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Who did a better job...?
I often hear complaints about the prevalence of amateur book sellers on ABE
who don't know how to grade books accurately. But I often come across established shops on ABE who grade books in an equally amateurish way. Take, for example, this description from an established shop that sells all sorts of fancy books: "Near Fine/Near Fine. .... The dustjacket is chipped, with some tears, a 1/4" circular tear at the spine, and some rubbing." That DJ doesn't sound "near fine" to me! Now here is a description from a rank amateur's description of the same book (also on ABE) that is also described as "Near Fine/Near Fine "The jacket (not price clipped "$3.95 net") has a touch of edgeware else fine... This description comes from a guy who is clearly an amateur (he only has about sixty other books for sale on ABE ...his other descriptions often offer lame attempts at humor... But whose description in more accurate? Jonathan (an amateur book seller) |
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#3
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In article , Bud Webster
wrote: On 20 Mar 2004 15:45:16 GMT, (Jbrodie1750) wrote: But whose description in more accurate? Jonathan, there's a difference (perhaps a subtle one) between "else fine" and "thus fine." I might describe a jacket with a very minor flaw - say, a touch of wear to the edges - as "else fine," because that implies that if it weren't for that minor flaw it WOULD be fine. This is a valid way to describe a book. If there was nothing wrong with the jacket, I'd say "thus fine." Nahhhhh, it's just a dumb person's bad wording, & "thus fine" is just stupid & meaningless. "The long tear is neatly taped, thus fine" "the jacket used to be in several peaces, but it is now pasted directly to the cloth, thus fine." -paggers -- "Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher. "Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature. -from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers" See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/ |
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Jonathan, there's a difference (perhaps a subtle one) between "else fine" and "thus fine." I might describe a jacket with a very minor flaw - say, a touch of wear to the edges - as "else fine," because that implies that if it weren't for that minor flaw it WOULD be fine. This is a valid way to describe a book. Hi there Bud, If I am reading you correctly, you think it is valid to use the term "else fine" in reference to a book that has minor edgeware and no other flaws. I agree. My point is that the seller who lists a whole bunch of flaws and still calls the book "near fine" not being accurate. And it surprises me how often I see "professional" booksellers doing this. Jonathan |
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