2andrewsd
>1 EclecticIndulgence:
A favorite subject of mine. I've been buying used and rare books online practically since the inception of eBay, so I like to think that I have a strategy down by now. I bought 80% of my LECs from eBay, but most came from one estate sale so the scales are tipped a bit. Still, there is a great market for LECs there. Interesting titles are listed regularly. If I had a bit more cash to blow, I could own nearly all of the LEC titles on my wish list in near fine condition based on auctions that came up last year.
Standard Questions to Ask a Bookseller
This depends on the information provided in the listing and what your own standards are. I seek books in VG+ or FINE condition, without exception. Books that are misrepresented as such are immediately returned and claims are filed. Occasionally, if the book is really rare, I will take a gamble on a copy with limited description information. I've never been burned as most sellers are willing to offer full refunds for their mistakes.
Photos - If 12 pictures are already posted, you can get a good idea of the shape the book is in. If there is only one or two, always ask the seller if they would be willing to take a few more and message them to you. eBay has made it easy for sellers as they can now attach images directly to eBay messages. Nothing takes the place of visual confirmation of a book's condition.
Written Descriptions - Some sellers write detailed listing descriptions; others don't. It's always good to ask about specifics regardless. As I've mentioned before, a seller's definition of "excellent condition" can widely vary. I've had numerous experiences where, just because the interior was bright and clean, a seller listed a badly foxed or soiled book as being in "fine" condition. I had one experience when a seller claimed that "fine condition" meant "just fine, as in OK or acceptable." Most of the time, I always send a polite message asking for more details, even when a book is described as being in fine condition.
Here is my query 'template': Would you describe this book as being in clean, unsoiled condition? Is it free of spotting, stains, moisture damage, or foul odors (cigarette, smoke, musty basement smells)? Was it properly stored? I am seeking a copy that is in good enough shape to be given as a gift.
Sellers who truly have fine books to offer won't hesitate to offer you specifics. Those with something to hide will plead inexperience. From a recent inquiry:
Seller: "I don't know if I feel qualified enough to answer your questions. The book looks and smells fine, but you will have to bid at your own risk. I'm selling the book as is."
My reply: "It doesn't take a great deal of expertise to determine if a book smells bad or is discolored, does it?"
Avoid buying books with evidence of bugs, mold, or mildew as all three can spread to the rest of your valuable collection. If something seems off, send it back, depending on what your own standards are.
Buying books from trusted sellers with little description - This has been a mixed experience for me. A lot of professional online booksellers just don't have the time to run down specifics on one of their thousands of listed titles, so they will use two or three word listing descriptions. Messages requesting details are usually answered though. Sometimes, part of the collection will be very fine, while another part will be worse off. The good thing is, these pro sellers will be very happy to offer you a return/refund.
Where should you buy? - That question could best be answered by others here who buy from a variety of bookstores and websites. I stick to ABE, eBay, and Biblio, but I know I'm missing out on many other reputable sources, like online auction houses and bricks-and-mortar stores that sell online also.
The key is to develop a good email relationship with your sellers, and let them know your expectations upfront. Take some time to organize the condition elements that are important to you. Sometimes the rarity or inexpensive price of a particular title will move you to disregard some of your standards, but don't bring mildew or mold into your home. Maybe I'm just paranoid about these things, but better safe than sorry. Another copy will be listed eventually. Be patient, and enjoy the books you've already acquired. Sometimes I buy so many book within a short period that I don't properly appreciate new arrivals. More time spent looking = lower prices and, often, more options.
A favorite subject of mine. I've been buying used and rare books online practically since the inception of eBay, so I like to think that I have a strategy down by now. I bought 80% of my LECs from eBay, but most came from one estate sale so the scales are tipped a bit. Still, there is a great market for LECs there. Interesting titles are listed regularly. If I had a bit more cash to blow, I could own nearly all of the LEC titles on my wish list in near fine condition based on auctions that came up last year.
Standard Questions to Ask a Bookseller
This depends on the information provided in the listing and what your own standards are. I seek books in VG+ or FINE condition, without exception. Books that are misrepresented as such are immediately returned and claims are filed. Occasionally, if the book is really rare, I will take a gamble on a copy with limited description information. I've never been burned as most sellers are willing to offer full refunds for their mistakes.
Photos - If 12 pictures are already posted, you can get a good idea of the shape the book is in. If there is only one or two, always ask the seller if they would be willing to take a few more and message them to you. eBay has made it easy for sellers as they can now attach images directly to eBay messages. Nothing takes the place of visual confirmation of a book's condition.
Written Descriptions - Some sellers write detailed listing descriptions; others don't. It's always good to ask about specifics regardless. As I've mentioned before, a seller's definition of "excellent condition" can widely vary. I've had numerous experiences where, just because the interior was bright and clean, a seller listed a badly foxed or soiled book as being in "fine" condition. I had one experience when a seller claimed that "fine condition" meant "just fine, as in OK or acceptable." Most of the time, I always send a polite message asking for more details, even when a book is described as being in fine condition.
Here is my query 'template': Would you describe this book as being in clean, unsoiled condition? Is it free of spotting, stains, moisture damage, or foul odors (cigarette, smoke, musty basement smells)? Was it properly stored? I am seeking a copy that is in good enough shape to be given as a gift.
Sellers who truly have fine books to offer won't hesitate to offer you specifics. Those with something to hide will plead inexperience. From a recent inquiry:
Seller: "I don't know if I feel qualified enough to answer your questions. The book looks and smells fine, but you will have to bid at your own risk. I'm selling the book as is."
My reply: "It doesn't take a great deal of expertise to determine if a book smells bad or is discolored, does it?"
Avoid buying books with evidence of bugs, mold, or mildew as all three can spread to the rest of your valuable collection. If something seems off, send it back, depending on what your own standards are.
Buying books from trusted sellers with little description - This has been a mixed experience for me. A lot of professional online booksellers just don't have the time to run down specifics on one of their thousands of listed titles, so they will use two or three word listing descriptions. Messages requesting details are usually answered though. Sometimes, part of the collection will be very fine, while another part will be worse off. The good thing is, these pro sellers will be very happy to offer you a return/refund.
Where should you buy? - That question could best be answered by others here who buy from a variety of bookstores and websites. I stick to ABE, eBay, and Biblio, but I know I'm missing out on many other reputable sources, like online auction houses and bricks-and-mortar stores that sell online also.
