Menopause Matters Forum

General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: groundhog on October 29, 2016, 01:10:48 PM

Title: Ordering books from America
Post by: groundhog on October 29, 2016, 01:10:48 PM
Hi ladies,

Totally unrelated to my usual moans and groans!
I want to buy a book for my granddaughters first Christmas.  Probably in keeping with many families we brought this book out on Christmas Eve - The Night Before Christmas by Clement CLarke Moore - it's a sort of pop up book.  30 years if christmases and a very enthusiastic cat who loved the book and grabbed the moving bits very enthusiastically,  means the book is damaged but we still have it,  my daughter loves it. 
I've put the isbn in can see it is available - new ones are shipped from USA via Amazon,  total cost about £75,  used ones from U.K. A similar price.
I've never ordered from USA and with my luck I don't want it going horribly wrong.  I would love to put this book in my granddaughters Xmas eve box as I know it would mean the world to my daughter and they would carry on the Christmas Eve ritual.  Yes I'm a soppy git !
Anyone got any experience of buying books from USA via Amazon and was it easy and successful? 

Thank you all xx
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: purplenanny on October 29, 2016, 01:46:17 PM
Hi GH
Not sure if it's the same one but it's on Ebay for a lot cheaper.
I just put the title in to search.
A lovely idea for your Grandaughter
PN x x
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Elizabethrose on October 29, 2016, 02:47:52 PM
Groundhog, I buy a lot from the States: some companies will ship, others won't. That sounds like a lot of money for that book, I agree with Purplenanny do check to see if you can get it elsewhere. It's been reprinted a million times over the years and comes in lots of different formats now. Check out the UK first of all.
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: groundhog on October 29, 2016, 02:52:59 PM
Hi Purplenanny,

When I read your reply,  I wrongly assumed you had found one of the other versions,  as there are many.  But no, lo and behold there it was at a ridiculous price of £3.95.  Now it's obviously used but the seller says condition is as cover and name would suggest,  what does that mean??
Anyway I've ordered it, it was worth a risk at that price. Most of the used ones are in the region of sixty to seventy pounds , sorry numbers  not working again.  I'm intrigued now- thank you so much,  I'll let you know?

Still be interested in other people's experiences of buying from USA just incase .................

( whilst typing your reply came through Elizabethrose - thank you.  Well we have looked and were nervous at paying £60-70 for a used version when a new one from the states was about the same.  The one Purplenanny has kindly pointed out is the very book - isbn 1-85213-123-3 - that's the version I bought for my daughter when she was 4. 
We shall see what arrives .........

Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Elizabethrose on October 29, 2016, 03:09:56 PM
Good luck Groundhog, that book is a family favourite!! x
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: CLKD on October 29, 2016, 03:16:41 PM
Check on "ABE Books" ?
Title: Re: Ordering books from America k
Post by: groundhog on October 29, 2016, 03:30:38 PM
Thanks CLKD - will check it out.

Hi Megamind,  oh bet you I have been conned!  It is the same book though,  you can see the isbn and it has pictures of it confirming it's a hardcover lift the flap version.  Mmmm - oh well time will tell and it's not a fortune lost if it's very poor.
  Thank you
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: CLKD on October 29, 2016, 03:33:00 PM
It's a back up if you don't find the one you want Groundhog but I would be loathe to pay £75.00 for a new book leave alone 'used'!  You could look at one of the sites that search for 'out of print' books too ……. there was a Company in Cardiff for years but of course, I can't remember the name  ::)
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Megamind on October 29, 2016, 03:53:32 PM
It might just be that the seller doesn't realise they have an 'expensive' book on their hands although if they were a seasoned ebay seller they would surely have checked what other listings were going for. What's their feedback like? At least it's less than a fiver you have paid but even if it's the wrong book, you can still complain and they should refund you as a clear rule on Ebay is if it's an incorrect listing, the seller has to refund.

I had a quick look and there is another listing on ebay that is a new version for £12.99 but it seems to have a different isbn and a generic product photo.

You never know, you could have got yourself a bargain!
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Megamind on November 03, 2016, 09:32:18 PM
Hi Groundhog, Did the book arrive and was it in good condition?
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: groundhog on November 03, 2016, 09:56:44 PM
Hello - sorry for delay in update.

Well no update really - it hasn't come 😟
I have messaged and he replie saying sorry for delay but it has been sent out today,  so will have to wait a bit longer xx

I'll keep you posted and thank you for asking xx
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Megamind on November 04, 2016, 02:49:14 PM
Well that's strange it hasn't come. Are they in the UK? Hope it all turns out OK.
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Taz2 on November 05, 2016, 04:53:29 PM
What was the publication date and the ISBN No?

Taz x
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: groundhog on November 07, 2016, 02:44:53 PM
Hi all,

Sorry Taz I have onky just seen your post.
Well it's arrived and it's ok ish.  The twirly bits ( it's a sort of lift the flap book ) work well ( it was those that were damaged beyond repair on my version ).  But in the middle of the book,  there is damage that has weakened the spine of the book,  but not unrepairable.  I'll do a bit of googling to see how best to do this rather than just slapping on some glue.  Plus of course there are book repairers if they still exist?
So all in all a success and sincere thanks to Purplenanny for pointing this out to me.  It's definitely the correct book - I just hope I can repair it now 🤔

Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Megamind on November 07, 2016, 03:02:49 PM
That's good Groundhog and a lot cheaper than what you were going to pay.

Have a look on Youtube, there are always videos of how to do stuff like that.

Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: cubagirl on November 07, 2016, 05:57:25 PM
Hope you can repair successfully. My mum was given a book the day I was born by my dad, in which he added a lovely message for my mum. It was her favourite book. I inherited it, to discover the book worms had enjoyed themselves over the intervening years. I threw it out, but spent ages finding a copy, which I did. Not got the beautiful message from my father, but I have it in my head!
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: purplenanny on November 07, 2016, 06:11:43 PM
Hi GH, I am very pleased it was the correct book and I hope you can repair it. PN x
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: groundhog on November 09, 2016, 05:17:11 PM
Bit of an update.
Took the book to a bookbinder,  he was the same chap who did my daughter's thesis.
He had a look and said the spine is broken and went through what was required to fix it.  He said he can do it but will cost £50 so bit more than I hoped.  But I've gone ahead and hopefully it will be restored to an acceptable standard and give my granddaughter many years of pleasure.
I'm still quite pleased as used versions are all about £50 ( not the £3.85 that I paid) so at the end of the day I should get a decent result.
Thanks again all xx
Title: Re: Ordering books from America
Post by: Megamind on November 09, 2016, 05:41:04 PM
Wow! That's expensive but if it means so much to you and your family, it is worth paying. Actually, it seems like it will be worth a lot of money in years to come if they're going for that much at present so bit of an investment for your grandaughter.