Random thoughts...

[Martin]

Well here in SW Washington I am under my first winter storm warning in over 3 years. Started yesterday at at noon and is expected to run through Sunday evening. The original forecast was for 8 to 12 inches of snow. It now looks like it will be less. Snow came in last night with strong winds coming out of the gorge. I think I am at about a 3 inch accumulation but it is hard to tell. Last night I had sustained winds of near 20 with gusts around 35 so open areas have less snow and areas that stopped the wind have more. Wind is now calm and the snow is picking up. It is a heavy snowfall but a very fine snow. Good news is that it is just snow up here. Hearing that south of the Columbia it has been a mix of snow and freezing rain. Happy I do not have to leave the house and I can just watch the storm out the window!

[mhatchett]

Last Tuesday I found that my car's hood had a tree branch bounce off the hood and this caused a minor dent in my car's hood. I'm debating if I should have the dent repaired, it's a minor dent really. A windstorm started on Jan.18 and that is what caused the tree branch to fall.

Cap

What is your deductible? I've driven dented cars for years with no adverse issues LOl!!

[c marvel]

Last Tuesday I found that my car's hood had a tree branch bounce off the hood and this caused a minor dent in my car's hood. I'm debating if I should have the dent repaired, it's a minor dent really. A windstorm started on Jan.18 and that is what caused the tree branch to fall.

Cap

[Brian861]

Thank you all for your thoughts. You all have pretty much summed up and validated my feelings on the matter. I think I'll try to find an independent bookstore to work with to unload the books that eBayers don't seem to want.

Libraries aren't a bad option either if you're just looking to unload them.

[Martin]

I have the exact same feelings about Half Price Books. Had a bad selling experience with them some years back and decided never again. Between direct purchases and various grab bags, I somehow had three copies of the gift edition of "Riding the Bullet" that was published by lonely road books. I decided that I would take one of the copies to half price books to sell hoping that I would get fair value for it. I think they ended up offering me seven dollars for it. Due to having multiple copies, not enough shelf space at the time, and my own stupidity, I reluctantly sold them the book (and instantly felt bad about it). I came into the store a week later and they had the book in their collectibles display case and had priced it at seventy-five dollars (I believe it sold almost as soon as it was put out on display). I instantly felt like I had been bamboozled by them and told myself never again. Due to this bad experience, I rarely go to HPB anymore, and when I do, much like Ron, it is only to browse or buy.

I am sure glad I live in Powell's country. Several years ago I received a duplicate copy of Taverns of the Dead. It was marked PC and the slipcase had significant scuffing on the back. Book retailed for $150. Took it to Powell's and the offered $75 cash and more for store credit. Took the store credit. About a week later I was browsing the rare book room and that exact copy was for sale at $150. I was able to enjoy the fact that a book I sold them was in the rare book room without feeling ripped off. Powell's is very upfront with the amounts they offer so I know they would price it at $150 but this was the first time I could actually see that they honored that. A few months later I received another PC copy of the same book. I took it to Powell's and rather than offering me a lower price they declined to purchase it. They actually told me they had purchased one and were having trouble selling it. I almost told them it was because they were asking full retail for a book with a damaged slipcase and the new one I had was not damaged. I think I may still have that copy. When You bring a book into Powell's that they will not buy they have an area you can place them for donation, they also tell you that you can donate them to local charities. I have sold books to Powell's for many years and have never felt like they were anything but fair.

[jeffingoff]

Thank you all for your thoughts. You all have pretty much summed up and validated my feelings on the matter. I think I'll try to find an independent bookstore to work with to unload the books that eBayers don't seem to want.

[sholloman81]

When it comes to selling books, there are used bookstores and there is Half Price Books. I love going to HPB for browsing and buying, but for selling, they are just half-a-step above giving them away to a thrift store / Goodwill.

With HPB, the books are a commodity in the most literal sense and are treated with no subjectivity of worth...plan to go in with several grocery bags and leave with perhaps five bucks a bag, twice that if the stars and sun are aligned and the buyer woke up in a good mood that morning. I"m not exaggerating. They'll take it all (for disposal and recycling of those titles they don't plan to stock), but in the end you're the one who feels like you were taken.

I have the exact same feelings about Half Price Books. Had a bad selling experience with them some years back and decided never again. Between direct purchases and various grab bags, I somehow had three copies of the gift edition of "Riding the Bullet" that was published by lonely road books. I decided that I would take one of the copies to half price books to sell hoping that I would get fair value for it. I think they ended up offering me seven dollars for it. Due to having multiple copies, not enough shelf space at the time, and my own stupidity, I reluctantly sold them the book (and instantly felt bad about it). I came into the store a week later and they had the book in their collectibles display case and had priced it at seventy-five dollars (I believe it sold almost as soon as it was put out on display). I instantly felt like I had been bamboozled by them and told myself never again. Due to this bad experience, I rarely go to HPB anymore, and when I do, much like Ron, it is only to browse or buy.

