Consider a category of item you care about. Would you accept it if it were sold to you as being in new condition, but arrived with substantial cosmetic damage?

Consider a category of item you care about. Would you accept it if it were sold to you as being in new condition, but arrived with substantial cosmetic damage? A dining table with a gash down the middle of it still holds food just fine. A white door spattered with red paint still opens and closes and keeps the wind out. Carpeting stained with wine still keeps your feet warm. Often, in any case, the damage is more than cosmetic. A paperback book that has been badly creased is more difficult to read than one that's in good condition. Caring about the condition of books is not a strange idiosyncrasy. There's a clear stratification in the price of the book market as you descend from new to very good to acceptable condition - because buyers generally care.