I recently found a title card I'd been looking for, or thought I was still missing. I found it listed and at much more than I was willing to pay. The write-up revealed that there was tape on the back and along the edges, that the item had been folded, that there was a hole in one section, a stain in another, etc., etc.
Later, I was going through some of my title cards and found I already had TWO (count 'em 2) of the same title. The most expensive of the two I had paid roughly one-fifth of the price being asked for the one on eBay. My two cards, however, were in extremely good condition with the "white" areas slightly yellowed with age.
I thanked my lucky stars....!