eBay

ener50 · ‎12-10-2017

So I've been arguing with my father about this for some time and I'd like some clarity on deciding the condition when listing books. I would like to present various book "issues" and what eBay's policy -- or your personal suggestion -- would be (I'll call eBay too, but their answers are generally lacking). Can a book be "Brand New, Except for X?"

Certainly their Brand New designation appears quite clear cut: it's either perfection or it's "used." They have a frustratingly lacking and broad condition scale.

1) So, shelf wear... say you bought a new book, never opened it, never even took it off the shelf, but over time it has a faint line from the books having pressed up against it, maybe a scuffmark. No tears or creases and it's never been opened or used. What condition is it in? Brand New? Like New? Very Good? Worse?

2) Say a book had a sticker on it. The book is coated, so the sticker is removable. It leaves glue residue, so you wipe it off with some olive oil (I looked up ways to do this). It usually comes out perfectly, but in one instance, a couple of micro nicks are present and the tiny bit of oil gets under the coating. It has no other defects. Not only has it never been opened or used, but it hasn't even been on a bookshelf, but rather stored safely in a box. What condition is it in? Brand New? Like New? Very Good? Worse?

Assuming the book is perfect in all other ways (scenarios are separate):

3) What if a couple of the pages have the tip of the corners folded, unintentionally, in storage?

4) What if the owner signed their name in very small lettering on the corner of a page? What if it's erasable?

Bottom line: If you have to add a "but" or an "except for" to the condition, can it be considered brand new or like new or neither? What if the photos show as much?

annadryl · ‎12-10-2017

@nowthatsjustducky wrote:
@annadryl wrote:
I recently ordered a book for my sis for Christmas. I ordered a "new" one of course because it will be a gift. The one that showed up was not gift-worthy. No prob, they were nice and just refunded me.

I ordered another new one (from elsewhere) because the book looks perfect for her and there's still time. The second one I received was worse! I just don't think that one is manufactured or printed all that well. I just can't get it "new" as in gift-worthy, even though it IS new.

Long story short... I'm giving the first one as a "second" gift and sold the second, lesser, one as "good" or "fine" or whatever and listed all the flaws. NEW means flawless here and anything less isn't "new". Your customer will always win a dispute.

Do I get any "points" for most "parenthesis"?
I'm only seeing 2 parentheses, one opening parenthesis, and one closing parenthesis.

As for your sellers, would I be correct in guessing that the first one was one of the two big mega sellers for books here, and the other was the other big mega seller? (the dastardly duo that has pretty much killed the market for other book dealers both here and on Amazon)

Not the megasellers per se, but regular booksellers here on ebay. If I were a bookseller and I ordered a whole case of these unseen I'd be in a quandry. I wouldn't list these particular books as new myself. I can't absorb the punches that the big guys can when customers attack... Groovy book though

mg152 · ‎12-10-2017

I wouldn’t list as new either. As long as your description is accurate you should be fine.
Don’t do this, last year I ordered an old book cause I wanted to read it. Listed as used, good condition, had pics etc... I get the book weeks later yes weeks later & the first 40 pages are missing. I was so upset I left 1 of my 2 negs in almost 19 yrs. It went into the trash. It was sad cause it was an old book.

Patricia
eBay member for 25 years

mg152 · ‎12-10-2017

I felt kinda bad about the neg FB later. Newish seller & all but don’t sell me a book in good used condition that’s missing the first 40 pages. I guess I should be glad it wasn’t the last 40 pages. Then there was this weeks to ship it thing.

Patricia
eBay member for 25 years

campesinoplastic2014 · ‎12-10-2017

"Comrade buyer. I regret the very minor damage to this book. I had to wrest this fine gem from the mouth of a crocodile and set it out to dry. The shipping delay was because the surgeons who reattached my arms found an infection, so I was in hospital for a couple of weeks. Please enjoy your nice used book and promptly leave me glowing feedback! -Your friend forever, Nguyen Schwartz the bookseller"

castlemagicmemories · ‎12-10-2017

@siayan wrote:
@ener50 wrote:
So I've been arguing with my father about this for some time

So who was right?

Well, if I were the OP, I would hate to tell Daddy he was wrong! So you could just say, We can agree to disagree, or You are right, but I just don't want to take a chance. Hard to disagree with Daddy, he is never wrong.

OP posted that she knows Ebay grading, but her Father has ideas contra to Ebay grading.

ener51 · ‎12-10-2017

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
@siayan wrote:
@ener50 wrote:
So I've been arguing with my father about this for some time

So who was right?
Well, if I were the OP, I would hate to tell Daddy he was wrong! So you could just say, We can agree to disagree, or You are right, but I just don't want to take a chance. Hard to disagree with Daddy, he is never wrong.

