AW Daily - Tips & Tactics - Before the Auction: Declaring Accurate Grades

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Before the Auction: Declaring Accurate Grades continued ...

Very Good: An item that is considered to be in average condition. A comic book in this condition might have a substantial tear or noticeable crease. Magazines might show some spine wear, light cover soiling, rub marks, or multiple creases. Books deemed as very good will exhibit some small signs of wear, but no tears on either the binding or paper. A record will show some signs of wear (such as scratches), while a coin will lack fine detailing.

Good: An item that has clear indications of age, wear, and use. It's possible that such an item might have too many defects to garner much resale value. In comics, this could include big tears; in books, noticeable corner rounding or significant creasing. A coin classified as good can indicate that major designs are visible but that there's faintness in certain areas.

Fair: An item that is heavily worn. With trading cards, this might include soiling and/or creasing. For a comic book to be considered fair, it must have at least a partial cover and all its pages. In the case of a book, its binding or jacket might be significantly tattered.

Poor: An item that is damaged or incomplete. For books or magazines, this might include water damage and missing pages, as well as a missing cover. Merchandise considered poor has little or no value to collectors.

Plus Signs, Abbreviations, and More
You'll also see plus or minus signs next to grading terms (fine+), as well as abbreviations of the above terms (M for mint, NM for near mint, VG for very good, etc.). In addition, some sellers employ terms that sound official but are not in fact generally recognized as bona fide grading terms. For example, an unknowing seller might describe an item as "very nice"--a designation that has no real meaning. Your best bet is to do some research and homework. Know the grading terms for the item you're selling. Consult collector clubs, books, articles, and the Internet, which is turning into a great resource for grading and pricing information.

Final Thought
On the one hand, grading terms serve as a convenient method of shorthand identification so that people quickly can determine the general condition of an item; on the other hand, they create room for confusion if the seller and the buyer are not on the same page. It's OK to use grading terms in your auction descriptions, but don't make the mistake of relying on them solely. In fact, some sellers shy away from using technical grading terms, preferring only detailed descriptions instead. The bottom line: Note any flaws, be as honest and forthcoming as possible, attach a photo (or photos, if necessary) to your auctions, and find out whether the particular item you're selling still can be considered valuable if its condition is anything less than good.

Writing Professional Descriptions
Understanding Copyright
Encouraging Bids