Number 6 Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 (edited) On 8/8/2024 at 4:47 AM, conservativeone said: Graham Holroyd has a price guide and condition section in that book but If you are a high grade condition freak you will be frustrated by his grading. As others have stated and my experience is the same there are always some dicey grades in any given order. I will forget about him-then the bug will hit and I notice his lisitings on ABE. See some nice high grade books in his inventory and wonder why I haven't ordered more from him-get the order and then I remember why I haven't ordered more from him! His inventory is vast -which probably prevents him from posting photos of covers-but I wish he would add more. Tried many book sellers on ABE-don't order unless they post a picture-more times than not the grading is terrible. Coming from comic collecting, the widespread practice of no pictures/stock photos in the book collecting hobby is really hard to wrap my head around. I mean, I get it, it's a byproduct of book collecting being largely mail order engaged in by both dealers and collectors who tend to be Luddites. And when you're talking about listing dozens of paperbacks every couple days that are priced $10 or less I totally get throwing it up without a picture. But so often I'm looking at books listed for hundreds or even thousands of dollars and no picture. Up until a few years ago I would cut this behavior some slack but considering that 1) everyone has a phone with a high-quality camera built in and 2) these guys are listing books online which means they have at least a remedial amount of tech savvy, I'm starting to get less patient with it. Sure you can ask for pictures but often times I either get ignored or get a huffy reply like they're really being put out. 'Can't you see I'm an ABAA seller with 5 stars on ABE?' My question is: what's more of a hassle? Taking a couple minutes to pop a cellphone pic and shoot it in an email? Or processing a return? There's a lot of chatter here about the possibility of book collecting being the next "thing" but there's going to have to be a serious shift in the dealing culture if it's going to attract a larger pool of buyers, I think. Edited August 9 by Number 6 jimjum12, conservativeone, Point Five and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cactus Posted Wednesday at 10:38 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:38 PM https://www.bolerium.com/ is fantastic for vintage counterculture and LGBT+ focused literature! waaaghboss and jimjum12 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cactus Posted Thursday at 11:32 PM Share Posted Thursday at 11:32 PM I've got to weigh in on Graham as I've also bought a number of books from him. He carries some of those extra sleazy titles I'm fond of Great experiences! I've always wondered about his pricing though. It seems like tons of books are priced the same, and to be damned with what the rest of the market is selling them for. Sometimes that means a great deal, and other times not so much. It's probably a good thing he doesn't list photos because that would make it too easy to spend more... Pat Calhoun and jimjum12 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwination Posted Thursday at 11:58 PM Share Posted Thursday at 11:58 PM Heh, I just had a birthday and emptied (almost) a Holroyd cart. My take is there is a little bit of a premium ordering from him but it's still fair prices and that he's often pricing his stock compared to his own stock (i.e. spreading the prices out according to a range of condition of copies of the same book he's looking right at). jimjum12 and Pat Calhoun 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmpknface Posted yesterday at 12:08 AM Share Posted yesterday at 12:08 AM On 9/19/2024 at 7:58 PM, Darwination said: Heh, I just had a birthday and emptied (almost) a Holroyd cart. My take is there is a little bit of a premium ordering from him but it's still fair prices and that he's often pricing his stock compared to his own stock (i.e. spreading the prices out according to a range of condition of copies of the same book he's looking right at). I just made another trip around the sun myself! Darwination, Pat Calhoun and jimjum12 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwination Posted yesterday at 01:38 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:38 AM Happy Birthday to you, too A birthday is a nice reason to make a "checkout" from Abebooks and MCS pmpknface 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmpknface Posted yesterday at 01:42 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:42 AM On 9/19/2024 at 9:38 PM, Darwination said: Happy Birthday to you, too A birthday is a nice reason to make a "checkout" from Abebooks and MCS Thanks! Doesn't my bank account know it! Darwination 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cactus Posted yesterday at 03:59 AM Share Posted yesterday at 03:59 AM (edited) While we're talking about places to buy books, I think this is worth mentioning. Abebooks is owned by Amazon. Amazon sucks. Think about how many small businesses and bookstores have gone out of business because of them. I don't like giving them or Bezos any of my money if I can avoid it. Having said that, I will buy books from Abe if the seller doesn't list them anywhere else https://www.biblio.com/ is independent, and a wonderful business. It's not as vast as Abe, but a significant amount of Abe's listings are mirrored on Biblio. If you join their membership program Bibliophiles Club for $30/year, you get 10% off on every order up to $20 in savings. That adds up! Anyways, do what you will. I just wanted to share my 2 cents on that subject Edited yesterday at 04:01 AM by Black Cactus Darwination 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjum12 Posted yesterday at 04:03 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 04:03 AM On 9/19/2024 at 11:59 PM, Black Cactus said: While we're talking about places to buy books, I think this is worth mentioning. Abebooks is owned by Amazon. Amazon sucks. Think about how many small businesses and bookstores have gone out of business because of them. I don't like giving them or Bezos any of my money if I can avoid it. https://www.biblio.com/ is independent, and a wonderful business. It's not as vast as Abe, but a significant amount of Abe's listings are mirrored on Biblio. If you join their membership program Bibliophiles Club for $30/year, you get 10% off on every order up to $20 in savings. That adds up! Anyways, do what you will. I just wanted to share my 2 cents on that subject Didn't know this. Thanks. GOD BLESS ... -jimbo(a friiend of jesus) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Cactus Posted yesterday at 04:27 AM Share Posted yesterday at 04:27 AM Also happy birthday to those who recently celebrated! If you'd like, message me your address and I'll mail you a mystery book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
