An Amazon seller has sent me a stolen library book

[bonvivantHermit]

I do know Amazon and ebay tend to favor buyers, and act often w/o too much process against small sellers. Sometimes all it takes is suspicion and their gone. I don’t know what Amazon could determine - anymore than you.

I wouldn’t want a stolen book either- but I really see no proof you have one.

ps

I would rate the sale poorly though- “very good” is not a library book rating- more
like ‘acceptable’ In a few weeks you will recieve an Amazon email asking for rating, you can rate then. Don’t be like those buyers who leave ratings in the review section!
BUT again seller could be new and not have a clue about rating system. I’d email and see how they respond- apology etc.

Online we have reps too and ruining one, unfairly, is as bad as doing so in real life.

 

[SilverCamellia]

Thanks for all your advice and compliments, everyone.

Your answers have reassured me that there is likely a valid reason for the sale of a new library book, other than for it to be stolen, but in my area of the country, an up to date non-fiction book is a novelty which led to my suspicions. Also, one of my local libraries has installed self-scan machines, but has also removed the security alarms from the door, and there is no CCTV, so anyone who wanted to could theoretically take a book from the shelf and walk out with it with no consequences.

I have just emailed the seller this:

*Hi,

Thank you for your fast dispatch of ‘Catholicism for Dummies’ .

When I received it, I couldn’t help but note it is an ex-library book (with the Dewey code on the spine) and that the front page inside the book had been removed. I am not accusing you of anything, but I’d like to know how you came by a brand new ex-library book?

Thanks for your understanding,*

I hope it is tactful enough, as I am not always very good at being tactful

Thanks for all your support and suggestions, I am very grateful for them

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Thanks for all your advice and compliments, everyone.

Your answers have reassured me that there is likely a valid reason for the sale of a new library book, other than for it to be stolen, but in my area of the country, an up to date non-fiction book is a novelty which led to my suspicions. Also, one of my local libraries has installed self-scan machines, but has also removed the security alarms from the door, and there is no CCTV, so anyone who wanted to could theoretically take a book from the shelf and walk out with it with no consequences.

I have just emailed the seller this:

*Hi,

Thank you for your fast dispatch of ‘Catholicism for Dummies’ .

When I received it, I couldn’t help but note it is an ex-library book (with the Dewey code on the spine) and that the front page inside the book had been removed. I am not accusing you of anything, but I’d like to know how you came by a brand new ex-library book?

Thanks for your understanding,*

I hope it is tactful enough, as I am not always very good at being tactful

Thanks for all your support and suggestions, I am very grateful for them

That sounds perfect. I think you have done just the right thing. Very tactful. (I have the same challenge.)

 

[SilverCamellia]

Lol, thanks Juliane!

I received an email back from the seller saying they buy their books from charity shops, so I am just going to accept the book as it is, keep it and read it Thank you all for your lovely answers

I thank God for leading me to Catholicism, it feels so right

 

[mcrow]

I don’t know how things work in the UK but here in the US every library has book sales and they don’t alway mark that they are retired books. I used to be an Amazon book seller and frequented library book sales and can tell you that there are many books with the page ripped out or not stamped for retirement.

I wouldn’t worry about it too much but if you know which library it is from you could alway call them and ask about it.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Lol, thanks Juliane!

I received an email back from the seller saying they buy their books from charity shops, so I am just going to accept the book as it is, keep it and read it Thank you all for your lovely answers

I thank God for leading me to Catholicism, it feels so right

Welcome Home!

 

[tarboy]

Don’t be too quick to assume it was stolen

My sister (librarian) explained once how libraries sell off books by the pound. Their shelf space is limited or even shrinking as non-books take up space. With a constant flow of new books, they must regularly remove books that do not fit with their collection or are no longer needed for some reason. Since your copy looked new, the library may have had multiple copies, other better books on the topic, and/or it may not have been very popular.

For your conscience, I suggest you send a private note to the seller and see their response. If you are still unhappy, then leave negative seller feedback.

Amazon will not do anything because even if the book was originally stolen, that does not indicate the seller was the culprit.

Hi,

I ordered ‘Catholicism for Dummies’ through a ‘Fulfilled by Amazon’ seller. The book was described as ‘Very Good’ and cost £10.30 as compared to the Amazon price of £12.

It arrived this morning and it’s clearly from a library. It is the second edition (published only last year) with a plastic cover and the Dewey 282 REL on its spine. The front page, which would usually have the library stamp sheet, has been torn out. The book looks brand new and only the cover has ever been opened. I think there is very little chance that a library would retire it.

So I am not sure what to do about it. It would be unethical to keep it if it really has been stolen. I could complain to Amazon about it being a new library book, but I don’t know if they’d do anything about the seller. I could return the book to the seller, but what if they didn’t give me a refund? There is no library stamp inside the book that I’ve seen, so I can’t return it to its library. Might there be a valid reason for a library to cast off a brand new book?