The key is to develop a good email relationship with your sellers, and let them know your expectations upfront. Take some time to organize the condition elements that are important to you. Sometimes the rarity or inexpensive price of a particular title will move you to disregard some of your standards, but don't bring mildew or mold into your home. Maybe I'm just paranoid about these things, but better safe than sorry. Another copy will be listed eventually. Be patient, and enjoy the books you've already acquired. Sometimes I buy so many book within a short period that I don't properly appreciate new arrivals. More time spent looking = lower prices and, often, more options.
3eastonlionel
I've only purchased about 30 LECs over the past year or so. Mine have come from a mixture of e-bay and ABE. When I find something I am interested in on e-bay, I always check ABE, and often the book is available for less money in approximately the same condition. If nothing else, there is usually a much wider selection to choose from on ABE than e-bay.
4Django6924
I have purchased slightly over half of my LECs from ABE, slightly more than half of the remaining at auctions, and the rest via brick and mortar shops and eBay. My eBay experiences have been mostly positive, but there have been one or two very negative transactions.
5aaronpepperdine
I have purchased 198 of my 200 LECs online, with generally satisfactory (to me) results. I have found it really helps to keep expectations grounded in reality - if a listing is way below "market" and describes the volume as "in great shape", you shouldn't buy unless you are comfortable rolling the dice. Many of my best deals have been those sorts of postings on Abe or Amazon, where the book arrives in absolutely pristine shape, but unless you demand pictures first, it's definitely a gamble.
It seems to me that the advent of amateur-seller marketplaces like Amazon has opened up the door for more great deals than in the past, because people who are not professional booksellers now scour estate sales with an eye for reselling, but they also often do not pay the same level of attention to condition that we might like.
It seems to me that the advent of amateur-seller marketplaces like Amazon has opened up the door for more great deals than in the past, because people who are not professional booksellers now scour estate sales with an eye for reselling, but they also often do not pay the same level of attention to condition that we might like.
7BuzzBuzzard
>6 EclecticIndulgence:
I exclusively purchase my books online. eBay and ABBE. Really really dislike Amazon. I am yet to see a picture of the actual book on Amazon. This being said my latest purchase was from Amazon and it went all well. Don't really mind to do a little gamble for less than a $20 price tag. I won't (probably) ever purchase an LEC on Amazon though.
When I was in high school Gogol's Dead Souls was mandatory reading. Oh boy, how I hated it then! Have not attempted it ever after but I am currently reading Fathers and Sons and it is pretty good. Sadly (to me) The Overcoat and the Government Inspector is not illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg.
Somebody mentioned it before but for me the most important thing when I shop online is to ground my expectations. If I snatch an LEC for $25 I am fully aware that it is not perfect. 99% of time I can live with this.
I exclusively purchase my books online. eBay and ABBE. Really really dislike Amazon. I am yet to see a picture of the actual book on Amazon. This being said my latest purchase was from Amazon and it went all well. Don't really mind to do a little gamble for less than a $20 price tag. I won't (probably) ever purchase an LEC on Amazon though.
When I was in high school Gogol's Dead Souls was mandatory reading. Oh boy, how I hated it then! Have not attempted it ever after but I am currently reading Fathers and Sons and it is pretty good. Sadly (to me) The Overcoat and the Government Inspector is not illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg.
Somebody mentioned it before but for me the most important thing when I shop online is to ground my expectations. If I snatch an LEC for $25 I am fully aware that it is not perfect. 99% of time I can live with this.
9andrewsd
>7 BuzzBuzzard: "Really dislike Amazon."
I have yet to purchase an LEC on Amazon because I have a hard enough time getting books printed in the last 20 years in the condition described. I've recently sent back 4/5 of my latest Amazon Marketplace purchases, all described as being in "brand new" condition. I'm pretty sure that some sellers base their description grading entirely on interiors. If they see that the inside pages look clean and new, it must be a "new" book! Never mind the heavy shelf wear, cigarette smell, foxing, or multiple stickers on the cover.
I have yet to purchase an LEC on Amazon because I have a hard enough time getting books printed in the last 20 years in the condition described. I've recently sent back 4/5 of my latest Amazon Marketplace purchases, all described as being in "brand new" condition. I'm pretty sure that some sellers base their description grading entirely on interiors. If they see that the inside pages look clean and new, it must be a "new" book! Never mind the heavy shelf wear, cigarette smell, foxing, or multiple stickers on the cover.
11Django6924
"Hated Dead Souls"? It must have been because it was assigned. Chichikov is one of the funniest characters in literature!
12BuzzBuzzard
>11 Django6924:
Or perhaps because I was young and had a lot more funnier things to do than reading Russian classics.
Or perhaps because I was young and had a lot more funnier things to do than reading Russian classics.
13andrewsd
>10 EclecticIndulgence: Interesting. What have some of your issues been with both?
15skyschaker
>12 BuzzBuzzard: Did you have to read Russian classics in Bulgarian or in Russian? LEC published only a tiny part of the Russian literature from 19 century; there are many more wonderful books.
The Dead Souls was (and is) very popular in Russia, it was certainly illustrated. The most important contributors to illustrating the Dead Souls were Alexander Agin
( https://www.google.com/search?q=%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B5+%D0%B... )
and Mark Shagal.
The Dead Souls was (and is) very popular in Russia, it was certainly illustrated. The most important contributors to illustrating the Dead Souls were Alexander Agin
( https://www.google.com/search?q=%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B5+%D0%B... )
and Mark Shagal.
16BuzzBuzzard
>15 skyschaker: Read them in Bulgarian. The old regime fell when I was way too young (1989) to catch up on Russian. Perhaps the edition that I had was not even illustrated.
The publishing houses in Bulgaria focused (to large extend still do) on quantity rather than quality. Nothing came even close to the fine presses of the West. In the late 20th century we had some great book illustrators. Sadly their work did not get a fine press treatment. I have books for young readers that are profusely and marvelously illustrated. I was thinking of posting some pictures but then decided against. Not sure if members of this forum would be interested.
The publishing houses in Bulgaria focused (to large extend still do) on quantity rather than quality. Nothing came even close to the fine presses of the West. In the late 20th century we had some great book illustrators. Sadly their work did not get a fine press treatment. I have books for young readers that are profusely and marvelously illustrated. I was thinking of posting some pictures but then decided against. Not sure if members of this forum would be interested.
17leccol
I found a Mint copy of the LEC Dead Souls, but haven't read it yet. I think it is the only Russian LEC I haven't read. No, there is one more not read: Eugene Onegin. For some reason the two-volume Dead Souls was packaged in a strange solander box, but it protected the book well. I'll have to get on Onegin and Dead Souls.
After reading the two Tolstoy books: Ressurection and his biographical sketches, I had to stop for a while since these rwo are not my favorites.
