Rare Book Monthly
Getting "Fulfilled" by Amazon
Fulfillment by Amazon won't be getting my 1793 Franklin autobiography anytime soon.
Bank account information cannot be changed online, and sellers migrating to this new platform will not be able to create auctions.
All products shipped to Amazon must be labeled with a special label that adheres to the book. If you do not want to adhere a label to a book, the book has to be encapsulated (not a very good idea with older material). You cannot create mylar covers "on demand", as each rare book is sold; it has to be sent to Amazon repaired, cleaned, covered, and ready to ship.
If a book is sold through the Amazon site and returned to Amazon, they determine if the book is still in saleable condition. They do not check to see if the book is the same edition and condition as the book that was shipped out. They make the entire determination as to the value of the book and their liability to the seller in the case of damage or loss. I cannot recommend strongly enough that anyone contemplating this program have adequate business insurance.
So, if you are a Pro Merchant seller now, do not be tempted to click on the Upgrade now! button without slowly and seriously reading the fine print on the Click Here to Learn More link first.
Fulfillment by Amazon is of great value to a small publisher, or a seller dealing with new books. Antiquarian booksellers will want to consider their options carefully ahead of time, or, at the very least, wait until the program is more complete before making a decision about it.
Kauai may have to wait.
Renée Magriel Roberts can be reached at renee@roses-books.com.
