books with price on front flyleaf
I have books I got from a library sale where they write a number in pencil mostly on the front flyleaf. In the past I have erased the numbers with mixed success. IN some cases it still shows faintly. If you have that situation do you try to erase or let it ride? One time I sold a book and forgot to remove a price sticker. A guy complained to me that I sold the book for more than I paid for it. ???
IN another angle I heard about dealers at another sale with numbers in pencil systematically adding the number 1 to the front of the number to imply they paid more than they sold it for [I assume after buying them].
31 comments
toomuchstuffagain35
·11 months agoI always left it (back when I bothered selling books).
Only ever had one complaint and I just told them that was the price paid several buyers before me LOL
reallynicestamps
·11 months agoThe Times Colonist Book Sale is annual and fills a curling rink for three days.
Prices are decent for collectors, less so for re-sellers.
But.
The newspaper also sets aside an area for booksellers - who have tax numbers and usually B&M stores - and give them access early.
While this might annoy the little guy, it is worth it for the organizers. For example, one bookstore Russell Books bought all the donated books, every single one, in 2021 when the public sales was not possible due to COVID.
I usually took a wheely card or rolling suitcase and filled it basically with SF/F paperbacks. Sales in the genre have dropped off, maybe I just don't know the market anymore, so I stopped going. Lining up at 7am for opening at 9am and actually getting in at 10:30 got tiring.
 
fm2000
·11 months agoI leave it, since trying to erase the price may make it worse, I don't want to turn a very minor defect into a worse, more noticeable defect. Some used bookstores also write the price in pencil on the flyleaf. I wish they would do what comic sellers do, and wrap/polybag and put the price on the polybag.
Lots of large library systems run sales where people donate books for them to sell. Many have experts who go through the books and sell them at the sales as "collectibles" (at 150-300% of eBay excellent condition/high sold prices!), then offer their "preferred" book pickers access, then allow dealers to come in early for some exorbitant amount of money upfront (can be a few hundred dollars for the big regional sales), usually with a limit on number of purchases allowed. By the time the general public is allowed access they have been picked though pretty well. The huge regional ones can still be worth it, if one has niche/specialized knowledge, some still can manage fall through the cracks. Things were far better 20 years ago, before smartphones made reselling media "easy" and people had to rely on experience and instinct out in the field.
keziak
OP11 months agoI just went to one of the larger sales in the region. They stipulate no scanners at the presale for the members and the first 3 hours of the open sale days. I go then because there are no dealers and buy everything on experience and instinct and did well though remains to be seen how many mistakes I made. It was worth it to avoid the mayhem. I went for the more specialized books, I know most ordinary books by sight. It was worth it to avoid the mayhem.
reallynicestamps
·11 months agoI use the white Staedtler Rasoplast erasers for pencil. Works almost every time.
The blue SR eraser usually works for ballpoint pen, less successful with fountain pen ink.
And I erase at time of sale, so really not much work.
keziak
OP11 months agothis is what I found on Amazon, is it the right thing?
STAEDTLER Mars Plastic Vinyl Erasers (4-Pack), White Erasers for Clean & Precise Results - Latex-Free, Minimal Crumbling, Made in Germany
sin-n-dex
·11 months agoIf they're what I'm thinking of, yeah those are OK. What you don't want is the pink eraser, that damages the paper and leaves a mess, it also doesn't erase very well.
C.
keziak
OP11 months agoI bought some and it came yesterday; I am interested to see how well it works!
sin-n-dex
·11 months agoI try to get rid of prices on things, but don't always bother.
If someone complained I sold them something for more than I paid for it, I would remind them that I'm a business, and businesses are in business to make money. I wouldn't be selling something for a loss... now that makes no sense.
C.
1786davycrockett
·11 months ago@keziak
When I had first started out as a bookseller back in the 1960s, I initially began attempting to erase or cover-up those marks -- but with mixed success, sometimes leaving the book in lesser condition than when I had begun.
So now I just leave those markings alone, but I do note them under "condition descriptions."
As for stickers -- the ones that are easily removed I carefully peel off; but the ones with stronger adhesive I leave alone, with a notation under "condition descriptions."
