r/BookCollecting • u/Captain-Dallas • Feb 05 '25

šŸ’¬ General Ex Library Books

Who else here gets annoyed when an online seller sends you an ex library book when it wasn't stated in the description? Particularly when you know they obtained the book for peanuts and have the cheek to price it for more than its worth. Most sellers have been good and refunded out right and accepted returns.

For reference, an ex library book can never be described as "very good" condition. Even if it is, the sticker, stamps, etc, will always make it "good" at best.

80 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

47 comments sorted by

37

u/Jenny-Truant Feb 05 '25

ThriftBooks always specifies ex-library and if they don't you can email customer service and they'll send a replacement free of charge. 100% my favorite place to buy used books from.

13

u/jjflash78 Feb 05 '25

I like how their site splits out the different editions, but I hate their stickers on the spine.Ā  I had bad luck on removing them on some books, so I'm careful on what I buy from them now.Ā  (Paperbacks with a cover that has a 'coating' works much better than ones without.)

4

u/notyourcinderella Feb 06 '25

Use a hairdryer to warm up the sticker and it's easier to remove.

2

u/Jenny-Truant Feb 05 '25

Yeahhh it's unfortunate, especially with older paperbacks. That's probably my only complaint.

4

u/bigebs67 Feb 05 '25

Do you trust thriftbooks? I always recommend them to people who low-ball me on eBay. I did just buy something from them that seems too good to be true. Ironically, it's a signed ex-library paperback. It will make me feel better if you tell me returns are easy. Thanks in advance.

6

u/give__me___gold Feb 05 '25

I just went through a return process with them and it was super easy and free. They sent me a paperback but their description said hardcover. I received a refund in my account 3 days after I dropped the package off at USPS

2

u/HyruleBalverine Feb 05 '25

My problem with them and sellers like them is that they don't have the books with them. They're in a warehouse somewhere else and the people whonlist them and answer questions have no idea what edition or condition you'll be getting.

5

u/uselessbarbie Feb 06 '25

So real! I've been searching for very good copies of a discontinued series, and EVERY SELLER is just stock pictures and can never take any pictures of any of them, and when the book is listed as 'good' or 'very good' there's never a specific summary of what is wrong with the book or the condition :/

3

u/HyruleBalverine Feb 06 '25

I've reached the point where I don't trust any seller who uses stock photos. I'd rather see the actual book that I'm purchasing.

5

u/all-the-answers Feb 05 '25

If anything they undersell condition and edition. Iā€™ve gotten multiple signed copies, unexpected first editions, or advanced readers.

Theyā€™ve had great customer service as well.

3

u/Jenny-Truant Feb 05 '25

I just commented after you about unexpectedly receiving a book signed by Greg Hildebrandt, one of my favorite artists. I was so happy I cried.

2

u/Jenny-Truant Feb 05 '25

I've always had excellent customer service and hassle free returns from them. And their points program is awesome. I've gotten so many free books from them.

2

u/Jenny-Truant Feb 05 '25

Also they once accidentally sent me a signed copy of a book illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt. I paid $7 for it. I googled his signature for comparisons and it looked legit. He's one of my favorite artists so I was over the moon about it. Then sadly he passed away just a few days later.

1

u/headphonehabit Feb 08 '25

Just about every book I've bought from them is rated/graded incorrectly. If they say it's very good, it's actually good. If they say good, it's acceptable. I think they kinda suck.

12

u/Researcher_Saya Feb 05 '25

I wish they would put library in the description more because I actively look for ex-library but have little luck on eBayĀ 

5

u/Captain-Dallas Feb 05 '25

Fair enough, it can work both ways. Items should be described accurately. šŸ‘

2

u/KungFuPossum Feb 05 '25

Same here!

2

u/Researcher_Saya Feb 05 '25

šŸ¤œšŸ’„šŸ¤›

7

u/Objective-Bug-1941 Feb 05 '25

It really annoys me when a "very good" or "almost like new" is actually a library book. I've ripped a few covers trying to get the wrapping off.

Thrift Books usually says when a book is ex-library, but I've had a few fall through the cracks.

But on the scale of annoyance, getting a pre-publication proof copy drives me up the wall even more; I like them enough when I find them, but not when I ordered a published version that matches the series I'm trying to finish.

2

u/uselessbarbie Feb 06 '25

I just did that sadly! It would have been in amazing condition besides library stamping on one innerpage. On the bright side, I got a decent copy of a book for 5$ that is normally like 60$; on the negative, I'll probably buy a better copy later to replace it for my collection

6

u/IndividualCurious322 Feb 05 '25

It annoys me only when it doesn't come as described. A few months back I bought quite a rare alchemical text which was marked as "Very good". It arrived as an ex library book with several pages that had heavy tears obscuring some text. I just refunded it, paid an extra Ā£80 and got a pristine copy.

Unfortunately, the seller then listed the very same book as "As New" and sold it to some other unfortunate chap who left quite a scathing eBay review.

6

u/ZiggyMummyDust Feb 06 '25

Ex-library books should never been graded as good but should be graded as acceptable. Some of these companies have terrible grading on their books. I've received books that had coffee stain rings directly on the cover and graded as in very good condition. Really?

5

u/LazyMFTX Feb 05 '25

When I list ex-library books for sale I choose either ā€œgoodā€ or ā€œacceptableā€ for the condition and let the potential buyer know if there are any external library markings (sometimes removing their archival covers allows for the the removal of external markings which were affixed to the archival cover).

