So, I buy a book on ebay for $.99 (+3.59 shipping)... a hard cover of a book I’ve been meaning to read - a decent enough deal for a book that costs $15 in tpb at the stores. The description states “Gently Read Once”... from that description I expected an almost new, near fine condition copy - I get a book that has visible spine creases (not an easy thing to do to a HC), bumps along the boards, and a taped dust jacket… WTF!?! Now granted, it was only $4.58 out of my pocket and is a perfectly acceptable reading copy (what I was looking for), but it makes me wonder what the seller thinks of an un-gently read book? A monkey could do less damage reading a book than this person! I can read a hardcover three times over without doing much damage - hell, it is rare that I even crease a spine on a mass market paperback (psst.. wanna know a secret - I once returned a "gently read" book of mine to the store without even a second look by the clerk). Please, all you “gentle” readers out there, take care of your books (especially if you plan to sell them once you’ve read them)… Books Are Not Disposable Entertainment!
And so you know, I did not leave feedback one way or the other for this seller - they seems to sell mostly DVD’s, and anyone who buys a book on ebay for $.99 should not expect as much as I tend to…
2 comments:
I've gotten some books in pretty shocking conditions in the past -- most of them marked "used -- very good" on Amazon or some variation of the "lovingly read" description. Yeah, the spines are broken, the covers torn, the pages discolored. I'm like, "Seriously?!" You're good not to have left some neutral/negative feedback -- online book buyers want to know what sort of book they're really getting! Even if it was less than $5, you deserved a better copy!
You may be right on the feedback.. it is not the first time I have gotten junk off of the 'bay, but in this instance (stock photo and no defined condition) it was surely a "caveat emptor" type situation.
Post a Comment