Amazon Marketplace not worth the hassle - Update: I was wrong, read the entire thread...

[BehindEnemyLines]

I would say the description could have been worded better. Personally, I read EVERY descriptions multiple times before purchasing something expensive. Being a recent graduate, I bought a lot of books on Amazon and Ebay, and made sure they're the correct edition, the actual book, not international, and so on.

To me, the first sentence STUDENT ACCESS KIT (MasteringBiology) ONLY implies that only the kit is provided in the purchase. In fact, the word ONLY is a big red flag, but that is just me being cautious.

The next sentence This includes the E-BOOK implies that the access kit includes an e-book version. The word "THIS" refers to the access kit. However, one can interpret "THIS" according to the TITLE of the listing. If that was case, and probably so, then the buyer probably thought "THIS" means hardcover book.

And of course, calling someone a moron is not a good way to solve a dispute.

 

[chuckywang]

You should have explicitly said it doesn't include the textbook.

This all goes back to the frame of mind of the buyer. Think about it for a second. The buyer goes the the Amazon page for the hardcover textbook, and looks at the people selling it through Amazon Marketplace. The buyer is in a frame of mind that everybody there is selling the hardcover since that is the page he just came from.

Your listing doesn't include any language to disturb that frame of mind. The sentence "This includes the e-book" can reasonably be interpreted by the buyer as "I will include the e-book with this textbook". Sure, I understand what you're trying to say. You meant "The student access kit includes the e-book", but since you listed the item under the Amazon listing of the textbook itself, you need to be a bit more obvious with your language.

 

[caspur]

The OP is a moron, he attempted to defraud the buyer by choosing terms designed to confuse the person purchasing the item. Furthermore, he lists in with the hardcover books in attempt to hide his scam. As silverpig pointed out, this is exactly the same scam they run on ebay while selling an empty box saying it "includes the fan/heatsink". Its listed with the rest of the video cards and uses RETAIL BOX ONLY in big letters, but makes no mention that it excludes the card itself.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I said "STUDENT ACCESS KIT ONLY"

book =! student access kit

If they opened it/broke the seal then it's worthless to me anyways and in no way will I agree to refunding the purchase.

Then you're just an asshole seller. It was as much your mistake if not more your mistake.

That's a bit harsh. If the buyer needs to open a thin package to realize there is no hardcover book inside, then he can swallow the cost.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
this is how you probably should have sold it

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-SEALED...p=TL090112122005r35034

Except without the comic sans

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: caspur
The OP is a moron, he attempted to defraud the buyer by choosing terms designed to confuse the person purchasing the item. Furthermore, he lists in with the hardcover books in attempt to hide his scam. As silverpig pointed out, this is exactly the same scam they run on ebay while selling an empty box saying it "includes the fan/heatsink". Its listed with the rest of the video cards and uses RETAIL BOX ONLY in big letters, but makes no mention that it excludes the card itself.

I don't think the OP had malicious intent, he's just a bit stupid.

 

[AbAbber2k]

You did not explicitly state that there was no textbook included and your wording left plenty of room for people to assume they would be receiving such a book with their order. Not only that, but you didn't list your item properly. While I personally would not have made the assumption, I can see quite clearly how other people could have.

You're in the wrong.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: aphex
I think your screwed in this case. Since you listed the item under the textbook itself, under the Amazon A-Z guarantee I think they would side with the buyer unfortunately.

To be honest though, you never explicitly said it didn't include the textbook. You said "STUDENT ACCESS KIT (MasteringBiology) ONLY. This includes the E-BOOK. YES, this includes an electronic copy of the entire textbook + study material. BRAND NEW NEVER USED. COSTS $90+ NEW!!!" You just said it includes an electronic copy of the entire textbook, includes can be interpreted to mean that it includes the ebook IN ADDITION to the hardcover.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you here. Saying 'Includes' doesn't necessarily imply that something is 'Excluded'.

Right. The OP screwed up by using the word "includes". I think it was misleading.

 

[Turin39789]

Meh. I would have at least started my description with "DOES NOT INCLUDE PHYSICAL TEXTBOOK"

All the people who list international soft cover editions under the wrong isbn at least do something similar.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Thread backfire!

 

[Adam8281]

Sorry OP, you're wrong. I've gotten burned once or twice by Amazon sellers who list under one edition of a textbook (5th, say), but actually ship a different edition (4th, say). What you've done isn't as egregious as this, but it's definitely misleading. You listed under the ISBN of the hardcover textbook, yet that is not what you were selling. That already seems wrong, because a buyer on Amazon should be able to click "buy it used" without worrying that he has to scrutinize the words of the used listings to make sure people aren't selling a DIFFERENT PRODUCT than the Amazon listing it is under. To top it off, you used ambiguous wording ("Includes...") which makes the buyer's interpretation that the textbook was included entirely plausible. You should refund him.

 

[shocksyde]

I agree, you misled your buyer by placing it in the same section with physical text books.

If your listing said "Does not include physical textbook" then it would have been OK, I guess.

 

[WraithETC]

He put it under the actual text books category so the OP fails.

