About a month ago I bid for and won a 1913 Middletown, New York phone book. As I
have learned, this being the third early Hudson Valley phone book I've bought in
eBay auctions, such directories tell an interesting story about the development of
an area. Politics, geography and money are all on display. The footprint of
history is often in sand. Phone books provide a permanent record of the transitory
nature of change and development. On eBay they typically cost less than $75 and often much less.
In any event I was happy to acquire the item and immediately made payment via
PayPal. A week or so later I heard from the sellers, Warren and Marilyn, that they
had not received payment. I then checked my PayPal account and saw the ominous
note PENDING. I didn't immediately understand why it was pending but later noticed
in a further email from W & M that their email address was different by ONE letter
from the email address specified in their eBay auction. Warren and Marilyn then
asked that I cancel the payment and I did. I then incorrectly assumed that during
the next three days the seller's email would be corrected or at least the record
altered so payment could go through on the next try. Again the payment went to
PENDING.
I then contacted PayPal using their dispute resolution software. I could not
however find any category of problem that seemed to fit my situation. I could
dispute and complain but I didn't see anything that looked helpful such as
"Provide help completing Payment to a defective email address." In time I found a
way to register a claim and get a one hour telephone opportunity to call PayPal
customer service. I did.
The PayPal rep was very helpful especially after I explained, "I'm trying to pay a
seller." This is apparently not what they deal with most of the time. The
representative looked at my account and saw the second PENDING payment. I had
already tried to cancel it and the rep explained I couldn't until my commitment to
pay the seller expired. And how long will that take? "About a month." "But will
the payment to the defective address ultimately go away?" "Yes." Then, I said,
"let's make a direct transfer to them at their correct email address." Then, while
I was on the phone, the representative told me what to do. I typed in their
correct address and the correct amount and then innocently marked "payment for eBay
item." I then submitted and confirmed. Done! As a last step I sent an email to
Marilyn to confirm payment.
Three days later I heard from Marilyn that they did not receive payment after all.
Well, I knew the email address and amount were correct and so tried to reach eBay
customer service again. My access code, issued 4 days earlier, was for one hour
and it's 96 hours later. "Houston, you have a problem." Rather than try to
remember how I was able to get an PayPal phone access this time I simply Googled PayPal
customer service. This brought up an extensive selection of numbers, some provided
by unhappy eBayers. Previously I was provided a 408 number. Now I have an 800.
This is progress.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
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Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing
Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
RareBookBuyer.com Specialized in Purchasing
Institutional Collections & Deacccessioned Books
RareBookBuyer.com We Buy Librairies & Rare Books Nationwide
