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If you haven’t already checked it out, read Part I first.
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For some of your books, particularly books available as used editions, you might consider an online site, such as eBay’s Half.com. Like e-Bay, its parent site, Half.com is an online marketplace where individual sellers place their books, DVD’s, and CD’s up for sale, often at deep discounts, plus shipping. Sellers could be students who are unloading their books from the previous semester, book sellers/publishers with overstock, or even college bookstores with non-returnable stock to move out.
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Or con artists out to make a quick buck.
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When buying on any online site, you must remember your Latin: Caveat Emptor!
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Buyer Beware.
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Before buying from an online seller, bear in mind that his/her online feedback is your best friend, and a feedback score of less than 98.5% is less than stellar—not like in school where the “A” range is vast.
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In fact, in the cyberspace marketplace, anything less than 98% is close to flunking out.
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A 98% score is true cause for concern; an 88% is considered a cellar score—much lower than that, eBay NARU’s (verb) (Translation: Not A Registered User) the account. Kills it.
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RULE 1: READ at least the first three pages of feedback for your potential seller; it should be glowing, such as, “A+ seller, reasonable cost, fast and safe shipping, book delivered as described.”
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“Soft” positives are cause for concern, such as, “Got it a bit late.”
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Neutrals are not really neutral, but cowardly negatives. For your purposes, neutrals should always be viewed through the negative feedback lens.
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RULE 2: READ all negative and neutral feedback. eBay does not have a function for separating out a seller’s negatives and neutrals from the positives, but toolhaus does. Just go to the toolhaus site and plug in the seller’s eBay I.D.
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If a seller has a large number of feedbacks, toolhaus may be a bit poky, but it’s well worth the wait; Ms. Snark and the Professor are often quite shocked by the biting negatives bestowed upon some lazy and ethically-challenged vendors, and they refrain from bidding on their goods.
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One or two negative feedbacks may not be a cause for concern; The Professor understands that there are churlish buyers who will bestow a negative if their precious book isn’t beamed to them by Scotty.
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However, look for trends, such as “AWFUL SELLER, DON’T BUY! Product not as described, smells like s**t and torn, took two months to ship.”
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Run like the wind.
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RULE 3: Buy only from sellers who accept credit cards through Paypal—no matter their feedback score. In the case of a seller/buyer dispute, Paypal tends to rule in favor the buyer. In the rare instance where Paypal rules against the buyer, your credit card company will do a chargeback, which means you’ll get most of your money back.
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Just don’t make chargebacks a habit; that is called “fraud,” and credit card companies hate losing money, especially through fraudulent activities and will pursue credit card cheaters assiduously.
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RULE 4: If you feel hinky about a seller, don’t buy; find another seller. Trust your sixth sense. It’s a humungous marketplace, and like finding a mate, you’ll eventually find the right book at the right price from the right seller.
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If you do buy your books from an online vendor, don’t expect generous return policies. If your course is cancelled or your professor turns out to be Dr. Perv and you must exit quickly, you are probably stuck with an expensive doorstop.
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Or are fated to starting a new career as a seller on Half.com.
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The College Bookstore. College textbook publishers seem to change editions like a fuss budget changes her underwear: often.
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Or so it seems.
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If you happen to come along during an edition turnover, then you might as well buy your book from the college bookstore.
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You will pay an inflated price, but you will also enjoy some protections, especially if your course has been cancelled or if you decide to drop the class during the drop/add period. Most college bookstores will buy back your book at full price if you meet the following conditions:
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1. You present your original receipt with the book.
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2. You have not written in the book (and that includes your name).
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3. The book is in its original mint condition.
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My tip: don’t scribble in your book until you are certain that the course is a “go.”
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Treat it like the Crown Jewels.
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The Professor is often asked whether students should refrain from scribbling in their books at all. Well, actually, that is a white lie; no one really cares what she thinks on that matter, and quite frankly, in her humble opinion, the professor sees, during the last week of classes, far too many pristine books.
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She is a firm believer in annotating her margins with great gusto, but is resigned to the reality of books flying back to the bookstore during Buyback Week.
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The Professor still has all her college textbooks, even those hoary old math texts she hated so.
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Why?
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She does not know.
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Stay tuned for more useful information.
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Disclaimer: Ms. Snark & The Professor offer this post for informational purposes only and are not responsible if you screw up.
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