After reading the two Tolstoy books: Ressurection and his biographical sketches, I had to stop for a while since these rwo are not my favorites.
19Django6924
>18 EclecticIndulgence:
Notify the seller I found the item not as advertised and request a return. This request has never been refused, and I believe that this is part of the TOS to be an ABE seller.
Notify the seller I found the item not as advertised and request a return. This request has never been refused, and I believe that this is part of the TOS to be an ABE seller.
21Django6924
>20 EclecticIndulgence:
Usually for just the cost of the book plus shipping, and I pay the return postage.
Usually for just the cost of the book plus shipping, and I pay the return postage.
23Django6924
Yes--they are usually somewhat expensive because a VG or better slipcase usually means a Fine book. My slipcase for the Four Gospels, Peregrine Pickle and some other editions from the 1930s look new.
24leccol
It is getting very unlikely to find LECs published in these years in Fine condition, let alone slipcases. LEC books suffer from owner deterioration and some poor material usage such as the nefarious sheepskin. Slipcases were mostly paper covered and not built to last. Also the chemises used to wrap around certain books to widen the books to fit into the slipcase are fragile after 50 years or more.
Cloth covered slipcases with an inner lining of velour can substantially protect your older LECs. Solander boxes offer lomg term book protection when doing away with combination slipcases and chemises.
The good news is that the illustrations and text pages used by George Macy in these years have withstood the wages of time. This is due to superior paper being used to imprint the letterpress copy block and illustrations being pulled from original litho stones or woodcuts. LEC books such as Huckleberry Finn, Main Street, Camille, The Last of the Mohicans, The Iliad, and The Odyssey can be rebound to make such books as good as new.
Expensive? Yes, this is an expensive hobby. But restoring is no more expensive than purchasing the latterday LECs or other Fine Press editions.
Cloth covered slipcases with an inner lining of velour can substantially protect your older LECs. Solander boxes offer lomg term book protection when doing away with combination slipcases and chemises.
The good news is that the illustrations and text pages used by George Macy in these years have withstood the wages of time. This is due to superior paper being used to imprint the letterpress copy block and illustrations being pulled from original litho stones or woodcuts. LEC books such as Huckleberry Finn, Main Street, Camille, The Last of the Mohicans, The Iliad, and The Odyssey can be rebound to make such books as good as new.
Expensive? Yes, this is an expensive hobby. But restoring is no more expensive than purchasing the latterday LECs or other Fine Press editions.
25leccol
My copy of Peregrine Pickle is in Fine condition without restoration, but ever since Django posted his copy of the Four Gospels, I have endeavored to find a copy suitable for restoration with no luck thus far. Another book I can't find is the Dulac illustrated Golden Cockerel without a brass cockerel which is tarnished or pitted.
Django's copy of The Grapes of Wrath is another book which is to be admired. I have given up on finding one in Fine condition, but now I can't find a copy suitable for rebinding. The above books are in some collection somewhere, but the present owner(s) must expire before they become available.
Django's copy of The Grapes of Wrath is another book which is to be admired. I have given up on finding one in Fine condition, but now I can't find a copy suitable for rebinding. The above books are in some collection somewhere, but the present owner(s) must expire before they become available.
26UK_History_Fan
Ooh, I think I have a new favorite online seller description for a copy of an LEC book. This one is the Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"Good to Fine condition. Some fading and cracking of the sleeve. If you've found this listing then you understand that this book is incredibly rare. Make sure to view the photos for condition issues."
Good to Fine condition.
By my reckoning, that leaves a lot of variation in between. I have seen Good, Good+, Very Good-, Very Good, Very Good+, Near Fine and Fine. That is a lot of grades in between. So which is it? Good condition or fine condition? Not someone I would feel confident buying from!
"Good to Fine condition. Some fading and cracking of the sleeve. If you've found this listing then you understand that this book is incredibly rare. Make sure to view the photos for condition issues."
Good to Fine condition.
By my reckoning, that leaves a lot of variation in between. I have seen Good, Good+, Very Good-, Very Good, Very Good+, Near Fine and Fine. That is a lot of grades in between. So which is it? Good condition or fine condition? Not someone I would feel confident buying from!
27parchment-
From abe:
Book Description: the LIMITED EDITIONS CLUB, 1929. Hardcover. Book Condition: Poor. Limited Edition. B0K: P00R/ $25O.O3 the TRAVELS of LEMUEL GULLIVER; .Signed. SWIFT, Jonathan; LESLIE, Leslie Alexander KING, Illustrations by. the LIMITED EDITI0NS CLUB 1929 Limited Edition Tall Thick H/C. Sun Browned Leather Spine With Embossed Title Hard Cover BooK: Poor/, Shelf, Edge And Corner Wear. Front Cover Is Loose From Spine And Included, Rear Cover Is Missing. 293 Numbered Pages Printed On Tan Paper, In Very Good/Fine/ Condition, Browning From Aging, That Appear To Be Lightly Read, And Are Clean, And Tight To The Spine, Shelf, Edge And Corner Wear. Signed By Jonathan Swift On The Limited Editions Page In Faded Orange Ink, Copy Number 192 Of 1,500 Copies Printed For Limited Editions Club. Condition Poor Only Because Rear Hard Cover Is Missing. D/J: None. Description Applies To This Author Signed Book Is A Historically Significant Treasure Has A Special Significance, Is Hard To Find, Will Be Packaged And Shipped Carefully, To Avoid Shipping Damage And Will Make It, An Excellent Addition To Your Own Personal Library Collection, Or As A Gift. WORLD WIDE Shipping, AVAILABLE. Signed by Author(s). Bookseller Inventory # 010702
Book Description: the LIMITED EDITIONS CLUB, 1929. Hardcover. Book Condition: Poor. Limited Edition. B0K: P00R/ $25O.O3 the TRAVELS of LEMUEL GULLIVER; .Signed. SWIFT, Jonathan; LESLIE, Leslie Alexander KING, Illustrations by. the LIMITED EDITI0NS CLUB 1929 Limited Edition Tall Thick H/C. Sun Browned Leather Spine With Embossed Title Hard Cover BooK: Poor/, Shelf, Edge And Corner Wear. Front Cover Is Loose From Spine And Included, Rear Cover Is Missing. 293 Numbered Pages Printed On Tan Paper, In Very Good/Fine/ Condition, Browning From Aging, That Appear To Be Lightly Read, And Are Clean, And Tight To The Spine, Shelf, Edge And Corner Wear. Signed By Jonathan Swift On The Limited Editions Page In Faded Orange Ink, Copy Number 192 Of 1,500 Copies Printed For Limited Editions Club. Condition Poor Only Because Rear Hard Cover Is Missing. D/J: None. Description Applies To This Author Signed Book Is A Historically Significant Treasure Has A Special Significance, Is Hard To Find, Will Be Packaged And Shipped Carefully, To Avoid Shipping Damage And Will Make It, An Excellent Addition To Your Own Personal Library Collection, Or As A Gift. WORLD WIDE Shipping, AVAILABLE. Signed by Author(s). Bookseller Inventory # 010702
28Django6924
$250 is pretty cheap for a copy signed by the author; no wonder the ink has faded.
