Example scenario · illustrative, not a real seller
The game box is full, but three counters and the right rules may be missing. Count the correct edition before paying for a “complete” set.
What you’ll get
- A component count with edition and time limits
- A labelled worked example, a visual process and an editable batch-time scratchpad.
- A device-only action checklist and one next move: Count one box by component type
A full box is not an inventory of its contents.
A full-looking box is not a counted game. Similar editions can use different cards, counters or boards, and a small missing component can change whether the intended game is playable. Treat “complete” as a claim to establish, not a label inherited from the seller.
Identify the version before counting
Find the publisher, title, edition and product markings. Compare the actual box and components with a manufacturer’s parts list or instructions for that edition. A downloaded list for another version can produce a tidy but incorrect count.
Do not reproduce copyrighted rules or artwork for resale. Use your own photos and direct the buyer to authorized information where appropriate. If the edition cannot be identified, preserve the uncertainty in your research instead of calling it rare.
Count by component type
Spread components on a suitable surface and use a checklist: board sections, cards by deck, tokens by type, dice, player pieces, inserts and instructions. Mark damaged and missing components separately; a count does not establish usable condition.
For electronic elements or batteries, follow the relevant manufacturer and shipping requirements. Do not power damaged components to complete a checklist. CPSC’s resale guidance applies to toys and games too; check recalls and do not equate a complete count with safety.
A counting-time example, not a productivity target
Suppose you choose a planning estimate of 18 minutes for each of six boxes. That is 108 minutes before research, photography or packing. With only 90 minutes available, the chosen plan already has an 18-minute gap.
These numbers are hypothetical, not a benchmark for adequate inspection. A difficult game may take much longer. Do not stop an essential safety or completeness check because the budgeted minutes expired; reduce the batch or pass instead.
Price the actual incomplete version
If pieces are missing, investigate whether lawful resale is appropriate and what an honest listing would include. Do not use a complete game’s price without adjustment or assume a replacement part will fit because its color looks similar.
Obtain a real replacement quote before committing. Check authenticity and intended compatibility. If the outcome remains uncertain, model no recovery from the questionable game rather than pricing an imagined repaired version.
Pack the contents as well as the box
Immobilize components in a way that does not damage them. Protect the game box if it is part of the promised condition; a label directly on a collectible box changes what arrives. Measure and weigh the final outside parcel for the carrier quote.
Use packing fit only as an interior geometry aid. It does not recommend cushioning, establish carrier compliance or price shipping. Publish the exact component count, known defects and your actual edition after all checks—not while you still plan to count later.
Worked example · hypothetical, not a real seller
A component count with edition and time limits
A deliberately chosen planning example for this decision. It is not a real transaction, a product appraisal, an observed market result or permission to sell. Replace the inputs only after the relevant checks.
18 chosen minutes per item × 6 items = 108 minutes (1.8 hours). Against 90 available minutes, that leaves a 18-minute capacity gap. These are planning assumptions, not measured productivity or enough time to establish safety or authenticity. Take the time the actual task needs, reduce the batch or pass.
| Measure | Example value |
|---|---|
| Planned work (minutes) | 108 |
| Available time (minutes) | 90 |
Chosen example · edit the numbers
Batch-time scratchpad
Illustrative inputs, not market benchmarks or an achieved outcome. Scratchpad values stay in tab memory, not saved by this application. Reload to reset.
Before the next transaction
With JavaScript and browser storage, only checked-step IDs can stay on this device. No buyer details or amounts are saved.
Can I sell an incomplete game if I disclose the missing pieces?
Disclosure alone is not enough. Check safety, recalls, marketplace restrictions and whether the proposed sale is permitted. If a lawful listing is possible, accurately describe every missing component and do not call it complete.
Do this next · one concrete move
Count one box by component type
Use the manufacturer’s list for the correct edition. Check recalls and restrictions independently; completeness and the time example do not establish safety or permission to sell.
Take the next question to the bench →