A Call For Submissions

I run into a lot of marginal bookselling, but I'm sure you guys run into more.

I wish I had more to share, but I've gotten more conservative as a buyer in recent months, and have consequently run into less horrid bookselling.

Got a story to tell?

Go ahead and share it in the comments for this post.

Does NEW Mean Wet With Musty Odor?

Today, we've got an Amazon marketplace seller listing a copy of an Abrams' cofee table book entitled British Campaign Furniture: Elegance Under Canvas.

Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0810957116/sr=8-1/qid=1250882462/ref=olp_tab_all?ie=UTF8&coliid=&me=&qid=1250882462&sr=8-1&seller=&colid=

They're priced fairly, at $31.29, except for the fact that their copy is the kind of junk you can't sell on Amazon, or Half.com.. or pretty much any major bookselling venue besides Ebay.

Note the description:

New

Seller: FIRESIDE_BOOKSTORE

Rating:98% positive over the past 12 months (102 ratings.) 509 lifetime ratings.

Shipping: In Stock. Ships from WA, United States. See Shipping Rates. See return policy.

Comments: New but HEAVILY LIQUID DAMAGED WITH STAINED WAVY PAGES (some stuck together AND NOT READABLE) AND MUSTY ODOR!

Is it perhaps possible that these Fireside intended that one of their competitors, with copies priced above $250, would accidentally match prices with Fireside in an attempt to get a deal on this book?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm............. for misgrading the book, these folks get a NO COOKIE! for sure. We can't be certain as to their intent, but we can be certain they've misgraded this book.

Another No Cookie For Half.com

Half, you've just gotta' start policing your listings.

Check out the listings for this title:

Materials Science And Engineering: An Introduction

(Hardcover, 2006)

Author: William D. Callister Jr.

0471736961

The below listings may be found:

BEGIN QUOTED INFO

Brand New About our quality ratings

Price Seller Feedback Comments Shipping From

$12.00 hitups

(4) 67% SELLING ONLY SOLUTION MANUAL. WILL SEND ELECTRONICALLY. Media Mail from CT More info

$19.99 mchandok

(1) 50% WARNING!!!!! This is the PDF version of this book & Lecture Notes for this... Media Mail from FL

Get it faster More info

$20.00 amrinder925

(56) 100% E-BOOK exactly like hard copy.. with all the diagrams and everything in... Media Mail from CA

Get it faster More info

$62.38 salambooks

(2499) 100% Brand New U.S Edition, Fast Shipping, Reliable Service Media Mail from CA

Get it faster More info

END QUOTED INFO

There we go. Half customers trying to find copies of this book to buy for school in Brand New condition are forced to wade through 3 bogus listings before actually managing to find a copy that is a lawful product with the right information.

Half already bans the phrase "international edition". They should probably do the same with PDF, as well as E-Book and ebook.

Let's compare and contrast with the Amazon listing page:

Note that the first 4 listings, including the one from Nebraska Books [NETTEXTSTORE] actually include the book.
Bully for you, Amazon!

Now, let's notice a little bit of irony in the Nebraska Books listing, graded Amazon "Good":

BEGIN QUOTED INFO

Seller: NETTEXTSTORE

Rating:95% positive over the past 12 months (9195 ratings.) 18910 lifetime ratings.

Shipping: In Stock. Ships from NE, United States. Expedited shipping available. See Shipping Rates. See return policy.

Comments: Books have varying amounts of wear and highlighting. Usually ships within 24 hours in quality packaging. Satisfaction guaranteed. Books have varying amounts of wear, highlighting and may not include CD. Usually ships within 24 hours in quality packaging. Satisfaction guaranteed.

END QUOTED INFO

There's a little bit of irony and hypocrisy here. Some of my readers in the used book trade will understand, while others among you probably don't get the significance.

If you Google "nebraska books scam" you'll get some background, but I'll probably be doing a blog entry discussing the Nebraska Books situation before too long.