29UK_History_Fan
> 27
Good one parchment. A VG/Fine copy which is also in poor condition and missing the back cover! Sign me up!!!
Good one parchment. A VG/Fine copy which is also in poor condition and missing the back cover! Sign me up!!!
33Django6924
>25 leccol:
Don, don't despair on finding a Fine copy of The Golden Cockerel. My copy still had perfect glassine, and I think I paid under $100 for it about 8 years ago.
Don, don't despair on finding a Fine copy of The Golden Cockerel. My copy still had perfect glassine, and I think I paid under $100 for it about 8 years ago.
35scholasticus
>34 EclecticIndulgence:
Depends on your tastes, and no one else's.
If it bugs you, contact the seller and explain the situation. Most of them are very good. There are some rotten apples who will refuse to deal with you; that'll mean you'll take an immediate loss, but you can vote against them by identifying them on here and not purchasing from them in future.
I would strongly recommend having a list of standard questions to ask a bookseller. The "ask the bookseller a question" button next to each Abe listing is your best friend. I generally ask:
1. to see (more) photos of the book in question, namely the cover, colophon, publication information, and several interior shots of both the text and a couple illustrations, as well as the slipcase
2. if the book has the odour of smoke attached to it (I'm quite reactive to cigarette smoke especially) and came from a pet-free home
3. what the actual cost of shipping to my postal code in Canada would be because as everyone knows, Abe's postal charge algorithm is useless
4. for photos of the Member's Letter/Sandglass if I particularly want it with the title in question
5. for photos of all defects stated in the description, as well as any other defects that may not have been included in the description
In 95% of instances, I have gotten incredibly positive responses from sellers, and have actually developed relationships with three of them as a result of our conversations from my initial questions in terms of expanding my LEC/HP collection over the next little while. I have declined some books, and I have bought some. This really is a 'buyer beware' market: the onus is on YOU to make sure that YOU get what YOU want.
I have had some negative experiences with sellers - thankfully only two. In one instance, the seller sent me information but no photos because he didn't have the time. I didn't buy the book. In the second, the seller gave me grief after I declined the book after seeing the 8 or 10 photos that he sent me. I simply told him that instead of seeing it as a loss on his end, he could take those photos and add them to his Abe posting - he'd be ahead of the ten gajillion sellers who don't include photos.
I honestly don't feel (too) bad about declining books if they aren't up to my standards. I'm certainly not as scrupulous as leccol is, and that's fine. What matters is what you want for your library. If you know that little ding or water stain on the spine will drive you crazy until the end of time, don't buy it! ;)
And like you say, us Canadian collectors do have to deal with the postal rates, which are murder, so it's even more important to do our homework before paying a $45 USD shipping charge (Oak Knoll Books, for my LECs of Cloister and Hearth and Droll Stories...ouch...).
There's certainly an element of risk to all of this, but fortunately I haven't been put in the situation where, even after all my queries, the book turns out not to be up to my standards and I've had to send it back. At the very least, doing your homework will help reduce the risk.
Hope this helps!
Depends on your tastes, and no one else's.
If it bugs you, contact the seller and explain the situation. Most of them are very good. There are some rotten apples who will refuse to deal with you; that'll mean you'll take an immediate loss, but you can vote against them by identifying them on here and not purchasing from them in future.
I would strongly recommend having a list of standard questions to ask a bookseller. The "ask the bookseller a question" button next to each Abe listing is your best friend. I generally ask:
1. to see (more) photos of the book in question, namely the cover, colophon, publication information, and several interior shots of both the text and a couple illustrations, as well as the slipcase
2. if the book has the odour of smoke attached to it (I'm quite reactive to cigarette smoke especially) and came from a pet-free home
3. what the actual cost of shipping to my postal code in Canada would be because as everyone knows, Abe's postal charge algorithm is useless
4. for photos of the Member's Letter/Sandglass if I particularly want it with the title in question
5. for photos of all defects stated in the description, as well as any other defects that may not have been included in the description
In 95% of instances, I have gotten incredibly positive responses from sellers, and have actually developed relationships with three of them as a result of our conversations from my initial questions in terms of expanding my LEC/HP collection over the next little while. I have declined some books, and I have bought some. This really is a 'buyer beware' market: the onus is on YOU to make sure that YOU get what YOU want.
I have had some negative experiences with sellers - thankfully only two. In one instance, the seller sent me information but no photos because he didn't have the time. I didn't buy the book. In the second, the seller gave me grief after I declined the book after seeing the 8 or 10 photos that he sent me. I simply told him that instead of seeing it as a loss on his end, he could take those photos and add them to his Abe posting - he'd be ahead of the ten gajillion sellers who don't include photos.
I honestly don't feel (too) bad about declining books if they aren't up to my standards. I'm certainly not as scrupulous as leccol is, and that's fine. What matters is what you want for your library. If you know that little ding or water stain on the spine will drive you crazy until the end of time, don't buy it! ;)
And like you say, us Canadian collectors do have to deal with the postal rates, which are murder, so it's even more important to do our homework before paying a $45 USD shipping charge (Oak Knoll Books, for my LECs of Cloister and Hearth and Droll Stories...ouch...).
There's certainly an element of risk to all of this, but fortunately I haven't been put in the situation where, even after all my queries, the book turns out not to be up to my standards and I've had to send it back. At the very least, doing your homework will help reduce the risk.
Hope this helps!
36BuzzBuzzard
>34 EclecticIndulgence:
I have to agree that it only depends on your tastes. As I am tolerant to fading books that are over described bug me.
The idea of asking for pictures and what not is all good but often times one has to take a risk. If I find a bargain I would not hesitate to purchase even if the description is less than ideal for accurate judgement of the condition. I had many great books purchased that way. Just yesterday I received my like new copy of the LEC Book of Psalms for $20. Had I slept on it I would have missed it. Just like I missed a fine $18 copy of Vathek from the same seller... On the other hand if you are spending a good $100+ on a book you probably have the luxury of time for further inquiries.
I have to agree that it only depends on your tastes. As I am tolerant to fading books that are over described bug me.