And there are SOME price stickers which will actually INCREASE the value of the book, if they are special limited editions -- and those stickers I leave attached.
onefootflipper
·11 months agoI would likely do nothing. Or cover it with a white circle sticker.
adamcartwright
·11 months ago@keziak
I hope you told him that if you'd known he wanted that book you would have left it at the Timbuktu library for him to drive over and buy directly.
keziak
OP11 months agoI don't recall what I said, it was a while ago, but I was gobsmacked. He said he was doing me a favor by pointing out the sticker but it came across as petulance that I actually needed to make a dollar selling. (not literally)
sin-n-dex
·11 months agoI had a buyer once offer to take all my Korean money off my hands for a deal price (of 50% FV) and how he was doing me a favour by taking it. BTW, the notes were actually UNC.
I said no, they're listed on eBay to make money, if I can't sell them for a profit I will take them to Korea and spend them. I know I've said that to a few people who wanted discounted rates on my left over trip money and act like they are doing me a favour. The airport in Toronto will take almost anything I bring back, and if it's not exchangable then most people probably wouldn't want it except for collecting anyway.
C.
12345jamesstamps
·11 months agoI get that on the back of stamps sometimes.
I clear photo of it using an arrow and write in description about it and use the words 'as noted'.
inhawaii
·11 months agoI would consider just leaving it.
I think most buyers know that you bought it for less than you sdld it for.
If the price tag is more than you sold it for, better yet. They'll think they got a deal.
meme6253
·11 months agoLeave everything as is, So you do not damage anything, & list it as Ex-Library book, there is a section for that.
jonathanbrightlight
·11 months agoHaving a price in the fly leaf does not make it Ex-Library, nor even Ex-Libris (which means it has a previous owner’s name or stamp inside).
keziak
OP11 months agothese aren't ex-library. Around here the libraries just throw those books away (most of them). Back in the day ex-library non-fiction was great but now it's hard to find any worth anything.
toysaver
·11 months agoMy library has a couple sales a year and carts in the foyer for ongoing sales. They actively seek donations year round. The librarians get first crack to see if there's anything worthy of putting on the shelf. The 'program' is run by volunteers and they get second dibs. All are book lovers and knowledgeable about the business of books. What is left to sell these days is nothing compared to what would have been available 20 years ago.
keziak
OP11 months agoThat is my experience around here too. Some Friends don't let dealers (or collectors I guess) work with the books. Others allow it or let volunteers buy what they want. It's just the reality now. In the remote pass I would go to sales a nd stagger out with 4-6 boxes. Now, lucky to get one at some sales. Competition is bonkers and there are only so many books to go around. A friend loves to go to "bag sales" and at first brags about all the good books s he gets but later admits most are actually either too low price or too "long tail" which booksellers here will understand.
le-5262
·11 months agoNever works out well for me...
I leave marks and writing
2010*minky
·11 months agoSome item such as older stock, have increased in value since they were first sold. What you paid for the item is none of the buyer's business. You might have gotten the item free. The only question is: do you want to buy this item at such- and- such price or not? A little pencil mark is not a big deal, although you could photograph it and mention it just in case they are nit-pickers.
nyr134
·11 months agoI usually try to erase it with mixed success. I'll also note in the condition section that there is a price or inventory notation written inside (or a sticker affixed). And I'll photograph that area so there are no surprises. Never had an complaint with that in hundreds of books sold over the years.
keziak
OP11 months agothat is good, to add a note to the condition description. One hopes most people understand that we worth for [some] profit.
toysaver
·11 months agoNot all erasers are created equal. Kneaded soft art supply type work best, but they cost more.
keziak
OP11 months agoI wonder if I should invest in that. I appreciate the input.
jonathanbrightlight
·11 months agoWe leave those. Erasing sometimes is worse because of the way the eraser can interact with the paper, plus it’s time spent that I haven’t noticed really making a difference. If the book is otherwise in great condition, it doesn’t even require you to lower the condition from Very Good to Good.
keziak
OP11 months agothank you for the response Jonathan. If it's a lot of books erasing takes up a lot of time.
luckythewinner
·11 months agoYou only have to erase it if it sells.
How many books do you sell a day?
keziak
OP11 months agoI erase (if that works) when I list the book, not after it's sold. If there is a visible number on the flyleaf I put it in the listing.