In a message dated 9/25/2005 8:36:14 AM Mountain Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> > I've ordered through Abebooks several times. The only problem I've had is > that once or twice after I've placed my order, I got an email back saying, > Sorry, the book is no longer available. Hi All -- I've had success dealing with ABE before, too -- but the thing I found out is that the honest and successful handling of any book order through AbeBooks or AddAll is totally dependent on the actual ultimate bookseller. These are not book companies, but only web-listing services. I also discovered, after the fact, that ABE does not have any phone numbers listed on its contact page (although a bookseller gave me a phone number) and its headquarters are located in Canada. I don't know what kind of recourse someone would have, if they miss ABE's 30-day cancellation policy, dealing with international law, etc. After talking with a bookseller about this, I found out ABE and AddAll do not require any kind of assurances from the booksellers they list, or conduct any kind of quality checking. As she said, real booksellers are very upset about it, because these web services will post listing for anyone or his dog, if they are willing to pay the listing fee. As I discovered, IF there is a problem, AddAll is NOT a real company at all, and there is NO assistance from them. ABEBooks is a little better, but not much. I went through three cycles of complaints, at all three levels (AddAll, ABEBooks and the third seller in NM). Nothing was really resolved until I was forced to cancel the credit card charge. After that, the bookseller lied, telling ABEBooks that s/he had tried to contact me numerous times, which was totally false, and I could prove it. Midway through my ordeal, which lasted 3 months, I asked my ex-FIL who lives in NM to try calling that third bookseller for me. He found out there is no listing for them in the phone book, and they also did not respond to his voice mail messages, as they had not to mine, also. Apparently, this is not a real bookseller, but someone who orders books from someone else when s/he feels like getting around to filling an order. This is a real risk for people dealing with "companies" listed on ABE or AddAll -- tge "bookseller" may or may not be a real bookseller, at all. That's why people are better off contacting the listed bookseller directly, and make sure there is actually someone there, who will respond to your order in an honest fashion. Regards, Ricki Utah To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]