The decision
When you're looking at woodworking furniture plans, you want a book that offers clear, authentic project instructions. *Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture* is a well-known source, with 62 projects from Gustav Stickley. Now you've found two used copies listed almost side by side. They share the same author, series, book title, and even the same "Very Good" condition rating. The only real difference? One is priced lower, and the other comes with a more detailed condition description. That's the whole game: which type of listing gives you more confidence.
Quick verdict
If you prefer a listing that states the condition right in the title and you're happy to pay the lower of the two listed prices, the first copy is your pick. If you'd rather see a fuller condition promise plus extras like edition and illustrator details, the second copy is worth the small price bump.
At a glance
| Consideration | $6.00 listing | $6.12 listing |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 6.00 | USD 6.12 |
| Condition location | In the listing title | In the description text |
| Condition detail | "Very good condition"; may lack supplemental items | "Very good condition"; clean pages, no stains, all pages present, no markings, possible dog-ears/creasing |
| Seller wording | Not mentioned | AwesomeBooks product guarantee described |
| Extra bibliographic info | Reprint, trade paperback | Reprint, trade paperback; "First Thus"; illustrator listed |
Where each copy wins
- The lower-priced copy wins for simplicity and immediate transparency: the "Very Good" condition is right in the title, so you don't have to open the listing to know the rating.
- The pricier copy wins for condition detail and overall listing richness: it spells out what "very good" means in terms of pages, stains, markings, and wear, and it adds edition and illustrator information.
Product notes
Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture: Instructions and Plans for 62 - Very Good
This listing is the direct option. At USD 6.00, it's the lower-priced of the two, and the condition is front and center in the product title. The description repeats that the item is in very good condition and adds the usual caveat that textbooks may not include supplemental items like CDs or access codes. It's a concise listing-fine if you just need the book and want the price to be the only deciding factor. The trade-off is that the condition specifics stop at the "Very Good" label, so there's no longer explanation of what that means in practice. For many buyers, that's enough, especially when the price is lower.
Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture: Instructions and Plans for
This listing costs USD 6.12 and gives you more to read before you commit. The description from AwesomeBooks includes a detailed quality standard: pages will be clean, not soiled or stained, all pages present, free of markings, with the possible slight dog-earing or spine creasing that comes from previous use. It also mentions a product guarantee on all books sold by the seller, which is a helpful extra layer. The listing further identifies the edition as "First Thus" and notes that the book is illustrated-details the other listing doesn't cover. The cost is just 12 cents more, so if you're the kind of shopper who likes a fuller condition description, this copy easily justifies the difference.
Final choice by use case
- If you want the listing with the condition visible before you click and the lower listed price: go with the first copy.
- If you want the listing that explains exactly what to expect in terms of page cleanliness and binding, and that also names the edition and illustrator: go with the second.
- If the content is the only thing that matters, either copy gives you the same 62-project Craftsman furniture plans; the choice comes down to how much listing detail you want.