The idea of asking for pictures and what not is all good but often times one has to take a risk. If I find a bargain I would not hesitate to purchase even if the description is less than ideal for accurate judgement of the condition. I had many great books purchased that way. Just yesterday I received my like new copy of the LEC Book of Psalms for $20. Had I slept on it I would have missed it. Just like I missed a fine $18 copy of Vathek from the same seller... On the other hand if you are spending a good $100+ on a book you probably have the luxury of time for further inquiries.
37eastonlionel
Is there a mechanism on ABE books to ask a seller if he/she will take a reduced price on a listing?
38aaronpepperdine
Just email and ask. Abe takes something like a 10% commission, so if I email to haggle a discount I always offer to pay directly via CC/paypal. If they drop the price 20% but you pay direct, they effectively only take a 10% hit.
39BuzzBuzzard
Just call the seller and ask. Most of them will make you a discount if you purchase directly (off of ABE). One was giving me 20% off of every LEC I bought from him.
40eastonlionel
OK, I just didn't see direct contact information for the seller in the listing. I assume it is a matter of looking up the seller on Goggle? The seller is Second-Hand Rows in Encino, CA.
41ironjaw
>35 scholasticus: Sorry to hear Greg that Oak Knoll charged you $45. I've at most been charged $17 to Denmark. Though you're quite right about asking sellers beforehand. It saves the grief and I wish I was better at it. I'm stuck with a book if everything goes wrong.
42parchment.redux
>40 eastonlionel: Just use the Abe "ask seller a question" function. Obviously Abe doesn't monitor questions like eBay does, and it has never been a problem for me to ask "what would grand total to Sweden be if I pay you directly through Paypal".
In Europe, at least, I believe that Abe charges 15%.
In Europe, at least, I believe that Abe charges 15%.
43eastonlionel
>42 parchment.redux:
OK, I found it. I had to click on the seller's name in the listing to get to a page with a link to contact the seller. Anyone purchased from Second-Hand Rows in Encino, CA?
OK, I found it. I had to click on the seller's name in the listing to get to a page with a link to contact the seller. Anyone purchased from Second-Hand Rows in Encino, CA?
44featherwate
>43 eastonlionel:
Yep, a couple of months ago. A copy of the LEC Story of Reynard the Fox. The book was fairly described, reasonably priced and safely wrapped. There was an extra shipping charge, as there usually is for US-UK LECs coming through ABE, but it was lower than I'd expected, so no attempt at squeezing out a little extra profit. Admittedly that's just a single transaction, but I'd buy from them again if they had something I wanted at a good price.
>35 scholasticus:
Like Faisel, I'm surprised you had a bad experience with Oak Knoll. I bought the 1934 LEC Canterbury Tales from them earlier this year, a pretty hefty two-volume set that shipped at quite a bit less than your order.
Which, I realise, is of no consolation to you!
Yep, a couple of months ago. A copy of the LEC Story of Reynard the Fox. The book was fairly described, reasonably priced and safely wrapped. There was an extra shipping charge, as there usually is for US-UK LECs coming through ABE, but it was lower than I'd expected, so no attempt at squeezing out a little extra profit. Admittedly that's just a single transaction, but I'd buy from them again if they had something I wanted at a good price.
>35 scholasticus:
Like Faisel, I'm surprised you had a bad experience with Oak Knoll. I bought the 1934 LEC Canterbury Tales from them earlier this year, a pretty hefty two-volume set that shipped at quite a bit less than your order.
Which, I realise, is of no consolation to you!
45scholasticus
>41 ironjaw:, >44 featherwate:
I should probably clarify my original post at >35 scholasticus:, where I wrote
And like you say, us Canadian collectors do have to deal with the postal rates, which are murder, so it's even more important to do our homework before paying a $45 USD shipping charge (Oak Knoll Books, for my LECs of Cloister and Hearth and Droll Stories...ouch...).
What I meant with that statement is that if Canadians decide to buy LECs from the US (the only consistent source, really), they need to accept that shipping will be quite high, and that it's well worth it to do their research to find reputable booksellers who are willing to work with you in terms of shipping; I have standing deals with a few US sellers to put books aside and combine them into two or three shipments each year to save on the shipping overall.
Comparatively speaking, Oak Knoll charges much less than most other shippers out there, so $45 - relatively speaking! - in shipping for two multi-volume sets is actually pretty good on a per-book basis.
In fact, Oak Knoll is one of my favourite LEC sellers - always have great experiences with them. I recently purchased Turgenev's Torrents of Spring and Aristophanes' Birds from them, actually; these should be arriving any day now.
I should probably clarify my original post at >35 scholasticus:, where I wrote
And like you say, us Canadian collectors do have to deal with the postal rates, which are murder, so it's even more important to do our homework before paying a $45 USD shipping charge (Oak Knoll Books, for my LECs of Cloister and Hearth and Droll Stories...ouch...).
What I meant with that statement is that if Canadians decide to buy LECs from the US (the only consistent source, really), they need to accept that shipping will be quite high, and that it's well worth it to do their research to find reputable booksellers who are willing to work with you in terms of shipping; I have standing deals with a few US sellers to put books aside and combine them into two or three shipments each year to save on the shipping overall.
Comparatively speaking, Oak Knoll charges much less than most other shippers out there, so $45 - relatively speaking! - in shipping for two multi-volume sets is actually pretty good on a per-book basis.
In fact, Oak Knoll is one of my favourite LEC sellers - always have great experiences with them. I recently purchased Turgenev's Torrents of Spring and Aristophanes' Birds from them, actually; these should be arriving any day now.
46featherwate
>45 scholasticus:
I take your point! Is there a particular reason why US to Canada post is so expensive? I know Canada is a big, big country but it's not as big as the Atlantic. Is Canada to US equally expensive?
"I have standing deals with a few US sellers to put books aside and combine them into two or three shipments each year to save on the shipping overall."
Admirable self-control! If only I had such patience....
"Turgenev's Torrents of Spring and Aristophanes' Birds....arriving any day now." How pleasurable anticipation is. I haven't seen Lajos Szalay's illustrations but I love Marian Parry's Birds.
I take your point! Is there a particular reason why US to Canada post is so expensive? I know Canada is a big, big country but it's not as big as the Atlantic. Is Canada to US equally expensive?
"I have standing deals with a few US sellers to put books aside and combine them into two or three shipments each year to save on the shipping overall."
Admirable self-control! If only I had such patience....
"Turgenev's Torrents of Spring and Aristophanes' Birds....arriving any day now." How pleasurable anticipation is. I haven't seen Lajos Szalay's illustrations but I love Marian Parry's Birds.
