posted on November 15, 2000 08:32:12 AM new
HI all -
I noticed something that amused me today. I have an auction for 3 romances by one of my favorite authors. If I sell them it will be mostly a kick to introduce her to a new reader [I don't expect to get much].
I idly checked one of the three titles on Amazon - it's one of their "takes 4 weeks" books which usually means out of stock. Back on ebay I saw other listings for it that characterized it as OOP and "hard to find."
Then, over at half...there are more than 50 copies! No shortage there at all. Granted, it's a 1995 paperback that probably went out of stock this year. Still, one rather has to hope one's ebay buyer isn't checking half.com that closely...
posted on November 15, 2000 10:49:45 AM new
Well, I know that I personally will buy on half.com instead of eBay from now on. The percentage of jerk-sellers is still currently lower, and there are far too many eBay sellers out there with poor customer service skills, mis-described merchandise, and TOS's that subvert the Geneva Convention.
Out of about 30 purchases on half.com, I have had only 1 bad experience with a seller. Nowadays, practically every other purchase ends up being a battle with an eBay seller.
posted on November 15, 2000 11:13:56 AM new
I found a book on e-bay today that would be a good gift for my Dad. Put a couple of copies on my watch list then went and looked at half.com. Found the same book, in better condtion, for half the opening bid of the ones on e-bay.
I feel for the people trying to sell books on e-bay, but if you're looking to buy, half is the only way to go.
posted on November 15, 2000 12:52:51 PM new
Gee thanks for that vote of confidence in us eBay sellers. I can't speak for the bad sellers, but my service matches anyones. Are all such damning indictments true if the eBay seller also sells on half or Yahoo.
posted on November 15, 2000 03:21:00 PM newmballai, I also sell on both ebay and half.com.
I think my feedback on either service speaks for itself. I am trying to get out of the common books as it seems like half is undermining the sellers with the .25 books - way too many, way too cheap. Which, as a buyer I like.
I moved my more collectible and OOP books to ebay and have done fairly well there. During the free list, I listed all kinds of book groupings to try and get rid of the common ones, but in the future, they are going up on amazon and down from half as the buyers seemed to have disappeared.
I guess I said all of that as I do take offense at the comment about ebay sellers - I have never had a problem or a complaint. And if there would be one - I like ebay better as hopefully the buyer will contact me and I'm not anonymous like I am at half.com.
Zazzie - I am one of the sellers that you hate - I use the bubble envelopes for the ease and they fall within the budget I have for shipping half books. For collectibles, I use plastic book envelopes before I wrap and ship - the baggies will not work as they will damage a book. The same as newsprint - it will damage books. So unless half ups my portion of their shipping charge, or I can get better prices for my books there, I will continue to use the bubble envelopes. I have shipped and received many that way with no problems. The only time I had problem was when a seller did not use a padded envelope. He wrapped the book in plastic, then cardboard, then a box and sent it. Needless to say it was a hardback that had severe damage to the corners as this method does nothing to protect them - there is no cush!
