What determines a book as "new?"
In order to sell a book as new,, does Amazon technically require that you get them new from a proper source, or is it a judgement thing where very good, like new, and new all blend together? I know many people who sell used books as new, and I wonder whether Amazon actually cares or has a criteria for this
What determines a book as "new?"
In order to sell a book as new,, does Amazon technically require that you get them new from a proper source, or is it a judgement thing where very good, like new, and new all blend together? I know many people who sell used books as new, and I wonder whether Amazon actually cares or has a criteria for this
51 replies
Seller_4zBzdtgCyS9EI
nothing is ever "mew" unless it comes from an authorized distributor. Anything purchased by an individual, even if untouched and unopened, is used like new
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
What determines a book as "new?"
Provenance. That's all. New is not a statement of condition. It is a statement of provenance.
No preowned book is New -- no matter how nice it looks. No matter if it is still in the publisher's box it was shipped in. No matter if it is in shrink wrap.
Seller_ToPPYvOWlyp9j
If one sells a book as 'NEW", be aware that AMAZON is likely to ask for INVOICES-not RECEIPTS. Perhaps not tomorrow or next week but the first time a customer complains... and selling used as new is a serious offense when one gets caught.
We buy from a university publisher who distributes their own books. They ship the volumes w/ an INVOICE. We could sell those as "New" but don't because their packaging isn't the best. Their return policy is a pain-so we sell imperfect titles.
We purchase from small publishers who find selling on-line/ warehousing/packaging a chore and use the same large textbook distributor to deal w/ these issues. They provide a RECEIPT-not an INVOICE.
Gone thru the song & dance several times: ordered on-line, not thru a distributor's rep; an internal requirement. Isn't worth the time/trouble. LIKE NEW or even VERY GOOD condition often sell as quickly as NEW when provide detailed CONDITION NOTES, mentioning creases or dings.
Seller_52pUzzgnsLDGs
The only way you get anything "new" for resale as new is to purchase it from a wholesaler / authorized distributor. It doesn't matter if it is a cell phone case, a bag of potato chips, or a book. You will have an invoice to prove the purchase, not a receipt.
Seller_RQHtgaS5AgnMA
You may find the answer on Amazon. I pulled this off Amazon along with the listing of all their "condition" requirements.
New:
Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unopened item in its original packaging, with all original packaging materials included. Original protective wrapping, if any, is intact. Original manufacturer's warranty, if any, still applies, with warranty details included in the listing comments.
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
When I started selling here 7+ years ago, this was a hotly contested topic, with many people coming down on both sides.
Then one by one, the sellers who insisted that "New" was nothing more than a condition, regardless of how the book was sourced, started posting for requests to help them get reinstated after having their account suspended for "Used as New" complaints. That pretty much settled the controversy, even if Amazon Condition guidelines still remain vague.
There are, IMO, situations where it would be legit in the outside world to call a book new, such as buying out stock from a bookstore, but still count as "Used "on Amazon (another example; I did a cleanout a while back; got all the archive copies from a publisher that closed down. Despite many being still shrinkwrapped, they are, in Amazon's eyes, 'Used", even though I would have no qualms calling most of them "New" elsewhere.
No Invoice = "Used".
And yes, some get away with it. For a while.
Seller_qTJiCxRI8PpIZ
The shortest answer is unless you bought it straight from a publisher/manufacturer the book is not new. If bought it secondhand (from a wholesale company, another store, or obtained it from a collection and it is in perfect condition without any flaws at all the best you can describe it is "used like new".
Seller_R2dP7Hunjcdj0
The Condition "NEW" on Amazon means the the Seller is the Original Purchaser of the item, and that the purchase was through a recognized and authorized Wholesale Distributor, backed-up with the wholesale invoice (not a receipt).
The Condition "NEW" on Amazon also implies that the item being sold is virtually without flaw or defect.
I hope this helps.
Seller_JL6HfmnayP6jw
If its preowned than its not new. does not matter what shape its in. Direct from distributor or its used like new.
Seller_w1WynKssZsTCS
It has to be new with an invoice from a reliable source. Any book which has been touched or read by anyone is considered and to be listed as " used like new."
