I'd like the groups thoughts on this...
I sent 19 modules off to CGC for grading, and I expected to get between 7.5 to 9.4
For the most part I'm happy- the average grade for 16 of them were about 8.5, I had no expectations of super high grades.
There was something on 4 of them that I did not expect, however.  A little background first:
In 1984 TSR was celebrating 10 years, and one of the things they did was to put together Module SETS (sometimes related as one bundle was X1,X2,X3,X4, other times not.  One such bundle:
Bundle 1103XA
C2: The Ghost Tower of Inverness
A2: Secret of the Slavers Stockade
A3: Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords
A4: In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords
With these bundles, as they were discounted for both the anniversary as well as 'quantity' discount for buying 2 to 4 modules as a 'set'- a notch was put into the modules. The purpose of this was to mark them as part of a bundled set, so dealers wouldn't break open discounted bundles and resell them individually.

So this brings us to the 4 surprises. As you may have guessed, yes- the 4 modules were this set, including the notches.  When I sent the entire batch in, I noted to CGC that these notches should not be considered a 'defect' as they were not something that happened as a result of end-user use, etc. This was a manufacturer/distributor authorized "modification" if you will, and sold as such at retail. Well, sure shootin', these 4 all got dinged for the notch (noted in the grader notes). They all otherwise would have been 8.5-9 grades, but got (3) 7.5's and a 7.

Part of me understands there may be a 'visual' aspect to lowering the grade some because of the notch, but then, what if TSR had instead stamped something on the cover, ie. "Part of a 10th Anniversary set". Some might argue that might raise the valuation as a variant. Should CGC determine which variants are less desirable?

Maybe it's all sour grapes on my part- but I would like this group's thoughts on the subject and if I should ask CGC for a regrade.

Technically, I'm sure that's correct that TSR didn't do it themselves. They didn't originally print the modules themselves either- but printing, packaging, etc. all falls under the publisher's umbrella, ipso facto the notch and bundles were under TSR's licensing and control. The notch was likely done at the distributor or 3rd party contractor, under the direction of TSR.

vweaver wrote in Grading surprise:Technically, I'm sure that's correct that TSR didn't do it themselves. They didn't originally print the modules themselves either- but printing, packaging, etc. all falls under the publisher's umbrella, ipso facto the notch and bundles were under TSR's licensing and control. The notch was likely done at the distributor or 3rd party contractor, under the direction of TSR.

Hi, I do not believe these were notched at TSR's behest either. I believe this was done later after they had been at the distributor level for a time. I was managing a games distributorship at this time and I do not remember TSR ever asking for product defacement of this sort.