I think I'll stay away from used books...

Go to used book stores and book swapping setups instead. You can check out the book right there in the store.

I was going to suggest that too. In the next town over from us here, there is a local market every Saturday with a stall selling second hand books. They're all in pretty good condition too.

Used bookstores are great for relatively common stuff, but I can see why you'd want to buy on ebay if you are looking for rare/older volumes. I've thought about using ebay to buy Kip Farrington non-fiction, but I never have. I guess the best thing to do is look at the sellers' ratings and only buy from those who are judged reputable by other buyers. Don't hesitate to bomb this guy and give him a bad review. I'd also write him a nastygram to let him know you're thinking of him....

I'm sorry you had that happen. I order used books through the amazon site and they are in brand new condition. (Like someone only read them one time new.) The savings is really something too. I would not get to read much if it were not for that part of the site. The few that I have paid full first time cash for are few because of the costs.

Ugh. I'm sorry.

I always buy unused books, I hate sharing them at all. Even with my friends.

I think I'd only buy online if it was an old favorite I couldn't get any other way. I'd also check the seller reviews.
I worry more about SMELL! They may be smelly even if they look good. Some are kept in moldy basements (I'm trying to rid some of mine of this. It's possible, but time consuming.) And some may have come from a smoker, which can be a special problem if you have allergies or something.
It can be an insidious problem. You can see the nasty stains. But smells one doesn't always notice until one has been reading for awhile.

I hate to say it but when you buy from other people over the internet, you have to realize that stuff like this might happen. It's why you should always check seller feedback, and even then know that you might not get what you were hoping for. This is the advantage of the used bookstore over the internet, you can see the physical product you are going to buy before you pay for it.

You should contact the seller and let them know you are dissatisfied and that you disagree with the condition they stated the book was in.

Why would anyone buy used books from a seller they've never met? Buy new books, or go to a used bookstore, or visit your local library and save a ton of money.

Starhorsepax said:

I think I'd only buy online if it was an old favorite I couldn't get any other way. I'd also check the seller reviews.
I worry more about SMELL! They may be smelly even if they look good. Some are kept in moldy basements (I'm trying to rid some of mine of this. It's possible, but time consuming.) And some may have come from a smoker, which can be a special problem if you have allergies or something.
It can be an insidious problem. You can see the nasty stains. But smells one doesn't always notice until one has been reading for awhile.

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I don't think anything in the world smells better than a musty old book.

When I've got the cash, I'll go for new, but lately I've rarely got the cash.

I find Amazon's Marketplace is good for used books. I have yet to buy an icky book, anyway.

Starhorsepax said:

I think I'd only buy online if it was an old favorite I couldn't get any other way. I'd also check the seller reviews.
I worry more about SMELL! They may be smelly even if they look good. Some are kept in moldy basements (I'm trying to rid some of mine of this. It's possible, but time consuming.) And some may have come from a smoker, which can be a special problem if you have allergies or something.
It can be an insidious problem. You can see the nasty stains. But smells one doesn't always notice until one has been reading for awhile.

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I haven't had to do this myself, but I've HEARD that if you place the book in a ziploc bag with a bit of baking soda for a few days, it will take the smell out without damaging the book.

I've never had issue with buying used books on EBay. I would chaulk this one up to you dealing with a crappy seller.

... have encountered stains in library books I've taken out. One honestly looked like vomit. So consider yourself lucky in just coming across cheese doodle stains. I used to purchase used books at a used bookstore by me, till it went out of business. Neat shop. Miss it. Had a nice classics section.

I've never bought anything off ebay and have no urges to ever buy anything off it. Not sure I trust it all that much. I'm more of a 'touch before you buy' kind of guy, me. Oh, and I love the spell of a new book in the morning. I loved the new book smell as a kid. Couldn't get enough of it. It was like a drug. Can't believe how many books stores I was thrown out of for smelling the books

Ebay can be great but on occasion you will come across a bad seller.

Jamesaritchie said:

Why would anyone buy used books from a seller they've never met? Buy new books, or go to a used bookstore, or visit your local library and save a ton of money.

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Because there isn't a used book store for miles?

Because they dont have the rare books I am after?

Because they are cheaper online?

I mean, really, if online sales were that useless alibris and a good portion of ebay wouldn;t exist. As with any product, if a book is faulty I return ot for a refund. If the vendor refises I open an ebay case. I have had to do this a sum total of twice and always got my refund. Meanwhile I have a cupboard full of antique books, many of which I paid a few dollars for (shelve value in a used bookstore, $50 and up).

veinglory said:

Because there isn't a used book store for miles?

Because they dont have the rare books I am after?

Because they are cheaper online?

I mean, really, if online sales were that useless alibris and a good portion of ebay wouldn;t exist. As with any product, if a book is faulty I return ot for a refund. If the vendor refises I open an ebay case. I have had to do this a sum total of twice and always got my refund. Meanwhile I have a cupboard full of antique books, many of which I paid a few dollars for (shelve value in a used bookstore, $50 and up).

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But often on EBay I find things are not worth returning since I am the one having to pay to re-ship the item etc. Thank God, my bad experiences have been like two in over two hundred transactions.

Starhorsepax said:

I worry more about SMELL! They may be smelly even if they look good.

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O-o-o, I love stinky old books. I love the smell of age. I love that many many people have already read and enjoyed them. I've always had good luck with buying used books on Amazon, some real old beauties too.

Ebay is always a gamble. I bought a gardening book I was after that was described as 'like new, except it doesn't have the dustcover'. After I received it, I sent the seller a message that I wasn't aware that they were selling new books with chapters full of yellow highlighter and blue ink underlining.

Chapters/Indigo has a really good used section online as well. I've bought both books and audiobooks with no problems.

Only ever bought one thing off E-bay. It arrived broken, and was replaced free by the seller as soon as I sent her a picture of the breakage.

Jamesaritchie said:

Why would anyone buy used books from a seller they've never met? Buy new books, or go to a used bookstore, or visit your local library and save a ton of money.

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Because they live in a country where the language is different and the cheapest AND easiest way to buy a book is online.

To the OP, I feel for you. I have an annual book budget and when I reach it, I switch to second hand books, and this hasn't happened to me yet (but one book had an entire page of hot chocolate or something spilt on it...thankfully not every page!).

The used books I get from Amazon and other online sites are usually out-of-print research tomes I'm not likely to find in local book stores. I've never had problems. In fact, for a whopping 75 cents I got a book with an Ex Libris plate of (maybe) historical interest: From the Library of Hubert Humphrey.

Hubert didn't eat Cheese Doodles while reading.