Australian G1,2,3 & D1,2,3 Modules to swap - Advice Need
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Post Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:51 pm 
 

This post is probably more about seeking advice than making a firm offer, which is why I have posted it in this section rather than in the Classifieds. If the consensus is that it is a goer, I'll then post a thread in the Classifieds.

I have copies of the Australian modules G1, G2, G3, D1, D2 & D3. I collect OD&D, D&D and 1e AD&D rule books, with modules being something I grab only as an added bonus and not items I am interested in trying to get every single one of. My dream is to get hold of a complete set of OD&D rule books -- the White Box set, as well as copies of Chainmail, Blackmoor, Eldritch Wizardry & Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes (I already own Greyhawk and Swords & Spells), items hard to find here in Australia and which always seem to go way above my budget on ebay (postage and the exchange rate are killers).

What I am proposing is a swap of my Australian modules for the above items. I don't particularly care what print they are, nor am I after fine or near mint copies, although it would be nice if the covers were still attached. Is this a reasonable and realistic proposition or am I being greedy? Am I in fact selling them too cheap, taking into account the value of these items in the Acaeum "fair" column compared to the amounts listed for the Australian modules (which I realise may not be a realistic indication of their actual worth)? If  the latter is the case, I would also love a D&D Basic Set (blue box) edited by J. Eric Holmes (1st to 7th print), which has eluded me so far, and copies of the G1,2 & 3 or G1-2-3 and D1,2 & 3 or D1-2 & D3 modules, to replace the copies I am swapping. Again, condition is not a big issue, as long as they are readable. Please tell me if this is a fair swap or if I am just dreaming.

Here is a scan of the modules: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/trowuttatwo/Modules.jpg
The module G1 has had something spilt on the front cover in the past (lime cordial by the look of it), but otherwise they are all in very good condition. I'll give a proper and detailed description of each item when and if I post a thread to Classifieds.  

The next problem is how to set up such a swap. This will most likely be between me in Australia and a collector in America I would imagine. Though I have been a member of this forum for just over a year, I have only posted four times and would therefore be unknown to the regular members. My wife and I do have an ebay account with a positive rating of 768 (rainbows-end-auctions) and I guess the respective items could be set up as ebay sales. How has the issue of trust been settled in similar situations in the past by members of this board? It would be heart-breaking to send off the items, only to never receive the swapped items in return and with no come-back, and that of course cuts both ways.  

All or any advice would be welcome. Thanks

David Macauley

  

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:56 am 
 

Not really up to date what an White box goes for these days $100 odd us.. The aussie version are pretty hard to find (more so than the Uk ones I believe) The G and D modules are easy to find for the swap. I'd be happy to help, but with a good ebay feedback you prob won't need it;)

Brette:)

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:22 am 
 

There are a few informations on auction histories on the acaeum index, you are right.

Sometimes such Monos can reach 100 USD, or more, but there are not enough informations to say if it is a general trend or exceptions... as you said. Maybe some people here can give you more informations about recent deals.

Your swap seems fair to me, because it will simplify your research... but finding THE other people won't be easy.
On the other side, you will probably gather enough money via ebay to buy what you are looking for, but there is always a risk not to maximise your gain, and gather all the stuff will be like a quest... if you have time...

  

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:02 am 
 

le Rahib wrote:Sometimes such Monos can reach 100 USD, or more, but there are not enough informations to say if it is a general trend or exceptions... as you said. Maybe some people here can give you more informations about recent deals.


*chokes on coffee*

you can get mono's for WAAAAAAAAAAAY less than that. you can pick up all the mono's for less than that combined!!

if one or two reached that price, it has to be an absolute one-off moment of utter insanity imo.

i have picked up monos many times for far less. if you look around, you will see that the average price is prb something like $10.

Al


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:45 am 
 

killjoy32 wrote:
*chokes on coffee*



Sorry for your coffee Alan  :D
  ...Coffee... really, not Tea? Are you kidding?

The only Auction History related in the foreign Index section for G1 Aussie is 209 USD... Well, it was... several years ago!
I don't think that is it their value, but in my opinion, 50 USD should be a low estimation.

I don't see Aussie modules very often. I am definitely not a specialist :roll:

Sorry for Greyharp too!... but 10 USD really?

  

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:56 am 
 

ah sorry, my apologies :) (i obviously wasnt reading correctly :D)

AUSSIE mono's - ah yes well thats a different story altogether. yes, indeed, they are of a far higher value than normal mono's, which was what i was talking about.

just as a side-note though, do you think they are worth that much? it seems to me, that it may well only be a hardcore collector who would be willing to spend that much for one?

to me its just a mono, the same as most others...but hey what do i know :D

Al


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:17 am 
 

Greyharp wrote:Am I in fact selling them too cheap


I don't need to read the rest.  Yes!  The aussie printings are rather rare, and you'd be getting the short end of the stick, in my opinion.

