ISBN's getting deleted on h.com

heikejohn · Joined: 20 Apr 2002 Posts: 230

This morning I found this e-mail in my mailbox:

Dear Half.com Seller,

We are currently in the process of updating our Half.com Books Catalog. This update will provide Half.com Sellers with a more accurate and complete Books catalog, making it easier than ever to list and sell the majority of your Books at Half.com.

Unfortunately, as a part of this update, there are a small number of ISBNs that will no longer be a part of the Half.com Books Catalog. This includes the following ISBN(s) that you may currently be listing on Half.com:

After that; a long list of books that will be deleted out of my inventory.
Anybody else loose a bunch of books? And why would they be deleting them? Because there are not enough demand of these obscure titles to make it worth keeping them in their inventory?

keziak · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 3084

"The future's so bright, we gotta wear shades"

keziak

jenbustillo · Joined: 29 Apr 2002 Posts: 440

I got the same email except it was telling me they were taking the 2 things I had on wishlist off. Grrrr.

Robnzak · Joined: 26 Oct 2001 Posts: 1132 Location: TEXAS

I got the e-mail too, but none of mine are being removed.

I'd be interested if ya'll would share a few ISBN #'s. Are they from certain publishers? Or do they seem random? Maybe old or very common titles?

Isn't it weird that an updated ISBN list would be deleting numbers rather than adding them???

R~
_________________
http://violetpots.robnzak.com

jenbustillo · Joined: 29 Apr 2002 Posts: 440

Mine were for 2 books by my favorite authors:

1560635126
El Regreso a Sion - Bodie Thoene (Hardcover, 1987)

1556617534
Pioneer Love - Janette Oke (Not Known, 1989)

Jen

justonce · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2003 11:40 am Post subject:

Hi....I got the one saying my wish list item was going away....

Beth.....could you give us a clue on when this new brightness might show up?

Thanks, Franci
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

keziak · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 3084

As someone's sig file says "the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train". Or maybe it's bright sunshine where the track abruptly ends at a precipitous cliff. Or...

Just kiddin'. The implementation date for half.com *cough* integration is next July.

keziak

justonce · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2003 1:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Beth.....that appears to be a two edged sword....they are not going to disrupt the Christmas season with full integration, but will, apparently, just dribble the stuff out one little unexplained drop at a time and tinker with the main system to the annoyance of all. The system they have on the Sellers Assistant Basic is really irritating.....and only works about half the time.....

I am very glad to don't rely on Half for anything and I feel sorry for those who do.....

Best, Franci

P.S. An speaking of Sellers Assistant....the new picture stuff no longer has the compression function.....it looks like it does, but if you don't run pictures through a separate compression program first they are way too big ....according to SAB Support the compression will be coming back, but as usual not a clue as to when.

Anybody have a suggestion on a good (prefereably free) program?

F
_________________
Justonceonline.com

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

keziak · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 3084

Half.com hasn't been a big revenue source for me for years. But the system is pretty simple and straightforward. I am afraid that ebay is just getting more complicated by the day, with no end in sight. I think it's complex for buyers and sellers in different ways. I have a sense that attempts to make it easier for buyers will result in added time and confusion for sellers. Either that, or it will just get more confusing for everyone. What I don't see is a future in which things get simpler for sellers.

keziak

justonce · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2003 2:55 pm Post subject:

Hi, Beth.....I agree

And speaking of buyers. I have two other ID's on eBay that I don't use (yet) and I am surprised that I hear next to nothing from eBay. Once in a blue moon I will get some lame slogan like....It's cheaper on eBay" and nothing else.

Wouldn't it be enlightened self interest to have several things that would make buyers WANT to use eBay.

Like:

l. A nice little personal welcome from Meg or Pierre that is short and sincere when a person signs up.....after all it is eBay's bread and butter.

2. A clear and detailed general guide sent by emaiil on how to use eBay......especially when it comes to bidding and searching.

3. A blurb for buyers every time that a seller's promotion goes into effect....like...."This week our good seller's are going to be putting lots and lots of items in the gallery because we made a special offer to them.....don't miss these extras!.....with links, etc.

4. Just a word of encouragement occasionally.....like thanks for buying on eBay.

5. A customer service portal just for Buyers.

I could go on. But that would certainly make sense to me......after all without the buyers eBay is gone.

What do you think?

Best, Franci
_________________
Justonceonline.com

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

heikejohn · Joined: 20 Apr 2002 Posts: 230

These are the ones that half is deleting out of my inventory.
They are still listed on the river, but I'll probably not relist them when the time comes. Maybee I donate them to the library ot take them to the used book store for some credit.

