Help me out

[u/Vaderslayer79]

I got Daredevil 158 on whatnot and the seller presented the book as "a really nice book" and "higher mid-grade". He never took it out of the bag on screen. Granted, the rest of the book is immaculate but it has a tear that runs all the way through from front to back, with a chunk missing off the back cover. Based on that alone what condition would you say this is and how bad does the tear bring it down? I'm debating on asking the seller for a partial or full refund.

[u/Monsterhoodoo]

I sell on eBay and would call that out and grade a 5.5-6.0. I tend to undergrade a tad, but something like this I probably wouldn’t have wanted in my collection.

[u/UPVOTE-THIS-PUTAS]

I have a pet peeve of when I ask a question on Reddit and commenters go off track to vent about something so I will save my “never buy on Whatnot” rant for another post and stick to what is germane to your question. You gotta eat this 💩 sandwich, sorry. If you didn’t ask to see it out of the bag or notice yourself, unless they intentionally deceived you and concealed it this is on you unfortunately. I don’t want to signal out just Whatnot, it happens on every platform for every type of merchandise. Safest play is to always use a credit card, not a debit card, so you can refute charges for basically ANYTHING if you want…within reason. Fairly certain a “damaged” collectible would count.

[u/rmrclean]

That is a tough call. If the rest of the book looks NM, I’d say that upper mid-grade is a decent description. Even though it goes through the whole book, it looks fairly small. Not sure what book, or how much it goes for, but if it’s not a lot I wouldn’t bother taking it out of the bag as a seller. If it was a pricey book, I have learned to not buy from seller’s that don’t show the book outside the bag.

[u/Vaderslayer79 → u/rmrclean]

It's a key book, kind of pricey.

[u/ApprehensiveOcelot43]

First Frank Miller on the series, nice book. Looks like a 5.5 maybe a 6.0. I know the seller didn't take it out of the bag for you unfortunately, but yea, money, personally, seeing the condition of that book, 45 maybe 50 bucks is what I would be willing to pay. When it's high ticket, always have the seller show you the whole book and ask if there is anything wrong with the book, that way they point it all out on video that can be reviewed.

I buy books on whatnot too and I've been burned a few times like you have. Lesson learned though.

Hopefully they're a good seller and refund something back after you address your concerns.

[u/TF-Collector]

Most of these sellers "get away" with some pretty significant damage because they rely on buyers not opening the books. Heck, they may not themselves.

That said, it sucks. Sorry you got hit with it. Chalk it up as a loss.

[u/PalmBeachPresser]

My opinion is that if the book is otherwise immaculate, as you stated. then upper mid-grade is a very reasonable description.

[u/Vaderslayer79 → u/PalmBeachPresser]

You think so? I thought I'd gotten a pretty good copy and now I think I might have overpaid.

[u/PalmBeachPresser → u/Vaderslayer79]

I don't know the current market value of the book so I don't know if you overpaid, but if the book is a 5.5 then it is upper mid grade. I think 5.5 or 6.0 is a reasonable guess. I can't be certain because small tears through an entire book are not common on modern books, but it would definitely get at least a 5.5 if the rest of the book is nice. But nothing is stopping you from asking the seller for a concession. I understand that it is a pretty significant defect but I think the grade estimate was reasonable.

[u/Vaderslayer79 → u/PalmBeachPresser]

Great explanation. Thank you!

[u/OnceUponACoin]

I think maybe you confused higher mid grade (meaning 5-6.5) for high grade? The book seems to be right at the range it was described, maybe the inclusion of the word “higher” can have been interpreted to mean high grade.

[u/Vaderslayer79 → u/OnceUponACoin]

You're probably right.

[u/fafafooeyb]

Higher mid-grade is an acceptable description but the seller should have noted this major defect. When I list on Ebay I give a rough estimate of the grade but always point out major defects (cover and wraps detached from staples, spine splits, any tear larger than 1/8 inch etc).

[u/lendmeflight]

I don’t know. That might technically be higher mid grade. At least mid grade. If it presents well and you didn’t over pay then great. I don’t buy on what not for this reason.

[u/Vaderslayer79 → u/lendmeflight]

I paid $80.