Does anyone have advice on this issue? I am surprised that more than a third of the used booksellers I have tried to obtain OOP books from, do not follow through! So many lace books that I have seen suggested are OOP, and though some sites rate sellers by feedback, but it isn't a reliable indicator either. Many have taken the money and never shipped & never respond until forced to by the bigger company that hosted their listing. Some say the book was shipped but after interrogation admitted that it wasn't (including various other "fudging" stories) and would I like them to obtain a copy (of which there appears to only be one or two listed ANYWHERE, so how can they obtain another copy or at least in a timely fashion, and they do have your sometimes large sum of money for still longer on what appears to be a potential whim). Some take weeks to respond and then say the refund will process within 1-2 billing cycles, which is potentially 60 days, but it is clear that unless you babysat the transaction they would never have rectified it. Some bill you and say they never take the money until it is shipped, yet you have been charged for it, and they refuse to credit it even though you show them the hard copy. I have even called booksellers to verify they have the copy on hand (a couple of times with guys who listed the book discounted, which was listed at a fair price), and they google the "big name in bookselling" while you are on hold and then want to switch the price to whatever the big box store says a used copy can go for. In my opinion the "big bookseller/s" provide a service in ability to find books, but they also force the price up exponentially, sometimes verging on abusive. I had a strange "coincidence" where a book was listed by a seller in three places with three prices (I discovered), and progressively I was told that it was not available and to check the next hosting online store (with a higher price). Perhaps a coincidence, but one begins to wonder. This really hinders lace making. It is one thing to take the time to ferret out the books, and pay the typically slightly to much higher price, but if they end up not having the book and won't let you know, tie up your funds for long periods of time, one becomes a tad gun shy. Frustrating. Times certainly have changed. I must say though, that about 20% took their money and the book left the same or next day, and that was refreshing! Kind of like how the world used to be not that long ago! <smile>
End of catharsis. Best,Susan Reishus - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
