UKasdic | 16 Mar 2022 8:37 a.m. PST |
I have been registered on TMP since 2006 and have never complained about any company or person. Also I like the books Helion publishes I own at least 40 of them. However I feel compelled to post my recent experience with them. I found a title on abebooks listed as VG no damage noted very good price. Abebooks states VG small signs wear any defects noted. I decided to ask them about the state of this book. After several emails I finally got them to admit the cover was heavily creased 12 cms long. I pointed out the following on my next email "I do not think that this book qualifies as VG and it should note that big crease on the listing" This was their response "We do not need an adviser on our listings" "go ahead and shop where you will" ie elsewhere No apology for the highly misleading listing at all. This response came I believe from one of the owners of helion so no point is raising the issue with them further. It is a shame abebooks are not interested and they do not give any option for leaving feedback about sellers. I would suggest that any buyer of helion books should be very careful about dealing direct with them. Use a reseller as they are often heavily discounted. Am I being unreasonable raising this issue to inform other potential customers ? |
IronDuke596 | 16 Mar 2022 8:46 a.m. PST |
|
79thPA | 16 Mar 2022 8:54 a.m. PST |
A crease of that size is a defect and should be noted by the seller. |
Gear Pilot | 16 Mar 2022 9:06 a.m. PST |
I think your concern is valid, but I'm confused about who your complaint is about. Isn't Abe Books a used and rare book seller? I've purchased from them before. But Helion is a publisher. I don't think Helion has anything to do with how a book seller presents their listings. One of the local hobby shops sells some books published by Helion, and they certainly don't have any kind of business relationship. |
huron725 | 16 Mar 2022 9:19 a.m. PST |
I could understand them making a mistake with the listing. They may have a lot going on. But I totally do not get their response to you. Not a great way to do business. And on peripherally I may not be so interested in buying from them in the future. |
UKasdic | 16 Mar 2022 9:28 a.m. PST |
Hi Gear Pilot. Helion are listing some of their second grade books on abebooks to be supplied direct. Not a third party bookseller it is Helion who made the listing. I have just had a message from abebooks which ignored my point about the misleading listing. They don't care. I would also suggest that using abebooks is not a wise idea. You can't leave seller feedback and they do not care if the listings are accurate or not. |
79thPA | 16 Mar 2022 10:38 a.m. PST |
It took me a minute to figure it out as well. Abebooks is the host site and Helion is the seller. |
Garryowen | 16 Mar 2022 11:57 a.m. PST |
Can't you return it? Abebooks is now owned by Amazon. Thanks for the warning, anyway. Who wants the hassle of returning a book. I will have to say that I have bought many, perhaps hundreds, of sued books from internet sellers and very, very rarely have I had a problem with condition. I will add Helion to my list of vendors to stay away from. Tom |
UKasdic | 16 Mar 2022 1:36 p.m. PST |
Hi Garryowen. After this exchange of emails Helion cancelled another order I already had with them claiming the book had suddenly disappeared ! I decided at that point to avoid this company and never ordered the book we were discussing. To be honest it was overpriced for the amount of damage they had failed to disclose. I have learnt my lesson. Never deal direct with Helion and never use abebooks. I agree most internet booksellers are excellent but these 2 companies are not. |
UKasdic | 16 Mar 2022 2:20 p.m. PST |
On the subject of excellent internet booksellers in the UK I would like to recommend Paul Meekins Books. I ordered 7 Helion books from them last month and the service was brilliant. Really well-packed in a sturdy box with smaller boxes inside for the books. Every book was in mint condition. Prices were well below retail. They are now my goto bookseller in the UK. I just wish amazon could learn how to pack books properly again. |
SHaT1984 | 16 Mar 2022 3:16 p.m. PST |
>>Helion are listing some of their second grade books on abebooks to be supplied direct. Not a third party bookseller it is Helion who made the listing. Should have been explained in first post, otherwise it is misleading. Low level snotty-nosed paid peanuts minions doing 'recovery' processing of 'rejects', that they dont admit too… see earlier about delaminating covers, less than 3 weeks after purchase THROUGH a reputable supplier you mention. 'Big business' DOESN'T CARE!!! FOR EVERY complaint (DMA 1-2%), like monopoly telcos and electronics, they are getting 98% REVENUE/ payments from rest who do not complain. Numbers on their side… You are wasting your time thinking Bezos and Co (Amazon -sic) cares any better. Seen their labour relations and employment issues? Sending back? for? Throw more money down the toilet? - - dave in nz |
Garryowen | 17 Mar 2022 5:25 a.m. PST |
I have never had to return a book ordered from Abebooks, but there is no shipping charge to return to Amazon. I am not saying Bezos cares anything about his customers per se, but he knows a good business model that has generated beaucoup bucks, and free shipping on returns is part of it. |
Long Valley Gamer | 17 Mar 2022 6:57 a.m. PST |
There are reputable sellers on Abe books and there are some that are not. I keep a list of the ones that were deceptive and will never buy from them again. |
Prince Alberts Revenge | 19 Mar 2022 7:43 p.m. PST |
I've ordered from Helion direct many times and have always been satisfied with my products and service. |
Au pas de Charge | 20 Mar 2022 8:08 a.m. PST |
Abebooks.com doesn't have a merchant review system and because of this, some book merchants seem encouraged to overoptimistically rate their books for sale. Helion seems to be a sort of rent-a-publisher for military writers. They don't appear to proof read or edit a lot of what they publish and spend very little on artwork or book/printing materials. |
UKasdic | 20 Mar 2022 9:37 a.m. PST |
Hi Prince Alberts Revenge. My issue is not with the books that Helion publish(many are really good some are awful) but the comments made during my exchange of emails with one of their staff. That is why I raised this matter for TMP users. I do believe that abebooks is a totally flawed way of buying books because you cannot rate sellers at all. As long as the book however poor is shipped promptly the seller gets a 5 star rating. |