Item Condition Guidelines
Learn what condition standards we accept for books, CDs, DVDs, and games to get the best possible price.
Get an Instant QuoteOur Item Condition Standards
At We Buy Any Media, we buy used books, CDs, DVDs, and games in a variety of conditions. To ensure you get the best possible offer for your items, it's important to understand our condition guidelines. These standards help us provide fair and consistent pricing for all sellers.
We grade items based on their physical condition, functionality, and completeness. While minor signs of use are acceptable, items with significant damage may receive a lower offer or be rejected.
Important Note
When we receive your items, our team will assess their condition against these guidelines. If an item doesn't meet our standards, we'll notify you and offer to return it (for a small fee) or recycle it for free.
Our Condition Scale
We use the following scale to assess item conditions:
Like New
Item appears unused with no visible flaws. All original components included and in perfect working order.
Very Good
Minor signs of use but in excellent condition. May have minimal shelf wear or slight markings. All components included and working perfectly.
Good
Shows signs of previous use but no significant damage. May have creases, light scratches, or minor cosmetic issues that don't affect functionality.
Acceptable
Noticeable wear but still functional. May have writing, creases, scratches, or minor damage. Must still be complete and working.
Unacceptable
Significant damage that affects usability or important parts missing. Items in this condition will be rejected.
Book Condition Guidelines
Books are our most popular category. Here's what we look for when assessing books:
Acceptable Conditions:
- Books with normal wear and tear, including minor creases or bends
- Books with highlighting or underlining (as long as text is still readable)
- Ex-library books with stamps/markings (as long as they're complete)
- Books with owner's name written inside
- Slightly yellowed or aged pages
- Minor edge wear or corner bumps
- Paperbacks with a creased spine (but still intact)
Unacceptable Conditions:
- Missing pages or covers
- Significant water damage or mold
- Severe writing that makes text unreadable
- Torn or detached pages/binding
- Strong odors (smoke, perfume, etc.)
- Active insect damage
- Counterfeit/pirated editions
Acceptable: Minor shelf wear
This book has slight edge wear and minor corner bumps but is otherwise in good condition with a solid binding.
Unacceptable: Water damage
This book shows significant water damage with warped pages and potential mold growth, making it ineligible.
CD & DVD Condition Guidelines
CDs and DVDs must be functional and have minimal scratching to be accepted:
Acceptable Conditions:
- Discs with minor surface scratches that don't affect playback
- Cases with light wear, cracks, or stickers
- Missing artwork/inserts (though may reduce value)
- Discs with light surface marks that can be wiped clean
- Ex-rental discs that play correctly
- Slight discoloration on disc surface
Unacceptable Conditions:
- Discs with deep scratches that affect playback
- Cracked, broken, or warped discs
- Counterfeits or bootleg copies
- Discs with writing directly on the playing surface
- Discs with significant label damage
- Missing discs when selling multi-disc sets
Testing CDs & DVDs
Before sending your discs, consider playing them in a device to check they work properly. Light surface scratches may be acceptable if they don't affect playback, but deep scratches that cause skipping or freezing will result in rejection.
Video Game Condition Guidelines
Video games include various components that all need to be in good condition:
Acceptable Conditions:
- Games with minor scratches that don't affect gameplay
- Cases with minor damage or stickers
- Games with minor manual wear or missing manuals (may affect value)
- Pre-owned games with online codes already used
- Games with minor label wear on cartridges
- Slightly yellowed plastic on older game cartridges
Unacceptable Conditions:
- Games with deep scratches that prevent loading
- Counterfeit or reproduction games
- Cartridges with significant damage or missing labels
- Water-damaged or corroded cartridges
- Games with missing essential components
- Modified or hacked game systems
What Happens to Rejected Items?
If any of your items don't meet our condition standards, we'll notify you via email and offer two options:
Return Service
We can return your rejected items for a small fee of £3.99 to cover shipping and handling costs.
Items will be returned to your registered address within 10 working days.
Free Recycling
We can responsibly recycle your rejected items at no cost to you.
We're committed to environmentally-friendly disposal and zero landfill policies.
Tips for Getting the Best Offer
- Clean your items - Wipe discs with a soft cloth and remove any stickers or price tags if possible.
- Include all components - Make sure all items have their original cases, manuals, and components.
- Check functionality - Test electronic media to ensure everything works properly.
- Package carefully - Follow our packaging guidelines to prevent damage during shipping.
- Be honest about condition - Our team will check all items, so accurate assessment helps avoid rejections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell books with highlighting or writing inside?
Yes, we accept books with some highlighting or writing as long as the text is still readable and there's no excessive marking. However, books with heavy annotation or writing that obscures the text may receive a lower valuation or be rejected.
Do CDs and DVDs need to be in their original cases?
While having the original case is preferred and may affect valuation, we do accept CDs and DVDs in replacement cases as long as the disc itself is in good condition and plays correctly. Discs without any case may receive a significantly lower valuation.
Will you accept ex-library books?
Yes, we accept ex-library books as long as they're complete (no missing pages) and in otherwise acceptable condition. These books typically have library stamps, stickers, or markings, which may reduce their value somewhat but don't make them ineligible.
How do you check if discs are working properly?
Our team tests discs that appear potentially damaged by playing them in appropriate devices. We check for skipping, freezing, or other playback issues. Minor scratches that don't affect playback are acceptable, while discs that don't play properly will be rejected.
What if I'm not sure about my item's condition?
If you're unsure whether your items meet our condition standards, it's generally best to send them anyway (unless they have obvious severe damage like missing parts or water damage). Our team will assess them, and you'll only be paid for items that meet our standards. For rejected items, you can choose to have them returned or recycled.
On This Page
- Our Condition Scale
- Book Condition Guidelines
- CD & DVD Condition Guidelines
- Video Game Condition Guidelines
- What Happens to Rejected Items
- Tips for Getting the Best Offer
Related Resources
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