Posted: April 01, 1999 at 03:40:35: by ngaire
: i am not a big fan of E-bay. most of the time you have no idea of the true condition/worth/edition etc of what is being sold. it's sort of this mass-participation game where everyone *thinks* they're getting bargains...: jan
On the other hand Jan there are definate 'buys' to be had on eBay if you are prepared to be careful. I have a hc 1st in vf/vf condition of the true, hard to find original of MZB's Mists of Avalon that I paid $16 for - worth much more than that if you should purchase through a bookseller. I have a Gregg press edition of hers as well that I paid very little for. Of Andre's books I have made some lucky buys as well - though it is much harder to do so for her books - having scored some f/f signed 1st editions of titles I needed for less than $20 - something that is almost impossible to do through ABE given that most booksellers seem to add noughts to a title's price should Andre have signed it. As a matter of self protection I always check ABE to compare bid prices to listings before setting my bid limit.
Not to say there are not downsides - poor packaging that leaves you with a damaged book, blatently misrepresented condition, not the correct edition etc. But for the most part I have had no problems with the seller refunding due to any of these issues. I also have had quite a few run-ins with supposedly professional bookstores over exactly the same problems - with some of them causing more trouble and less satisfaction than the ignorant but eager to please ebayers. Be it ebay or bookstore - it's always caveat emptor. Ngaire
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