OP posted that she knows Ebay grading, but her Father has ideas contra to Ebay grading.

Wait, have we met!? Because you seem to know me and my father! XD

I kept telling him that he's not arguing with ME, he's arguing with eBay, so go yell at eBay **bleep**!

annadryl · ‎12-10-2017

(sorry. wrong thread!)

annadryl · ‎12-10-2017

@annadryl wrote:
I recently ordered a book for my sis for Christmas. I ordered a "new" one of course because it will be a gift. The one that showed up was not gift-worthy. No prob, they were nice and just refunded me.

I ordered another new one (from elsewhere) because the book looks perfect for her and there's still time. The second one I received was worse! I just don't think that one is manufactured or printed all that well. I just can't get it "new" as in gift-worthy, even though it IS new.

Long story short... I'm giving the first one as a "second" gift and sold the second, lesser, one as "good" or "fine" or whatever and listed all the flaws. NEW means flawless here and anything less isn't "new". Your customer will always win a dispute.

Do I get any "points" for most "parenthesis"?

I guess my point was that I got refunds for BOTH books due to condition. I felt kind of bad (I'm a seller) but both these sellers ate it. I got two free (not new) books.

Anyway, good luck over the holidays~

kathieskorner · ‎12-10-2017

Book grading is a little subjective but it is best to err on the side of caution.

I agree.

I've been selling books on ebay and Amazon for 17 years. The only book I listed as "New" was shrinkwrapped. I may have listed a few as Like New, but not very many. My best books are listed as Very Good - usually with minor shelf wear as the only defect. The majority of my books are listed as "Good" with any defect noted - books over 75 years old may qualify as "good for their age" to account for tanning. I only sell books that I would describe as "acceptable" if they are extremely rare or old.

Perhaps my grading has cost me sales, but I've found that most buyers appreciate receiving a book in better condition than they expected.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎12-10-2017

@ener50 wrote:
So I've been arguing with my father about this for some time and I'd like some clarity on deciding the condition when listing books. I would like to present various book "issues" and what eBay's policy -- or your personal suggestion -- would be (I'll call eBay too, but their answers are generally lacking). Can a book be "Brand New, Except for X?" No

Certainly their Brand New designation appears quite clear cut: it's either perfection or it's "used." They have a frustratingly lacking and broad condition scale.

1) So, shelf wear... say you bought a new book, never opened it, never even took it off the shelf, but over time it has a faint line from the books having pressed up against it, maybe a scuffmark. No tears or creases and it's never been opened or used. What condition is it in? Brand New? Like New? Very Good? Worse? Very Good

2) Say a book had a sticker on it. The book is coated, so the sticker is removable. It leaves glue residue, so you wipe it off with some olive oil (I looked up ways to do this). It usually comes out perfectly, but in one instance, a couple of micro nicks are present and the tiny bit of oil gets under the coating. It has no other defects. Not only has it never been opened or used, but it hasn't even been on a bookshelf, but rather stored safely in a box. What condition is it in? Brand New? Like New? Very Good? Worse? Good or very good, depends on the oil.

Assuming the book is perfect in all other ways (scenarios are separate):
3) What if a couple of the pages have the tip of the corners folded, unintentionally, in storage? Good
4) What if the owner signed their name in very small lettering on the corner of a page? What if it's erasable? Good or very good

Bottom line: If you have to add a "but" or an "except for" to the condition, can it be considered brand new or like new or neither? What if the photos show as much?

The red text is how I would "grade" those particular books. I'm not a professional book grader, not in the least. I just call them like I see them. I would intentionally grade below what I thought the condition actually is, because it's so subjective. Describe everything - any folds, creases, dog ears, stains, etc, etc.

I call most books good and describe the condition. I do have some that I call acceptable that could probably be classified as good, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

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

luckythewinner · ‎12-10-2017

@ener50 wrote:
Bottom line: If you have to add a "but" or an "except for" to the condition, can it be considered brand new or like new or neither? What if the photos show as much?

You can do whatever you want - it's your listing, and eBay is not going to stop you. But just because you can do something does not mean that it is wise to do it.

IMHO a successful seller is one who take prudent steps to reduce the chances that a buyer will overlook, misinterpret, or make an assumption.

I doubt many buyers are going to complain because a used item turned out to be like new. But I bet many buyers will be unhappy if a like new item turns out to be like new "except for" ...