Amazon

I'm not sure where to ask this so here seems as good a place as any.

Do any of you sell or buy from other book sellers on Amazon.com, if so what's your opinion of the service? I'm thinking of giving it a go with one or two books and don't know anyone else who does this.

I've sold three books through Amazon and have been very impressed with their professionalism, user-friendliness and orderly maintenance of records. They are equally fair and helpful to the buyer and seller. One is never in any doubt about transactions through Amazon, because they automatically e-mail a confirmation of whatever action one has taken, and include further instruction and links -- the selling process is very easy, from registration through mailing the package; Amazon even provides the packing slip.

Baa I haven't sold books but I have bought the used books from sellers at Amazon and never had any trouble. Allot of my gardening books I have bought there.

Baa, I SELL lots of used books on Amazon, but I also BUY used books if I can get a good price for a book I want.

As a Buyer, I have found excellent service but I'm careful to read the comments in a Seller's ratings. I stay away from the big sellers with thousands of ratings because I have found they often overstate the condition of a book.

Big sellers do enough business that they can bear the occasional complaint. Sellers with fewer, but excellent, ratings usually bend over backwards to give accurate descriptions AND service.

I also avoid the books where descriptions that are scant, and which list an inventory number. Those are the big guys, and a computer program does all the description info. automatically.

I prefer a book where someone has taken the time to really check the book carefully and state what the condition really is.

As a Seller, I like the wider audience, and the ease for someone to order a book from me. Amazon handles all the payment stuff, and pays me 2X a month (or I can go to my account and click on Pay Now anytime).

There are no fees unless a book sells. I have a few gems that have sat on Amazon for months and months before selling, but then sell for $75-$125. You have to relist every book after 60 days, but it's free. If I had ebaY relisting fees for the same book, my profit margin would much smaller.

Hope this helps.

Amazon is my very favorite site. I have bought books and movies from them - both used and new. Never had a problem. I did make a mistake ordering once, and got a movie I didn't want. Returns are easy. They even give you a printable return label online. And they credited my account quickly. I also like them because their site is so easy to navigate. And if you have a question, they are easy to conatct and they get right back to you. In my opinion, they are the best online.

I have been a delighted Amazon.com patron since 1995, and I can't praise them enough. They do everything right.

Vickey

I like dealing with Amazon, too - never have had a bad experience with any order (including independent sellers and the big merchants who share their site).

Hard-to-find books I've found on Alibris.com

I've ordered from them many times and I also like "Abebooks" which is very good.

Thank you everyone for some very good advice and comments. I will give them a go and see!

We got a funny kind of email today from ship-confirm at amazon.com. It doesn't say anything, just advertising for microsoft and adobe software. That's the same address that we got confirmation from when we ordered something a few weeks ago. We've had the book for a couple of weeks now. Guess we can expect a lot more spam.

I, like Frankay, found a hard-to-find watergardening book at
Alibris.com and ended up ordering 2 (one for me and one for my father). Both were listed as worn but when I received them they were in excellent shape...I work at a library and we have received new books from Publishers in worse shape.

Echoes, a lot of spammers are sending out junk mail with forged headers. It may not have been from Amazon at all.

I really prefer half.com they seem to have better prices.

Paul

gardenwife, that's what I was thinking too.

Baa.....I'm guilty of purchasing from Amazon.com, .ca and the uk....videos, DVDs and books(used! Great wonderful service and quick delivery! Elaine

Thanks Roselaine :)

Well there have been a lot of pluses for Amazon and the individual sellers there. Now I need to sort out a few books for test trading!