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  1. 29th November 2003, 11:20 PM #1
    Daniel
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    Default Some thoughts on buying second hand books through Amazon and Alibris.

    It all started around September third when I ordered a second hand book through Amazon, after about six weeks of waiting and a few emails I eventually had that order cancelled and money refunded even though the supplier said it was on its way.

    In frustration I tried to order another book through Amazon but my account was locked so I went to Alibris and ordered the book there with success.

    One problem I found with Amazon is when you order books through them they debit your account straight away wheras Alibris debit it when the book is despatched. Amazon debited my account $28 and the credit from the refund was $25. Alibris was cheaper costing only $18 in total.

    Well the Amazon book did eventually arrive in just under 3 months wheras the Alibris book took 3 weeks to get here. Now I have two books for the price of one.

    Alibris get my vote for the seconhand books but new ones I,m not sure as yet.

    Daniel



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  2. 29th November 2003 11:20 PM # ADS
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  3. 30th November 2003, 01:08 AM #2
    q9
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    www.ozbooks.com

    I am sure there are others here in Oz.
    Semtex fixes all
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  4. 30th November 2003, 01:21 AM #3
    Pete J
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    I have used Amazon for new books. The price is normally excellent, particularly lately with the improving A$. All in all about half the price you pay in the shops here, if you can get the book. If you can't get the book here, the local bookshop also has to order it in so you might as well do it yourself.

    By the way, I notice shipping is out of Hong Kong rather then the US but this depends on the book/s.
    Pete J
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  5. 30th November 2003, 04:55 PM #4
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    Grue
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    Abe books tell us they are the biggest in the world. I've bought a lot of books through them and save money every time even with postage from overseas.

    I was after a book "flight without formula", the aussi sites cheapest was $95. I got it for US$20 + $7 postage through Abe.

    http://www.abebooks.com/?AID=7154159&PID=1368688

    takes you to their search page.

    Glenn
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  6. 30th November 2003, 09:18 PM #5
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    AlexS
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    Also had excellent service from Abebooks - 10 days from email order & posting money order 'til book was in my hot little hand. Emails from them to advise they had received MO and book had been posted. Couldn't have been better service.
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  7. 1st December 2003, 08:33 AM #6
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    silentC
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    I've bought books from Amazon and found no problems. You can usually save a lot of cash over what you pay from an Australian supplier. Haven't used Abe Books yet but I'm looking for an excuse to.

    That said, it depends on the purchase price of the book. I was going to order a couple of David Gingery books ("Build Your Own Charcoal Foundry" and "Build Your Own Metal Lathe") from Amazon which are only cheap (<$US10 ea.) but the postage was more than the combined price of the books. It ended up being cheaper to get them from Plough Books - http://www.ploughbooksales.com.au/.
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."
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  8. 1st December 2003, 04:18 PM #7
    Phil Jennings
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    Hi all,
    the advantages of ABE are the huge volume of books on their database and the fact that you can deal direct with the bookseller. I've bought quite a few books through ABE and had great service every time.

    As a bookish woodie I also declare my interest: I am also a bookseller through ABE and I like to think I deliver great servcie to my customers.

    My tip - use the advanced search on ABE:

    http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookSearchPL

    Best regards
    Phil
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