(1)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2001 09:42:42 -0500
From: Sydney Allen (SUNY-Albany) <skallen_at_albany.edu>
Subject: Re: Using Half.com
To the best of my knowledge my library has never used Half.com, but I
have frequently used it personally over the past year. All of my
experiences have been EXCELLENT. As far as the billing question - the
charges show up with Half.com as the vendor you purchased the material from,
not who Half.com paid. In all honesty I think this is similar to many book
vendors; and certainly true for Amazon.com... you don't know that they
necessarily got the book directly from the publisher or another distributor.
Hope this helps - the one thing I can say for sure about Half.com is
that condition descriptions have been very accurate. In fact most of the
items I've received were in better shape than I'd expected. They also ship
in a timelier fashion than many vendors.
Good luck,
Sydney
SUNY University at Albany
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Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2001 10:15:09 -0500
From: Maggie Ferris (Univ. of Delaware) <ferrisml_at_UDel.Edu>
Subject: Re: ACQNET: Using Half.com
We share the concerns of UT at Austin regarding the use of
Internet vendors who require credit card information up
front without revealing their full identity and physical
business address (other than an e-mail address). We are not
using half.com or amazon.com's Z shops. We have never done
business with unverified vendors before, and we do not
believe that we should change this practice.
Unfortunately, we have been pressured by both the faculty
and library selectors to do so. My explanation of why
such-and-such a vendor cannot be used has been met with
mixed reactions. In one case the faculty member went ahead
and purchased the book herself, then let me know her
transaction was successful, and so what was I so worried
about? This was uncomfortable, but I would be much more
uncomfortable explaining to the university auditor why the
library was using such a vendor should problems arise.
Cautiously yours,
Maggie Ferris
Coordinator, Monographic Acquisitions
University of Delaware Library
181 S. College Ave.
Newark DE 19717-5267
302-831-8721
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Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2001 08:37:16 -0800
From: Terria Burch (Lane Community College) <burcht_at_lanecc.edu>
Subject: Re: ACQNET: Using Half.com
Last year I ordered a book from half.com. It never arrived and I went
on their website and entered a message that I had not received the
book. I received a message back several weeks later stating that they
had checked with the book seller and that he had sent the book. They
requested that I wait several more weeks to see if the book would
arrive and then to notify them. The book never did arrive and I sent
another message stating that I would like to receive a refund since my
credit card was charged when the book seller sent the book. A month
later, I received an email stating that they received my request for a
refund and would process the request. It took six months and another
email from me before the refund finally came through. I don't know if
my experience was an isolated incident or not, but I'm not willing to
go through all that again. I will not by using half.com again.
Terria Burch
Acquisitions Assistant
Lane Community College Library
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97405
PH: 541-726-2220 X2770
FX: 541-744-4150
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Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2001 12:41:05 -0500 (EST)
From: Barbara Sterling (Dartmouth) <Barbara.W.Sterling_at_Dartmouth.EDU>
Subject: RE - Half.com
Hello,
I do the Out of Print ordering for Dartmouth College and have used
Half.com many times. I have also used it personally many times and have never
had any problems with ordering, payment, receipt, quality. You can even rate
the seller after you have received the item. They are a division of Ebay.
You pay Half.com but the actual item will come directly from someone else.
That person's screen name does appear. On your credit card statement it will
be Half.com as the seller.
We don't have any restrictions, that I know of, about buying from an
employee but I don't believe I've had that problem. They also
maintain a list of items you have bought with them so you can go and check
on them. They send emails confirming the order and then when the order is
shipped.
I would not hesitate to use them.
Barbara W. Sterling
Acquisitions Services Assistant
Barbara.Sterling_at_Dartmouth.edu
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~libacq
603-646-3317
603-646-1807 (fax)
Received on Sat Dec 08 2001 - 15:24:56 EST