Question about buying books (Full Version)

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slavejali -> Question about buying books (5/14/2006 1:54:53 AM)

hi

I want to purchase some books online through amazon.com. I want to read loving dominant and a couple of others I haven't read, largely because they are mentioned on here so much...is putting my credit card number on the amazon page safe... anyone done this and everything has been ok?

I would also like to particularly ask any Australians who may have purchased from amazon in the USA (used books etc) have you received your items ok?

Regards
slavejali



Kedikat -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 2:01:13 AM)

Safe?
Financially safe I guess. As long as you have good antivirus and spyware software on your PC. Run a full scan before using online credit transactions. And hopefully Amazon and your credit card company are secure. " HAH!"
No more chancey than any other credit card purchase.
But keep in mind that what you are buying and who you are will be entered into security databases of various countries.
Thinking of running for public office someday? Too late, you are likely already tagged and filed for being on here.
You will be swiftboated for sure.



Level -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 2:01:51 AM)

I don't like using a credit card online, jali, but a lot of others do. As for amazon, I buy tons of books and music from them, and have never had a complaint about the service or condition. If you love to read, check out this website as well......   http://www.abebooks.com
 
They offer millions of used and like new books at prices of less than a dollar on up, and I have never failed to find a book with them. Good luck!



meatcleaver -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 2:27:15 AM)

I use online for everything, banking, paying bills, booking flights, buying books, CDs etc. I've never had a problem and always received what I have ordered within the specified time.

I'm not sure how it is in other countries but my card company protects me against fraud so if I don't willfully give my details away I'm protected.



Level -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 2:32:41 AM)

Good point, Meatcleaver, and quite a few banks now protect the consumer that uses online bill paying also.



Elizabeth7777 -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 2:57:45 AM)

I order from Amazon quite, cough, er, often. (If there's not an Amazon box on the front porch when the kids get home, they worry the UPS guy has been in an accident. :D )

Actually do all of my shopping online, including my weekly groceries, and have for many years. 1000's of transactions and never a security problem.

Regarding purchasing lifestyle books on Amazon -- I keep a separate account for that, and make sure I clear my cookies after buying. Amazon knows what I'm up to, but I don't need my kids stumbling on Amazon's purchase recommendations for me .... "Because you like Men in Chains, we think you'd like "Whipped Butts 101"

Not planning on running for office. ::innocent smile::

Elizabeth

edit P.S. Forgot to address the Amazon US sellers > Australia part of the question. I was a hobby seller on Amazon for a few years and filled international orders well. However, it's a crapshoot, buying from individual sellers. (The seller never gets your CC info, so you don't have to worry about that, just getting your order filled professionally.)

If I were ordering internationally, I'd order directly from Amazon or consider Powells, a great New/Used/Out of Print bookstore on the west coast. I love Powells.

http://www.powells.com




kisshou -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 4:22:50 AM)

Jali,

you can get the same books for a better price on half.com If you are worried about using your credit card, walgreens has credit cards that you deposit money on, so you can get one of those credit cards and put just enough to cover your purchase on. They work very well.



Level -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 4:25:31 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elizabeth7777

If I were ordering internationally, I'd order directly from Amazon or consider Powells, a great New/Used/Out of Print bookstore on the west coast. I love Powells.

http://www.powells.com




Powell's is on my agenda lol..... I hope to be able to go there someday soon. A neat place.



slavejali -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 5:43:06 AM)

well yaaa for me, I did it, all ordered, thanks for the feedback everyone~ i checked out a few of those other sites you all mentioned too [:)]



KatyLied -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 5:45:11 AM)

How do you feel about trading your books with others when you are finished reading them?  If the thought appeals to you, check out this site:

www.paperbackswap.com

Another site with good used books prices it:  www.alibris.com



JohnWarren -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 5:55:07 AM)

I'll add to what others have said by reminding people that if you don't get exactly what you want and the seller makes it difficult to make things right, you can go to the credit card company and get a "chargeback."  The credit card will put the money right back in your account as long as you seem to have a reasonable complaint.  When I was running Diversified Services, I was required to maintain a thousand dollars in an escrow account so the credit card company could use it to pay off any complaints. 

Just knowing this is a powerful tool.  A few months ago, I checked my credit on freecreditreport.com and the next month there was a charge on the credit card number they had asked me to supply as a proof of identity.  I called up and was told the I had signed up for one of their services.  When I complained, I was told "we don't give refunds."  My reply was "that's OK, I'll contact the credit card company and get a chargeback."  The woman paused and went on smoothly.  "We don't generally give refunds but as a courtesy in your case, we'll credit your card."

I have to wonder how many others they nailed with this little "mistake" who didn't know about chargebacks.



Elizabeth7777 -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 6:00:32 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elizabeth7777

If I were ordering internationally, I'd order directly from Amazon or consider Powells, a great New/Used/Out of Print bookstore on the west coast. I love Powells.

http://www.powells.com




Powell's is on my agenda lol..... I hope to be able to go there someday soon. A neat place.