 

[trmiv]

I made it very fucking clear that that does not in any way shape or form include a hardcover text book.

Actually, no you didn't make it very fucking clear that it didn't include the hardcover text book. As most here have stated, your entire ad was rather ambiguous. An ad making it very fucking clear that this did not in any way shape or form include a hardcover text book would have had the words "Does not include the hardcover text book."

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I said "STUDENT ACCESS KIT ONLY"

book =! student access kit

If they opened it/broke the seal then it's worthless to me anyways and in no way will I agree to refunding the purchase.

Then you're just an asshole seller. It was as much your mistake if not more your mistake.

That's a bit harsh. If the buyer needs to open a thin package to realize there is no hardcover book inside, then he can swallow the cost.

Because if you were expecting a package from the seller, and it showed up appearing to be something other than what you ordered, you would NEVER open it right? Gimme a break.

:roll:

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: trmiv

I made it very fucking clear that that does not in any way shape or form include a hardcover text book.

Actually, no you didn't make it very fucking clear that it didn't include the hardcover text book. An ad making it very fucking clear that this did not in any way shape or form include a hardcover text book would have had the words "Does not include the hardcover text book."

:laugh: This.

 

[waggy]

i have to agree with the buyer. it was not very clear. not ot mention its in the hardcover book section.

 

[Ramma2]

Sorry man, going to have to side with the buyer on this one.

 

[lizardboy]

Early leader in the clubhouse for self-pwnage of the year? I doubt the lead will hold up, but the OP is a MORON.

 

[ghostman]

OP... I'm going to have to agree with the majority here. When I read your post and saw the words, "This includes the E-BOOK," I assumed you were selling both the actual book PLUS the e-book. Stating "STUDENT ACCESS KIT (MasteringBiology) ONLY" doesn't necessarily exclude the textbook; I can reasonably assume you were selling the textbook (being that it is listed under the hardcover copy on Amazon) and the student access kit. The "ONLY" keyword could mean that you were not selling the related "Student Study Guide" or "Investigating Biology Lab Manual" with this set, as bookstores often bundle the text with the study guides/manuals.

I don't believe your ad was intentionally misleading, but the "includes" keywords in your ad listed under the actual textbook IS misleading. You could have done a much better job of indicating that there is no textbook included.

I'd say that this is similar to listing an ad under Amazon's "Batman: The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)" page, then stating "Digital Copy ONLY. Includes computer version of movie." If this could be done, wouldn't you agree that listing it under the an Amazon ad indicating it's the "two-disc" edition to be rather misleading?

If you can offer the guy a refund, I'd give it a shot.

 

[lokiju]

As I buyer I really don't like that they don't make it absolutely clear that you're buying from someone on the marketplace sometimes.

The average person go to Amazon to buy from Amazon.

This has never been an issue for me but I do know older folks that have had issues.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: aphex
I think your screwed in this case. Since you listed the item under the textbook itself, under the Amazon A-Z guarantee I think they would side with the buyer unfortunately.

To be honest though, you never explicitly said it didn't include the textbook. You said "STUDENT ACCESS KIT (MasteringBiology) ONLY. This includes the E-BOOK. YES, this includes an electronic copy of the entire textbook + study material. BRAND NEW NEVER USED. COSTS $90+ NEW!!!" You just said it includes an electronic copy of the entire textbook, includes can be interpreted to mean that it includes the ebook IN ADDITION to the hardcover.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you here. Saying 'Includes' doesn't necessarily imply that something is 'Excluded'.

Yes, but saying "ONLY" implies exclusion of everything else.

To someone who doesn't know what a "student access kit" is, that does not indicate that you don't receive the textbook.

Also, Amazon Marketplace is not eBay. If you're not selling exactly the same item that Amazon.com has listed - same edition, same binding, etc - don't list it. If they don't have a listing for your product, sell it somewhere else. I think you screwed up here.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: trmiv

I made it very fucking clear that that does not in any way shape or form include a hardcover text book.

Actually, no you didn't make it very fucking clear that it didn't include the hardcover text book. An ad making it very fucking clear that this did not in any way shape or form include a hardcover text book would have had the words "Does not include the hardcover text book."

:laugh: This.

:laugh: This.

 

[Argo]

OP you were in the wrong here, many people already mentioned this to you. For starters by posting the e-book version under hard cover version. At some point you need to be mature enough to realize you made a mistake and move on.

And just and FYI - if the buyer decides to contact Amazon directly I'm fairly sure they'll issue refund to the buyer and then after some investigation charge you that amount.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
You attached your sale to the printed, hardcover edition so I can see how someone would expect to get that.

You should have made it painfully clear with a first sentence something like:

Electronic version only, does NOT include the hardcover book.

Instead you have:

STUDENT ACCESS KIT (MasteringBiology) ONLY

Which is not very clear to someone who hasn't seen the book and "student access kit" in person. Clear to you, having it in hand, not so clear to a book buyer.

:thumbsup: Better than I would have put it.

The fact that several people on OT are saying this should tell the OP that his listing isn't as clear as he thinks it is.