King Books/Items Wanted

[Jimimck]

I don't even ask for description or photos when I buy from Betts. If he says fine, fine it is.

[Merlin1958]

I don't even ask for description or photos when I buy from Betts. If he says fine, fine it is.

Precisely!!!

Spoiler:

And, David is an awesome guy personally to boot!!!

[allasorte]

I don't even ask for description or photos when I buy from Betts. If he says fine, fine it is.

When he states "fine," what is his meaning? I noticed on listing,s wherever they may be, people will list books as very fine or as new. To me personally, very fine and as new is the same thing. So for Betts, what is his meaning of fine? Thank you.

[Merlin1958]

I don't even ask for description or photos when I buy from Betts. If he says fine, fine it is.

When he states "fine," what is his meaning? I noticed on listing,s wherever they may be, people will list books as very fine or as new. To me personally, very fine and as new is the same thing. So for Betts, what is his meaning of fine? Thank you.

Well, condition is always subjective, but David is a real stickler and savvy evaluator. There are few that rival him on current market value and condition. Whatever price and condition he states you can generally take that to the bank. He's probably one of the most trusted sellers in the King market. If, something does manage to go sideways he'll find a way to make it right. You got a sure thing with, Betts!!

[Priest]

until now i always go a book in a better condition then i expected from the description.
one he even denied to sell to me , as he was sure it would not fit my expectations

[allasorte]

I don't even ask for description or photos when I buy from Betts. If he says fine, fine it is.

When he states "fine," what is his meaning? I noticed on listing,s wherever they may be, people will list books as very fine or as new. To me personally, very fine and as new is the same thing. So for Betts, what is his meaning of fine? Thank you.

Well, condition is always subjective, but David is a real stickler and savvy evaluator. There are few that rival him on current market value and condition. Whatever price and condition he states you can generally take that to the bank. He's probably one of the most trusted sellers in the King market. If, something does manage to go sideways he'll find a way to make it right. You got a sure thing with, Betts!!

Thanks, I figured in his listings, if it was fine, then that was as good as it gets unless specified. I was curious as to what people thought on here.

[sgc1999]

I don't even ask for description or photos when I buy from Betts. If he says fine, fine it is.

Precisely!!!

Spoiler:

And, David is an awesome guy personally to boot!!!

YA, plus he is father Callahan too, so he can not lie
LOL,
David is a straight shooter and just a really likable guy

[Ben Eads]

I've done business many times with Bett's and echo what everyone else has said. You're in good hands with Dave.

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

I know you all want to have David's babies, but I have many examples where he describes a book as Fine, and then describes lots of faults with it.

ANY fault and its not Fine to me. Condition is very subjective.

[Rahfa]

I know you all want to have David's babies, but I have many examples where he describes a book as Fine, and then describes lots of faults with it.

ANY fault and its not Fine to me. Condition is very subjective.

Is that the definition of "fine?" That's the def. of "mint" isn't it?

[frik]

I thought fine and mint describe the same condition.

sk

[ELazansky]

Here are general guidelines:

AS NEW; FINE; MINT: Without faults or defects.
NEAR FINE: a book approaching FINE (or AS NEW or MINT) but with a couple of very minor defects or faults, which must be noted. [NOTE: From here on, there may be "+ (Plus)" or "- (Minus)" in a grade, which will mean that it is above the grade noted but not quite to the next higher grade for "+", and that it is below the grade noted but not quite to the next lower grade for "-", i.e., Very Good + (or Plus)/Very Good - (or Minus). Which means the book is better than Very Good and the dust jacket grade is less than Very Good.]
VERY GOOD: A book showing some signs of wear. Any defects or faults must be noted.
GOOD: The average used book that is totally complete (as issued) and intact. Any defects must be noted.
FAIR: A worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title page, etc. Any defects or faults must be noted.
POOR or READING COPY: A book that is sufficiently worn that its only merit is the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates must be noted. May be soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted, and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc.

[Rahfa]

Here are general guidelines:

AS NEW; FINE; MINT: Without faults or defects.
NEAR FINE: a book approaching FINE (or AS NEW or MINT) but with a couple of very minor defects or faults, which must be noted. [NOTE: From here on, there may be "+ (Plus)" or "- (Minus)" in a grade, which will mean that it is above the grade noted but not quite to the next higher grade for "+", and that it is below the grade noted but not quite to the next lower grade for "-", i.e., Very Good + (or Plus)/Very Good - (or Minus). Which means the book is better than Very Good and the dust jacket grade is less than Very Good.]
VERY GOOD: A book showing some signs of wear. Any defects or faults must be noted.
GOOD: The average used book that is totally complete (as issued) and intact. Any defects must be noted.
FAIR: A worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title page, etc. Any defects or faults must be noted.
POOR or READING COPY: A book that is sufficiently worn that its only merit is the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates must be noted. May be soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted, and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc.

Where did those guidelines come from?

I would use:

Mint
Near Mint
Very Fine
Fine
And so on...

I don't see how Mint=Fine. They don't mean the same thing...and I was collecting comics in 1982...haha

Frankly, to me, NOTHING is mint, or even near mint. It can't be - it was on a shelf, therefore NOT mint. It's impossible.

