eBay

southern*sweet*tea · ‎05-11-2018

<rant>Please, please, PLEASE - if you list a book, please make mention if it an ex-library copy. This makes a considerable difference when it comes to collectible books. Not all ex-library books will be conspiculously marked, and when you provide three or four fuzzy pictures it's hard to see if they're marked. When you don't mention it in your description, it's impossible for me to know. Ex-lib is an obvious condition flaw for a collectible book. I shouldn't have to message you and ask. (besides, asking a question makes me a scammer, right? )

Thank you. </end rant>

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

kathieskorner · ‎05-11-2018

Since none of the books I sell are ex-library - it would never occur to me to mention that in my description. And I've sold over a thousand books on ebay and the river and never had anyone inquire if the book I was selling was ex-library. Most experienced sellers of collectible books steer clear of ex-library books.

If you don't want ex-library books avoid the big booksellers. Since they are often selling mutliple copies of the same title - they don't detail actual condition, and don't take photos of the books they are selling. Also beware of those selling books for $3.98 or less with free shipping.

castlemagicmemories · ‎05-11-2018

I have seen listings that state EX LIB in the title.

That is helpful.

rolenboy01 · ‎05-11-2018

Dear buyers if ex library book's are a deal breaker ask before buying if you are unsure thank you, just because you feel you shouldn't have to ask doesn't make it a good idea not to. (and for the record I always state books are ex-library and take pictures of the stamps but as we know 12 pictures do not allow you to show everything).

pburn · ‎05-11-2018

I really sort of hate ex-library books, and I'm not even a collector. It just bugs me to have the name of the library stamped on the edge of the pages and to have that card envelope thingy in the front or back of the inside cover.

I did "have" to buy one the other day. It's a large reference book on orchids, and I just couldn't find a decent, reasonably price copy anywhere. I bought it here, from a huge seller with a million bazillion feedback comments, and it said "ExLibrary" in the title, so at least I knew it. And it was cheap--and in good condition.

I wonder if I can remove the card envelope and maybe shave off the library stamp off the edge of the pages. LOL!

castlemagicmemories · ‎05-11-2018

You might be able to. Maybe a knife inserted between the envelope and the page, and gently separate that way?

What about White Out on the library name? Do they even make White Out anymore?

Could work!

castlemagicmemories · ‎05-11-2018

Congrats on your orchids!

southern*sweet*tea · ‎05-11-2018

@kathieskorner wrote:
Since none of the books I sell are ex-library - it would never occur to me to mention that in my description. And I've sold over a thousand books on ebay and the river and never had anyone inquire if the book I was selling was ex-library. Most experienced sellers of collectible books steer clear of ex-library books.

If you don't want ex-library books avoid the big booksellers. Since they are often selling mutliple copies of the same title - they don't detail actual condition, and don't take photos of the books they are selling. Also beware of those selling books for $3.98 or less with free shipping.

I buy from the megasellers often for books that I just want to read. I don't mind condition in that case, as long as it's readable I'm good. This particular purchase was a lot of five from a smaller seller of old books. Three were okay, two had pulled from circulation stamps in several places. No customary spine tags, they had been removed. No mention of ex-lib in the item specifics or description, which was actually fine except for the failure to mention that two were ex-lib.

There's no need to mention that a book is not ex-lib. It does need to be mentioned if it IS, that's a condition qualifier. That's why there's an item specific for it.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

ymeagainlord · ‎05-11-2018

Yeah it's kind of like people EXPECT (and reasonably so) the seller to mention if a CD or DVD is ex rental.

Crusader Cat is watching

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. - L Tolstoy

"You are entitled to your own opinion, you are not however, entitled to your own facts."

pburn · ‎05-11-2018

Just curious--were you tempted to return them?

castlemagicmemories · ‎05-11-2018

This is just one thing that a buyer may have to message about.

There are many others. Measurements. Condition. Questions on pictures.

Then there's the very popular description, See pictures.

It used to be that please ask any questions was at the end of a very accurate description, to cover anything untoward that a seller might not think of. Now it means I'm not writing a description, you want to know, ask.

Maybe sales are down because buyers are tired of messaging about these things. There might be more sales if a buyer doesn't HAVE to ask any questions and all the info a buyer needs to make an informed buying decision was included in the listing. Even a buyer who messages a question may move on before they hear from the seller, so it only makes good sense to have a good description, and pictures, in the listing.

jonathankirkland · ‎05-11-2018

@rolenboy01 wrote:
Dear buyers if ex library book's are a deal breaker ask before buying if you are unsure thank you, just because you feel you shouldn't have to ask doesn't make it a good idea not to. (and for the record I always state books are ex-library and take pictures of the stamps but as we know 12 pictures do not allow you to show everything).

When I first started reading this I thought you were going to say "but as we know 12 pictures isn't enough anyway since careless buyers don't look beyond the first one anyway".

jonathankirkland · ‎05-11-2018

This is a little off topic, but I have to agree with the "blurry pictures" thing.

Even so-called "professional" sellers on here and big companies some times take consistently bad, blurry, out of focus pictures, and I find if I inquire I get an answer like this:

"I'm sorry but the item is at our warehouse and we are unable to provide any specifics beyond the pictures and the description."

It's easy to say, well avoid those bad sellers then, but I've found that sometimes a certain widget is only available from these types of outlets and so you then have to roll the dice. They offer 'free returns', but I mean, who really wants to have to deal with returns, buyers or sellers?

Sorry just using what you said about the blurry pictures to rant a bit.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎05-11-2018

@pburn wrote:
Just curious--were you tempted to return them?

I've thought about it. It's no different than someone buying an in-box collectible figure and the box has undisclosed damage, or any collectible item with undisclosed damage. Library stamps, card pockets, etc. in a collectible book = damage.

I'll probably wind up just keeping them since the other books are fine.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

coolections · ‎05-11-2018

@kathieskorner wrote:
it would never occur to me to mention that in my description.

I am glad you came here and learned something. The OP is correct, I would be fuming if I received a book, cd, dvd, or lp without the seller mentioning it was a library copy in their description.