Booksellers... A Buyers Query
What do Booksellers class as ‘very good’
How good, what is ok, to still be called very good?
I want to know if I’m being too fussy for an old book. It was sold as ‘very good’, and ‘undamaged’ - whereas, I’d call it poor if it was one of the items I’d sell, and assume no one would ever buy it.
The listing said: Condition: Used - Very Good - Order will be shipped within 24 hours from our UK based warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. We offer a full money back guarantee should you not be satisfied with your order in any way.
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I hardly ever buy second-hand books, for this very reason (stops me buying from everyone, and I’m sure others feel similar). I buy new, just this book is old, so costs a fortune for the few new ones around.
I have messaged the Seller as well.
(the back/front cover very marked, pages I will say were reasonable, few marks on the edges, telephone list written inside the book, near the back, from the year 2000).
It was not expensive, under £5.
Just asking for thoughts
Booksellers... A Buyers Query
What do Booksellers class as ‘very good’
How good, what is ok, to still be called very good?
I want to know if I’m being too fussy for an old book. It was sold as ‘very good’, and ‘undamaged’ - whereas, I’d call it poor if it was one of the items I’d sell, and assume no one would ever buy it.
The listing said: Condition: Used - Very Good - Order will be shipped within 24 hours from our UK based warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. We offer a full money back guarantee should you not be satisfied with your order in any way.
==
I hardly ever buy second-hand books, for this very reason (stops me buying from everyone, and I’m sure others feel similar). I buy new, just this book is old, so costs a fortune for the few new ones around.
I have messaged the Seller as well.
(the back/front cover very marked, pages I will say were reasonable, few marks on the edges, telephone list written inside the book, near the back, from the year 2000).
It was not expensive, under £5.
Just asking for thoughts
Seller_64jziShTiTjOq
These are Amazon’s guidelines:
- Like New: an apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind. Books may contain a remainder mark on an outside edge, but this should be noted in the listing comments. Any accompanying CDs or DVDs must be present and any access codes relating to the same, or to other content, must be present and unredeemed.
- Very Good: a copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Any accompanying CDs or DVDs must be present and any access codes relating to the same, or to other content, must be present and unredeemed.
- Good: a copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include “From the library of” labels. Books may have any accompanying access codes for additional or replacement content missing or redeemed.
- Acceptable: a readable copy. All pages and the cover are intact (the dust cover may be missing). Pages can include considerable notes–in pen or highlighter–but notes cannot obscure the text. Books may have any accompanying access codes for additional or replacement content missing or redeemed.
66 replies
Seller_64jziShTiTjOq
These are Amazon’s guidelines:
- Like New: an apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind. Books may contain a remainder mark on an outside edge, but this should be noted in the listing comments. Any accompanying CDs or DVDs must be present and any access codes relating to the same, or to other content, must be present and unredeemed.
- Very Good: a copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Any accompanying CDs or DVDs must be present and any access codes relating to the same, or to other content, must be present and unredeemed.
- Good: a copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include “From the library of” labels. Books may have any accompanying access codes for additional or replacement content missing or redeemed.
- Acceptable: a readable copy. All pages and the cover are intact (the dust cover may be missing). Pages can include considerable notes–in pen or highlighter–but notes cannot obscure the text. Books may have any accompanying access codes for additional or replacement content missing or redeemed.
Seller_BS5lg2keRs2QO
By Amazon’s own guidelines that doesn’t sound like “very good” at all - probably more like acceptable.
One of the issues is that the larger the book seller the less time seems to get spent on grading books. Most of the volume sellers will upload titles in bulk using files which are basically mainly pre-populated with things like condition and condition notes. Any checking of the book itself will vary from minimal to none at all as it’s quicker for them to refund the odd buyer than do things properly at the start.
Seller_Wqg5EgqxuOwDD
If you purchased it from one of the mega listers they’ve got a habit of using the same condition notes for most books they sell. The resemblance of the condition notes to the actual reality of the condition of the book can sometimes be tenuous.
Seller_QVpjrN1BsybDT
This is a topic which has been debated many times before but its well worth talking about again.
I always take the view that the age of the book shouldn’t come into it. It should be described how it actually is.
You don’t mention the dustwrapper. I don’t think it cab ever be VERY GOOD without a dustwrapper ( unless it didn’t have one in the first place)
Seller_QVpjrN1BsybDT
On the description you have given ( although it is difficult without actually seeing the book) I cannot see how it can be described as anything other than ACCEPTABLE.
Seller_BS5lg2keRs2QO
Yes, i’d say there’d generally be less of those issues with the smaller sellers.
As someone who has taken delivery of 500 books this week and is in the process of sorting them between Amazon and Ebay stock i can certainly see the temptation of listing everything via bulk upload with generic condition descriptions.
Seller_lljyzgTxr5fgI
So, pardon my ignorance here as books are not my forte, is there not some form of nationally or internationally recognised system of book grading which is universally used? I say this because, as a vinyl seller, the Goldmine system of grading (whilst not the only method) is generally accepted worldwide, as the most comprehensive and accurate method of grading vinyl records and their sleeves. I just wondered if there was something similar out there for books? 
Seller_taDBgt7LctucW
Personally, when buying books on Amazon I mostly ignore the various gradings such as “good”, “very good”, etc. What I really pay attention to is what the seller writes in the condition notes. Obviously that only applies when buying from small to medium size booksellers as the big boys don’t offer anything other than generic descriptions. When purchasing from a megaseller I resign myself to the fact that the book may be anything from ex-library, no dust-wrapper, scribbled on in crayon by a toddler tat to a mint signed first printing.
Seller_Rds42gzScDQFa
If you’re a seller of books too don’t leave feedback as Amazon will view it manipulation and that you’re trying to sabotage a competitor. My suggestion is, if you’re unhappy with the book request a return stating not as described.
Seller_PGl19dzTOXc2O
As a very small bookseller, I enjoy looking in detail and trying to get the grading right. I DO list books without a jacket as GOOD but always mention in the description that it has NO JACKET. Other times I will say GOOD or VERY GOOD, but say that the jacket has chips, edge-wear, dusty marks to jacket so that may be only ACCEPTABLE. If in doubt use the lower grading and say in the description: must be close to VERY GOOD (for example). One should always say whether the price has been clipped, whether it is or is not EX-LIB, whether there are annotations or signatures/dedications from or to previous owners etc. In other words, try to be as precise as possible. You don’t always get it right, however, so you have to be prepared to refund/get less good review (should people take the time to give one). On the whole, and with a few exceptions, people who buy books are GENERALLY not interested in (to use a horrible word) scamming, and if you try your best, I find they are in the main appreciative of the efforts you put in. My advice on buying would therefore be: don’t just choose the cheapest option but look for detailed descriptions and avoid (as others have said) the ‘catch all’ repeated descriptions larger organizations often use.
