A ROSE BOARD GAMES AND COLLECTIBLES

Collecting, playing and selling board games started out as a hobby. Now it is my full time profession. It's really a lot of work, but it's also fun. Occasionally, I get wonderful emails from people telling me how glad they are to have found a game they had as a child, and that makes this all worthwhile. I love playing games, and have encouraged all my friends to stop buying video games and to replace them with board games. The interpersonal skills developed playing board games for both child and adult are priceless. Board games teach social grace, strategy, cunning, logic, math, spelling and a host of other good things as opposed to video games which mainly teach how to kill, maime and destroy things. I host regular gatherings with both adults and younger people for the purpose of playing board games. I'm always happy and amazed at the new games that keep popping up. My biggest thrill is to find a game I have never heard of.

"We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." --Oliver Wendell Holmes ?

WHAT ELSE DO WE SELL?
In addition to board games, we sell lots of DVD movies, mystical items from Haiti and hard to find and/or rare collectibles. Even though our main focus is board games, we frequently run into beautiful collectibles with no possible way to keep them all. My loss is your gain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do so many of your auctions close on Sunday?

A: I like to close as many auctions as possible on weekends because it give me more time for packing, answering emails and getting ready for quick shipment.

Q: If I win more than one auction, will you combine them into one shipment to save me some postage?

A: Absolutely, no problem. However, all auctions must close within 5 days of the first one to close. We realize that with the increase in shipping rates, it is most usually much cheaper to combine shipping. However, sometimes this results in a stack of games too big to fit into a standard size box, and it may delay things a bit. I have to find an appropriate box and pack them up, then weigh it and get back to you with the exact postage... (and my scale only goes up to 20 pounds, so sometimes I have to then take the package to the post office to be weighed)the savings is usually worth the slight delay.

Q: Where do you get the games you sell?

A: Easy, I get them from various sources. I first check eBay to see if any sellers want to volume sell to me. Many dealers sell exclusively to eBay volume sellers at wholesale prices. I have a regular route of garage sales, thrift stores and consignment shops that I frequent. In addition, I go to many estate sales and auctions.This is very time consuming, but oh so much fun.

Q: Why do you start most of your auctions at $9.99? Isn't that a bit high?

A: A lot of work goes into this. eBay charges a fee for listing the ad and another fee if the item sells. The the online banks charge seller fees. Also, in order to list so many games so frequently, a listing service is used and of course this is not free. In addition to all the above-mentioned schlepping, pictures have to be taken and ads written - more time consumed. Time is money, and if I accepted anything less than $9.99, after I deduct what I paid for the game, what's left wouldn't really be worth that time. I'm very selective in the things I choose to sell, and don't sell anything that I don't think is worth at least ten bucks. If an item is really great but not worth $10, it will frequently be combined with another item in a game lot. When you look at the crappy new games for sale at your local toy store for $25 - $40, which people pay without thinking twice, A Rose items are a real bargain, especially when you consider that most of the games I sell are long out of print, very collectible and always fun.

Q: Have you played all of these games?

A: Approximately 95% of the games sold by me are games I have played. Most of the games sold are duplicates of games in our game closet. The few games that are unplayed are sitting just waiting for a game. Most of my knowledge of dexterity games or sports games is from friends and family, as I am useless with those.

Q: There's a game I've been looking for for ages. Do you have a copy of it for sale?

A: It never hurts to ask. I get different games in 5 times a week. In addition, some classic games like monopoly, aggravations, scrabble, clue, trivial pursuit etc. are always on hand. Ask for the game you're searching for and maybe, just maybe, I got it.

Q: Will you let me know if you ever have a copy of a particular game for sale?

A: Unfortunately due to the increasing amount of paperwork necessary to run this business it is impossible to keep track of buyer want lists. The best way to stay informed about what I'm selling is to log on to eBay and do a seller search for arose999.

Q: Can you help me find a copy of the rules to such-and-such?

A: The good people at Hasbro, which now owns Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Avalon Hill, and just about everything else, are very good about sending free copies of rules to any game they've ever put out. Call them at (888) 836-7025.

Q: How long does it take you to ship these games?

A: I mail 5 days a week, everyday except Saturday and of course Sunday. If no problems (we are all human)item is mailed the day after payment arrives. Also, sometimes it's hard to find the right box. I'm usually amazingly quick, (again see feedback)but there have been occasional exceptions. Unless otherwise specified, mail is through USPS priority mail.

Q: How do you handle foreign shipments?

A: I ship internationally, but buyer has to let me know before sending payment the shipping address. It is advisable to get international postage before bidding, as sometimes international postage is way more than cost of item. Sometimes, foreign bidders have friends in the United States who can send me a U.S. check with an American address, which is also just fine.

Q: Do you repair these games?

A: When possible, I repair sides. I've found that it's virtually invisible, and strong if done properly.

Q: You didn't specify whether this game is complete. Is it?

A: Unless I specifically state otherwise, all games are complete. It's only very rarely that I'll sell an incomplete game, and then it'll be something very rare and missing pieces identified.

Q: Are you careful with shipping?

A: Absolutely. I want your item to arrive safely just as bad as you. My reputation and your satisfaction is on the line.

Q. Do you charge a handling fee.

A. No. It is a pleasure to do business with you.

Q: Could you let me know when you post these big batches of games?

A: No. Way too time consuming. You have to just follow arose999 ads on eBay.