Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 18:20:47 -0800
From: Helen Schwartz (Black Ink Books)
<HelenSchwartz_at_attbi.com>
Subject: Re: ACQNET: Caveat Emptor--know the market price
before buying online
I would like to echo this caveat by Ms. O'Neil - I am an online
bookseller of both used and new books (and started reading
this board to learn more about acquisitions). I have discovered
exactly what she says below; and I second the suggestion to use
"Addall" as a price guide before buying online - that's exactly what
booksellers do. Two of the sites that I sell on use fulfillment rates to
determine rankings of sellers. Two others use mostly feedback from
buyers. I recommend the fulfillment rate sites because they
don't allow the practice of listing books that the seller doesn't have
but will have drop-shipped. Those sellers (and you can't tell them from the
rest of us when looking at listings) have never seen the books they are
selling, but sell them on the basis of the owner's listing which they
copy and use as their own.
Helen Schwartz
Black Ink Books
Bremerton, WA
---------Original Message-----------------
So while the Internet has made it easier forlibraries to order, for example,
rush orders and out-of-print titles, this medium for buying has
unfortunately become a less desirable place for libraries as it has also
created an unpoliced environment where librariescan be victimized.
Based on this current climate, I would like to suggest that libraries
use the following website BEFORE buying any books online. Avoid the
temptation to go to your favorite site just because you have a credit
card or they invoice libraries. It is truly worthwhile to do your homework
because the more prepared you are, the safer your funds will be.
www.addall.com
(there are others, but I find this one to be the most efficient and
effective; I am not connected with this site in any way).
For those who have never used it, the entry page of this website offers
new book price comparisons, but also includes some new/used
sites. There is a link on this page to the "used books" page.
We search BOTH of these areas before buying as the "used books"
page offers a fuller picture of the used market, whereas the initial
price comparison page only offers used book sites that also sell new
books. ADDALL is also adding other formats like CDs and videos.
These areas are less developed but are growing as well.
When using ADDALL, search a few different ways, not just by ISBN.
And with search strategies, especially on the "used books" side, less is better.
Rosanna O'Neil, M.L.S.
Siena Library Company
2101 Pennsylvania Ave., Ste. 101
York, PA 17404-1754
PH: (717) 852-8712
FAX: (717) 852-8554
Received on Mon Dec 09 2002 - 20:11:35 EST