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"Buy Used" feature on Amazon.com

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:04 pm
by Abandoned by Wolves
I had my doubts about this feature, but there was a $40 cookbook by Michael Chiarello that I really wanted but couldn't stand (or afford) to pay the full cover price for. So I ordered a "used" copy in good condition from one of the used booksellers listed on the page in good condition for $10.00 plus a bit of shipping. It showed up 10 days later in prime condition.

Same results for 6 other hardbacks. Most of the time the books are actually 'remaindered', instead of previously owned. They all show up in 10-12 days as promised, and they are all in the condition promised. A couple have been "book club" versions of the originals (slightly larger, no dust jacket, and the graphics for the jacket are incorporated into the cover of the book), but if the seller says they are in 'fine' or 'good' condition, they inevitably are just that. Amazon handles all the billing and invoicing for you, and the process is painless.

So far, I've saved at least $120 while I acquired hardcover books that are too popular or specialized to ever be printed in trade paperback form. Call me a happy camper.

Re: "Buy Used" feature on Amazon.com

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:17 pm
by Batboy2/75
Lemon Magic wrote:I had my doubts about this feature, but there was a $40 cookbook by Michael Chiarello that I really wanted but couldn't stand (or afford) to pay the full cover price for. So I ordered a "used" copy in good condition from one of the used booksellers listed on the page in good condition for $10.00 plus a bit of shipping. It showed up 10 days later in prime condition.

Same results for 6 other hardbacks. Most of the time the books are actually 'remaindered', instead of previously owned. They all show up in 10-12 days as promised, and they are all in the condition promised. A couple have been "book club" versions of the originals (slightly larger, no dust jacket, and the graphics for the jacket are incorporated into the cover of the book), but if the seller says they are in 'fine' or 'good' condition, they inevitably are just that. Amazon handles all the billing and invoicing for you, and the process is painless.

So far, I've saved at least $120 while I acquired hardcover books that are too popular or specialized to ever be printed in trade paperback form. Call me a happy camper.
I've ordered probably 6 used books off of Amazon. The only draw back is that you usually have to wait a bit longer for your stuff to arrive.

BB2/75

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 10:06 pm
by lopa
Well, you've just reminded me. I've been meaning to buy Mark Bittman's - The Best Recipes in the World and so I just did. 14 dollars and change.

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:47 am
by GoDogGo!
Another plug for it: I use it all the time; never thought to mention it here, though. Works well, and it all goes through Amazon so you don't have to deal with 100 different searches and accounts and all that.

Rarely do I want a brand-new book anyway, and this service has never disappointed me yet.

GDG!

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:17 am
by mrzero
I've had a few run in on Amazon-used and Amazon-marketplace where I've ended up with the hong-kong knock-off version of a movie. No problems with books though.

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:31 am
by GoDogGo!
Dr. Jack wrote: I buy used books monthly, never had a bad one yet.
Jesus. Based on this line:
Nothing gets a woman hot like a man who can save money by bargain shopping.
that's not all you get "monthly."

GDG!

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:45 am
by Crust Bucket
GoDogGo! wrote:
Dr. Jack wrote: I buy used books monthly, never had a bad one yet.
Jesus. Based on this line:
Nothing gets a woman hot like a man who can save money by bargain shopping.
that's not all you get monthly.

GDG!
#-o =D>

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:57 pm
by Sean
if you don't mind parting with some of your used books check out paperbackswap.com- you end up just paying postage.

Sean

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:49 pm
by johno
Does Amazon charge extra for used books if a smoker was the original owner? Nothing better than secondhand book smoke.

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:09 am
by Chr1stine
I buy most of my books from Amazon Marketplace. The only time I buy new is when I am too impatient to wait. I've never had a problem with any of the books.

My experience with selling on AM is just as good. It is extremely easy. Actually, it's much easier than eBay because you just type in the ISBN and Amazon displays a price that would be the lowest, so you can sell faster. Takes like 2-3 clicks. I once sold a book 5 minutes after I posted it.

No complaints about this service.

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:41 am
by Fat Cat
I virtually only buy used from Amazon and have always been happy with the results. You can get great books, often out of print, for cents on the dollar.