custom carded figures however are by and large fan made by enthusiasts which are very distinguishable from vintage factory carded figures and are therfore rarely mistaken for originals.

Replicas or Recards as they are often referred to as, are again fan made by enthusiasts which are produced to a good standard, but are advertised and should be advertised as replicas or recards and not as vintage factory carded figures or vintage resealed carded figures/items, thus avoiding the fake/counterfeit cry from the buying collector/investor.

What is over-grading?

Over grading is when a figure is given a higher grade than it deserves. Either purposely or unintentionally, overlooking certain flaws in a Vintage or Modern collectable to misrepresent its true condition. For example, a seller assigns a mint grade to a figure when in actuality it is in excellent condition. Over-grading occurs because sellers are uneducated to grade definitions. Flaws are also missed or purposely overlooked to take advantage of the unsuspecting collector.

What is re-grading?

Re-grading occurs when a collector has an item assigned a grade which in their eyes does not accurately describe its condition in their opinion. In some instances it is not uncommon for collectors to seek a second opinion elsewhere.

Will ATi be adding any more languages to the site?

We look at all possibilities for the expansion of our site and are currently on going in developing the site to be viewed in other languages.

What are ATi´s office hours?

Our office hours are between 9am-1pm and 4pm-7pm central european time.

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Would you like to verify a collectable by it's unique ATi archive code?

Simply type your unique code into the box above to confirm your item's authenticity.

The code can be found inside your ATi collector´s case.