47scholasticus
>46 featherwate:
US Canada post is expensive for a few reasons:
1. They really don't have many equivalencies. For instance, we have no media mail rate, so the tier of choices when it comes to deciding how you want to post something is quite limited. Quite literally, it's pretty much this at the (Canadian) post office for me:
Surface or air? --> Regular or expedited? --> If expedited, within a week, or do you want it within 2-3 business days? --> Insured or not insured?
That's pretty much it.
2. Canada's transport network isn't as well-developed as the US is, and this makes sense. If you look at the stats, about 94% of the Canadian population lives within 200km of the border with the US. As such, this means that Canada Post (or UPS or Fedex or DHL...) generally splits the country into half. If you live in the east, your parcel likely goes through Mississauga (part of the Greater Toronto Area), and if you're in the west, it likely goes through Winnipeg if it's via Canada Post; the couriers have their own clearinghouses, usually in other cities. We do have other clearing points (Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal), but the postal system works on the assumption that if they keep things as literally centralised as possible, they can save time/effort/expense in sending things to the farther reaches of the country that way.
And one thing that even Americans (but mostly Europeans) tend to be surprised at is how relatively easy it is to go a long time without seeing many people when you're travelling the highway between major centres outside of the Golden Triangle (Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal); this is especially true out in central Canada and on the Prairies. Not many options to get items in and out of these communities. In fact, people are often surprised when I mention that we have communities in the northern Prairies and further up in the Canadian Arctic that are only accessible on ice-snow roads in the winter. Rest of the year, you gotta fly stuff in and out.
3. Customs. It's an absolute pain. Strictly speaking, only items worth $20 CAD or under may pass the border without incurring duty. (We have some of the most restrictive rules on duty in the world here.) Anything above $20 is theoretically liable for duty, but you learn fairly quickly that if it's a small package, isn't really worth that much, Customs will let it through. If it's a high-value box, rest assured that Her Majesty will come knocking at your door for a few (dozen) toonies (Canadian slang for our $2 coin; the $1 coin is the loonie, named for the loon on the reverse.) So even though you may not get dinged for customs, your parcel still has to pass through Customs when it arrives from the US.
4. The USD/CAD exchange rate. If you're not careful with your research, you can end up with sellers who inflate the ultimate cost of the book by padding the shipping cost.
Anything else I may have missed, I'm sure my fellow Canadians on here will chime in eventually.
Regarding standing orders, you learn very quickly here that it's the way to go. You really can save quite a bit by exercising some patience. Also helps that my TBR pile shows no signs of diminishing any time soon; in fact, I've gotten several parcels from US booksellers and I haven't the faintest what I ordered from them this time! It's like Christmas every time I open the box: "Oh, right, I ordered this four months ago. And that five months ago...those two books six months ago...."
It's quite fun, really!
As for the Atlantic, that's a matter of dispute. :) It's often just as fast to fly from Vancouver to Europe than it is to fly from Vancouver to, say, St. John's out on the east coast. And if you fly from let's say Ottawa to Yellowknife, you could be taking nearly as long as a transatlantic flight when it's all said and done as well. Canada really is a big country! :)
Here are some typical flight times:
Vancouver to St. John's: roughly nine hours (west coast to east coast) - AT LEAST ONE STOP (MOST LIKELY IN OTTAWA OR TORONTO)
Ottawa to Yellowknife: eight to nine hours (near the US border to the Canadian Arctic) - AT LEAST ONE STOP (MOST LIKELY IN EDMONTON)
Edmonton to Toronto: four hours (western Canada to east-central Canada) - DIRECT
By comparison, Europe looks like this, assuming a Canadian wants to visit London:
Vancouver to London: 9h30m
Ottawa/Toronto to London: 7h30m
Yellowknife to London: let's call it about 12h (Yellowknife really is in the middle of nowhere!)
St. John's to London: 5h30m
Edmonton to London: 9h
This is exactly why Europeans all but go into shock when I tell them it takes hours to get practically anywhere in Canada! ;) A four-hour train trip from King's Cross to Edinburgh or a 1h15m flight from Florence to Paris is nothing to me by comparison.
US Canada post is expensive for a few reasons:
1. They really don't have many equivalencies. For instance, we have no media mail rate, so the tier of choices when it comes to deciding how you want to post something is quite limited. Quite literally, it's pretty much this at the (Canadian) post office for me:
Surface or air? --> Regular or expedited? --> If expedited, within a week, or do you want it within 2-3 business days? --> Insured or not insured?
That's pretty much it.
2. Canada's transport network isn't as well-developed as the US is, and this makes sense. If you look at the stats, about 94% of the Canadian population lives within 200km of the border with the US. As such, this means that Canada Post (or UPS or Fedex or DHL...) generally splits the country into half. If you live in the east, your parcel likely goes through Mississauga (part of the Greater Toronto Area), and if you're in the west, it likely goes through Winnipeg if it's via Canada Post; the couriers have their own clearinghouses, usually in other cities. We do have other clearing points (Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal), but the postal system works on the assumption that if they keep things as literally centralised as possible, they can save time/effort/expense in sending things to the farther reaches of the country that way.
And one thing that even Americans (but mostly Europeans) tend to be surprised at is how relatively easy it is to go a long time without seeing many people when you're travelling the highway between major centres outside of the Golden Triangle (Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal); this is especially true out in central Canada and on the Prairies. Not many options to get items in and out of these communities. In fact, people are often surprised when I mention that we have communities in the northern Prairies and further up in the Canadian Arctic that are only accessible on ice-snow roads in the winter. Rest of the year, you gotta fly stuff in and out.
3. Customs. It's an absolute pain. Strictly speaking, only items worth $20 CAD or under may pass the border without incurring duty. (We have some of the most restrictive rules on duty in the world here.) Anything above $20 is theoretically liable for duty, but you learn fairly quickly that if it's a small package, isn't really worth that much, Customs will let it through. If it's a high-value box, rest assured that Her Majesty will come knocking at your door for a few (dozen) toonies (Canadian slang for our $2 coin; the $1 coin is the loonie, named for the loon on the reverse.) So even though you may not get dinged for customs, your parcel still has to pass through Customs when it arrives from the US.
4. The USD/CAD exchange rate. If you're not careful with your research, you can end up with sellers who inflate the ultimate cost of the book by padding the shipping cost.
Anything else I may have missed, I'm sure my fellow Canadians on here will chime in eventually.
Regarding standing orders, you learn very quickly here that it's the way to go. You really can save quite a bit by exercising some patience. Also helps that my TBR pile shows no signs of diminishing any time soon; in fact, I've gotten several parcels from US booksellers and I haven't the faintest what I ordered from them this time! It's like Christmas every time I open the box: "Oh, right, I ordered this four months ago. And that five months ago...those two books six months ago...."
