Should I buy used board games if the seller says looks complete?

Yes—but treat “looks complete” as a yellow light, not a guarantee. Buy used if the price is meaningfully below new and the seller can confirm the contents with photos or a component count. Skip it if missing pieces would ruin the game, replacements are hard to get, or the used price is close to new.

A practical checklist before buying:

1. Ask for photos of all components laid out, not just the box.
2. Compare against the official component list in the rulebook or publisher page.
3. Ask directly: “Have you counted the pieces against the component list?”
4. Check condition of cards, boards, player aids, dice, tokens, inserts, and rulebook.
5. Confirm whether expansions, promos, sleeves, or upgraded parts are included or missing.
6. For marketplace purchases, make sure returns/refunds are possible if it arrives incomplete.

Rule of thumb: “Looks complete” is fine for cheap, casual, easily replaceable games. For expensive, out-of-print, campaign, legacy, or component-heavy games, only buy if the seller has verified the count or the discount is big enough to justify the risk.