BookFinder.com Journal

The problem with ABE's low fulfilment rate probably arises from their refusal to produce a public rating system based in whole or in part on fulfilment.

In looking at feedback rates, it is important to remember that a relatively small percentage of buyers actually leave feedback - and disgruntled or unhappy buyers are much more likely to do so -

We do not participate in the ABE half.com program, but we list on Amazon directly, and fewer than 10% of our buyers there have left feedback for us -

I have never left feedback on any bookseller site, other than ebay - although I have occasionally emailed a bookseller to tell him or her how pleased I was with the service they offered.

so for both ABE and Alibris, it is important to remember that the actual percentage of disappointed or disgruntled customers is far lower than the figure arrived at by just looking at feedback -

As a bookseller, our goal is to have less than 1% disappointed customers - but at the same time, it is important to realize that most used or out of print books offered for sale on the internet are single copies! The better the book, the more likely it is to have many customers interested in it at the same time -

it is easy to have 100% fulfillment if all your books are common and ordinary - it becomes more difficult the better the quality of your stock!

"100% deliverability" is an impossibility. The same bookseller offerings (quite often single copies, as has been stated above) are made available on such a wide array of venues (open shops, print catalogues, auction sites, multiple bookselling sites, etc), that even with due diligence on the booksellers' part and improved feedback systems, duplicate orders and cancellations could not be entirely eliminated. While there is much that individual sellers could do to improve their fulfillment rates, the problem is greatly exacerbated by sites such as ABE, Alibris, Amazon, etc who do not make it exquisitely clear to buyers that all listings are SUBJECT TO PRIOR SALE. If this unfortunate fact of life were relayed at the onset, in a prominent manner, potential customers might still walk away empty handed but, perhaps, less "incensed."

ABE.com is a C- bookseller.

Before ABE imposed bare minimum fulfillment requirements on their participant sellers, the fill rate for my book orders hovered around 33%. (I am a prolific book buyer). Since ABE has attempted to impose some discipline on their vendors my success rate has increased to around 75% of orders placed. A dramatic improvement, but still terrible. Alibris, Amazon and half.com are all much better bookselling websites. eBay is the best, nearly every order is delivered, probably as a result of its robust feedback system.

I have had very good luck with ABE items arriving.

I admit that I have started to use the ABE check-out more in the last year, while previously I usually contacted the bookseller and completed the transaction via email or phone, to avoid any fees that ABE might take from the sale. I buy about 20-25 books a month, though many I buy are somewhat obscure scientific titles, and there's little risk that they'll sell before I get to them.

I fully understand the problem of online used book selling the same inventory of a walk-in shop, and fact it's that fact that adds to the excitement of online book hunting! If I didn't get it in time, someone else did, and is hopefully enjoying it as much as I would have!

Thanks for linking. Amazon tends to have better response rates and better resellers. On the other hand, they have more individual resellers.

With abe-half, you just have no idea what "subcontractor" you're getting the book from. If I needed the book from abe, I'd probably go directly to the site of abe books to buy it instead of going through half.com

One thing, btw, I noticed after writing that piece up is that user feedback on amazon and ebay throw in buyer and seller feedback together. I get lots of positive feedback from sellers in the hopes that I will return the favor. Good grief! I just gave them the money; I don't deserve accolades!

In addition to viewing feedback, you need to be careful to filter the results only from buyers, not from sellers. (this applies more towards individual sellers then companies).

One thing I LOVE about half.com btw is that on used book sales, you can buy other books by the same bookseller, and further S%H costs are reduced from $3.49 (or $2.99) to $1.99. That can be a really good deal. Of course, I have to question the tastes of some resellers, and sometimes it's not worth it.

BTW, bookner looks like a helpful shopbot. I've been checking isbn.nu, but they've been limiting the searches only to certain shops.