It's quite fun, really!
As for the Atlantic, that's a matter of dispute. :) It's often just as fast to fly from Vancouver to Europe than it is to fly from Vancouver to, say, St. John's out on the east coast. And if you fly from let's say Ottawa to Yellowknife, you could be taking nearly as long as a transatlantic flight when it's all said and done as well. Canada really is a big country! :)
Here are some typical flight times:
Vancouver to St. John's: roughly nine hours (west coast to east coast) - AT LEAST ONE STOP (MOST LIKELY IN OTTAWA OR TORONTO)
Ottawa to Yellowknife: eight to nine hours (near the US border to the Canadian Arctic) - AT LEAST ONE STOP (MOST LIKELY IN EDMONTON)
Edmonton to Toronto: four hours (western Canada to east-central Canada) - DIRECT
By comparison, Europe looks like this, assuming a Canadian wants to visit London:
Vancouver to London: 9h30m
Ottawa/Toronto to London: 7h30m
Yellowknife to London: let's call it about 12h (Yellowknife really is in the middle of nowhere!)
St. John's to London: 5h30m
Edmonton to London: 9h
This is exactly why Europeans all but go into shock when I tell them it takes hours to get practically anywhere in Canada! ;) A four-hour train trip from King's Cross to Edinburgh or a 1h15m flight from Florence to Paris is nothing to me by comparison.
50featherwate
>49 Django6924:
...and of course there's Oscar Peterson, Leonard Cohen, Robertson Davies, Marcellus Gilmore Edson, Alice Munro, Cowboy Junkies, Norma Shearer, Glen Gould.....
I can't remember any Canadian illustrators, typographers, authors or designers associated with the LEC, but I've a feeling there's at least one academic who contributed an introduction and/or acted as editor.
...and of course there's Oscar Peterson, Leonard Cohen, Robertson Davies, Marcellus Gilmore Edson, Alice Munro, Cowboy Junkies, Norma Shearer, Glen Gould.....
I can't remember any Canadian illustrators, typographers, authors or designers associated with the LEC, but I've a feeling there's at least one academic who contributed an introduction and/or acted as editor.
51scholasticus
>48 EclecticIndulgence:
I kinda get what you're saying, now that I've re-read my post. At the same time, I'm quite used to it, so it makes sense to me; in fact, whenever I go to Europe, it takes me a while to get used to the fact that if I get on a plane for an hour-long flight, odds are I'll end up in a different country with its own language, customs, history, and culture.
Incidentally, if you'd like to know which US (LEC) sellers are pretty nice towards Canadians, let me know and I can send you the details.
>49 Django6924:, >50 featherwate:
I have yet to have Oka cheese, I admit!
Yes, we really do have a respectable literary community up here, don't we? Also some nice presses, of which Barbarian Press and Shanty Press are perhaps the best-known. The Fisher Library in Toronto has made it a mandate to collect and archive the output of Canada's fine presses as much as possible:
http://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/canadian-small-and-fine-press
And you forgot hockey, igloos, maple syrup, and the RCMP, as per the following photo:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/is-this-the-most-canadian-picture-ever-1.2288913
I'm sure if they had intended to, they probably could've thrown a few more Canadian stereotypes into that photo! Still a lovely photo all the same, though.
I kinda get what you're saying, now that I've re-read my post. At the same time, I'm quite used to it, so it makes sense to me; in fact, whenever I go to Europe, it takes me a while to get used to the fact that if I get on a plane for an hour-long flight, odds are I'll end up in a different country with its own language, customs, history, and culture.
Incidentally, if you'd like to know which US (LEC) sellers are pretty nice towards Canadians, let me know and I can send you the details.
>49 Django6924:, >50 featherwate:
I have yet to have Oka cheese, I admit!
Yes, we really do have a respectable literary community up here, don't we? Also some nice presses, of which Barbarian Press and Shanty Press are perhaps the best-known. The Fisher Library in Toronto has made it a mandate to collect and archive the output of Canada's fine presses as much as possible:
http://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/canadian-small-and-fine-press
And you forgot hockey, igloos, maple syrup, and the RCMP, as per the following photo:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/is-this-the-most-canadian-picture-ever-1.2288913
I'm sure if they had intended to, they probably could've thrown a few more Canadian stereotypes into that photo! Still a lovely photo all the same, though.
53featherwate
Greg, Thanks for so clearly laying out the problems Canada's terrain presents to transport networks. It's true, in our little over-developed island we have to psych ourselves up to brave the long drives between cities that are practically in view before we set out, and regard Salisbury Plain (300 sq miles) as a menacing prairie best crossed nose-to-tail in convoy (actually in the holiday season that's the only way available).
I should have known better. I had an ancestor who helped lay the CPR, and as for the frozen north, well, I used to be an Ice Road Truckers junkie!
Great "Most Canadian photo". Though a beaver commuting through Toronto or the polite canoeists would be pretty emblematic, too.
I would have included maple syrup as quintessentially Canadian, but then thought there might be Vermont residents in this group...
I should have known better. I had an ancestor who helped lay the CPR, and as for the frozen north, well, I used to be an Ice Road Truckers junkie!
Great "Most Canadian photo". Though a beaver commuting through Toronto or the polite canoeists would be pretty emblematic, too.
I would have included maple syrup as quintessentially Canadian, but then thought there might be Vermont residents in this group...
54Django6924
I'm no chauvinist, but I have to stand up for the superior quality of Vermont Maple Syrup (though I have never been to Vermont). Of course, it may just seem superior because Canada keeps all the best syrup for the Canadians and sells the sirop ordinaire to the Yankees. (Considering the price difference, there must be some reason why the Canadian is so much more plentiful and so much less expensive.)
The mere mention of the Canadian Pacific Railway brings tears to my eyes. Say what you will about the Orient Express, the Blue Train or the Eastern and Orient Express, I don't think any can match a trip from Montreal to Vancouver for spectacular scenery, and hotel accommodations along the way (the great CP Hotels).
The mere mention of the Canadian Pacific Railway brings tears to my eyes. Say what you will about the Orient Express, the Blue Train or the Eastern and Orient Express, I don't think any can match a trip from Montreal to Vancouver for spectacular scenery, and hotel accommodations along the way (the great CP Hotels).
55scholasticus
>53 featherwate:
...and regard Salisbury Plain (300 sq miles) as a menacing prairie best crossed nose-to-tail in convoy (actually in the holiday season that's the only way available).
