Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2017 00:00:11 +0000
To: "acqnet_at_lists.ala.org" <acqnet_at_lists.ala.org>
"I only purchase those designated “new” or “like new” since people tend to over-evaluate the quality of the book." As a retired library science professor who sells books on Amazon as a hobby, I would suggest that libraries also consider "very good" items from sellers with high ratings and detailed descriptions. I take great care to avoid over grading books and to provide a detailed description of any faults. I've sold many books to libraries with no complaints that were graded "very good." I routinely get comments that the book was in better shape than the buyer expected. (I do occasionally miss something and make every effort to "make things right.") I know that at least some Amazon sellers are contentious in making sure that the buyer gets what they expect or better. Bob Dr. Robert P. Holley Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University 13303 Borgman Avenue Huntington Woods, MI 48070-1005 email: aa3805_at_wayne.edu phone: 248-547-0306 ________________________________ From: acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org <acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org> on behalf of Angela Masden <amasden_at_regent.edu> Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2017 4:13 PM To: acqnet_at_lists.ala.org Subject: RE: [ALCTS-acqnet] Amazon and credit card reporting trouble Good afternoon, everyone! We have a corporate account so we haven’t seen the problem you are discussing, but I’d like to make a suggestion. While trying to get the best price, I find I purchase more from the Amazon Marketplace. Our librarians allow me to purchase used books for our library which can save a lot. I only purchase those designated “new” or “like new” since people tend to over-evaluate the quality of the book. Even if I order 30 books at a time each one will have its own order number since they are coming from different vendors and appear separately on the corporate account statement. Since different vendors are involved every title would necessarily have to be charged separately on your credit card. It might help to try the marketplace. Just search the book as usual and then click on the links for either new or used books. Believe it or not, new books are often cheaper than used ones. Angela Masden Acquisitions Specialist, Regent University Library 1000 Regent University Drive LIB 109, Virginia Beach, VA 23464 Office: 757-352-4178 Fax: 757-352-4179 Website<http://www.regent.edu/lib/> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/groups/RegentULibrary/> | Blog<http://librarylink.regent.edu/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/regentulibrary> | YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/user/RegentULibrary> [http://www.regent.edu/images/general/Ru_logo_emailsig.jpg] From: acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org [mailto:acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org] On Behalf Of Marynelle Chew Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2017 1:22 PM To: acqnet_at_lists.ala.org Subject: [ALCTS-acqnet] Amazon and credit card reporting trouble Aloha all, Is anyone who uses a university credit card or purchasing card having trouble with the information Amazon is sending to the credit card company for reconciliation purposes? Beginning mid-November, the amounts Amazon reported to the credit card company as the debit have not been matching the order invoices one can retrieve from Amazon. Nor do the items listed in the debit details match the Amazon invoices correctly. In the past, the titles reported to the credit card may not have matched, but the amounts debited matched correctly, which we could live with. Actually, even the Amazon invoice itself doesn’t match what was debited, based on the debit summary that appears on the bottom of the big order invoice. It looks like they’re mixing up the titles from an order at random. I was hoping it was only a November issue, but I see that it is continuing in December, alas. We’re not missing any items. (Yay!) I can balance the two reports out (my credit card report and the Amazon order report). But it is a lot of extra work for me to reconcile the two. And a phenomenal waste of trees, which my business office requires. Although, it’s not helpful, because as I mentioned, even Amazon’s own order summary is goofy. While we’re certainly not their biggest customer, it’s enough to make me stop using Amazon. That, or order every single title as an individual order so Amazon is forced to debit each title individually. I called Amazon and asked to speak with someone in accounting (in the US). While I was transferred to a native speaker, that person said Amazon does not have an accounting department. Really? A business without an accounting department?!? Does anyone have a telephone number for Amazon accounting? Note: This is not an issue with any other vendor from whom I made online purchases in the past two months. Thank you for sharing your experiences and advice. Marynelle ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Marynelle Chew Head, Access & Collections Services Joseph F. Smith Library Brigham Young University-Hawaii 55-220 Kulanui St., Bldg 29 #1966 Laie, HI 96762 Email: marynelle.chew_at_byuh.edu<mailto:marynelle.chew_at_byuh.edu> Voice: 808-675-3863 Fax: 808-675-3877
