I purchased this item new and used it twice for short freshwater fishing trips. After use, I stored it indoors. I always handle my fishing gear with care, and I've been especially careful with my Heartland rods. I have never placed it directly on the ground or bumped it against anything. Although this is a personal inspection, I haven't found any scratches on the blanks, guides, or epoxy. I believe it's in very good condition. The white marks on the grip in the 14th picture were there from the beginning, but I chose this rod at the store because it had the straightest guides and no warping, so I didn't worry about it. I think it's in really beautiful condition, but please understand that it is a used item. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask in the comments. Thank you. Daiwa Heartland 772ML+FS-22 Type: Spinning Rod Features: Two-piece rod Fishing Type: Lure