Going to a physical Powells would be like Mecca for me. Out-of-print books are a serious high. :)




Level -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 6:09:59 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elizabeth7777


quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elizabeth7777

If I were ordering internationally, I'd order directly from Amazon or consider Powells, a great New/Used/Out of Print bookstore on the west coast. I love Powells.

http://www.powells.com




Powell's is on my agenda lol..... I hope to be able to go there someday soon. A neat place.



Going to a physical Powells would be like Mecca for me. Out-of-print books are a serious high. :)




Same here, and I'd like to go to the Strand in New York..... ah, books! [8|]



Elizabeth7777 -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 6:48:58 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Level


Same here, and I'd like to go to the Strand in New York..... ah, books! [8|]


Excuse me while I have a moment. I'm discussing online shopping and out-of-print books on a BDSM board. Throw in chocolate & 24 and I can just die happy now.

My love for OOP is what lead me into hobby selling for a few years. I found I didn't have to own them to get the high, just having them pass through my hands was good enough. When I lost the entire middle bedroom & half of the garage to my "hobby", I had to go into recovery.

Proudest possesion is a first edition Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. (Dahl freak.) It's not a 1st/1st, that's my Holy Grail. Biggest collection, Richard Stark first edition paperbacks.

(I'm hoping this isn't a horrible thread hijack....just having trouble containing myself.)

Elizabeth





Level -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 6:58:48 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Elizabeth7777


quote:

ORIGINAL: Level


Same here, and I'd like to go to the Strand in New York..... ah, books! [8|]


Excuse me while I have a moment. I'm discussing online shopping and out-of-print books on a BDSM board. Throw in chocolate & 24 and I can just die happy now.

My love for OOP is what lead me into hobby selling for a few years. I found I didn't have to own them to get the high, just having them pass through my hands was good enough. When I lost the entire middle bedroom & half of the garage to my "hobby", I had to go into recovery.

Proudest possesion is a first edition Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. (Dahl freak.) It's not a 1st/1st, that's my Holy Grail. Biggest collection, Richard Stark first edition paperbacks.

(I'm hoping this isn't a horrible thread hijack....just having trouble containing myself.)

Elizabeth


*.........dims lights............turns on stereo, playing the theme from "The Love Boat"..........send Jack Bauer into Elizabeth's room carrying a box of truffles...*



Elizabeth7777 -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 7:32:24 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Level


*.........dims lights............turns on stereo, playing the theme from "The Love Boat"..........send Jack Bauer into Elizabeth's room carrying a box of truffles...*


** kerplunk **

Thanks for that little bit of ectasy, I now return all readers to their regularly scheduled thread.

Our heroine, jali, had purchased books online and is now anxiously awaiting their arrival....



DelightMachine -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 8:59:28 AM)

Well, even though you've already bought your books, Jali, I'm not going to let that minor detail get in the way of me getting my two cents in:

1) Discover Card and Citi credit cards (and one or two others) have a service where they'll give you a DIFFERENT credit card number for particular online purchases. The charges go on your bill the same way, but Amazon.com or whoever only knows the new, different credit card number you give them. That may or may not make you feel safer. I've tried it and, well, I don't feel much safer. If I had a one-time number to give Amazon or anyone else (a number that would expire after the first purchase or after a week or two), I'd feel much safer. Maybe that's what Citicard has.

2) If you want the best bargains on books, and if you're willing to take the time out, then go to a comparison online shopping site: www.bestbookbuys.com is great, and they even show you what online coupons the online bookstores are offering. There are one or two other, similar sites that aggregate online information from the booksellers' sites and do the comparison shopping for you. I've forgotten them though.

If you've got one or two or three books you want to buy, it can be useful. Any more, and it becomes too complicated trying to figure out the combination of orders that would get you the best price overall, and you're spending enormous time trying to figure out the overall best cost just to save a few bucks.

3) I thought Amazon had ratings of independent sellers, showing the percentage of people satisfied. Lots of other sites do that. I'd trust that and go for the sellers with the best satisfaction ratings, even if it costs a buck or two more for the book.





FelinePersuasion -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 9:29:19 AM)

there is a program like that, you're assigned a one time number and then after that it's no good any more. I think it's virtual check or something my dad uses it.


quote:

ORIGINAL: DelightMachine

If I had a one-time number to give Amazon or anyone else (a number that would expire after the first purchase or after a week or two), I'd feel much safer. Maybe that's what Citicard has.






Evanesce -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 10:06:51 AM)

I buy from Amazon on occasion (but find that I can usually get a better price at Barnes & Noble, plus free shipping if it's more than $25), and have never had a problem using my credit card.  In fact, I do the majority of my gift shopping online and have never had a problem.  I feel it's safe.



Chaingang -> RE: Question about buying books (5/14/2006 11:12:42 AM)

Why does the server at the restaurant need your credit card for 10 minutes?

http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/11/technology/fastforward_fortune/



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