How to assign condition for used books

As the popular marketplaces have brought used books to the masses over the past few years, the terminology used by booksellers to describe the condition of used books has simplified. The streamlined system in use today on the popular online marketplaces follows these guidelines:

 New: A brand new, unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact; pages are pristine; book is suit-able for a gift.

 Like New: An apparently unused copy in perfect condition. Suitable for a gift.

 Very Good: A copy that has been read but is still in excellent condition. Pages are intact and contain no underlining, highlighting, or notes.

 Good: A good reading copy, clean, with all pages intact and dust jacket present (if issued). Spine may show some wear, and pages may include limited notes and highlighting.

 Acceptable: A usable copy. All pages are intact, but the dust jacket may be missing. Pages may include considerable notes or highlighting, but text must not be obscured.

Be conservative when assigning condition -— your customers will appreciate it. Nothing makes a buyer hap-pier than receiving a book in better condition than ex-pected. Other things being equal, used books advertised as “very good” seem to sell just as fast as those rated "like new." Maybe buyers figure that sellers who aren’t prom-ising perfection are probably more honest.

New in paperback: The Home-Based Bookstore: Start Your Own Business Selling Used Books on Amazon, eBay or Your Own Web Site (by Steve Weber)