1568650043
Everywoman's Health (Hardcover, 1993)

0886770025
Fugitive in Transit - Edward Llewellyn (Paperback, 1985)

0685313972
In the Face of Death - Peter Noll (Hardcover, 1990)

082530010X
The Flowered Box - Thomas J. Green (Hardcover, 1980)

015179720X
Sea-Grape Tree - Lehmann (Hardcover, 1977)

188674937X
365 Amazing Days in Sports - David Fischer (Paperback, Revised, 1998)

0800842588
Isaac Asimov (Paperback, 1976)

156865037X
Earthclan - David Brin (Hardcover, 1987)

0606042385
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Dr. Seuss (Other, 1960)

1877930296
Healthwise Handbook: A Self-Care Manual for You - Donald W. Kemper (Paperback Textbook, Revised, 1997)

0060906545
Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin (Paperback, 1978)

0060910992
Babycakes - Armistead Maupin (Paperback, 1984)

0812553160
Berserker Base - Connie Willis, Ed Bryant, Fred Saberhagen, Larry Niven, Paul Anderson, Poul Anderson, Roger Zelazny, Stephen R. Donaldson (Paperback, 1985)

0590032976
The Green Hills of Earth (Paperback)

0668058102
Enjoy Sex in the Middle Years - Christine E. Sandford (Hardcover, 1983)

093219415X
Adult Children of Alcoholics - Janet G. Woititz, Janet Geringer Woititz (Paperback Textbook, 1983)

0060964065
Further Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin (Paperback, Reprint, 1989)

0312596545
Paratrooper!: The Saga of Parachute & Glider Combat Troops-1914 to 1945 - Gerard M. Devlin (Hardcover, 1979)

Robnzak · Joined: 26 Oct 2001 Posts: 1132 Location: TEXAS

Thanks Jen & John for posting the ISBN info. Aside from Maupin, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the numbers.

Do you suppose what they're doing is removing "dogs"?

I checked a few of the numbers and they come up as not found, so I guess they've already updated and removed the inventory.

interesting.
R~
_________________
http://violetpots.robnzak.com

emmy · Joined: 13 Mar 2002 Posts: 572

I had 18 zapped from my meager inventory of 100+. Most were copyrighted by the author. Seventeen different publishers, three from the same series, but only one zapped. Most dated from the 70's-90's. Maybe the authors are still alive and are given the ability to 'opt out'? There has been alot said by various authors and publishers about selling used books online, bypassing their royalties.

robssecondjob · Joined: 13 Mar 2002 Posts: 288 Location: Cape Cod

I just got my email from them. That seemed a touch slow. At least I wasn't left out. Here is my list:

0907791298
My Many Kisses - Johnny Dolphin (Hardcover, 2000)

0879611790
Adventures of the Dawn-Breaker - Gina Garcia (Paperback, 1987)

0918804035
Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking: Joinery, Bk. 1 - Tage Frid (Hardcover, 1979)

0349107076
The Brendan Voyage - Tim Severin (Paperback, 1996)

0871069369
A. I. A. Guide to Boston - Michael Southworth, Susan Southworth (Paperback, 1984)

0394407148
America's Forgotten Folk Arts - Frederick Fried, Mary Fried (Hardcover, 1978)

0852638396
Wedding Fashions, 1860-1980 - Avril Lansdell (Paperback, 1989)

0887304990
New Products, New Risks: How Bankers Can Survive & Prosper in the New International Marketplace - Paul M. Sacks, Samuel H. Crawford (Hardcover, 1991)

081350872X
Christmas Trees for Pleasure and Profit - Arthur G. Chapman, Robert D. Wray (Hardcover, 1979)

0500680140
The Thames and Hudson Manual of Architectural Ceramics - David Hamilton (Hardcover, 1978)

0870214152
Naval Engineer's Guide - H. E. Robertson, James V. Jolliff (Hardcover, 1972)

0442214839
Spinning and Dyeing the Natural Way - Marjorie Pickens, Ruth Castino (Paperback, 1974)

188448204X
Cape Cod Cocktail - Peter Saunders (Paperback, 1995)

In at least one case they kept one book and eliminated another of the author's books. Very strange as he wrote a trilogy!! You might assume they would remove either all or nothing in that case.

Perhaps I should not assume. I lost 13 out of about 130.

Rob

robssecondjob · Joined: 13 Mar 2002 Posts: 288 Location: Cape Cod

Curious sort that I am I did a little digging...

The inventory that was removed of mine averaged slightly over $10 each. Low was $4 and the high was $23.

Some of the books had sales as recently as last week. This information gleaned from half's repricing mode screen.

Rob