selling your stuff on Amazon...part three...

apprentice_tycoon

That's a tough one becky - there's not a lot you can do I suppose but I hope for her sake that her book is EXACTLY as described or I think that you might not want to hold back....

I think that in her defence - slightly - after a swap has been agreed neither party can look back at the original listing to see what was said about the book in the description so it's easy to forget what she read about the book....assuming that she read it properly in the first case.

purplepatch

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

I think that in her defence - slightly - after a swap has been agreed neither party can look back at the original listing to see what was said about the book in the description so it's easy to forget what she read about the book....assuming that she read it properly in the first case.

That's a point I made on the risi discussion forum on the suggestions board. It is just about possible to check the old description, but you have to go right round the houses and most people wouldn't bother to go to that much effort. The bloke from risi, Neil is it, replied and said it was a good point and has gone to the top of his to do list, so hopefully that will be rectified soon.

Not much consolation to Becky though I guess

becky004

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

That's a tough one becky - there's not a lot you can do I suppose but I hope for her sake that her book is EXACTLY as described or I think that you might not want to hold back....

I think that in her defence - slightly - after a swap has been agreed neither party can look back at the original listing to see what was said about the book in the description so it's easy to forget what she read about the book....assuming that she read it properly in the first case.

If she'd said book was old copy I wouldn't have minded, but it couldn't have been described as "in very poor condition" to me a book in that sort of condition is unreadable, loose yellow pages, pages come away from spine, grubby etc. The book was an old copy but it was clean, tight, no marks or damage, the pages hadn't even tanned.
I have actually emailed her ( a nice one) asking what was wrong with the book so I don't make same mistake again, and have offered to return her book when it arrives. I thought maybe she has mixed my book up with another she received though I don't see how thats possible. Am eagerly awaiting a reply!

becky004

With the exception of one book which had never been read. Since they added the book grading I only ever describe as good or acceptable, thinking I'd have less chance of being negged even though some are excellent, so I know i didn't describe it as anything other than good. Is just no pleasing some people!
I didn't even leave a negative for the person who sent me a book that had blown out of a tenth story window and landed in a puddle. I think if people have made the effort to post me the book in the first place, as its free I won't complain. I did leave a negative once for someone who left me a negative for not responding to her email, which I never got! Never got her book either! Turned out there was nothing wrong with the book she got but she thought she was getting a set of 10 after following the amazon link!

jo_b_2

I think the RISI grading system can be a bit misleading and can lead people to expect books in a brand new state. I've swapped a couple of old paperbacks in excellent condition. The spine and cover didn't even have any creases at all but they were older books so the page edges were browning very slightly. I described them as good with no damage, having re-read the RISI description of the grades.

When they were re-listed by the new owner they were rated as acceptable but described as being in very good condition. They left me good feedback though.

It just shows that people have different standards. To my mind simply being an older book doesn't make it 'acceptable' but obviously other people think differently. I don't think the RISI habit of linking to the most expensive and newest edition on Amazon helps matter though and this could well be the root of the difficulties.

purplepatch

That's a very valid point Jo.

I think they should add "age tanning" to the list of damage.

If I have a tanned book, I list it as the actual condition which could be excellent, but I use the "other damage" option and say in the user description that the pages are yellowing with age.

Something to add to the risi suggestions forum I suppose.

becky004

jo_b wrote:

It just shows that people have different standards. To my mind simply being an older book doesn't make it 'acceptable' but obviously other people think differently. I don't think the RISI habit of linking to the most expensive and newest edition on Amazon helps matter though and this could well be the root of the difficulties.

I agree, acceptable to me is damaged but still readable, I had a swap the other day where a few of the pages had been ripped in half and taped back together neatly, pages were darkly tanned and it has a significant lean. That to me is acceptable, and I'm half way through it and really enjoying it! If she'd received that book and complained I could have understood the description of very poor condition (although I wouldn't consider it to be).
On a higher note paid £12 for 40 books at the boot sale listed 10 for a total of about £70, and have already got 17 swaps accepted out of the remainder. I just hope my sales continue the way they are, will never be able to give up my day job but I will be able to afford a few luxuries for the family, is very welcome especially with the impending mortgage to consider. Am so glad of the help and advice on here.

Kaminari_2

Anyone wanting to take Amazon on a grand scale?
Only three and a half hours until this Auction ends on Ebay - 7009714133
40,000 book and they are only at £620!! If i had the space i would be right in there. Unfortunately my other half has banned me from bidding.
Dammit!

becky004

Kaminari wrote:

Anyone wanting to take Amazon on a grand scale?
Only three and a half hours until this Auction ends on Ebay - 7009714133
40,000 book and they are only at £620!! If i had the space i would be right in there. Unfortunately my other half has banned me from bidding.
Dammit!

If I had a garage in the new house I'd bid!

soolin

I'm undecided about going back to the auction this week. I bought about 50 books last time in two lots but have only sold 2 (one on ebay one on Amazon) so far. The two books I sold did cover the cost of all the books, but i'm unsure as to whether I can really afford to carry so much stock when my sales are so poor.

Soo