how to make your Online used book purchase a positive experience

There are several steps you can take to ensure that you will be happy with the used book that you buy on the internet.

There are millions of used books for sale online that are being sold by thousands of different people and companies.  Since you can't actually touch or feel the book like you would if you were buying it in person, how do you avoid disappointment once the book is actually in your hands? 

1.  Know What Your Expectations Are

Examining your expectations about the book beforehand is important.

You can ask yourself some of the following questions:

• What title, edition and format am I'm looking for?
• What kind of condition do I expect the book to be in?
• What is the total cost I want to spend for both the book and the shipping?
• What method do I want to use to pay for the book?
• When do I expect to receive the book?

2.  Read the Item Description Carefully

Now that you know what you expect from your purchase, it's up to you to determine that the particular book and bookseller you've chosen meets all your requirements.

A good book listing should be thorough.  It should provide:

• Title
• Author
• Publishing Information (publisher name, location, publication year, edition)
• Format (hard cover, softcover, booklet, digital, etc.)
• Number of Pages
• Description of Condition

Some booksellers provide a short description of the book contents and some don't.  There's no wrong or right about this, it's just a matter of individual choice.

If you know the exact title you're looking for, then the content description may not matter.  If you're browsing unfamiliar titles then a more detailed listing might be helpful to you in determining if that particular book contains what you're hoping to find.

A photo of the actual book for sale is also very helpful.  This can assist you further in determining condition and in verifying that it's the cover or format that you're looking for.

3.  Don't Assume Anything About Condition or Shipping Costs

The condition of the book is an important consideration--and the perception and acceptance of a book's condition is also something that differs from one person to the next.

If condition is a priority with you, and it isn't spelled out clearly in the item description, then you need to ask.  Don't assume that you and the seller on are the same wavelength and then you won't be surprised if you aren't.

Shipping costs can vary depending upon the seller, the location of both the buyer and seller, and the method of shipping used.  Are the shipping costs clearly stated in the listing or elsewhere on the seller's website?  Are they a mystery?

If circumstances are such that the shipping costs can't be determined without the seller knowing some of the information about the final shipping weight and destination, do they provide a means for you to inquire before you make your purchase?  Does the seller respond to your inquiry in a timely manner?

4.  Who are You Buying the Book From?

The size of a bookseller's operation shouldn't make a difference to you as long as your transaction is handled in a professional manner.  It's possible to achieve a favorable outcome whether you are buying from a mega-corporation, a small mom-and-pop business, or from an individual cleaning out their closet.

It's just as possible, however, to have an unfavorable outcome with any of them if you don't examine your expectations first and you leave too much to assumption.

If the material presented in a listing is sloppy, sparse or vague, then it's likely that the service you will receive will be so too.

If there's any kind of feedback system in place about the seller's previous track record, make sure you read them--they generally give you a good overall idea about the experience others have had.

Are the seller's terms of sale clear?  Do they accept the type of payment you wish to use (check, money order, credit card)?  Is there any indication that your book will be shipped within the timeline that is acceptable to you?

6.  What is the Refund Policy?

It's always possible that for some reason you might want to return the book after receiving it.  Perhaps the package was damaged in the mail or the condition was misdescribed.  It's best to have some idea ahead of time of what to expect should you want to return the book.

Some sellers will refund for any reason within a certain amount of time.  Others will only refund if their book was described incorrectly.  Still others will not refund for any reason.

Many refund policies aren't posted so as not to invite abuse, so you might have to ask.  You will usually have to return the book before you receive a refund.  Be sure you know who is responsible for return shipping.

In Summary....

Did you sense a common thread throughout these steps?

You can increase the odds of your having a good online shopping experience if you remember not to make assumptions about anything and to communicate with the seller beforehand if you have questions or concerns.

It's really that simple!