To be honest, if you just want something to read and play with I'd either buy a regular copy in fine condition, or buy a print-on-demand reprint through DrivethruRPG or some such. Keep an eye on the Classifieds, too. Badmike has an impeccable reputation, won't screw you on his prices, and updates his list of interesting items regularly. I suspect he 'tailors' his list to what he thinks the majority of Acaeum members look for, and probably has a whole load more that just isn't listed. Maybe ping him a message.

If its quality and collectable you're looking for, then hold out for a genuine NM copy.

I'd avoid 'reconditioned'. To me it means some idiot has interfered with something in a way that removes value, and is trying to con buyers into thinking they should be paying for the sellers expertise with Sellotape and an eraser. Think silk purse and sow's ear. Bad buys on eBay are how most of us learned, though. So I wouldn't castigate those who fall for the cons. I've made a fair few bad purchases over the years.

mbassoc2003 wrote in Reconditioned Books & Modules:If its quality and collectable you're looking for, then hold out for a genuine NM copy.

I'd avoid 'reconditioned'. To me it means some idiot has interfered with something in a way that removes value, and is trying to con buyers into thinking they should be paying for the sellers expertise with Sellotape and an eraser. Think silk purse and sow's ear. Bad buys on eBay are how most of us learned, though. So I wouldn't castigate those who fall for the cons. I've made a fair few bad purchases over the years.

Yeah, holding out for a genuine NM copy is what I've always done (or as close to it as possible, at least). I've never bought one of these reconditioned modules, just wondered what the deal is with them. AFAIK any tampering with an original copy is a minus not a plus.

Thanks for the Badmike tip!

Luz can you point out a 'reconditioned' item on eBay?  I can't seem to find one.  Just echoing Stratochamp and yourself, I am concerned with the growing prevalence of POD and their possible impact on collectibles.  I haven't seen anyone try to pass them off as the real deal yet however I can very easily see new collectors getting confused by them.

-SKA

It seems to be just a category eBay use, and sellers must select one.

Nothing sold on eBay pre-2000 is 'New'. Everything is either dead stock that has been stored for 20 years, ex-shop stock, or circulating collectables in one condition or another. eBay forces people to choose between 'used' which sounds grubby, 'new' which is a blatant lie, and 'reconditioned' which appears to be meant to describe last generation iPads etc.

So I'd say look at the photos, read the descriptions, ask questions if you need to, and make your own evaluation as to the quality of what you see on the screen. Then bid accordingly.

Experienced sellers know what to say in their descriptions... No scribbling or highlighting, small crease on page 3, rubbing to the corners, etc, and they know how to take good clear honest photos, and as a result they tend to get better prices because the buyer is confident about what they are buying. Your average mom & pop who are reselling stuff they bought in a garage sale have fewer photos, poorer shots, and no description tacking what their buyer wants to know (condition etc.)

So this seems like another eBay box ticking exercise.

I wouldn't pay that price for that module, but I also wouldn't think twice about buying from an established reseller, and I didn't know the owner was one of our own, and on the back of that, it just adds to my confidence in buying in this instance. Sir Kill Alot (any relation to Robot Wars?) has been on the forums (particularly DF) since I started collecting.

Just my 2c.

Obviously, if a seller goes out of his way to say that he reconditioned a box or a book, and does not elaborate, that is when you need to be wary. I'm thinking Sellotaping the spine, reinforcing the box corners, etc. without full disclosure.

An example of a laminated copy of 1st print Castle Amber I came across the other day. I'm really curious to know if it was laminated 35-40 years ago when it as still relatively new, or if someone went through the trouble to laminate it more recently like in the last 10 years or so.


** expired/removed eBay auction **

Sir Kill Alot wrote in Reconditioned Books & Modules:
MB that would not be me, however the account you are referring to does sound familiar.


-SKA

Well that sorted that out.

I'm sure I've bought from hygienicporidge a few times back in my collecting heyday. The name was familiar to me too.

As regards the latter two examples, neither is worth the cost of the shipping, so even if they gave it away free I wouldn't pay to have them shipped anywhere.

If we're talking about unique items, and they were believed to be unique, or certified as such, then maybe you're right.
You could never really get there with something like a published product, but if the Gygax family said, "Here are 150 pages of Gary's original notes and sketch maps and we had them laminated, or if the Blume family said, "Here are the notes from the Blume family meetings in which we discussed taking control of TSR, and we laminated them and put them on our wall." Them maybe that could be a lamination that would be excused.

The problem is that laminate's adhesives deteriorate over time when exposed to UV light, so laminated products are either just play/read copies, or archive sensitive if you want to keep them for half a century.

I have never read the word "reconditioned" applied to DnD items. I think the ebay lingo comment is likely accurate.

Please dont sell reprints at a mark up.