[RonClinton]

Question for the experts here:

What are your thoughts on selling to Half Price Books? I'm really tired of listing books on eBay and Facebook and getting zero interest in the titles I just don't want anymore. I'm tempted to just empty my shelves by selling them to a used book store and avoid all the packing and shipping as well. What are your thoughts?

When it comes to selling books, there are used bookstores and there is Half Price Books. I love going to HPB for browsing and buying, but for selling, they are just half-a-step above giving them away to a thrift store / Goodwill.

With true mom-and-pop and corner used bookstores (of which there are few left), they will pick and choose and give you perhaps 25% of what they plan to sell it for in either cash or trade credit...they have intrinsic value, both as an object and as something they resell. If you have one of these in your area, I would recommend giving them a shot before HPB.

With HPB, the books are a commodity in the most literal sense and are treated with no subjectivity of worth...plan to go in with several grocery bags and leave with perhaps five bucks a bag, twice that if the stars and sun are aligned and the buyer woke up in a good mood that morning. I"m not exaggerating. They'll take it all (for disposal and recycling of those titles they don't plan to stock), but in the end you're the one who feels like you were taken.

The only time I sell at HPB anymore is when I have a stack of books that even I can look at and say, Yep, those are valueless to me and just everyone else.

Might want to try listing them here and TDT.org...I don't believe I've ever seen any books for sale from you at either spot. You might get a better reaction than Facebook, and it's cheaper than eBay.

[Martin]

Question for the experts here:

What are your thoughts on selling to Half Price Books? I'm really tired of listing books on eBay and Facebook and getting zero interest in the titles I just don't want anymore. I'm tempted to just empty my shelves by selling them to a used book store and avoid all the packing and shipping as well. What are your thoughts?

I agree with the prior comments. When I end up with duplicates or a book I really do not want I trade them in at Powell's. I always trade them for store credit. At Powell's you get about a 30% increase in value by doing that. Powell's gives 50% of the low end that they think they can sell the item for plus the trade bump. The credit is probably lower than I could get selling the books on eBay but it is also basically effortless, and I an generally lazy.

[Martin]

If anyone was interested the ceiling fan is installed, I didn't shock myself, and nothing seems to be burning yet. So in my book this was a top shelf install. LOL

Congratulations! Something out of balance is probably causing the high speed wobble. I would study it and figure out what it may be and try uninstalling and re-installing. Or don't turn it up high.

[Martin]

LOL. I have never heard of a cat filter before. Too funny.

My either. The only time I video conference is at work and I expect that my employer has any such feature disabled. I may look for it though.

[mhatchett]

Question for the experts here:

What are your thoughts on selling to Half Price Books? I'm really tired of listing books on eBay and Facebook and getting zero interest in the titles I just don't want anymore. I'm tempted to just empty my shelves by selling them to a used book store and avoid all the packing and shipping as well. What are your thoughts?

I often trade books rather than sell outright because I get better value and often I find things worth trading for. I think I've mentioned this in the past, I also give books away to family members and friends. I've never had any real luck selling....I wish we all lived close enough that we could get together and trade/buy/sell with each other, that would be great!!

[Dan Hocker]

Question for the experts here:

What are your thoughts on selling to Half Price Books? I'm really tired of listing books on eBay and Facebook and getting zero interest in the titles I just don't want anymore. I'm tempted to just empty my shelves by selling them to a used book store and avoid all the packing and shipping as well. What are your thoughts?

I think it just depends what you want to get out of them. If you're looking to get maximum value, then eBay is the way to go. If you're just looking to get rid of them, then why not. Most titles aren't going to have some crazy aftermarket value that's worth the time and effort for putting them on eBay.

[jeffingoff]

Question for the experts here:

What are your thoughts on selling to Half Price Books? I'm really tired of listing books on eBay and Facebook and getting zero interest in the titles I just don't want anymore. I'm tempted to just empty my shelves by selling them to a used book store and avoid all the packing and shipping as well. What are your thoughts?

[Ben Staad]

Didn't do that either. The fan does wobble fairly bad on the high setting so I will need to figure out how to correct that. I know they make shims however that is the extent of my knowledge on them! LOL

Not cutting your head off is really the measure of success LOL!!!