That is exactly why I made sure to visit Stonehenge and area in October when I was last in the UK. ;)
That's great that you have a connection with the CPR. I'm still working on my family tree, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a few folks on the CPR somewhere along the line (literally!).
You also reminded me of something else. I was talking to someone else on LT recently, and mentioned that we have some national parks here in Canada (most notably Wood Buffalo) that are bigger than a number of European countries by area.
>54 Django6924:
Ah, train travel across Canada...! I've only ever experienced BC, the Rockies, and the Prairies by car (and gondola, if you count the gondolas at Banff and Jasper, along with the many hiking trails in the area). I'd love to do a train trip some day, but it's actually cheaper to vacation in Europe rather than to harken back to the halcyon days of rail travel in this country, depressingly enough. And the CP hotels charge a king's ransom these days, particularly in BC and the Rockies (I'm looking at you, Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise). The Royal York in Toronto is also right up there, but, man, you can't beat the location if you ever need a central hotel in Toronto.
I have been as far east as Prince Edward Island, though, so I can say I've been to the Pacific and Atlantic whilst in Canada. Still working on the Arctic, though!
...and regard Salisbury Plain (300 sq miles) as a menacing prairie best crossed nose-to-tail in convoy (actually in the holiday season that's the only way available).
That is exactly why I made sure to visit Stonehenge and area in October when I was last in the UK. ;)
That's great that you have a connection with the CPR. I'm still working on my family tree, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a few folks on the CPR somewhere along the line (literally!).
You also reminded me of something else. I was talking to someone else on LT recently, and mentioned that we have some national parks here in Canada (most notably Wood Buffalo) that are bigger than a number of European countries by area.
>54 Django6924:
Ah, train travel across Canada...! I've only ever experienced BC, the Rockies, and the Prairies by car (and gondola, if you count the gondolas at Banff and Jasper, along with the many hiking trails in the area). I'd love to do a train trip some day, but it's actually cheaper to vacation in Europe rather than to harken back to the halcyon days of rail travel in this country, depressingly enough. And the CP hotels charge a king's ransom these days, particularly in BC and the Rockies (I'm looking at you, Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise). The Royal York in Toronto is also right up there, but, man, you can't beat the location if you ever need a central hotel in Toronto.
I have been as far east as Prince Edward Island, though, so I can say I've been to the Pacific and Atlantic whilst in Canada. Still working on the Arctic, though!
56Django6924
>55 scholasticus:
The Banff Springs Hotel is overrated, in my opinion, but the Concierge Floor at Chateau Lake Louise is worth every toonie, even if it might require armed robbery!--great service, great rooms, and the most spectacular scenery you will ever see from a hotel in this hemisphere (if any of you know a better, send me there!) The Hotel Vancouver is also less than 5 star, but the Empress Hotel in Victoria is nonpareil.
Rail travel in the US has also experienced a steady increase in costs coupled with a decline in service to the point where it is only considered by nostalgic types who have plentiful funds and a leisurely life style.
The Banff Springs Hotel is overrated, in my opinion, but the Concierge Floor at Chateau Lake Louise is worth every toonie, even if it might require armed robbery!--great service, great rooms, and the most spectacular scenery you will ever see from a hotel in this hemisphere (if any of you know a better, send me there!) The Hotel Vancouver is also less than 5 star, but the Empress Hotel in Victoria is nonpareil.
Rail travel in the US has also experienced a steady increase in costs coupled with a decline in service to the point where it is only considered by nostalgic types who have plentiful funds and a leisurely life style.
57Iggybedora
Do you get charged sales tax if you pay an online seller via PayPal (goods&services) after asking them to transact off of AbeBooks? I didn't explicitly ask for a discount but also didn't expect to pay tax.
On the other hand, if a book ordered internationally via AbeBooks has been stuck in transit past the expected delivery date and is getting close to the 30-day buy protection limit, should I feel bad for filing a claim? I've contacted the seller and obviously they want me to wait until the last day but at the same time I don't think it's fair for me to risk not receiving the book at all.
On the other hand, if a book ordered internationally via AbeBooks has been stuck in transit past the expected delivery date and is getting close to the 30-day buy protection limit, should I feel bad for filing a claim? I've contacted the seller and obviously they want me to wait until the last day but at the same time I don't think it's fair for me to risk not receiving the book at all.
58Iggybedora
My first and last time buying a book from ThriftBooks...asked for a picture of the LEC "Crime and Punishment" (which is impossible to find right now) and they wouldn't provide it. Figured I would chance it and 2 weeks later, got this in the mail 😂
59Glacierman
>58 Iggybedora: If you want a mass-market paperback, ThriftBooks is the way to go. Otherwise, nope.
60WildcatJF
Yeah, don't do ThriftBooks for LECs whatsoever, haha. I'm sure I made the same mistake years ago, haha.
61mr.philistine
>58 Iggybedora: >59 Glacierman: >60 WildcatJF:
In that case I have been incredibly lucky with my LEC/ HP acquisitions from them. Check for 'Actual Product Photo' and verify 'Product Details'. Avoid listings with an ISBN no. but if multiple photos of the item confirm an LEC sighting, you can safely ignore the ISBN. Avoid at all costs listings with a single photo watermarked 'Oak Knoll'. If you manage to navigate the many variables, ThriftBooks can prove to be a valuable resource - particularly for overseas buyers on a limited budget. They have recently increased international shipping costs so it helps to check their listings on eBay, Abebooks, Biblio, etc.. to get the cheapest total. At the time of this post, they have approx. 53 LEC listings out of which I can confirm 30 genuine listings and 10 risky (read single photo) but fairly genuine listings.
In that case I have been incredibly lucky with my LEC/ HP acquisitions from them. Check for 'Actual Product Photo' and verify 'Product Details'. Avoid listings with an ISBN no. but if multiple photos of the item confirm an LEC sighting, you can safely ignore the ISBN. Avoid at all costs listings with a single photo watermarked 'Oak Knoll'. If you manage to navigate the many variables, ThriftBooks can prove to be a valuable resource - particularly for overseas buyers on a limited budget. They have recently increased international shipping costs so it helps to check their listings on eBay, Abebooks, Biblio, etc.. to get the cheapest total. At the time of this post, they have approx. 53 LEC listings out of which I can confirm 30 genuine listings and 10 risky (read single photo) but fairly genuine listings.
62GusLogan
>58 Iggybedora:
I hope you intended us to commiserate as well as laugh heartily!
I hope you intended us to commiserate as well as laugh heartily!
63Iggybedora
>62 GusLogan: haha after my initial disappointment, I had a good chuckle!
Join to post
