Her comment was that when she posted a book, without the first notation, it sold at a low price. Several days later, she saw it being re-sold on E-bay with a high First Edition price. She doesn't like being a sucker, even though she is new at this.

The important thing to learn is that a dealer can only give as much information as they know. Buyer beware.

If a dealer is a novice, and this woman is, then they don't have the skills to tell if a book is a first edition, or a book club edition. After all if the corner of the dust jacket has been clipped, it is hard to tell them apart. You don't often see information on condition - except that they are all "Fine" and I don't believe that.

I have E-mailed questions on editions, X-library, etc on E-bay postings BEFORE making a bid.

In general, the buyer is probably better off on Advanced Book Exchange, because those are supposed to established dealers. I'm not sure if they need to be part of the American Book Dealers association. On E-bay, anyone can set themselves up to sell books. It is hard to tell the established dealers selling one book, from the person selling extra books before moving into a smaller apartment.