The Acaeum Dungeons & Dragons
Collecting Forums

Value of WotC 3.0/3.5 hardbacks?
Post new topic Reply to topic Page 1 of 1
Author

puterdragon
Prolific Collector

Posts: 147
Joined: Jan 29, 2010
Last Visit: May 31, 2012
Location: Canada

Post Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:42 pm 
 

I have an opportunity to get a pile of about 10 WotC hardcover accessories/modules for version 3.0/3.5.
I'm wondering what the value trend is for nm/mint copies:
Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
Expedition to Undermountain
Expedition to Castle Ravenloft.
The others in the lot include Codexes, locales (Shining South and some others), Races (and Power) of Faerun, and the Dragonlance Campaign Setting.
I'm thinking of offering half cover price for them. How does this fit in with the going rate these days?
  

User avatar
JasonZavoda
Long-Winded Collector
JG Valuation Board

Posts: 3823
Joined: Jul 12, 2007
Last Visit: Dec 17, 2021

Post Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:06 pm 
 

puterdragon wrote:I have an opportunity to get a pile of about 10 WotC hardcover accessories/modules for version 3.0/3.5.
I'm wondering what the value trend is for nm/mint copies:
Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk
Expedition to Undermountain
Expedition to Castle Ravenloft.
The others in the lot include Codexes, locales (Shining South and some others), Races (and Power) of Faerun, and the Dragonlance Campaign Setting.
I'm thinking of offering half cover price for them. How does this fit in with the going rate these days?


Post a list in colelcting appraisel. You can also do some legwork and check completed auctions on ebay for each title, but the expedition books are in the $12 -$18 range though I have seen them with higher asking prices (Ravenloft seems to be the least valuable). The other hardbacks for 3.0 I have seen in the $3-$5 range for Forgotten realms.

Don't know about the Dragonlance campaign setting.

Half -cover price for the bulk of these seems way too much.
  

User avatar
FormCritic
Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 6720
Joined: Jul 16, 2005
Last Visit: Sep 30, 2022

Post Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:35 am 
 

puterdragon wrote:I'm thinking of offering half cover price for them. How does this fit in with the going rate these days?


That would be a start.

The problem with using the cover price as a benchmark for re-selling D20 products is that many of them were priced at double to triple their value to begin with.  

That's why so many new copies of D20 materials are still around...they priced themselves out of the market.

The 3.5 core rulebooks...particularly the Player's Handbook, have tended to hold their value.


"But I have watched the dragons come, fire-eyed, across the world."
  

puterdragon
Prolific Collector

Posts: 147
Joined: Jan 29, 2010
Last Visit: May 31, 2012
Location: Canada

Post Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:22 am 
 

FormCritic wrote:
That would be a start.

The problem with using the cover price as a benchmark for re-selling D20 products is that many of them were priced at double to triple their value to begin with.  

That's why so many new copies of D20 materials are still around...they priced themselves out of the market.

The 3.5 core rulebooks...particularly the Player's Handbook, have tended to hold their value.


Thanks Jason and Forum Critic.
I was diligent about eBay prices until about four months ago, and I remember the core rulebooks fetching high amounts back then (20-40 for the PHB, some of the MMs, and DMG, depending on condition).
I was guessing half price (no s&h locally) would be reasonable for the accessories. I'll use it as a starting point, working down.
It seems like the pricing for 3rd ed. stuff hasn't settled yet--by a long shot.

Is there anything else, besides GenCon stuff, that's rare or sought-after for WotC 3rd ed.? He's got more.
  

SoulCatcher78
Prolific Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 580
Joined: Mar 17, 2009
Last Visit: Dec 11, 2022
Location: Indiana, USA

Post Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:10 am 
 

The Forgotten Realms hard covers are going to range from $5-$12 (between the D20 dump after the release of 4E and the decrease in use as a primary campaign world).  There are a few titles that still hold their value (Drow of the Underdark being one).

3.5e Core rulebooks still bring a decent price (average $90 a set when combined) but if you're selling seperately it was more like DMG $10, MM $15, PHB $25-30 average.

3.0e Core rulebooks are practically worthless at this point.  Someone might buy a set if there's a book paired with them that they want doing so really isn't a good plan since all it does is drive your shipping cost up (therefore decreasing your pool of potential bidders).  Tuck them away in case you need to start a fire or prop up a wobbly table.

The modules for 3 and 3.5 have been steadily falling in value.  The best you can hope for is that 2 people really want it and start trying to outbid one another.  Expedition mods might pull $15-20 if they are in new condition.  Start your bidding at what you can afford to sell them for or you're looking for disappointment in this category.


Image
 WWW  

puterdragon
Prolific Collector

Posts: 147
Joined: Jan 29, 2010
Last Visit: May 31, 2012
Location: Canada

Post Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:08 am 
 

Thanks Soulcatcher.
If nothing else, it seems like now is the time to build up the 3e collection--while it's all cheap.
I think the Expedition hardbacks are going to maintain or exceed their current value (below or around half cover).
The escalating value of 3.5 cores, along with the low values of the 3.0 cores and FR accessories generally, tells me that the collectability of 3e is based on how playable it is (cores), popular it is (Drow o/t Underdark), and familiar it is (Expeditions).

Your feedbacks here tell me the market hasn't changed in the last four months--and I shouldn't assume that the values will escalate any time soon!
Good to know, when I'm thinking of buying a large lot like this one.
<happy>
  

User avatar
Invincible Overlord
Verbose Collector
JG Valuation Board
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 1624
Joined: Aug 19, 2008
Last Visit: Aug 21, 2023
Location: Chicago, IL

Post Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:26 am 
 

PM Sent.


RPG’s, D&D in particular has had a major influence in my life. It’s bonded me together with life long friends...it’s that bond in life not just as friends, but in our jokes, our mannerisms, and what we find funny. Invincible Overlord
 ICQ  

User avatar
FormCritic
Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 6720
Joined: Jul 16, 2005
Last Visit: Sep 30, 2022

Post Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:27 pm 
 

puterdragon wrote:If nothing else, it seems like now is the time to build up the 3e collection--while it's all cheap.


*Nods in agreement*


"But I have watched the dragons come, fire-eyed, across the world."
  

puterdragon
Prolific Collector

Posts: 147
Joined: Jan 29, 2010
Last Visit: May 31, 2012
Location: Canada

Post Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:47 pm 
 

Invincible Overlord wrote:PM Sent.


PM sent back today, but I'm not sure if I did it right. LMK
  
Post new topic Reply to topic The Acaeum Forums  •   Collecting General Page 1 of 1