(If you really wanna trade them for Supplements I-V & and OCE, I'd be happy to oblige...  :twisted: )

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:28 am 
 

Anyone seen John Huckerby recently?  I'd like to hear what he has to say about this.  The Aussie monos are very hard to come by, and highly valued among some collectors.


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:29 am 
 

I have seen FAR more R series mods than Aussies. A set of 3 (D or G) seems to me to be a fair trade for an OCE and some supps, which are more common than land mines in Afghanistan.


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:32 am 
 

I'd sell the monos, then wait for the whitey and supps to show up in the condition I wanted, and try to get them at a good price.


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:54 pm 
 

OCE's and supplements are very common. Does a week go by when there isn't one up for sale on e-bay? Your aussie monochromes are really rare. Years can pass without any coming up for sale. Considering the condition they are in, I would guess they would go for >200 USD each on an open market(e-bay). I am sure you are probably inundated with private offers from the deeper pockets already. You would be selling yourself far short with the straight swap that you suggested.

  


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 5:31 pm 
 

Thanks for all the advice so far, although no-one seems to have any suggestions about the mechanics of the swap itself.  :(

I am sure you are probably inundated with private offers


Several now in fact. I'll have to consider carefully before making a decision and I guess a thread in the Classifieds will be unnecessary.

You would be selling yourself far short with the straight swap that you suggested


That may be the case, but I would be happy with the swap. Selling items on ebay is always a risky business, so many times I have seen an item fetch big money, but when a duplicate item is listed a week later, it goes for a pittance. And then too, if I were to attempt to buy each item individually, postage costs from the US would be horrendous and wipe out a huge chunk of my spending money.

I gave up work (a career in the military) four years ago to become the full-time carer of my wife who has become disabled because of a couple of incurable, but non-fatal conditions. Life is good and we're happy, but money is tight - we're both on government pensions, therefore my collecting budget is extremely limited. This swap is the ideal way for me to make a 20+ year dream come true.

An item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. I understand the passion of the completist collector, I have the same passion for British gamebooks, which thankfully have a very finite range and have been fairly cheap to collect. Believe me, I will get as much pleasure from this swap as the person who receives the modules.

  

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:43 pm 
 

i feel a mass of PMs coming on here :D


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:03 pm 
 

Thanks for all the advice so far, although no-one seems to have any suggestions about the mechanics of the swap itself.


I can only suggest that you exchange postal addresses when the specifics of the swap are agreed to and put your end in the post.

  


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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:21 pm 
 

Greyharp wrote:An item is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. I understand the passion of the completist collector, I have the same passion for British gamebooks, which thankfully have a very finite range and have been fairly cheap to collect. Believe me, I will get as much pleasure from this swap as the person who receives the modules.

Well, I'll put my money where my mouth is.

You're severely short-changing yourself.  While nobody can say with certainty what they'll sell for, if you put the Aussie monos on eBay, I'll bid $50 USD on each one.  That's $300 USD total.  And I'm cheap.

I'm very confident that nobody will let me "steal" them for that, but I'm equally confident you can get an OCE and five generic-print supplements in fair condition for well under $300.  (You can probably get them in Very Fine or better for that.)

Prove me wrong, folks.   :wink:

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:30 pm 
 

I agree with Deimos.  You would make out better by first selling your mods either by some sort of auction whether that is Ebay or an auction here on the Acaeum.  Then spending the money on a boxed set and supplements.

The only trouble is I'm not sure how likely you are to buy everything from one person and I really do not know the shipping rates to Australia.

But as many people here have probably emailed you already, I would make that trade too.  Looking for any gamebooks?  I could through in some of those too :)

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:57 pm 
 

I agree with most of the above.  These modules are very rare, and should fetch a good price.  Probably not $200 apiece; those prices were back in the days when nobody had any idea what those modules were (they were assumed to be prepubs, and people bid accordingly).  However, I wouldn't be shocked to see you get around $500 for the set of six, should they go up on eBay.

If you decide to go the route of a trade (which may be the best idea, since otherwise you'll have to hunt around to get the items you want), I'd use the values on this site to balance the trade.  Get $500 worth of stuff, or $400 if you're feeling generous.  That'll get you an OCE, blue box, all five supplements, US monos, and still leave room for quite a bit more, especially if you don't care about condition.

Foul

  


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Post Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:06 pm 
 

I would like to announce publicly that the swap has been made with another member of Acaeum. Thank you to all those who made offers and those who gave advice.

Cheers
David

  
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