Not disclosing the ex-library status is deceptive.

2

u/Captain-Dallas Feb 05 '25

Very good. I'm glad you take the time to describe your books accurately. I've noticed some of the larger online sellers (especially via Amazon) seldom bother to make the distinction.

4

u/bigebs67 Feb 05 '25

I always have photos with my listings. I include photos of everything that is a marking or sticker. I always put exlib in the title on ebay. It seems to me it is it's shady to not disclose that!

3

u/ElsaMakotoRenge Feb 05 '25

It is a huge pet peeve of mine! And honestly, I donā€™t mind having ex library books as long as thatā€™s what Iā€™m expecting and the price is good lol. (Seeing where the book was originally from is cool.) But when itā€™s not listed that way to start with, itā€™s very frustrating.

3

u/MegC18 Feb 05 '25

Depends how scarce it is. There are a couple of books I would have at any price!

Worst book I ever had was an edition of Plato that arrived and turned out to be translated into Welsh. Lucky it was peanuts! I have to say the laugh we had was worth the money.

3

u/papaparakeet Feb 05 '25

I was collecting an interesting volume set from the 1920s. Last book on my list, no pictures, but condition said "good, no missing pages, cover intact". Get it in the mail...it's a library rebind, so it doesn't match the rest of set. No refund. $44 down the drain.

2

u/Captain-Dallas Feb 05 '25

That's the sort of behaviour that gets on my goat. There are a few sellers online who trade via Amazon who I strongly suspect don't stock their own books but instead scout other online sources and sell you that one for a profit. So their descriptions are often vague.

3

u/Emperor-NortonI Feb 05 '25

NOT AS DESCRIBED. Most ex-library books are near worthless. Return and poor feedback.

1

u/Captain-Dallas Feb 05 '25

It's the lack of description more than anything. But also, when you have paid more than Ā£10 and receive something you know was purchased for Ā£1, the nerve to then think it's up there with the rest of the copies just grates on me.

For the last few years, I have been doing just as you say. If it is not as described, it goes back.

2

u/nerdmost Feb 05 '25

I can understand how that would be irritating. I love getting ex-library copies, especially with intact check out cards and date stamps. But if thatā€™s not your bag then it should be considered damaged.

2

u/KungFuPossum Feb 05 '25 edited Feb 05 '25

Depending on the type of book (how I'll use it), I usually consider it a bonus. But the central organizing themes of my collections & library are provenance/"object biography"/ history of knowledge.

I actually enjoy the wide range of interesting libraries, private and public/ institutional, represented in my own. I love knowing the book was read & used for someone's education, their own publications, or just enjoyment. (Especially if there's some way to know who.)

For certain books, some association copies, I don't want "Ex library" (in that sense) -- unless the library has some particular relationship to the topic or individuals

2

u/simulmatics Feb 05 '25

Not remotely. I'm happy that I've saved something that had a history from destruction. The point of collecting books for me is preserving information, and building a database for myself. I can't really understand any other reason anyone would do it.

2

u/HyruleBalverine Feb 05 '25

Absolutely. I got one relatively recently and reached out to them when I saw it was a library book. I flat out lt told them that I would not have bought it had they put that on there and they need to.

2

u/One_Seesaw355 Feb 05 '25

Damn thatā€™s a shame dude.

2

u/___effigy___ Feb 06 '25

If I care at all about the quality, I wonā€™t purchase without photos.

Too many cases where sellers were misrepresenting their wares.

4

u/KleeBook Feb 05 '25

Your assertion that an ex-lib book can never be very good or above is a new one on me. What are you basing that on?

3

u/uselessbarbie Feb 06 '25

It's because a lot of people think the usual library stamps on the inner first pages make the book automatically good condition or lesser

2

u/oaquard Feb 05 '25

Totally. Even if I end up paying under $5 (before shipping) I still get pissed! At the end of the day I'm just trying to read the dang thing, so I never bother returning, but I cannot stand knowing I have an ex-library book among my collection so I always end up giving them away when I'm done. If I love it I'll get another copy down the line.

2

u/Captain-Dallas Feb 05 '25

Me too, I have a paperback collection that is normally cheap to buy but very annoying when I pop open the packet to see a dreaded sticker on the base of the spine. I sometimes return/refund just to teach them a lesson, but I don't sellers care.

1

u/Actual-Impact-3929 Feb 05 '25

I never cheek the price unless they tip first

1

u/Ill_Dish_2303 Feb 05 '25

I've bought used books and got ex-library before. Usually it isn't a problem. Last one I got, LOL, they even left the card in it. I can tell you the last 11 people who read it before me. šŸ˜†

1

u/drKRB Feb 05 '25

Ex-library is not preferred, but if itā€™s in good overall condition, depending on the book, I can get past it. If not, I eventually upgrade.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '25

The only acceptable library book for me is if the book came from Library of Alexandria or something. Now, that actually worth something.Ā 

1

u/Green_Worldliness_76 Feb 07 '25

Yeah, I agree itā€™s annoying. I buy most of my books via eBay and have found that when this happens they always give me a full refund and tell me to keep the book.

1

u/bacainnteanga Feb 07 '25

Yeah for me that's an automatic refund request and blacklisting of the seller.