"Fine" is a book that looked like it was carefully put on a shelf and left alone except for normal aging and read once. Anything else and I feel like there are unrealistic expectations about collecting a product that was meant to be lightly handled and not stored in a safe. The rare time that you do find a book from a sealed carton, then that truly is "mint.'

[stroppygoblin]

I list everything as Double Plus Good...

[Br!an]

I list everything as Double Plus Good...

Those oldthinkers unnewspeak.

[The Library Policeman]

I list everything as Double Plus Good...

Hahaha

[ELazansky]

Here are general guidelines:

AS NEW; FINE; MINT: Without faults or defects.
NEAR FINE: a book approaching FINE (or AS NEW or MINT) but with a couple of very minor defects or faults, which must be noted. [NOTE: From here on, there may be "+ (Plus)" or "- (Minus)" in a grade, which will mean that it is above the grade noted but not quite to the next higher grade for "+", and that it is below the grade noted but not quite to the next lower grade for "-", i.e., Very Good + (or Plus)/Very Good - (or Minus). Which means the book is better than Very Good and the dust jacket grade is less than Very Good.]
VERY GOOD: A book showing some signs of wear. Any defects or faults must be noted.
GOOD: The average used book that is totally complete (as issued) and intact. Any defects must be noted.
FAIR: A worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title page, etc. Any defects or faults must be noted.
POOR or READING COPY: A book that is sufficiently worn that its only merit is the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates must be noted. May be soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted, and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc.

Where did those guidelines come from?

I would use:

Mint
Near Mint
Very Fine
Fine
And so on...

I don't see how Mint=Fine. They don't mean the same thing...and I was collecting comics in 1982...haha

Frankly, to me, NOTHING is mint, or even near mint. It can't be - it was on a shelf, therefore NOT mint. It's impossible.

"Fine" is a book that looked like it was carefully put on a shelf and left alone except for normal aging and read once. Anything else and I feel like there are unrealistic expectations about collecting a product that was meant to be lightly handled and not stored in a safe. The rare time that you do find a book from a sealed carton, then that truly is "mint.'

I pulled that list from here -- http://www.ioba.org/pages/resources/...n-definitions/

You can find similar lists on lots of websites

[Rahfa]

I pulled that list from here -- http://www.ioba.org/pages/resources/...n-definitions/

You can find similar lists on lots of websites

Funny, but certainly not reality (the list, not you). "Mint = Fine." Makes no sense to me. But I guess these organizations can use whatever hoodoo they want to make everything sound perfect.

Back in the '80s comic days there was Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, poor." I'll keep using that one.

The words just don't mean the same thing - it's like "Gem Mint." What does it mean? Eh, whatever. I guess I'm the jerk.

[Lookwhoitis]

I pulled that list from here -- http://www.ioba.org/pages/resources/...n-definitions/

You can find similar lists on lots of websites

Funny, but certainly not reality (the list, not you). "Mint = Fine." Makes no sense to me. But I guess these organizations can use whatever hoodoo they want to make everything sound perfect.

Back in the '80s comic days there was Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, poor." I'll keep using that one.

The words just don't mean the same thing - it's like "Gem Mint." What does it mean? Eh, whatever. I guess I'm the jerk.

Book grading and Comics Grading are two different animals. I surmise the growing prevalence of comic book grading in the cultural psyche in the past 20 years has caused the term MINT to migrate over to book descriptions.

"Near Mint" in comics is analogous to "fine" in books. It is pretty much the high grade as can be expected of a collectible item that has been used without going into the UBER HIGH GRADE zones where opinion and microscopic analysis skews in many different ways (think CGC 10.0, lol)

Sellers will put any catchword in the Ebay title (or boards listing) of an item to help to try and sell it but the best bet is to find the sellers who are TIGHT graders and are selling products that are CORRECTLY GRADED and backed up by their (sometimes years of ) expertise as well as their reputation as a seller and grader.

[Randall Flagg]

That's why I prefer to under-grade a book and post numerous high resolution photos. Pics tell a 1,000 words, and reduce my having to type lengthy notes.

[Rahfa]

Yeah, ultimately grades don't matter anyway, if one is happy with the appearance and thinks it meets expectations....you're absolutely right that CGC comics grading and 'slabbing' has tried to make 'condition' an objective idea, when really it's very subjective and always has been.

I'm with RF - describe the appearance, flaws and highpoints as best you can, take pictures, and that's the REAL condition. Trying to sum it up with a word has always been a bit silly.

[dnemec]

FWIW, my first purchase from Dave at Betts was for Rage and several other things. I thought for $300, I should ask for a pic. I did, and eventually (we all know he's busy), got one. There is always that option if you are worried about something being "fine" vs. "near fine!"

[Priest]

just wondering if anybody has a PS Pet Semetary for sale, preferred #20, but any other will do it.

Let me know!

[Br!an]

Grading is definitely subjective. In fact it changes depending on whether I'm wearing my glasses or not.

As a seller I mention any flaws. Pictures are certainly one of the most helpful tools when buying or selling online.

[mkb.redux]

Echoing comments above, and what I learned from my mentors all those years ago: honest and complete descriptions, good pictures, and an "anything, any reason" return policy.