topic Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?! in Sports, Books, Movies & Music

Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

rip2017 — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 09:24:43 GMT

Just purchased a book from ebay that was water damaged when rain soaked the cardboard parcel. The parcel arrived on a day we got rain. Just upset as the book was rare and I got it cheap. I even tried to let it dry out but pages still tore away from each other obscuring text when I tried to open it, after it seemed to have dried a few days later. Just annoyed as the book is perfect otherwise, but is now competely worthless as a collectible or even just a mundane read. It also has water stains on pages. The book is over 20 years old, but was in otherwise new condition, why did it have to get wrecked now?!

I can't just replace the book as it is out of print and because there are no other copies of this book left for sale on ebay or amazon or the publishers website.

This all would have been avoided if the seller had wrapped the book in plastic!

I have noticed nobody who sells books wrap them in plastic- even amazon doesn't. My question is why? When everyone knows books are wrecked once wet.

I left the seller 5 star feedback, as I know it was not their fault. And I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of messaging them over something that should be common sense.

Booksellers please start protecting books you send in plastic. I waterproof everything I sell by wrapping in a plastic bag and sticky taping it closed to ensure it is water proof, I thought it was common sense.

A lot of booksellers ship from the UK, one of the wettest places ever, yet never protect their books in plastic. Tip to sellers, Australia's east coast has abundant rainfall year round. Parcels routinely get wet.

For the cost of a plastic bag and sticky tape, save someones sanity.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

kopenhagen5 — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 09:48:33 GMT

Well it's kind of their fault.

They should have packed it better.

Giving less feedback may have taught the seller to pack in plastic in future.

I regularly message sellers saying they ought to wrap in plastic or have item in a bag in case parcels, envelopes get rain soaked.

I collect banknotes and this used to be a regular problem but most sellers of notes have learnt now.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

twyngwyn — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 10:47:40 GMT

for what it's worth, I wrap everything in plasiic....then newspaper,,,,you have to....because you have to allow for weather conditions??

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

brerrabbit585 — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 12:18:19 GMT

It's not just book sellers who don't bother. Lots of sellers don't. My postmaster is usually brilliant but I was really disappointed when he told me one day that he posted some magazines without waterproofing them and basically thought it was the buyer's problem when they get wet. We don't have street delivery of mail in town but he also does a mail run and he should know better than anyone that mail often gets wet!

The UK may be a wet place but unless things have changed over there, their mail gets pushed through a slot in the front door so it doesn't get wet. Maybe they don't realise that mail doesn't get delivered "to the door" in other countries.

Of course it's the seller's fault. They need to pack it adequately so it arrives in original condition, just as china sellers need to use bubblewrap and other padding.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

the4masters2013 — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 19:43:39 GMT

Agree with you completely.

Everything I sell is bubble wrapped and then mailed in a pre-paid satchel , which I state in my listings (the bubble wrap at least is mentioned).
You can buy water proof padded bags at the post office.

I take care with the items I sell and it annoys me very much when I receive items in a paper envelope. Even if it's not wet, the envelope is badly damaged in transit (just general wear and tear).

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

shoppingbag* — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 21:00:41 GMT

Unfortunately "common sense" is not common.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

go-tazz — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 00:38:10 GMT

I always wrap in plastic freezer bags for that reason,(you never know if it's going to get wet).

Books,DVD's and everything else that I've sold/will sell will always be in a freezer bag,(low cost and it avoids

the items getting wet).

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

straybooksoz — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 12:11:20 GMT

I wrap everything in clingwrap.

If space permits in an envelope, newspaper. half a tabloid newspaper page is the perfect size for a mass market paperback.

If going in a satchel, bubblewrap.

So, your ~~accusation~~ generalisation is demonstrably false in at least several cases.

Tip: Most of Australia's East coast is drought declared.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 05:43:20 GMT

If you ever get a book wet ...

Put it in the Fridge

NOT the freezer !!!!!

What happens when you leave uncovered food in the fridge ?

It dries out

So will a book

Leave it open, and if some pages are not stuck together. turn them over every so often

Depending how wet it is, it can take some time

But it works !

A tip I picked up from a book restorer many years ago

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

straybooksoz — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 07:33:40 GMT

I didn't know that.

Thanks.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

zanadoo_56 — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 04:48:30 GMT

I agree. I've had one book damaged due to rain because of those stupid cardboard sleeves. Luckily it was a book that could be replaced (after I sent photos to the seller). They were apologetic but they still use the wide cardboard packaging.

I find it particularly annoying when the books are paperback sized. If booksellers used plastic wrap and smaller amounts of cardboard they would fit in my letterbox....but no such luck. They have to take their chances out in the elements as well.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

yarmak — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 13:16:19 GMT

I have noticed nobody who sells books wrap them in plastic-

I do....evey single one I sell

Dave

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

thefamilybookshop — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 10:27:49 GMT

We always bubblewrap,

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

davewil1964 — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 10:48:44 GMT

Refer to previous posts.

However, I would not buy a book from you if the bubblewrap kicked the postage up to a parcel rate for something that could be sent much ($6.50) cheaper as a letter. Which would be 90% of books that are less than 2cm thick. $10 capped postage notwithstanding.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

grannyblythe — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 14:28:43 GMT

Hi,
I have always wrapped mine in plastic. I received an awesome message from a buyer once whose parcel arrived and was placed in the letter box next to her sprinkler that someone had placed to close and turned it on, she said she dreaded opening her parcel but when she did the plastic had completely protected it. I am sorry your seller wasn't as foresighted. I still feel pleased when I remember how happy she was.
Kind regards, Jenny

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

11dustyattic — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 00:30:43 GMT

@grannyblythe wrote:
Hi,
I have always wrapped mine in plastic. I received an awesome message from a buyer once whose parcel arrived and was placed in the letter box next to her sprinkler that someone had placed to close and turned it on, she said she dreaded opening her parcel but when she did the plastic had completely protected it. I am sorry your seller wasn't as foresighted. I still feel pleased when I remember how happy she was.
Kind regards, Jenny

I received a similar message once, long time ago but I think it was a book that had found it's way into a puddle lol but a message like that from the buyer showing appreciation is really nice. I mean that they took the time to do that

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

4channel — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:12:15 GMT

Yes 11dustyattic, sellers do appreciate some good recognition of an extra effort taken.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

domino-710 — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:29:05 GMT

What - too busy ' researching ' not to notice the thread began in 2018 - and you are answering a year old post.

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

sandypebbles — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:31:53 GMT

They're books ............................. wrapped in plastic

Must be a book about Laura Palmer

Re: Why don't online booksellers wrap their books in plastic?!

domino-710 — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:54:37 GMT

I'm worried about you - I had to Goggle her. 🤣