posted on August 14, 2001 10:38:53 AM
I have a book on eBay that has the potential to sell for several hundred dollars. I'm nervous about the buyer pulling a switch and wanting a refund (although so far all the bidders have excellent, in fact mostly perfect, feedback, there is alway the possibility of a not-so-honest sniper).
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can mark a valuable hardcover book without causing damage, so I can prove that any return is actually the book I sent?
posted on August 14, 2001 10:56:07 AM
I know other sellers have talked about using blacklight pens that glow under.. ultraviolet light i think... but I don't know if that would "damage" a book to mark it in some way..
posted on August 14, 2001 11:12:12 AM
If it's a used book there should be obvious condition items or small defects. In any case a black light pen mark on the bottom of the last white page will not damage the book or be noticeable.
BTW any valuable old book that has illustrations or prints should be collated before sale to prevent the buyer from remioving a page and returning the book as "incomplete".
posted on August 14, 2001 11:49:18 AM
With a soft pencil, fill in a letter "o" on one or more pages. Keep a note of the page numbers. If the book comes back to you, look up the pages and see if your marks are there. I can't take credit for this tip; I read it somewhere.
posted on August 14, 2001 01:00:05 PM
I like that idea, littlenell! I don't think I'd want to use a blacklight pen (if I even had one LOL) but the pencilled-in o's seems safe enough!
posted on August 14, 2001 02:33:15 PM
I can just hear a buyer whining about their book being "marked up" with little filled in o's. It wouldn't bother ME in the least, cuz I'd know I can carefully erase them without harming things.. but you know how some buyers can be. 8(
posted on August 14, 2001 03:11:12 PM
Isn't this when an escrow service should be used? Even if you mark the book doesn't it boil down to your word against theirs in the event of possible fraud?
posted on August 14, 2001 03:37:16 PM
PLEASE do not use any kind of marker in the book, even an "invisible" black light marker. They are not archival and can cause damage to the book - since this is an expensive book, it would be even worse. The marker may cause the pages to deteriorate over time. Selling a book without disclosing such a mark would be a very poor idea, as the buyer has the right to know of all defects. In essence, you would be adding a defect to the book.
I would recommend pencilling a small code near at the bottom of one page, perhaps near the back. Do it lightly, with a soft pencil. It would be inconspicuous in the inside margin or someplace similar.
Make sure you scan the book well - you'll need to do this for the auction anyway - so that your scans show any distinct wear patterns, tears, marks, etc. on the book. By comparing the book you are selling to the ones in the photos you will be able to compare the two in case of a return.
