Mint!

If you spend any time reviewing want ads for used guitars you start developing a sixth sense for certain types of guitar sellers.  One common type starts by listing their guitar in "MINT!" condition. What this usually means is that the seller paid full price, brought the guitar home and tried it for "half an hour" (I kid you not, this is a recurring meme), the guitar has not left its case since, and the owner is under the delusion that they can get full price when they re-sell it.  While the guitar may be in like-new condition (if it has not cracked due to poor storage conditions), it does not mean it commands its sticker price or even close.  Many first-time guitar sellers apparently do not understand that this is just like selling a used car.  As soon as you drove that new car or guitar off the dealer's lot it significantly depreciated in value.  You are not going to get what you paid for it, or even close.

There are exceptions for premium vintage guitars, of course. Just like vintage cars, the right make and model can command premium dollars.  This 1942 Martin D-18 sold for $29,000 in 2008 on Ebay!  As the story goes, the original owner was unable to play it due to an accident shortly after he received it as a gift.  The guitar then spent most of the next 65 years in a closet.  If you have something like this that your grandparent strummed pre-war and that has been untouched in a closet since then you might want to get it professionally appraised...